Four men achieve 60 years as priests

* REV. FRANCIS CIANI, an Albany native, who served in Arkville, Schenectady and Northport. Also, he was an Army chaplain during World War II. He said that he would "recommend the priesthood and/or religious life to save one own's soul and to help save the souls of others."

* REV. FRANCIS NOWAKOWSKI, a native of Poland, was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp after his ordination. Liberated in 1945, he came to the U.S. and served in the Albany Diocese, beginning in 1968, in Cohoes, Schenectady and Amsterdam.

* ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH RYAN, a native of Albany, served in the Diocese at Glens Falls, Herkimer, Troy, Hudson and Albany. He then was named to national and global assignments at the Military Ordinariate, Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Pontifical Mission for Palestine. He was named archbishop of Anchorage, Alaska, in 1966, and served later as archbishop for Military Services. "My life as a priest has always been a happy one," he said. "I am most grateful to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother for all I have experienced in my life."

* REV. JOSEPH SZAREK, a native of Poland, came to the Albany Diocese in 1960 to serve in Schenectady, Herkimer, Troy, Albany, Amsterdam, Watervliet and Oneonta.

(05-13-99) [[In-content Ad]]