Parish celebrates 50 years

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

On a bright May morning in 1927, a few dozen Catholics gathered for Mass at a rural chapel just outside the city limits of Rensselaer. They were the first members of a mission church that sprang from St. John the Evangelist Church. The mission was located in Clinton Heights, which lies between Rensselaer and East Greenbush.

Twenty-five years later, in 1952, that small mission had grown enough to warrant becoming a separate parish of its own.

Today, the still growing parish of St. Mary's is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Need for church

In 1927, Clinton Heights and Prospect Heights were the two most populous rural areas adjoining the City of Rensselaer. Because of the increase in population, Msgr. John Glavin, pastor of St. John's, recommended that the Albany Diocese purchase ten lots of land on the corner of Hampton and Western Avenues to build a mission church and school to meet the growing spiritual and educational needs of the new families that settled in the area.

Several months after the mission chapel was built, the Sisters of Mercy, teachers at the grade school at St. John's, opened a two-room school at the mission, where they taught 60 pupils in four grades. Rev. Matthew Brennan, associate pastor at St. John's, was the first priest in charge of the mission.

Over the next 20 years, the congregation would continue to grow as more and more people settled in the area. In just 25 years, the mission community was recognized as a viable parish of its own. By then, the school had added five new classrooms and classes ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade.

Building time

Father Brennan, the first pastor of the new parish, was succeeded by Rev. Roland Thompson, who supervised the construction of the new church and school. Both buildings were dedicated in 1962.

Thus, in only 35 years, the small mission congregation that began with 60 families had grown into an independent parish with a grade school.

From 1969 to his retirement in 1997, Rev. J. Joseph Delaney guided St. Mary's. According to Carol Tenczyk, liturgical coordinator at St. Mary's, Father Delaney was very dedicated to the grade school.

"He strongly believed in the importance of a Christian education. He had a real love for children, just like Jesus [did]," she said.

Rev. Jerome Gingras, the current pastor, said that what impresses him most about the people of St. Mary's is their great spirit of cooperation and hospitality. He added that he is also impressed with the continued growth of the parish after 50 years.

"We have 1,100 registered families at St. Mary's. It is a young and growing parish," he noted.

Remodeling

Most recently, the parish has undertaken a remodeling project of the church's interior.

"The people really were interested and very involved in the process," Father Gingras said. "The parishioners have been very receptive to the change and enthusiastic about the remodeling project."

Monthly events during the year-long celebration of the anniversary have included preparation of a time capsule by students in the grade school, a parish-wide retreat, a Strawberry Festival fund-raiser and a Day at the Saratoga Races, held last summer.

(On May 18, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will celebrate a 4:30 p.m. liturgy that will culminate the year-long golden anniversary celebration of St. Mary's parish.)

(05-16-02) [[In-content Ad]]