New Lebanon parish celebrates

Parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon have a lot to boast about.

A month of repairs and refurbishing the church and grounds has just been completed, and the well-known parish choir is warming up for a special liturgy -- because this weekend, the parish celebrates its 125th anniversary.

Immaculate Conception had a humble beginning as a mission under the care of St. James parish in Chatham (then named St. Patrick's). Rev. James Moriarty would ride the Harlem Extension Railroad each week to celebrate Mass for the 2,700 residents of the New Lebanon area.

Church of their own

In 1871, townspeople (including the local Shaker community) collected $14,000 to build a permanent church, which was named in honor of the Blessed Mother: Immaculate Conception.

The original parishioners were mostly Irish, and their small contributions toward the parish led a modern-day parish historian to call Immaculate Conception "the church built with nickels and dimes."

Through the years, the town of New Lebanon and its surrounding area grew. Today, about 140 families attend Immaculate Conception, traveling from the "four Lebanons" (New Lebanon, New Lebanon Center, Lebanon Springs, West Lebanon), nearby towns like Canaan and Brainard, and even Stephentown. The parish covers about 200 square miles.

Long-term pastor

The present pastor at Immaculate Conception is Rev. Joseph Halloran, whose "claim to fame," he said, is being the longest-termed pastor in the parish's history. Father Halloran, who turns 70 this year, will celebrate 25 years at Immaculate Conception in December. That span includes about 1,200 baptisms, 500 weddings and 400 funerals.

"I hope to be able to put a couple more years in," he told The Evangelist. "I had two strokes last year, and I'm 80 to 85 percent back. I can't say three Masses on Sunday any more."

However, he said, he is not ready to retire just yet: His second position -- chaplain for Berkshire Farm, a nearby boys' home -- has become "really a part of my life." He has served in that role since 1964. "It's quite a place. It kind of grows on you," he remarked.

Anniversary prep

Although the church was actually dedicated in June 1871, present-day parishioners decided to hold Immaculate Conception's anniversary celebration on Sept. 8 -- exactly ten years after the church was rededicated, following a 1983 fire that nearly destroyed it. It is also the Blessed Mother's birthday.

Preparations for the celebration began nearly a year ago, when professional writer and parishioner Bill Lewis agreed to pen the parish's anniversary booklet. After months of research, he created a true storybook, detailing Immaculate Conception's history by recreating the viewpoints of former parishioners and pastors.

"He put hundreds of hours in on this thing," Father Halloran boasted. "He's a great man for research."

All is readiness

The pastor also boasted of the efforts of other parishioners and professionals who have spent the past four weeks reshingling the church's steeple, painting, replacing windows and cleaning the property. On the day The Evangelist visited, three generations of parishioners were busily cleaning one of the parish's shrines, and had already repainted its statue and benches.

The choir, Immaculate Conception's most active group, has been practicing for this weekend's anniversary liturgy.

"We have a magnificent choir," Father Halloran said. "Every time the Bishop comes here, he congratulates them. He says for a parish of this size, it's probably the best choir he's ever heard."

Shrine, too

Immaculate Conception is also home to the Wayside Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, a large, outdoor shrine that attracts everyone from tourists to truck drivers.

Several attempted thefts from the shrine's poor box recently have meant one unhappy preparation for the parish's anniversary: asking State Troopers to watch the shrine for any suspicious activity. The parish may install a camera to deter thieves, as well.

However, most of the anniversary plans have been happy ones. A special liturgy with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will be held this weekend, and tents are being set up for a picnic afterward.

(For more information on Immaculate Conception parish's 125th anniversary celebration, call 794-7651.)

(09-05-96)

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