Skiers, boaters, ball fans swell vacation parishes

When the doors of St. Theresa Child of Jesus Church in Windham open during ski season, Rev. Donald Doyle knows that "God's house in the mountains" will be filled for months with vacationing families.

The congregation more than doubles in a church where Father Doyle, pastor, has been welcoming visitors for 30 years.

"The main body of the church is filled with wall-to-wall skiers," he said. "Both chapels are filled, and it takes about 20 minutes to distribute communion."

Comforting spot

To accommodate the influx of churchgoers, an additional Mass is scheduled on Sunday, and more ministers assist during each liturgy. The parish of 200 families welcomes visitors from New York City, New Jersey and points south with open arms.

Since Sept. 11, some of those looking for respite and recreation in Windham have friends and loved ones they lost in the tragedy. Sensitive to their needs, Father Doyle makes it a point to pray for the victims and their families.

"The vacationers are wonderful people," he said. "They appreciate that they can come to Mass here."

Summer crowds

In the village of Lake George, summer fun draws people to the 32-mile body of water, while a reverence for God leads them to Sacred Heart Church. Rev. Joseph O'Brien said the summer population increases the Sunday congregation by two-and-a-half to three times.

"We run the same Mass schedule but move into a larger facility," the pastor explained. "We meet many weekend travelers, and people who are passing through."

Most vacationers or those who have summer homes in Lake George are from the surrounding counties, the Capital District, New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey. Though people arrive from different regions, Father O'Brien's homily message is the same: "To break open God's saving word."

Play ball

Rev. John Rosson, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Cooperstown, agrees with that approach.

"I may use images or anecdotes that relate to baseball or athletics, or to teachers or firemen during a convention week," he told The Evangelist; "but sharing the Gospel message is what fully connects us."

Annually, some 300,000 people visit St. Mary's, which is a one-block walk from the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum and Farmer's Museum, and a short distance from the historic Otesaga Resort Hotel.

"Living and practicing our faith in a vacation parish calls us to cultivate a spirit of Christian hospitality," said Father Rosson.

Bases full

From late April to mid-October, and particularly during Hall of Fame induction weekend in August, St. Mary's Church reaches capacity.

"We are called to be a Beatitude community," Father Rosson said. "What a wonderful calling for all of us. We meet people from many other states. We meet Catholics that come with different experiences in life and their religion. We are very open to all ideas. Every stranger is our friend here."

Each year, as tourists and conventioneers flood Cooperstown, the 625 core families of St. Mary's step up to the plate to be "welcoming and inviting, patient and accommodating," Father Rosson said. "Many people come to St. Mary's to light candles. Some are looking to schedule their wedding here, and others come to get away from their routines -- to regroup and refresh. We all need a holiday of the spirit. At St. Mary's, we provide a sabbatical for those on vacation."

Connected

To accommodate high-tech travelers, St. Mary's maintains a website that includes directions and a Mass schedule. When calling the church, however, an actual human being answers the telephone.

"We have great sensitivity when we answer the phone," Father Rosson said. "You will not get voice-mail or a menu of options. You will get a real person."

In addition to Sunday Masses, St. Mary's hospital ministry at Bassett Healthcare, a regional facility, increases during the peak season. Counseling and sacramental ministry, specifically marriage, are also on the rise at this Cooperstown parish.

"We can't be like the innkeeper in Bethlehem," the pastor added. "We always have to make room -- in our church, in our hearts and in our lives -- for others."

(When planning your next vacation, log on to www.masstimes.com to find a Catholic church near your destination. Links to websites for St. Mary's in Cooperstown and Sacred Heart in Lake George can be found at www.evangelist.org.)