In 1938 a census, conducted by the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, made known that a new parish was needed in the Guilderland area.

In 1939 a former dance hall, George's Place, was rented and on November 26, 1939 Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons celebrated the first mass and preached to the assembled congregation.

Later, property was purchased and, in the Spring of 1940, a temporary chapel was moved closer to the highway and remodeled.  It was named in honor of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, foundress of the Religious of the Sacred Heart.

In 1943, St. Madeleine Sophie was made a mission of St. Luke's, Schenectady, and was cared for by priests of the parish.  Fr.  Francis F. Woods was named first pastor in December, 1947.  Rev.  Peter F. Sheeran, Francis A. Hoar, William F. Jillisky, Kenneth W. Gregory, Frank J. Gilchrist and James Belogi succeeded as pastors.

Lay people assisted the Parish Visitors in organizing the School of Religion.  Population growth made it apparent that church enlargement was necessary soon.  An expansion program began late in 1950.  The present structure was dedicated on April 15, 1951.

St. Madeleine Sophie School was opened in September 1960 with an enrollment of 217 pupils.  The school was staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, New York.  In 1983, The Sisters of Mercy took over the administration of the school and religious education program. 1993 saw the appointment of the first lay principal. Teresa Kovarovic.

The Sisters of Mercy continued to direct the Parish Faith Formation Program and provide pastoral outreach to the sick.

A prominent feature of the parish complex is the parish center.  This much needed building was made possible by the guidance of Rev.  William F. Jillisky, former pastor of St. Madeleine Sophie Parish.  Ground was broken for the center on August 9, 1976.  With much enthusiasm, the parishioners aided doing the majority of finishing work such as electrical, painting, and maintenance of structure.  Bishop Howard Hubbard dedicated the center in honor of our first pastor, Rev.  Francis F. Woods, on May 21, 1977.

Presently, St. Madeleine Sophie Church, School, Convent, Rectory, and Parish Center, situated on 32 acres off Carman Rd., Guilderland, form an attractive complex.  An active Pastoral Council assists the pastor and pastoral staff in providing for the day to day life of St. Madeleine Sophie's Parish Community.  The most recent census shows that over 2000 families are  members of the Parish.

The Parish is now conducting a Feasibility Study of the Parish Complex to determine how best to meet the needs in light of growth in membership, expanding programs, and parish staffing.