Diocese's only Spirit parish marks 75th

In 1991, the parish rectory was picked up and moved down the street to make way for an addition to the church building. The newly renovated church was dedicated on Pentecost Sunday in 1992 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

When Holy Spirit celebrates its 75th anniversary on May 31, again the feast of Pentecost, Bishop Hubbard will return to celebrate Mass.

Place of their own

In 1922, Mrs. John Reehl and John Doran presented a petition of 50 signatures to Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons for the establishment of a parish. He appointed Rev. John Fox as the first pastor, and Masses were celebrated in the Hyserman family living room and the village Grange Hall.

Ground was broken for a church and rectory on May 1, 1923, at a cost of $49,185; the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Easter Sunday 1924.

Growth through years

BY 1937, the parish had grown to 455 families; in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in East Greenbush, Rev. Charles Dammann offered a solemn High Mass on Nov. 21 of that year. Father Fox served as Master of Ceremonies and Right Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Maginn, the future auxiliary bishop of Albany, delivered the sermon.

As a memorial of this anniversary, the original arched, leaded windows in the church were replaced by six stained glass windows. Made by the Francesco Ruocco Studios of Haverhill, Mass., in a 13th-century medieval design, they depict scenes from the lives of Christ and His Blessed Mother.

Pastors

* Rev. Edmund Burns, an interim pastor forced by ill health to leave after a short time;

* Rev. Edmund Gibbons, 1945-60, a nephew of the Bishop's;

* Rev. Bernard Lannon, 1960-68;

* Rev. M. Kenneth Doyle, 1968-69;

* Rev. Clement Handron, 1969-70;

* Rev. Paul Cox, 1970-77;

* Rev. John Albert, 1977-80.

School begins

The school was first occupied in September 1962, with 140 students in kindergarten through grade 4. It eventually expanded to eight grades.

At the request of Bishop William A. Scully, five Irish nuns of the Franciscan Missionary of the Divine Motherhood Order came from England to staff the new school; they moved into a convent that was built at the same time as the school.

Activities

In 1969, the parish religious education program was established; a young people's association for high school students also was organized.

Although Holy Spirit School continued to grow, the Franciscan nuns were unable to continue beyond 1981, and a farewell testimonial dinner was held that year to wish them farewell. The following month, the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix began to lease the convent to house semi-retired sisters.

Expansion

The parish established a capital improvement budget of about $1 million in consultation with diocesan officials. After the parish received final approval for its plans, the rectory was sold and moved across the street to make room for the church's expansion.

Rev. George St. John, pastor of Holy Spirit since 1981, then moved into his new quarters in the vacant convent, which also houses parish offices and a meeting room. The Sisters of Mary Reparatrix took up residence in a nearby house.

Youth in mind

Among the extracurricular activities at the school are advanced art courses, soccer, basketball, skiing, track, drama club and chimes choir. The student council also gives pupils an opportunity to learn about government, and Sister Maureen benefits, as well.

"It's amazing what help they are to me as an administrator because they're seeing the school through youthful eyes, and they help me to make the school better," she said.

Youth are also emphasized in the parish through a teen ministry committee, children's and teen liturgies, and religious education, according to Sister Carmella Ann Pfohl, CSJ, pastoral associate for faith formation. Youths and young adults participate in various service and recreational activities, and there's also been a focus on making them feel more a part of the Church through lay ministry.

More to come

"I've been very happy in my time here," he said. "We hope that our participation in the Renew 200 program will give us a jump-start for the millennium."

(After the jubilee Mass on May 31, 11:30 a.m., Holy Spirit parishioners will continue their 75th anniversary celebration with a cookout from 2 to 4 p.m. at the nearby Elks Lodge.)

(05-28-98) [[In-content Ad]]