Parishes keep eye on sky when weather worsens

* People who attend daily Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Castleton-on-Hudson, for example, might want to pay attention to the school closings and delays on radio and television this winter. That's because the parish goes by the Schodack Central Schools in determining whether or not to celebrate daily Mass when the weather's bad.

If schools are closed or classes are delayed, there's no daily Mass, said Rev. Thomas Krupa, pastor. But a delay in classes doesn't necessarily mean parish faith formation programs are canceled. "Programs still go on, but it's up to the teachers. They're asked to use their common sense," Father Krupa said.

Once people arrive at church, getting inside shouldn't be too slippery because a shovel, broom and bucket of salt are near the entrances. "We do see people who use the shovel and spread the salt around," Father Krupa said. People even lend a hand with ice choppers when walkways turn icy.

* At the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion, attendance was down at Sunday Masses on Jan. 3, when snow and sleet fell upon much of the Northeast. Parishioners apparently were thinking ahead because many more than usual attended Mass the night before, according to Rev. Joseph Benintende, pastor.

"The numbers were up at the vigil. I think people were listening to the weather forecast and decided to come early," he said.

Those who braved the nasty weather and came to Mass during the Jan. 3 storm seemed to feel safer leaving their cars at home, he noted. "I was surprised by the number of people who walked to church," he said.

When parish activities are canceled due to bad weather, announcements are made on radio and TV stations in the Utica area; last year, wintry conditions forced the cancellation of religious education on occasion. Although snow and ice might keep schools closed, people who attend daily Mass at Annunciation are troupers, and canceling might not be the wisest move.

"You should think when you do something like that. All you need is a handful of people to show up, and you're in the doghouse," he said.

* St. Paul's Church in Hancock also sees an increase in Saturday vigil Mass attendance when Sunday's weather forecast is bad, according to Rev. Stephen Morris, administrator. Whenever parishioners make it to Mass, he is glad that they fulfill both their spiritual obligation and the financial needs of the parish by contributing to the collection.

"It pleases me that they have a sense of duty and want to worship," he said.

Bad weather led to the postponement of an Epiphany party at the parish earlier this month. If daily Mass is canceled, Father Morris believes those who regularly attend would be in touch with one another and spread the word. Still, it wouldn't take much for Father Morris to change his mind if worshippers didn't get the message. "I guess I'd say the Mass if there were a handful of people," he said.

* At St. Joseph's Church in Broadalbin, the threat of harsh weather on Jan. 3 convinced more people to attend vigil Mass than usual, according to Rev. Timothy Mangan, SSS, pastor. About 30 people from St. Joseph's mission church, St. Mary's in Galway, traveled to Broadalbin for the vigil. That proved to be a smart decision, because the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday was canceled. He spoke with St. Mary's Church board members and followed their suggestion to not celebrate Mass there. Consequently, a children's pageant at St. Mary's was pushed back one week.

Getting to St. Mary's can be a problem if the weather makes road conditions hazardous, but celebrating Mass at St. Joseph's isn't too risky for Father Mangan, who lives across the street from the church. "There might have been occasions where we might have had to cancel religious education. There wouldn't be cancellation of Masses," he said.

* When wintry conditions cause problems, people who attend Mass at Holy Cross Church in Salem don't seem to be inconvenienced a great deal, according to Rev. Liam Condon, pastor. "I don't cancel Mass. Half of [those who come to daily Mass] are within walking distance," he said. Mass might be canceled if schools around Salem are closed.

Saturday vigil Mass attendance tends to increase if snowy weather is predicted for Sunday. Visits to shut-ins may be postponed if the weather becomes too nasty.

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