Parish marks 125th

Sacred Heart Church in Lake George is celebrating its 125th anniversary Oct. 3, but Rev. Joseph O'Brien, pastor, hopes parishioners look ahead as they recall their church's history.

They seem to be doing just that, with increased lay participation and a growing awareness of each person's baptismal call to ministry in a parish whose spiritual heritage goes back to 1646 and St. Isaac Jogues' discovery of Lac du St. Sacrement, present-day Lake George.

"We're very much in the midst of trying to envision our future, see how we can take greater responsibility in everyday life, and create a future that goes back to what Isaac Jogues handed on to us," Father O'Brien said.

Roots

Rev. James Kelley was Sacred Heart's first pastor, serving from 1874 to 1881. He was followed by such pastors as Rev. James Green, Rev. James Lynch, Rev. W. O'Mahoney and Rev. Joseph Graham over the rest of the 1800s. Rev. Patrick Livingston was appointed pastor in 1901 and served until 1915, when he was replaced by Rev. John Kilduff.

Expansion

With this source of extra revenue, Father Kilduff made many improvements to the parish property: adorning the church interior with stone trim, erecting a marble altar, and installing stained glass windows depicting the life story of the North American Martyrs.

Another improvement was the construction of "The Cloister," a pavilion added onto the side of the church at the sanctuary to provide more room for worshippers during summer.

Successors

* Rev. Pierre Levesque, 1944-49;

* Rev. James Curley, 1949-56;

* Rev. John Carroll, 1956-57;

* Rev. Wilfred Bouchey, 1958-74;

* Rev. George Phillips, 1975-91;

* Rev. Paul Cox, 1991-98;

* Rev. Timothy Harrison, 1998;

* Father O'Brien, 1998-present.

The past five pastors also have served as pastors of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption in Cleverdale, which was originally built as a mission of Sacred Heart in 1921. It was later transferred to Blessed Sacrament Church in Bolton Landing; a new chapel was built in 1966 and was returned to Sacred Heart two years later.

Kateri Tekakwitha Hall was built on Sacred Heart's property in the 1960s; the building is larger than the church and serves as the summertime worship space. The St. Isaac Jogues Parish Center was built across the street from the church in 1991 to provide religious education classrooms, a library, parish offices, and a gathering place for parishioners to socialize.

Summer extras

Sacred Heart has between 500 and 600 year-round parishioners, according to Father O'Brien. That number triples during the summer, and he's pleased by the annual boost in church attendance.

"For a vacation place, people search us out," he said. "I'm glad they see this as an important enough commitment in their life to come celebrate Eucharist."

Involvement

Their involvement is essential in "keeping alive the gifts of faith and the many charisms that flow out of a vibrant, Christian community," he said. "We are the Church, and we have a rightful place to step forward and fully appreciate what that means."

(Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will celebrate Sacred Heart's 125th anniversary Mass at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 3. A reception will follow in the St. Isaac Jogues Parish Center.)

(09-30-99) [[In-content Ad]]