Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany

Initially the diocese was part of the Archdiocese of New York. It became a diocese in its own right on April 23, 1847.

In 2016 for the first time in the diocese's history there were more retired than active priest in the diocese, 90 retired verses 85 active. It was estimated that by 2020 there would be only 57 active priest in the diocese.[1]

The diocese of Albany has given priest the permission to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass since 1999. It was not until June 2007 that the Papal apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum gave all diocesan priest the permission to celebrate the Latin-rite mass. In June 2019 the diocese celebrated the 20th anniversary of the extraordinary form mass in the Albany diocese at a mass at St. Mary's Church.[2][3]

In September 2019, people affiliated with the Diocese's St. Claire's Hospital, which has since closed, sued claiming that the Diocese has been unable to pay their pensions.[4]

The cathedral, located on Madison Avenue at Eagle Street in Albany, was completed in 1852 and consecrated by the Most Reverend John Hughes, Archbishop of New York. The first bishop, John McCloskey, was coadjutor bishop of New York with succession rights. This is why he left upon Archbishop Hughes' death in 1865. The Cathedral has a stone exterior. It has the appearance of a stone interior but in fact it is of plaster and lath construction, painted to look like stone. This method was used to save time as McCloskey wanted to get the Cathedral finished in order to prove that the Catholic Church in America was permanent. Originally there was a flat wall at the back of the Cathedral in the area of the Lady window. This window, which depicts scenes in the life of the Virgin Mary, was later moved to the North transept when the semicircular sanctuary was added.

There is a door in the ceiling of the crypt so that the coffins may be lowered directly into it after the Solemn Requiem of the Bishop. This door, however, was not quite big enough for the ornate, modern coffin that contained Bishop Scully. As a result, those officiating had to remove his body from the coffin, carry it down the stairs, take the coffin apart to feed it through the door and then reassemble it and restore the body. The crypt cannot be seen from above because it is hidden by floor tiles which have to be removed to gain access.

The Cathedral underwent a US $30M restoration project which started in 2000 with a date of completion being 2009.

Tours are offered of the Cathedral.

The current President of the Diocesan School Board is Carolyn Kelly.

2019-2020 Enrollment data was obtained from New York State Department of Education Non-Public Enrollment[13]

2020-2021 Enrollment data was obtained from the New York State COVID-19 School Report[14]

• National Shrine of the North American Martyrs, Auriesville
• National Shrine of St. Kateri Tekawitha, Fonda
• Our Lady of La Salette, Altamont (closed)

WOPG 1460 AM in Albany; simulcast on WOPG-FM 89.9 in Esperance

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• Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany Official Site