Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church stands along Route 9 in the village of Round Lake, New York, in the southern part of Saratoga County. The parish draws worshipers from Round Lake and the neighboring communities of Malta, Clifton Park, and Stillwater, and frames itself around a simple motto that runs through every page of its ministry: Loving God, Loving Others, Making Disciples, Welcoming All into the Body of Christ. The name Corpus Christi means "Body of Christ," and the parish takes that translation seriously, striving to be a place where every person who walks through the door is received as part of the family.
A Mission Rooted in the Body of Christ
Corpus Christi articulates its call in four movements. Loving God echoes Jesus' words in Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Loving Others pairs the second greatest commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself," with Jesus' new commandment to "love one another as I have loved you." Making Disciples draws on the Great Commission of Matthew 28, sending the community out to baptize and teach. Welcoming All into the Body of Christ ties everything to the parish's name and to Romans 15:7: "Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
The parish describes itself as a community seeking to move from a life of "maintenance" to a life of "mission." Whether someone is just beginning to explore faith or has worshipped here for decades, the parish says there is a clear path for growing as a disciple.
Weekend and Daily Mass
Mass is the heartbeat of the parish. The weekend liturgy begins with a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM and continues on Sunday at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Daily Mass is celebrated on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 9:00 AM, and on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM from September through May.
Father George Fleming, the pastor, presides at most of these liturgies. He was ordained on June 25, 1994, appointed to Corpus Christi on February 1, 2021, and installed on August 5, 2021. He is assisted by Father Marty Fisher, the Sacramental Associate, who also maintains a published body of work. The parish also benefits from the ministry of Tony Leva, who serves as Director of Music and as Pastoral Associate for Parish Life.
Services are livestreamed on YouTube, and a weekly bulletin is posted online through ParishesOnline. The parish calendar, embedded on the church site, lists upcoming Mass intentions, devotions, and parish gatherings.
Reconciliation and the Sacraments
The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered fifteen minutes before each weekday Mass and on Saturdays from 3:15 to 3:45 PM. The confessional is located inside the main parish building, and other times can be scheduled by contacting the parish office.
Beyond Reconciliation, Corpus Christi celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation form the Sacraments of Initiation; Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick form the Sacraments of Healing; and Matrimony and Holy Orders form the Sacraments of Service. The parish teaches that these are not traditions to observe but real encounters with Jesus Christ, moments where "God reaches out to us with His love, mercy, healing, and grace."
Couples preparing for marriage can find a guide on the parish site, and men discerning a call to priesthood are encouraged to reach out to the parish office. Those who are sick, homebound, or in the hospital are invited to request the Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament the parish describes as offering "spiritual strength, peace, courage, and healing."
Becoming Catholic: OCIA
For adults exploring the Catholic faith or completing their initiation, Corpus Christi hosts the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The parish describes OCIA as more than a class, calling it "a journey of discovering the love of Jesus Christ and finding your place in His Church." Through prayer, conversation, learning, community, and worship, inquirers are gradually formed in the Catholic faith within the life of the parish community. Those baptized Catholic but never confirmed or formed in the Eucharist are also welcome to take part.
Children, Youth, and Sacramental Preparation
Children and youth are a central part of parish life. The parish follows the conviction that "parents are the first and primary educators of their children's faith," with the parish sharing in the broader responsibility of passing on the Catholic tradition.
Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered for children ages 4 to 11 at Sunday Mass. The children begin Mass with their families and are called forward before the readings. A volunteer team guides them to the Daily Mass Chapel, where they hear the same readings and rituals as the assembly but through a kid-friendly lectionary and developmentally appropriate homily. They return to their families in the main church for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
For Grades K-5 and Grades 6-12, the parish offers ongoing Faith Formation. The K-5 program is described as "a joyful and welcoming community where children can grow in faith, friendship, and their love for Jesus," while the 6-12 program helps middle and high school students "grow in faith, friendship, and their relationship with Christ" through prayer, the sacraments, service, and meaningful conversation. Father George has established an Interim Faith Formation Team that is actively planning the upcoming program year.
Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. First Reconciliation is described as a journey "to understand God's unconditional love and experience the healing power of His forgiveness." First Eucharist is presented as a step closer to receiving Christ's real presence. Confirmation is framed as the moment when young people "make the personal choice to claim your baptismal promises for yourself" and discover "how faith meaningfully fits into their lives."
Small Groups, Music, and Discipleship in Action
Outside of Mass, the parish builds community through small groups. In the fall session, small groups gather using Rebuilt Faith, written by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. The book lays out five simple steps for learning or re-learning the Catholic faith. The parish sees these groups as the backbone of pastoral care, discipleship, and evangelization.
Music is woven into the weekend liturgies. Those who feel called to share their gifts can join a music team, while others are invited to serve as greeters, ushers and hosts, creative tech volunteers, or extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. Cafe Corpus Christi is part of the parish hospitality life, with volunteers helping plan and welcome the community.
The parish also looks beyond its own walls through outside missions, both local and farther afield. Recent parish-wide efforts have included a community bed build with other local churches, Vacation Bible School, and outreach that reflects Catholic social teaching.
A Network of Prayer: The Prayer Chain
One of the most distinctive ministries at Corpus Christi is its Prayer Chain. More than 100 "Guardians of the Prayer Chain" commit to praying for individuals and families facing illness, grief, emotional struggles, job loss, celebrations, and other life events. Requests can be submitted by email to the Pastoral Care office, and new Prayer Guardians are warmly invited to join.
Pastoral Care is led by Bill Trigg, who also oversees visits to the homebound and those in hospitals. The office is the parish's front door for those who need a listening presence, a visit, or a quiet word that they are not alone.
Funerals and Bereavement Support
When a parishioner dies, Corpus Christi walks alongside the family in prayer and planning. Masses of Christian Burial are typically arranged through the funeral home, which coordinates directly with parish staff. The parish holds "a deep reverence for those who have passed," committing them to God's loving care while offering solace, hope, and community to those who grieve. The parish office is available for immediate questions and pastoral support.
Visiting Corpus Christi for the First Time
The parish is located at 2001 Route 9 in Round Lake, with the office open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Visitors are warmly welcomed from the parking lot onward. A greeting team is on hand to help newcomers find their way, and the parish describes its worship as "humbly reverent," sincere, peaceful, and accessible. There is no dress code and no need to have everything "figured out." Come as you are.
For those with hearing concerns, assistive listening devices can be borrowed at the Welcome Table. Low gluten hosts are also available at the Welcome Table for anyone who needs them.
Families with children are welcomed wholeheartedly. Children are invited into worship, with Children's Liturgy of the Word offered for ages 4 to 11 each Sunday. The parish assures parents that "whether your kids are energetic or shy, they belong at the table with us."
Giving and Parish Life
The parish supports online giving through a secure recurring giving platform, and also accepts cash and checks at Mass or by mail to the parish office. The parish frames giving in the words of Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be." Giving supports every ministry, every weekend experience, and every act of outreach.
Parish life is organized through a small, dedicated staff. Laura Evoskevich and Debra Sloat serve as Pastoral Associates for Administration; Gail Moore manages accounting; Judy Mullins coordinates prayer and liturgy; Sheila Tyler serves as bookkeeper; and Barry Wygel serves as Digital Content Specialist. Together they keep the parish running so that the liturgies, formation, music, and outreach can flourish.
Fr. George's Blog
Father George writes a Sunday blog that has become a steady voice for the parish. The posts walk through the upcoming Sunday scriptures in a personal way, often connecting the readings to the life of the parish, to community moments, and to the wider world. Recent reflections have drawn on the wisdom of Solomon, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the Canaanite woman, the Parable of the Sower, the rhythm of Ordinary Time, and the call to forgive "seventy times seven." Father George also shares moments from parish events: Vacation Bible School, community meals, Italian festivals, and moments of remembrance such as the September 11th commemorations that the parish marks with Eucharistic Adoration and a special morning of bell-ringing at the four significant moments of that day.
A Parish That Welcomes All
Across every page of its ministry, Corpus Christi returns to the same conviction. "'Corpus Christi' translated means 'Body of Christ.' We therefore strive to welcome everyone into our church." The parish points to Romans 15:7: "Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Whether someone is returning after years away, exploring the Catholic faith for the first time, raising a young family, grieving a loss, or simply looking for a place to belong, the parish extends the same invitation. As Father George writes, "Christ meets us right in the middle of our everyday lives and we would love to meet you there, too."