Parishes striving to heal from loss

"People are literally sick over it," parish secretary Marie DeGraw said of the removal of Rev. James Rosch from St. Joseph's parish in Fort Edward. "I would say 90 to 95 percent of the people love this priest and are very upset with the bishops. The damage has been done by the bishops."

Under the policy the American bishops enacted during their mid-June meeting in Dallas, any priest who was ever involved in the sexual abuse of a minor must be removed from public ministry forever and possibly laicized.

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard had argued that evaluations of instances that were decades old should be made on a case-by-case basis by an independent lay board that would include the victims' perspective. The board would take into account the priest's misdeed, the success of treatment he received and his unsullied performance since the incident. But the Bishop's view was voted down by the other bishops. Consequently, six priests were removed from ministry in the Albany Diocese; three of them had been active pastors of parishes.

Penance done

Carmela Porto just joined the staff of St. Joseph's as pastoral associate for faith formation. She said that the parish's "biggest concern" right now is its youth, many of whom were brought into the Church through the efforts of Father Rosch. St. Joseph's is holding its second listening session for youth on July 11 to allow them to express their feelings.

"Everybody here is very supportive and loving of Father Jim," Ms. Porto added. "I have not heard any negativism at all."

Empathy

Rev. Robert Hohenstein lost his own parish family when Our Lady Help of Christians, the Albany parish he served for 32 years, closed last February.

"I know what they're going through," he said of his new parishioners. "That grief is going to be there for a long time."

Going on

Parishioners had debated canceling the festa, but he encouraged them to hold it, saying that calling off such a popular event would send "a very negative message" to the community.

Loyalty and sorrow

"It's a delicate assignment," he remarked. "I have to be a source of healing and reconciliation. I told them, `I ask for your help; we have to help each other.'"

The pastor said he is cautious but optimistic about Our Lady of Mt. Carmel's future: "In all the parishes that are affected [by the loss of a priest], their faith is strong. Ultimately, our faith doesn't depend on the actions of any one person. We will persevere and help each other. We'll get through it."

Parish secretary Mary Stewart expressed the same sentiment even more firmly. "We're strong. We are very strong," she stated. "We will go on. Our Lady of Mount Carmel prayed for us; now it's time for us to pray for her [parish]."

Healing service

The service included Scripture readings, music, prayer and a bonfire in which people's petitions, grievances and prayers were symbolically burned and mixed with incense. Father Fisher, who has been active in the charismatic movement, also anointed parishioners who requested it after the service.

Deacon Michael Sheppeck, assigned to pastoral ministry at the parish, noted that Corpus Christi prides itself on living up to its name: on being the "body of Christ." He said the parish is "very resilient" and hopes to begin healing as a community.

Losses

* Rev. Christopher Welch, associate pastor, moved on to a new assignment (see page 2);

* Youth minister Laura Evoskevich decided to go back to teaching for a couple of years and has been missed by the youth; and

* Sister Eileen Lomasney, CSJ, a renowned children's book author and illustrator, and a longtime parishioner, passed away.

"The emotions are all over the map," Deacon Sheppeck remarked. "Reactions have gone all the way from people angry at [Father Pratt] and the Bishop to people grieving his loss because he was a good pastor and administrator, and much-loved by the community."

Recovering

Deacon Sheppeck told The Evangelist that Father Pratt was accused of just one instance of abuse in the 1970s.

"It's a tragedy for Ed, for the person he was involved with back in the '70s and for this parish," he stated. "But I'm sure Ed will come through; he's a good, solid human being."

He felt the same way about Corpus Christi: "The community will make it. It's just going to take some time."

(07-11-02) [[In-content Ad]]