Six men reach 40 years in priesthood

A native of Connecticut, REV. JOSEPH AMATO has served the Diocese at St. Mary's, Glens Falls; Sacred Heart, Troy; and St. Rita's, St. Patrick's and St. Agnes, all in Cohoes, while on the faculty of Keveny Academy there.

He wasd also an auditor and pro-synodal judge at the diocesan Tribunal, chaplain at St. Vincent's Home in Troy, administrator of St. Michael's parish there, and pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, Schenectady. He retired in 1996.

***

REV. RICHARD DYBAS

A native of Amsterdam, Father Dybas attended St. Stanislaus School and St. Mary's Institute before entering the seminary. He has served the Diocese at St. John the Baptist, Chestertown; St. Paul's, Troy; St. Michael's, Cohoes; St. Peter's, Troy; St. Thomas, Schenectady; St. Stanislaus, Amsterdam; and again at St. Michael's, Cohoes, where he has been pastor since 1974. He also taught at Catholic Central High in Troy for ten years.

(Father Dybas will mark his jubilee at a Mass on May 23, 2 p.m., at St. Michael's, Cohoes, followed by a reception.)

***

As he prepares to mark 40 years in the priesthood, REV. JAMES LEFEBVRE says that "the joys, laughter and memories remain. Hopefully, we carried out the commitment to serve Christ and His people during the special moments of their lives. Hopefully, we made a little contribution to the greater good."

A native of Montreal who attended St. Mary's School in Little Falls and Siena College in Loudonville, Father Lefebvre has been assigned to St. Francis de Sales, Troy; St. Patrick's, Ravena; St. Jean de Baptiste, Troy (while teaching at Catholic Central High); Blessed Sacrament, Hague; St. Patrick's, Cohoes; St. Joseph's, Broadalbin; and Sacred Heart, Watervliet.

He was also on the faculty and principal of St. Joseph's Academy, Albany, and chaplain at Resurrection Rest Home in Castleton. In addition, he has been on the diocesan Priest Personnel Board, served as Albany Police chaplain and been a member of other civic boards and commissions.

Since 1985, Father Lefebvre has been pastor of St. Mary's Church in Albany.

(Father Lefebvre will mark his jubilee with a private Mass of Thanksgiving.)

***

REV. RONALD MATULEWICZ

He then served at St. Joseph's, Albany; St. Anthony's, Johnstown; St. Alphonsus, Glens Falls; St. Anthony, Herkimer; Our Lady of Grace, Ballston Lake; and St. Stephen's, Hagaman, where he is currently pastor. He also taught at Bishop Burke High in Gloversville and was a chaplain at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany.

Father Matulewicz said that "my life as a priest has brought me much fulfillment and happiness, even though there were many challenges. I accepted the belief and grace that God had called me to the priesthood and was giving me the grace necessary to live such a life and serve God's people."

(Father Matulewicz will mark his anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving, June 5, 4 p.m., at St. Stephen's in Hagaman. A parish buffet reception follows at St. Mary's Institute in Amsterdam.)

***

REV. PAUL SMITH

***

"I loved the ministry in the inner city of Albany," says REV. PETER YOUNG, "and the many involvements with civil rights organizations."

A native of Albany, Father Young attended St. Teresa School, Christian Brothers Academy and Siena College. He served at St. John's parish in Albany for 17 years and as pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Bolton Landing, for 22 years, his current assignment. He has also been a prison chaplain for 15 years.

Father Young is also known for his efforts to help people with addictions through street ministry in Albany, establishing halfway houses, working with alcoholism councils and overseeing the creation of the Altamont Program, which provides counseling and job training.

(Father Young will mark his anniversary at a Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Bolton Landing, May 22, 5 p.m. A party will follow.)

(05-13-99) [[In-content Ad]]