Landmark liturgy at Auriesville to celebrate 150th

About 6,000 people are expected to flock to the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs at Auriesville Sept. 14 for a landmark liturgy celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese.

The highlights of the 3 p.m. celebration -- which a representative of the Pope, one cardinal and 17 bishops will attend -- include four processions and a sprinkling rite using waters that have been collected from lakes, rivers and creeks across the 14 counties of the Diocese.

Elizabeth Rowe, director of Formation for Ministry in the Diocese and chairperson of the committee responsible for the Mass, said that Auriesville was chosen as the location because it is geographically at the center of the Diocese and the only place In America where martyrdom occurred. Saints Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil and John LaLande were slain for their faith at Auriesville. It is also where Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha was born.

Returning bishops

Joining Albany's Bishop Howard J. Hubbard in celebrating the Mass will be the Papal Nuncio, Bishop Agostino Cacciavillan, and Cardinal John O'Connor of New York City, who will deliver the homily.

Other honored guests are Bishop Edwin B. Broderick, who served as bishop of Albany from 1969 to 1976; and Archbishop Harry Flynn of St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester, both of whom are natives of the Diocese.

A dozen bishops from neighboring dioceses have also accepted invitations to participate in the celebration.

Pageantry

The event will begin with four simultaneous processions down the aisles of the Auriesville Colosseum.

"We've invited all of the priests in the Diocese to join in one of the processions while another will be comprised of the bishops," explained Ms. Rowe.

A third procession will include representatives of all the parishes in the Diocese that are marking a "decade" anniversary (10th, 20th etc.) while a fourth will feature representatives of ethnic groups as well as such lay organizations as the Knights of Columbus, Columbiettes, Knights of Malta and Catholic Daughters of America.

Water of unity

As a symbol of unity and purification, water that has been collected from numerous sources across the Diocese will be brought forward in separate containers, poured into one large vessel and blessed by Bishop Hubbard for use in the opening sprinkling rites to be performed by the deans of the Diocese.

"People in our Formation for Ministry program were asked to gather a quart of water to be brought forward in this part of the ceremony," Ms. Rowe said.

Collection points included Brant Lake, Candaragoro Lake, Lake George, Otsega Lake, Pyramid Lake, Sacandaga Lake, Saratoga Lake, Snyder's Lake as well as the Delaware, Hudson, Mohawk, Schroon and Unadilla Rivers, and the Butternut Creek, Schoharie Creek and the West Canada Creek.

Gift to poor

Prior to the Auriesville Mass, a Diocesan Sesquicentennial Gift to the Poor will be collected in parishes on Sept. 6-7. One-third will be given to food pantries in the Diocese; another third to Habitat for Humanity; and the final portion to Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief agency of American Catholics.

The monetary gifts from parishes will be combined at the Auriesville Mass, and brought forward with the bread and wine by representatives of the oldest (St. Mary's in Albany) and youngest (St. John Francis Regis in Grafton) church buildings in the Albany Diocese.

The Rev. Dr. Gregg Mast, pastor of the First Reformed Church of Albany, will share some words during the concluding rite. He was chosen because a Reformed minister harbored St. Isaac Jogues in Albany when he fled his Indian captors.

Books available

Light refreshments will be served in tents on the grounds outside the Auriesville Colosseum following the Liturgy. Available for purchase will be two books connected to the Sesquicentennial:

* "How We Tell God's Story," a children's book about the Diocese by Sisters Eileen Lomasney, CSJ, and Marion C. Honors, CSJ, and

* "Canals & Crossroads," the newly published history of the Diocese by Sally Light.

(No one will be admitted to Auriesville Mass without a ticket. Those who have not yet secured one through their parish should contact Ms. Rowe's office at 453-6670. The vast majority of the participants will arrive at Auriesville via bus because parking will not be permitted on the grounds. Private cars may be parked at the nearby Fonda Fairgrounds, and a shuttle bus will transport passengers to the Shrine. The last shuttle departs the fairgrounds at 2 p.m. All participants are asked to be in their seats no later than 2:30 p.m. Auriesville is situated on Route 5-S, between Thruway exits 27 and 28.)

(09-04-97)