Changes announced for Cohoes

In a pulpit letter read last weekend at all Masses at St. Rita/Sacred Heart parish in Cohoes, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard announced some changes due to the upcoming retirement of the pastor, Rev. John Facci, SAC.

After Father Facci's July 1 retirement, the letter noted, "the priests of Cohoes, with support from the diocesan Office of Administrative Advocate for Priests, will provide for the celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments at St. Rita/Sacred Heart parish."

As a result, Mass schedules could change, the Bishop noted.

In addition, "given the low numbers attending Mass at Sacred Heart Church," he decided "that it will not be possible to assign a priest to celebrate the Eucharist there on Sundays after July 1."

Administrator

The next step, the letter explained, will be the assignment of a pastoral administrator to oversee St. Rita/Sacred Heart parish.

"Through the summer months," the Bishop continued, "there will be an evaluation made of the Sacred Heart Church building. In September, I will consult with the Presbyteral [Priests'] Council as to what direction to proceed."

While Sacred Heart Church won't be used for Sunday Masses, the Bishop noted that weddings and funerals will continue to be celebrated there, and the parish of St. Rita/Sacred Heart will continue.

'Challenging times'

Appreciating "the sense of personal and community history many of you have through Sacred Heart Church," Bishop Hubbard said that he recognized that "the cessation of weekly celebrations of the Eucharist...is a significant loss, almost like the death of a loved one."

However, given the shortage of priests, he noted that "these are very challenging times for our Church, and we must be good stewards of our resources, including the men who minister as priests."

He invited parishioners to "keep this transition and the decisions that will need to be made in the future in your prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide us in the ways to best provide for the spiritual needs of our people."

(6/21/07)