Parish marks 50th

St. Catherine of Siena parish in Albany marked its golden anniversary Sept. 28, with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard celebrating Mass.

In an interview with The Knickerbocker News of Albany in 1953, the first pastor, Rev. Lawrence P. Kelly, said that events had moved so swiftly that "they leave even a pastor breathless."

Bishop Edmund Gibbons contacted Father Kelly in February 1953; in June, the ground-breaking was held. A church-auditorium and school were dedicated on Oct. 24, 1954.

In 1998, parishioners finally completed the 45-year-old dream of their first pastor by building a separate church structure. Some of the founding parishioners were present for its dedication.

Rev. Kenneth J. Doyle (below), pastor of St. Catherine's for the past 11 years, said that in the half-century that St. Catherine's has been serving Catholics, many changes have occurred, but "one constant remains with us: the Catholic faith is still strong here in this parish. People come through these doors to praise and thank God; and then, strengthened by prayer and the Eucharist, they walk back out into their families and community to offer the compassion of Christ. I feel so blessed by those who built this parish half a century ago and those that sustain it now. They are the inspiration and joy of my life."

Since its beginnings, parishioners have shown a unique commitment to parish ministries, organizing many groups and activities devoted to spiritual growth and community service.

(10/2/03) [[In-content Ad]]