Diocese planning new parish

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

In the next three to five years, the Diocese of Albany plans to open a new parish in Malta to serve the needs of the steadily growing population in Saratoga County. Malta is one of the fastest growing towns in that county.

The parish will be the first new one in the Diocese since St. Bonaventure's Church opened in Speigletown (Rensselaer County) in 1970.

The new parish will be named after Blessed John XXIII, who was pope from 1958-'63. He guided the world's Catholics during the time of the Second Vatican Council. He was beatified in 2000.

The Diocese has contracted to purchase 100 acres of a 250-acre plot that lies just west of the Northway at Exit 12. Although the property, the former Bondlyn Horse Farm, is zoned residential, parish facilities would be allowed by special permit, upon approval of town officials.

Last week, diocesan officials met with Malta town supervisor David Meager to discuss plans for the parish. An application for subdivision approval of the property was filed.

Noel Olsen, director of the Office of Real Property for the Diocese, told The Evangelist that the Diocese has been searching for property that could be developed into a parish site in that area for the past ten years.

"We were looking for land that would provide enough room for possible expansion in the future. This is a great location," he commented.

Mr. Olsen said that it would take between six and eight weeks for the subdivision application to be approved. He added that once that stage of the process has been completed, the Diocese would move forward to "work with the town to develop the site in a mutually acceptable manner for the new parish facility. The key thing here is that we have been looking for a long time and found this site to be a great location for what we have in mind. It seems ideal for us and for the community."

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard said that the new church will help with overcrowding at the neighboring parishes of Corpus Christi in Ushers, St. Mary's in Ballston Spa and St. Edward's in Clifton Park. Those parishes are all currently looking at the feasibility of expanding their facilities to accommodate the increasing population.

The new parish will be named for Pope John XXIII. "I can think of no greater exemplar for today's Catholics than John XXIII, who prayed often, protected the downtrodden, reached out ecumenically and sought the wisdom of lay collaboration in guiding the Church," said Bishop Hubbard.

(06-20-02) [[In-content Ad]]