St. Catherine of Siena was a Roman Catholic Elementary School & Parish located in Albany, New York. Originally formed in February, 1953 at 35 Hurst Avenue, it
Catherine of Siena
The parish of Saint Catherine of Siena was formed in February 1953 when the Most Reverend Edmund F. Gibbons, Bishop of Albany, directed the Reverend Lawrence P. Kelly to "Build your church here, Father." Father Kelly, Saint Catherine's first pastor, acted quickly to locate a temporary chapel for the five hundred families of the newly created Parish. Masses were celebrated on Ma
rch 4, 1953 at the Dominican Monastery on New Scotland Avenue, now a part of Maria College of Albany. A separate home at 711 New Scotland Avenue, midway between the Monastery and the proposed church site, was purchased on March 4 to serve as the rectory. Construction of the proposed parish buildings (a school and church/auditorium) was financed by a two-stage house-to-house canvas. The quote of $225,000 was surpassed by $26,000 and building contracts were then awarded to four major contractors. Excavation began on September 1, 1953. The cornerstone was set on November 22 by Bishop Gibbons. The formal dedication of the new church and school took place on October 24, 1954. Assisted by the Reverend Joseph P. Kelly, the Reverend Raymond F. Rooney, Chancellor, and many of the clergy of the Diocese, the Most Reverend William A. Scully, Coadjutor Bishop of Albany, blessed the church and school. On this occasion sixty-two children and six adults received the Sacrament of Confirmation. On the following Sunday, the Feast of Christ the King, the first High Mass was celebrated for parishioners who had died since the founding of the parish. As the years went on, the parish flourished. The Parish Rectory (40 Collins Place) as well as, the Parish Center (40 Hopewell Street) were both constructed in 1962. A new church was erected in 1998. At the time of closure in 2009 (merger with St. Teresa’s) St. Catherine’s Parish grew to well over 1200 registered families. Catherine of Siena School still stands today, but is now known as Mater Christi School, after St. Teresa of Avila closed it's doors and merged with St. Catherine's in October, 2009.
