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The parish community of St. Alphonsus in Glens Falls held its final Mass on Aug. 1, the feast of the parish's patron saint.

The liturgy culminated 155 years of service to the Catholic community of the Glens Falls area. The parish was established in 1855 for French-Canadians who migrated to the area beginning in the 1840s.

The closing Mass was celebrated by administrator Rev. Thomas Babiuch, assisted by Deacon William Bazinet, and concelebrated by 15 priests - including Revs. Nellis Tremblay and William Esmond, who were ordained from the parish and celebrated their first Masses there.

Back in 1955, Rev. Esmond had to celebrate his first Mass in the nearby Knights of Columbus hall, because the second church building - which was built around the original wooden church - had burned down in January of that year.

The final Mass was also concelebrated by Rev. Robert Powhida, former pastor; Revs. Robert Purcell and Liam Condon, former associate pastors; and Revs. Donald Doyle and Joseph Gough, who assisted the parish through the years. Many former parishioners also returned for the bittersweet closing Mass.

Three programs had been mainstays for St. Alphonsus parish:

• a retreat program, begun in 1991 under the direction of a team from St. Clement's parish in Saratoga Springs. Leaders were Paul and Linda Usher, Wil and Marie Trombley, Ralph and Helen Knickerbocker, Mary Norton, Peggy Herrick and Carol O'Connor;

• the diocesan Formation for Ministry Program, through which more than 20 St. Alphonsus parishioners completed extensive training and then assumed positions of responsibility at the parish. Some created new ministries, while others enhanced established ones;

• the music ministry of the parish, led by Nancy LaFave. The choir had been asked to sing at community functions, including opening the holiday season at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, where an outdoor tree was lit and resort guests joined in the songfest. The choir also sang to benefit the Prospect School in Queensbury at the annual Festival of Trees and at the school's telethon.

Once a month, the Contemporary Music Group, under the leadership of Wendy Ashe, led the singing for the Saturday vigil Masses. These parishioners and leaders plan to bring their talents to the new parishes they will join. The choir and contemporary group combined their talents for the closing Mass.

Three publications on the parish are available for purchase:

• Robert Bayle, parish historian and archivist, along with Sally McGuirk and Maggie McCurry, published a parish history;

• a record of St. Alphonsus School was compiled, from the original school and convent to the current school (now leased to BOCES, a public school consortium, since the merger of St. Mary's and St. Alphonsus Schools);

• Mr. Bayle's photos of more than 60 stained glass windows at the parish were compiled in a booklet. Families who donated to the purchase of the windows receive a complimentary copy.

The Chapman Historical Museum and the Crandall Library Folklife Center in Glens Falls received a copy of each of the books, as did the Warren County Historical Society. [[In-content Ad]]

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