The Church of The Blessed Sacrament was started in 1902 to meet the needs of the growing numbers of Catholics moving into the West End of Albany and adjacent Town of Colonie, especially to work in the “West Albany Shops”, the train yards where CDTA and the large industrial buildings stand today.
The current parish church was built in 1902 with a temporary rear wall for future expansion. This was expanded and completed in 1952 at the time of the 50th anniversary of the parish. During the Centennial celebration in 2002, the entire Church building was restored and updated.
In 1916, our parish school was opened and continues today in a second structure erected in 1963. The parish hall is part of this structure and is utilized for many of our events.
Today, the parish continues to meet the spiritual needs of our area and beyond. The religious education of the people of all ages are met as well as the needs of the poor and the ill.
Right: the marble Crucifix and statues of Mary & the Beloved Disciple, and the statues around the Church of the Gospel Writers (not shown), come from the high altar of St. Joseph Church in Ten Broeck Triangle.
Our pulpit and paschal candle stand come from the German parish of St. Lawrence in Troy (not shown).
Archives
Blessed Sacrament Church also maintains the records of many of the parishes from Central Ave. and West Hill that have been suppressed:
Our Lady of the Angels was a traditionally German parish and school on the corner of Central Ave. & Robin St. It had a school associated with it, and was staffed by the Conventual Franciscans.
St. Casimir, on Sheridan St., with its school, was traditionally a Polish parish.
St. Patrick, with its school, on the Corner of Central & Lake was the traditionally Irish church that is now known as Our Lady of the Americas/Nuestra Señora de las Americas. In later years, it was also known as Holy Family Parish, when Our Lady of the Angels, St. Casimir, & St. Patrick were merged.
Blessed Sacrament holds the sacramental records for these churches, and our archivist is able to access them for sacramental requests (i.e. Baptism certificates for an upcoming Marriage, Baptism certificates to be sent to another parish prior to First Communion or Confirmation, etc.)
For genealogical requests, a small fee is requested; please fill out this form (.pdf): Blessed Sacrament Genealogical Request Form
We also have inherited many relics, statues, and other items from the patrimony of these much beloved parishes.
Although we have some artifacts from the traditionally Lithuanian parish of St. George on the corner of Livingston Ave. & Thornton St., we do not hold their records. Please contact St. Joan of Arc in Menands for St. George’s sacramental records.
More information can be found at:
https://ourladyoftheamericas.org/about-us/our-history/
https://findingyourpast.blogspot.com/2017/08/historical-talk-on-st-patricks-church.html