Parish life

In a season of joy, some struggle with loss

In the midst of Christmas wonderment, it can be easy to forget the many parishioners in the Albany Diocese who are struggling with grief and loss.
Christmas scenes from around the Albany Diocese

Parishes and schools held various events celebrating the joyous Christmas season.
Pilot parishes surpass goal, pave way for campaign

It’s a milestone moment in the Albany Diocese: All nine of the pilot parishes who spearheaded the diocesan-wide “Re-Igniting Our Faith” campaign have not only successfully completed their initiatives, they’ve surpassed their collective goal.
Interim parish leaders named

Interim team leaders for parishes in the Albany Diocese that are in-between pastors have been appointed to the parishes of Holy Spirit, East Greenbush; St. Joseph’s, Worcester; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Adalbert’s and St. Paul’s, all in Schenectady.
ADVENT IN AVERILL PARK

PARISHIONERS OF ST. HENRY'S Church in Averill Park had a "boxwood tree party" last weekend, decorating small boxwood shrubs as the countdown to Christmas continues. (Nate Whitchurch photo)
Volunteers with ‘gourmet hearts’ make sure women of Catholic Charities’ Mercy House eat

Every year, Clare Sellitti and other volunteers from St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar prepare an impressive Thanksgiving meal. When it’s finally finished, they give it all away.
Crescent parish offers booklet to aid faith formation for families

St. Mary’s parish in Crescent is helping faith formation students — and their parents — to practice their faith with the parish’s first catechism booklet, titled, “Knowing Our Faith: A Guide to the Assessment of Catholic Basics.”
BUILDING THE VATICAN IN SCOTIA

MORE THAN 70,000 Lego blocks went into a special project at St. Joseph's parish in Scotia last weekend: Parishioners built a replica of Vatican City with help from architect Stephen Schwartz of Building Blocks Workshops.
Hudson to dedicate chapel for perpetual eucharistic adoration

Rebecca Romanchuk, who attends St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hudson, was the driving force behind the new Chapel of Our Lady of Victory, a perpetual eucharistic adoration chapel located at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson. It will be dedicated Nov. 17.
GLENVILLE SERVICE

ON NOV. 3, ABOUT 350 volunteers of all ages from Immaculate Conception parish in Glenville participated in their third morning of service. The event began with a prayer service led by pastor, Rev. Jerome Gingras.

The Evangelist - The Official Publication of the Diocese of Albany