South Kortright parish celebrates 75th

Parishioners will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of their church and the 18th anniversary of Rev. John Burns as their pastor, the longest-serving pastor in parish history. He didn't expect to be there this long, but he's loved spending the past 18 years in the tiny rural parish.

"You get to know the people better, and it's not mass-production ministry," he said. "You have fewer people, so you have to count on them to do more."

Beginnings

Rev. Vincent de Paul Archambault, pastor of Sacred Heart, bought a house and six acres of land from the McLean estate and transferred the property to Bishop Gibbons; an indenture dated December 7, 1923 indicates the Bishop purchased the property for $3,300. A 13-room house there is still used as the rectory and is said to be the third house built in South Kortright.

Bishop Gibbons signed an agreement with E.F. and W.S. Govern for construction of the church at a cost of $14,587, to be paid in installments. The church was completed on schedule four months later, and the first Mass was celebrated July 29, 1924.

Small towns

Heavy snow made it nearly impossible for parishioners in the hilly county to get to church in winter; a typical Sunday collection was as little as $8, but summertime crowds usually filled the 216-seat church.

Parishioners were mostly of Polish, Irish or Italian descent, and everyone seemed to play a role in parish activities. The men put shingles on the rectory and garage, and helped Father Anthus paint these buildings and the church.

Women held fund-raisers, including bake sales, farmers' dinners, card parties and box socials. At box socials, men bid on lunches for two that came in boxes beautifully decorated by the women; the highest bidder for each box got to have the lunch inside with the woman who made it.

Changes

Subsequent pastors at the parish include:

* Rev. Raymond Downey, 1944-46;

* Rev. William Collins, who served until 1953; the Holy Name Society was founded during his time;

* Rev. William Schwartz, 1953-57, started Pancake Day, an annual Election Day fund-raiser that continues today;

* Rev. Michael McGarrahan and Rev. William Crandall each served as pastor for about a year before Rev. Harold McKeon took over from 1959 to 1967. During his stint, the Altar and Rosary Society formed and sponsored Communion breakfasts, bake sales and farmers' dinners;

* Rev. Donald Doyle, administrator and then pastor from 1967 to 1969, began the Strawberry Festival, a Fourth of July celebration that had social and financial benefits;

* Rev. Ralph Marini served for less than a year before he died in 1970; for the next year, Rev. John Roos and Rev. George Brucker from Mater Christi Seminary in Albany assisted Rev. Fred Duffy, pastor of Sacred Heart, with Masses in South Kortright;

* Rev. Roland Petit, named pastor in 1971, served as chaplain at the South Kortright Training School for Boys, now known as Allen Residential Center. The parish council also was formed under his leadership;

* Rev. Charles Gaffigan, 1974-81, was known for celebrating the renewal of couples' marriage vows each Valentine's Day;

* Rev. Carl Stone served as pastor for only a few months due to illness before Father Burns succeeded him. During his short tenure, the parish acquired a mission: St. Theresa's Chapel in Davenport Center.

Renewing

A former part-time chaplain at Allen Residential Center, Father Burns also has been a volunteer chaplain there and at the Sgt. Henry Johnson Youth Leadership Academy, a boot camp facility for boys ages 13 to 18 from New York City. He also visits the residents of Phoenix House, a long-term alcohol and drug rehabilitation center.

The parish has seen an increase in lay ministry, such as readers and Eucharistic ministers.

(Parishioners have been helpful in planning the anniversary Mass, with a choir comprised of singers from there and other parishes. Most Precious Blood of Jesus parish will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a 2 p.m. Mass on August 15, with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and several former pastors, including Fathers Doyle and Gaffigan. The Mass will be followed by a chicken barbecue.)

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