Have you heard this news?

The Albany Diocese's chapter of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas just held their fall business meeting. New officers are BARBARA NILES, JOAN STARKS, DIANE SCARINGE and BEULAH FLINT. The CDA also planned its annual memorial Mass for deceased members, to be held Oct. 4, 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Hudson. BISHOP HOWARD J. HUBBARD will celebrate, with REV. WINSTON BATH concelebrating and DEACON RICHARD WASHBURN delivering the homily. The CDA will present the Bishop with a $2,000 check for financial aid to seminarians....

The New York State Ancient Order of Hibernians will host a testimonial dinner Oct. 4 to honor president MATT NELLIGAN. The event will follow an AOH pro-life Mass at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Albany, celebrated by REV. HENRY REID, AOH state chaplain. For information, call 489-1752....

Also on Oct. 4, Fidelis Care, New York State's Catholic health plan, will partner with Radio Disney for a free "High School Musical" fan appreciation day, 1-4 p.m. at Goold Orchards in Castleton, with games, movie tickets, karaoke and dancing. Kids are encouraged to wear HSM gear to win prizes...

St. Bridget's parish in Copake Falls has been holding "full moon by the fireside" parties. Parishioners gather at a fire pit near the church's prayer garden to share food and fellowship and watch the moonrise.

Also, parishioner LUCAS DEFIORE completed his Eagle Scout project for the Boy Scouts of America, a peace pole in front of the church that was dedicated Sept. 21, International Peace Day....

St. Anthony's parish in Schenectady is starting a ministry called the "chain gang." Members make rosaries for the military, hospitals and missions....

Parishioners of St. Jude the Apostle in Wynantskill recently had the opportunity to take Polish cooking lessons, courtesy of DOROTHY MOHL and DONNA OLCHOWY....

St. Francis of Assisi parish in Northville just held a birthday party for 80-year-old parishioners. Twenty-five of them turned out for the celebration, coordinated by JACQUELINE LEIN and BEVERLY VERTUCCI....

Notre Dame-Visitation parish in Schuylerville has purchased a priest's former home to use as its new faith formation center. Supplies are now being moved to their new home....

A "wash for life" car wash by young parishioners of Sacred Heart in Castleton (see photos in the Sept. 18 issue) raised $500 for Birthright, an Albany crisis pregnancy center....

REV. JOHN LONG, O. CARM., who once served at St. Joseph's parish in Troy, has passed away. He was living in Phoenix, Ariz....

(10/02/08)