Parishes named for angels keep feasts of their patrons

When your parish bears the name of an archangel, it's only natural that angel food cake would be a main menu attraction on the premises.

That, at least, is what happened the last time there was an open house at the rectory of St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Rotterdam, according to Rev. Leo Markert, pastor.

"It was an enormous gathering, with many, many angel food cakes being served, not just in the rectory but also in little tents that were set up outside," he recalled.

Honoring patron

While celebrations of that magnitude don't take place every year, Father Markert said the parish normally has some kind of special liturgy on or near the feast day of St. Gabriel and the two other archangels, St. Michael and St. Raphael, on Sept. 29.

"This year, their feast day falls on a Monday, so we'll likely try to alter the liturgy to tie in with that theme," said Father Markert. "When the feast falls in the middle of the week, we don't do as much."

One of the parish's most creative liturgies in the past entailed making references to angels in 10 different languages, including Arabic, German, Italian, Japanese and Polish.

Angel lore

A large painting featuring Gabriel with Mary at the Annunciation is prominently displayed inside the church as a year-round reminder to parishioners of their parish's patron saint.

While Father Markert is well aware of the popularity of angels in mainstream America today, he said his parishioners tend to be largely down-to-earth about the subject.

"Maybe some of them have been touched by an angel," he said, quoting the name of the TV series; "but if they have been, they're not telling."

Celebration

At St. Michael the Archangel Church in South Glens Falls, secretary Mary Sipowicz said the parish patron's feast is always cause for celebration.

"Every year, we have a big parish picnic or Family Fun Day close to the date," she said. "This year, we're celebrating a little early with festivities at Moreau State Park on the afternoon of Sept. 14."

Both Rev. Robert Nugent, pastor, and Father Markert believe their parishes were named by the late Bishop William Scully in the 1950s. Among the first parishes in the Albany Diocese to be named in honor of St. Michael the Archangel were St. Michael's in Troy and St. Michael's in Amsterdam.

Tradition

Founded in the late 1800s, St. Michael's in Amsterdam merged with St. Joseph's and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1979. Nevertheless, St. Michael's, where Rev. Lawrence Decker serves as pastor, continues its long tradition of holding an annual family festival in honor of the patron whose statue is found atop a high altar inside the historic church.

Although the event was suspended at one point in the parish's history, parish spokesperson Mary Frederick said it has taken place continuously for the past decade.

Originally believed to have been held closer to St. Michael's autumn feast day, the festival now takes place in late summer in order to accommodate busy parishioners' lives, which get increasingly hectic when school resumes in September.

"This year, we held the festival on August 1 and 2. After the 4 o'clock Mass on Saturday, we had a beautiful picture of St. Michael the Archangel on display," said Mrs. Frederick. "Those wishing to make donations to the church in honor of St. Michael attached money with ribbons."

Angel eyes

At Our Lady of Angels Church in Albany, a magnificent painting of the Blessed Mother surrounded by angels and cherubs can be seen above the altar. Images of angels and tributes to Christ's mother can also be found along the walls of the historic church, which dates back to 1867.

Parish secretary Susan Comanzo said the naming of the parish, where Rev. Alvin Sommerville, OFM Conv, is pastor, had to do with the parish's early connections to the Franciscan friars, who came to Albany in 1865 from a church in Assisi, Italy.

The friars, said Ms. Comanzo, had a deep devotion to Our Lady of Angels, whose feast is celebrated on August 2.

(08-14-97)

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