April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
HOLY SPIRIT, EAST GREENBUSH
'Lovable bunch of weirdos' sprouted future deacon, teachers and firm faith
Farley family serves students, military, Church
'Lovable bunch of weirdos' sprouted future deacon, teachers and firm faith
Mr. Farley is a first-year candidate for the diaconate for the Albany Diocese. He's also assistant principal at Ichabod Crane High School, following stints at various schools as an English and science teacher. His wife, Ellen, is a caregiver for her elderly mother, who lives with the family.
The parishioners of Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush are the parents of six children. Emily, the oldest, is at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, working toward becoming a science teacher. Carolyn is studying international human resources. Megan is majoring in art education. Shannon is a sophomore at Columbia High School and Klaire is in seventh grade at Howard L. Goff Middle School, both in East Greenbush.
Dan Jr., who is Megan's twin, is the only boy in the family. After recently finishing basic training for the Army National Guard, he said he has a newfound respect for his father, who served in the National Guard and Reserves for 11 years.
Mr. Farley, in turn, couldn't be prouder of his son for following in his footsteps, though he isn't surprised at any of his children's career paths.
"I think they all follow us in their own way," he told The Evangelist.
Up for a challenge
One thing is for sure: All of the Farleys enjoy a challenge, whether they're aiming to become Adirondack 46ers -- climbing all the high peaks in the Adirondack Mountains -- or gearing up for a life of service.
For Mr. Farley, the journey to the diaconate has been a long time coming.
"You get a call and you realize that it's time to answer," he said. "Most people that become deacons have had the call for a long time and they just keep putting it off."
Mr. Farley noted that he first thought of entering religious life in high school, but got sidetracked by college, girlfriends, the military, teaching and then fatherhood.
"But the call keeps going on," he said.
For Dan Jr., a call to military service has been ongoing.
"I grew up around him telling me stories about how much fun he had" in the military," he said of his father.
Dan Jr. is now creating his own memories: He just finished basic training in Oklahoma and is now working on another round of training. He had about two weeks back home for the holiday season.
Service styles
That groundwork "will prepare him to serve," Mr. Farley said, noting that his own diaconate training will help him serve the Church and its people. "It's all about service."
The two Farley men push each other in their own journeys. Mr. Farley advises his son on how to physically prepare himself for what his future holds, while Dan Jr. has offered his father moral support.
Dan Jr. also accompanied his father on a series of church visits in preparation for the diaconate, until he left for basic training.
The son also joked that he was going to push his father to get in shape, just as his father did to him.
The two Dans sparred good-naturedly over who was a better shot in paintball: Mr. Farley claims he can outshoot his son, but Dan Jr. is more nimble and able to dodge around the field.
Family fun
As a family, the Farleys are "a lovable bunch of weirdos," Mrs. Farley declared, recalling a past camping trip where they challenged one another to eat an entire box of Freihofer's chocolate-chip cookies each. "There's nothing wrong with us," she said, laughing.
The two Dans were also involved in Boy Scouts together, where "Big Dan" was the troop leader and "Little Dan" made it all the way through the ranks, recently becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in scouting.
For his service project to earn that rank, Dan Jr. took part in Stars for our Troops, an East Greenbush-based organization that sends cut-out stars from American flags to veterans, along with a card commemorating their service. During the project, Dan Jr., with the help of his Boy Scout troop and family, cut out more than 2,000 stars. His father said the stars are a unique and meaningful memento for veterans. He himself received one.
Faith, too
Involvement in the military isn't the only trait Mr. Farley passed along to his son. Dan Jr. also takes great pride in his faith. While in basic training, he said, he went to church every Sunday, which helped him get through the rigorous training program.
"I even have'Roman Catholic' on my dog tags," he told The Evangelist.
His father, the future Deacon Farley, called the family's faith "pretty simple: Love God; love ourselves; love the people around us.
"It's very affirming," he added. "There is no limit to love. That's what brings us closer to God -- being fully submersed in love. That's what being a parent is all about."[[In-content Ad]]
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