Seven marking 50 years

Seven priests of the Albany Diocese are marking their golden jubilees of ordination:

* Rev. Michael Clemente will note his anniversary twice: at a 6 p.m. Mass on June 4 at St. Anthony's Church, Schenectady, and at an 11 a.m. Mass on June 5 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel parish, Gloversville.

A native of that city, he has ministered at Blessed Sacrament, Hague; St. Anthony's, Schenectady; Sacred Heart, Cairo; St. Mary's, Frankfort; Our Lady of Angels, Whitehall; St. Brigid's, Watervliet; St. Anthony's, Schenectady; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Stuyvesant; St. Joseph's, Little Falls; and Holy Cross, Schenectady.

Father Clemente is also the founder of the Capital District Deaf Center and served in the diocesan Deaf Apostolate.

* Rev. Francis Dunbar will mark his jubilee on June 5 with a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Hope parish in Whitehall.

A native of that town, he has served at St. Francis, Herkimer; St. Mary/St. Paul's, Hudson Falls; Immaculate Conception, Haines Falls; and St. Anthony's, Johnstown.

* Rev. Paul Engel, a native of Troy, has ministered as an associate pastor at St. Francis, Troy; St. Brigid's, Watervliet; and Our Lady of Victory, Troy.

He was also vice principal of Catholic Central High School, chaplain of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and chaplain at Hudson Valley Community College and LaSalle Institute, all in Troy.

After a stint as diocesan director of the Newman Apostolate, Father Engel was named pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Albany. He then became director of the diocesan programs for permanent deacons and for camping.

In 1978, he was named pastor of St. Catherine's, Middleburgh. He is now pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, Delanson.

Father Engel has already marked his jubilee.

* Rev. William Esmond will note his jubilee on June 3, 6 p.m., at Our Lady of Hope Church in Whitehall.

A native of Watertown, he has been secretary to Bishop Edmund Gibbons, and served at St. Michael's, S. Glens Falls; and St. Columba's, Schenectady.

After serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserves, he ministered at St. Peter's, Saratoga Springs; Visitation, Schuylerville; St. Patrick's, Troy; and Our Lady of Angels, Whitehall.

* Rev. Joseph Girzone, a native of Albany, was ordained as a Carmelite priest. He was incardinated into the Albany Diocese in 1970. He has served at St. Clare's, Colonie; Our Lady of the Assumption, Latham (while teaching at Mercy High School in Albany); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Schenectady; St. Joseph's, Scotia; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Amsterdam; and St. Patrick's, Ravena.

He is well known for writing a series of "Joshua" novels.

He plans "a quiet, private Mass to thank God for the privilege of serving Him as a priest and helping to make Jesus better known throughout the world."

* Rev. Lawrence McTavey, a native of Troy, has taught at Catholic Central High and been associate pastor of Sacred Heart parish, both in that city.

He was assistant principal and then principal of Cardinal McCloskey High in Albany, while living at Blessed Sacrament parish. Since 1972, he has been pastor of St. Bernard's, Cohoes.

Father McTavey will offer a jubilee Mass at his parish at noon on June 5. A parish dinner will be held at 5 p.m. at Franklin Plaza in Troy.

* Rev. John Roos, a native of Albany, has been a member of the diocesan Tribunal; a teacher at Mater Christi Seminary in Albany; and pastor of St. Joseph's, Scotia; St. James, Fort Plain; Annunciation, Ilion; and St. Mary's, Cooperstown.

He is now sacramental minister at Blessed Sacrament, Springfield Center; St. Thomas, Cherry Valley; and St. Mary's, Sharon Springs.

He will mark his anniversary privately.

(5/19/05)