---

INTER-DIOCESAN COOPERATION

Priest pinch-hits at Syracuse parish

Rev. Christopher Welch has served as pastor of St. Paul's parish in Hancock since October 2008. Recently, he took on the unusual responsibility of celebrating Mass in an additional parish - outside of the Albany Diocese.

The neighboring Diocese of Syracuse completed its parish reconfiguration process in May, leaving four Catholic churches in eastern Broome County under the care of a single priest, Rev. Thomas Catucci. 

When asked to help Father Catucci cover the Masses in these four parishes, Father Welch willingly agreed. 

Beginning July 5, Father Welch is presiding at one Mass each week at St. Joseph's parish in Deposit, in addition to his two weekly Masses at St. Paul's. He will also occasionally assist at Our Lady of Lourdes in Windsor.

Although St. Joseph's Church is part of the Syracuse Diocese, it's only about 10 miles from St. Paul's.

Father Welch is not the first priest of the Albany Diocese to assist a parish outside diocesan boundaries, according to Rev. Ronald Menty, administrative advocate for priests. Parishes in the Syracuse Diocese have been assisted by Rev. John Burns of Holy Cross Church in Morris and Rev. Gordon Polenz of Sacred Heart in Sidney. For several years, Rev. Thomas Zelker of St. Mary's in Granville celebrated Mass at a parish in the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont.

Although Father Welch's new duties required a slight adjustment to the Mass schedule at St. Paul's, he said that "people have been pretty understanding."

The pastor hopes the new relationship will benefit both parishes. He has spoken with Father Catucci about the possibility of offering inter-parish retreats and adult education classes.

Father Menty was not surprised by Father Welch's commitment: "Priests in more rural and remote areas of a diocese have always been especially willing to help out and reach across parish borders and diocesan borders," he explained.

"Deposit is a small community, just like Hancock," Father Welch noted. So far, he said, the transition has been smooth: "People are people, wherever you go."

(07/09/09) [[In-content Ad]]

---