Northville parish marks its 75th in early-bird way

When more than half of your parishioners flock south for the winter, a parish has to take an "early bird" approach to hosting major celebrations.

That's why St. Francis of Assisi in Northville -- which doesn't officially turn 75 until Christmas Day -- will be marking the occasion on Sept. 21 when Bishop Howard Hubbard will visit the rural church to celebrate an anniversary Mass at 2 p.m.

Rev. Augustine Kapinus, OFM Conv., pastor, said the Fulton County parish (which has 240 year-round families) "triples and sometimes quadruples" during the summer months when nearby camps, cottages and houses fill up for the season.

"We go from our usual two weekend Masses to four," said Father Kapinus. "Things quiet down again after Labor Day, but we're hoping that by having our celebrations before the end of September, we'll still catch most of our snowbirds before they head south for the winter."

Souvenir

To mark the anniversary, the parish created a keepsake magnet for parishioners' refrigerators. Shaped like a little country church, the magnet bears the inscription: "St. Francis of Assisi 75th Jubilee."

Phyllis O'Brien, who together with Marcia Frasier is coordinating publicity for the parish's diamond jubilee, said the parish will also be distributing commemorative bookmarks featuring a pen-and-ink rendering of the church by parishioner William Mosher.

"We are so fortunate to have such a gifted and giving artist in our parish," observed Mrs. O'Brien. "Bill has done a wonderful drawing that will be reproduced not only as bookmarks but also on the cover of 75th anniversary Mass program and our parish's history booklet."

Special member

Among those attending both the Mass and the dinner to follow at The Raindancer Restaurant in Amsterdam will be St. Francis of Assisi's housekeeper and "Jill-of-all-trades," Clementine Militich.

Mrs. Militich, who recently celebrated her own 75th birthday, is looking forward to a photo session with other parishioners who share the parish's 1922 "birth date."

Describing St. Francis as a "wonderful parish situated in a beautiful place" in the Diocese, Mrs. Militich has taken an active role in planning anniversary-related festivities.

A personal highlight of the occasion for her will be the arrival of the Bishop and participating in the Mass which will be concelebrated by Father Kapinus, Rev. Canice Connors, OFM, Conv. (the Franciscan provincial) and several other priests.

Paying homage

Father Kapinus told The Evangelist he will reflect on aspects of the parish's history during the service. Specifically, he hopes to pay homage to some of the priests who helped to shape the parish during its 75-year history.

Among those he will be remembering are the late Rev. Raphael Huber, the first pastor.

"I got to know Father Huber when he was teaching Church history in Rensselaer where we had a seminary," explained Father Kapinus. "I'll also be talking about Father Lawrence Kulas, who was prefect in the minor seminary. It is after the late Father Kulas that our small chapel is named."

Another former pastor who will be remembered is Rev. Bartolomeau Gaske, now at Assumption Church in Syracuse.