Diocese's special year begins

Only hours after the second nor'easter of the week had dumped a heavy load of snow on the region, hundreds of Catholics trekked from every corner of the Diocese to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany last Sunday.

The occasion was the prayer service marking the opening of the Diocesan Sesquicentennial Year. It's not unusual for meteorological disturbances to threaten diocesan celebrations -- without disrupting them. On April 23, 1847, the date the Diocese was officially established, for example, a spring storm brought so much rain to the area that the Hudson River flooded Albany streets along its banks. A year later, when the cornerstone of the Cathedral itself was laid, a cloudburst scattered the crowd moments after the ceremony concluded.

As a contemporary echo of those historic near-misses, by the time the 3 p.m. prayer service began on Dec. 8, the snow had been cleared, the sun was peeking through light clouds and the temperature stood around 40.

It was easy for those in attendance to imagine themselves back 150 years at the founding of the Diocese as an outdoor procession of scores of priests, religious and laity marched along Eagle Street, bearing banners and candles. Four bishops concluded the line. As the procession wended its way toward the Cathedral, hundreds inside were listening to classical music by such composers as Bach and Beethoven, and performed by a massed choir and instrumentalists, another touch of the past.

But there were signs of the modern Church, too, positive reminders that this is 1997, not 1847: Permanent deacons dotted the line of marchers and attended the bishops...women religious and laywomen played prominent roles in the readings and prayers...the Episcopal bishop and a rabbi delivered greetings from the Cathedral's pulpit...and videocameras recorded the event for future Catholics to examine after another 150 years unfold.

After the service concluded, many in the congregation lingered, sharing favorite moments, complimenting those in charge, savoring what had happened and guarding their candles from the evening breeze. The candles' flames, lit from the Sesquicentennial candle during the service, are destined to be housed in parishes throughout the 14 counties of the Diocese as a way of connecting everyone to the opening service. (Here, Rev. Charles Gaffigan, pastor, and parishioners of Holy Infancy Church in Lake Luzerne proudly display their candle. Elizabeth and Donna Pulcher from Holy Family Church, Stottville, sing while holding their candles.)

The Evangelist's way of making those connections is words by staff writer Maureen McGuinness and photos by Dave Oxford and Michael P. Farrell, which combine to recapture the special occasion on several pages of this week's issue. Additional ways for you to connect to the Sesquicentennial will occur throughout 1997 as diocesan and regional events are held. Watch our pages in upcoming issues for information about those and pick one that you can tell your grandchildren about.

We know that God will be present at all of the Sesquicentennial gatherings, showing Himself perhaps as a nor'easter the night before...maybe as a thunderstorm right after...but definitely during the events as He walks among His people gathered to celebrate their faith.

(12-12-96) [[In-content Ad]]