It has been a great privilege and pleasure and a sacred honor of mine to serve the Catholic Faith Community of Rensselaer since the fall of 1994. Originally assigned as an Administrator of the Church of St. Joseph, I was named Pastor of both the Church of St. Joseph and the Church of St. John the Evangelist in the fall of 1998. Since that time our two parishes have shared one pastor.

The churches were separately incorporated in canon law and by the laws of New York State, and continued to maintain their unique identities while sharing a common history and mission (see Mission Statement). Guided by a common vision and our joint pastoral council, and supported by a dedicated staff of ten full and part-time employees, the two parishes were officially merged by Bishop Howard Hubbard on May 26th, 2006 as “The Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph.” We are a spiritual family of some 900 registered households who continue to worship in both churches. The vast majority of the 7,600 residents of the City of Rensselaer were baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, however, so we are actually much larger, since many non-registered parishioners see our parish as their parish, and continue to seek the services of this community of faith.

The Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph offers a variety of services through a host of ministries. Our faith formation program catechizes and cares for some 200 children in a traditional classroom setting. Each year the 11th grade Confirmation class makes a “Faith and Heritage Pilgrimage” to our nation's capital to celebrate our heritage as Americans and as Roman Catholic Christians.

Our Youth Ministry Team offers year-round programs for Rensselaer youth. Our youth have attended Youth Days in Colorado, Rome, Toronto and Cologne, Germany.

Many of our lay leaders have been certified by the Formation for Ministry Program of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. For almost 20 years we have had an active RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process, which continues to be facilitated by a core team of lay leaders. Through our Pastoral Care Department we minister to over 60 elderly parishioners who are homebound in our neighborhoods, local senior housing complexes or health care facilities. Our Christian Service Ministry Team oversees the weekly collection of foodstuffs for the city's needy through the city program sponsored by Catholic Charities called CONSERNS-U.

Volunteers support the "Welcome Table" (a “soup kitchen”) at the Church of St. John-St. Ann in Albany on a regular basis. Our bereavement teams offer comfort and support to families in grief, attend and serve at parish funerals, lead wake services and committals, and make phone calls to the recently bereaved, send them cards and offer them follow-up visits. Our parish nurse visits the hospitals and coordinates follow-up visits with our pastor and our associate for pastoral care. A support group for caregivers meets monthly, as does Our Lady of Peace prayer group. Two Rosary Altar Societies (currently in the process of joining forces) work feverishly all year to clean and decorate the churches and support the parish through various fund-raising events.

On September 23, 2005 the parish dedicated its new Garden of Good Wind at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, with its beautiful life-size statue of Padre Pio (St. Pio of Pietrelcina). Rensselaer is the only place in the entire Capital Region where one can find an outdoor shrine dedicated to Padre Pio.

Whether you come to visit this shrine, one of our beautiful churches or the handsome and peaceful grounds of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, know that you are welcome to stop in at the Mc Manus Center (on the corner adjacent to St. John’s Church), the heart of our parish operations, and say "hello". We would be happy to offer you a cup of coffee and a tour.

The Reverend R. Adam Forno, Pastor
The Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph