Not-so-Young Adults to reunite

When Gene Cahalan attends the Catholic Young Adult League's 45th reunion later this month, he'll bring many fond memories with him -- as well as his Mixmaster.

He won't be mixing up drinks or crushing ice with this piece of kitchen equipment. Rather, the appliance serves as a souvenir of his days with the group he helped found.

"The League gave us a Mixmaster for our wedding," he said, "so we'll be bringing that."

Formation

In 1954, Mr. Cahalan served as the group's first president. The previous year, he and two co-workers at the State Health Department, Mary Egan and Mary McInerney, decided to do something to meet the needs of the growing number of Catholic young adults in the city of Albany. They knew of a similar organization in Schenectady and hoped to replicate its success.

"The State was expanding, the telephone company was expanding, Niagara Mohawk was expanding," Mr. Cahalan said. "New people were coming into the area. The parishes didn't have things for the college educated. The need existed for people who already completed their education and had no strong parish connections."

He fit into that category. A native of New York City who hadn't attended a local Catholic high school, he didn't have the network of friends that being a native would have provided.

Hopes for success

The Catholic Young Adult League was formed under the direction of Rev. (later Msgr.) Joseph Conway, then vice chancellor of the Diocese. Mr. Cahalan said the priest believed that the group would help develop leaders who would benefit their local parishes once they had settled into a parish after marriage.

There was some concern from pastors that the League would drain the parishes of young parishioners, but the bishop's support of the group helped calm those fears.

While many of the members were single, Mr. Cahalan said the group's purpose was not matchmaking. "This wasn't a lonely hearts group," he said.

Active efforts

Betty Rooney, a member from its early days, said the League provided service to various diocesan agencies and offices.

"We would go to the Mill Hill Fathers and do work," she said. "We did parties at St. Vincent's Children's home and at St. Catherine's. We did the invitations for Bishop Maginn's ordination."

One project she remembers vividly is when the Diocese assisted Hungarians who had fled their country in 1956 during a revolt against the Soviet Union. The refugees coming to Albany all had sponsors; but when word came that they were arriving three days early, the Catholic Young Adult League went into action. Members called the sponsors to let them know they needed to come early and then assisted the refugees as they waited for their sponsors.

"It was the worst snowstorm," Mrs. Rooney recalled. "We processed their papers for them. It was the saddest thing. You could tell from their coats that they had had money, but their belongings were wrapped up in newspapers."

Connections

In addition to providing needed manpower, the League hosted many social activities. "We did a lot of socializing," she said. "We went square dancing, horseback riding, hiking, had dances, and went on picnics."

The group also helped members enrich their knowledge of their Faith through trips to monasteries and shrines. Personal devotion was encouraged through participation in First Saturday Masses, communion breakfasts, days of recollection and retreats.

A measure of how much there was to do is that Mrs. Rooney went to her first meeting alone and not knowing anyone; by the time she left, she was on three committees.

Duet

Mrs. Rooney, as president of the League's chorale group, was always looking for additional singers. At a business function one day, she asked people if they could sing. One young man answered no, but in a way that implied that he really could. When she showed up at the next League meeting, standing there was the young man: John Rooney, who would become her husband.

"So many couples met and married through the League," she said, adding that without even having to think about it, she could name nearly 30 couples who met through the group.

The organization also helped people find roommates. "There was a group of fellows from New York City who came to work for the State," Mrs. Rooney remembered. "They were each renting a room. They joined the League, met and rented a house together."

(The Young Adult League reunion, which includes dinner and dancing, will be held on Oct. 24 at the Ramada Inn on Western Avenue in Albany. Former members interested in attending can call 463-4908 for more information and to register.)

(10-15-98) [[In-content Ad]]