Six priests reach golden jubilees of serving God and His people

REV. JOHN DECAPRIO added that the people he has served "have nurtured me through the years. There have been crosses, but how can one be a servant and be free of the cross? The greatest moment of each day is finding Jesus in the Word and in the Breaking of the Bread."

A native of Amsterdam, Father DeCaprio attended public grade school and St. Mary's Institute there before entering the seminary. He has served at Sacred Heart, Stamford; St. Mary's, Frankfort; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Schenectady; Sacred Heart, Gloversville; and St. Joseph's, Little Falls.

He was pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Ushers for 15 years. In addition, he was an auditor for the diocesan Tribunal and one of the first members of the diocesan Liturgy Commission.

(Father DeCaprio will mark his golden jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving, June 13, 3 p.m., at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Amsterdam. A reception follows.)

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A native of Lithuania, REV. JOSEPH GRABYS has served in the Diocese as chaplain of Our Lady of Grace Retreat House in Schenectady, Mt. St. Joseph in Castleton and LaSalle School in Albany. In parish work, he was assigned to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Schenectady; Sacred Heart, Sidney; St. Marie's, Cohoes; Sacred Heart, Stamford; and St. Joseph's, Schenectady.

He was also a professor of theology at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, and auditor and pro-synodal judge at the diocesan Tribunal.

As a pastor, Father Grabys served at St. Joseph, Scotia; St. Brigid, Watervliet; and St. Casimir, Amsterdam.

(Father Grabys, who now lives in Connecticut, marked his jubilee earlier this year.)

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REV. JOHN HARDIMAN

He has served at St. Mary's, Ballston Spa; St. John the Baptist, Walton; and Holy Family, Downsville. In addition, he was spiritual director of Mater Christi Seminary in Albany, a member of the Priests Personnel Board and Presbyterial Council, and chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, Colonie Police and Fire Departments, and at St. Gregory's School for Boys.

For the past 30 years, he has been pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Latham.

Looking back over his time in the priesthood, Father Hardiman recalled many memorable moments, including "my ordination, the experience of celebrating my first Mass for my parents and family; my visit to Rome. Each and every day has enabled me to celebrate and be with God's people. It is a fulfilling life of giving the Lord to others. It's a rewarding life, bringing the best to others: the Gospel message of Jesus and His sacramental presence, especially in the Eucharist."

(Father Hardiman will mark his jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 13, 11 a.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Latham. A reception follows.)

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A native of Schenectady, REV. JOHN KEEFE attended public schools there and Siena College before entering the seminary.

He has served at St. Mary's, Glens Falls; St. Thomas, Delmar; St. John the Evangelist, Rensselaer; and St. Joseph's, Troy (while earning a master's degree in education at Siena and teaching at Catholic Central High).

After 13 years at Catholic Central as vice principal and principal, Father Keefe became director of education for the Diocese. He then returned to parish work at St. Mary's, Glens Falls; and as pastor of St. Matthew's, Voorheesville; and St. Catherine of Siena, Albany.

(Father Keefe will mark his anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving, June 13, 2 p.m., at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Albany. A reception follows.)

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"The priesthood is the most fulfilling of all vocations," says REV. ALFRED LAMANNA. "It enables one to seek one's most heartfelt desires."

A native of Amsterdam who was educated at public schools there, he served the Diocese at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany; St. Mary's, Little Falls; St. Mary's, Frankfort; Our Lady of the Assumption, Schenectady; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Gloversville; and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Amsterdam.

His first pastorate was at St. Catherine's, Middleburgh, and St. Joseph's, Schoharie. He then served for 25 years as pastor of St. Mary's parish in Frankfort, retiring in 1994.

(Father Lamanna will mark his jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 13, 2 p.m., at Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Frankfort. A reception and picnic follow at St. Francis Park.)

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REV. WILLIAM LEMOYNE

He was pastor of Notre Dame-Visitation parish in Schuylerville for 30 years, retiring in 1994.

"I am most grateful to God for my vocation," he said. "I hope and pray that I have served the Lord and His people to the best of my ability. I also hope and pray that all those whom I have served will remember me kindly in their prayers."

(Father Lemoyne will mark his jubilee in the fall.)

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