April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
Methodist church welcomes Eagle Mills Catholics
There aren't many Methodist churches where members of the congregation can be seen making the Sign of the Cross on their way into services. But that's exactly what happens at the Hope United Methodist Church in Eagle Mills at 4 p.m. every Saturday.
The reason: The people are actually Roman Catholics on their way to Mass, which is celebrated weekly in the Protestant church by Rev. Donald J. Ophals, pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish in Troy.
He's been offering Saturday Masses at the Eagle Mills Methodist church for roughly a quarter of a century.
Outreach
The celebration of Mass inside the Methodist church began in the early 1970s as a convenience to St. Francis parishioners residing in Brunswick. The 120 or so Catholics who attend weekend services in Eagle Mills do so for a variety of reasons: It's easier to secure a parking space, the church is closer to their homes, or the quaint, quiet rural setting provides a different atmosphere for the liturgy.Situated five miles from the main church on Congress Street in Troy, the Eagle Mills church is usually packed by the time Mass begins on Saturday, according to Father Ophals.
"The fact that the church is filled when 120 people take their seats should tell you something about just how small the church is," he mused. (He also celebrates a 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass at St. Francis and two Sunday services -- at 9 and 11 a.m.)
'Catholic cabinet'
Father Ophals credits "regulars" at the Eagle Mills church with keeping things running smoothly from week to week."We have what you might call a `Catholic Cabinet' at the Methodist church where we keep candles, hymnals and other items that are used at the 4 p.m. Mass," he explained. He does not reserve the Blessed Sacrament in the rented church space.
Among those Father Ophals can be almost certain to see at the Mass each Saturday are Carol and Frank Lamiano, Fran and Terry Heiser, and Sister Charla Whimple, CSJ.
Family feeling
"One of the interesting things about going to Mass at the Methodist Church is that everyone sits in the same seats each week," observed Mr. Lamiano. "Our seat is two rows in from the front on the left side. Sister Charla usually sits in front of us; and if I turn around, I'm pretty sure I'll see Fran and Terry Heiser. It's amazing!"
The Lamianos, both of whom are Eucharistic ministers, first started attending Mass at the Methodist church for reasons of convenience several years ago. They continue to worship there because they enjoy the tranquil rural setting -- and also because their son, daughter-in-law and grandson reside close by.
"We often meet at Mass and then get together for a visit," said Mr. Lamiano.
Country-style
Mr. Lamiano said one of the things that most appeals to him about the Eagle Mills setting is that it reminds him of a small rural chapel he frequented as a child."The Eagle Mills church is very countrified," he said. "When I go there, it brings me back to the '50s when my parents had a summer house on Snyder's Lake in Averill Park. The church we attended during our vacations was about one mile from camp, and I used to enjoy walking there with my brother and my parents or sometimes with my buddies who lived nearby. That chapel was always packed -- the same as the church in Eagle Mills."
Close by
Nancy Webster and her husband Walter were among the first to become "regulars" at the Methodist church, which is just a quarter of a mile from their home.The Websters, both Eucharistic ministers who had always been very active in St. Francis de Sales Church, initially had some mixed feelings about attending services elsewhere. Any reservations have long since vanished.
"It's hard to remember the exact details of how all of this came about," she recalled, "but it seems to me that our former pastor brought forward the idea of having a chapel of convenience for parishioners who lived a long way from the main church. That was around 1970 or 1971 and we decided we'd give it a try."
She noted that services were originally held in a much older Methodist church that has since been torn down and replaced with a more modern structure.
"Everything about the first church was old-fashioned -- right down to the parking lot which was clearly made back in horse-and-buggy time," Mrs. Webster laughed.
Assembling church
Attending Mass at the Methodist church is "a whole other world," Mrs. Webster added. "There are many things parishioners do to help the priest that you would never think of at the main church." Maintaining the "Catholic Cabinet" is high on the list.Some people, she noted, set-up the altar prior to the Saturday service; others remove all of the Catholic-related items -- including the altar cloths, which parishioner Maggie Austin takes home for laundering.
"There's a wonderful spirit of cooperation and fellowship with a lot of duties being performed on a rotating basis," Mrs. Webster said, adding that parishioners do their utmost to ensure things are left exactly where and how they were prior to the Catholic Mass. "It is, after all, the Methodists' church. Things must be in order for their services on Sunday mornings."
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