ST. MARY'S, CRESCENT, TURNS 150

ST. MARY'S PARISH IN CRESCENT just celebrated its 150th anniversary last weekend. Crescent, part of the Halfmoon Township, is one of the oldest communities in Saratoga County. The first St. Mary’s parish, which began its existence as The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, was established in 1868. A half-dozen Catholic families attended Mass in a two-story wooden building; the pastor and his sister lived upstairs.

From 1886-1927, St. Mary's was a mission of St. Patrick’s parish in Cohoes. A second St. Mary's Church was dedicated in 1928, after the parish again became independent. The first church was used as a hall until 1963, when it was demolished to make way for the third and present church. As more Catholics moved to the suburbs, the congregation grew; one parishioner recalled Masses so packed, people had to stand outside. In 1967, St. Mary's parish was divided when St. Edward the Confessor parish in Clifton Park was created.

A parish center was finished in 1974; in the '80s, the church's interior was renovated and a courtyard and stained glass windows added. Other renovations took place in ensuing years to the rectory, altar space, stained glass windows and parish center, with major renovations in 2001 to accommodate the growing population.

Community and ministry are important at St. Mary's, from a book sale fundraiser held for 15 years to a giving tree that helps people in need, volunteering at area food pantries and, since 1995, a sister-parish relationship with churches in Guatemala.

St. Mary’s currently has more than 1,300 registered families, with 217 families with children in its faith formation program. In December, the parish started live-streaming its 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass to serve homebound parishioners better and area nursing homes and hospitals.