Spa Catholic chapel memorializes chaplain

A former weight training room at Saratoga Central Catholic High School is being transformed into a chapel dedicated to the weight room's best customer.

In the 1990s, Spa Catholic campus minister Rev. Anthony Maione earned the nickname "the powerlifting padre" for his weight-training exercise routine. The priest died in 2006, but his legacy lives on in Rev. James Ebert, who credits Father Maione with heavily influencing his decision to enter the priesthood.

An alumnus of Spa Catholic, Father Ebert recalled the first time he met Father Maione at a parish picnic: "He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and didn't look much like a priest to me, but over the next several years, he became my role model and my friend."

Today, Father Ebert is associate pastor at St. Mary's Church in Ballston Spa. He appreciated being asked by Spa Catholic principal L. Stephen Lombard and development director Jean Taylor to provide input into plans for the new chapel.

Closer to home
"Although St. Peter's Church is next door, going there requires students to leave the school building. There is currently no designated place inside of the school where students may go for confession or to receive one-on-one spiritual counseling," Father Ebert explained.

Renovations on the room are beginning this month, with help from the Saratoga Knights of Columbus. Plans include new drywall and carpeting and the installation of a window in the chapel's main door so that staff and students may see what's happening inside, but may not eavesdrop on counseling or confessions.

"The ceiling will be dropped and the fluorescent lighting will be replaced by recessed lighting to create a warm and welcoming ambiance," Father Ebert said. The priest's "wish list" also includes stained glass windows.

Father Ebert expressed gratitude to St. Paul's parish in Troy, which closed, for donating pews, paneling and an altar. St. Teresa of Avila School in Albany, which merged with Holy Cross School to become All Saints Catholic Academy, offered a crucifix and statues.

In addition, Rev. Thomas Morette, pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Broadalbin and St. Francis in Northville, is helping to secure vestments and liturgical ware for the chapel.

"It was during Father Tony's tenure as campus minister that [Spa Catholic] was named one of the 25 most innovative Catholic high schools in the nation," reflected Father Ebert.

Lasting legacy
While that honor was an important part of Father Maione's legacy, Father Ebert believes the addition of the chapel with the eucharist - which he describes as "the heart of every Catholic school" - will strengthen Spa Catholic's campus ministry program.

"One of the things Father Tony said that helped me with my decision to become a priest was that my concerns about priests not being able to experience the joys of fatherhood were unfounded," recalled Father Ebert. "He said: 'Look at me! I've got 250 kids' - a reference to his students. These days, I tell people I have 450 kids - 217 at SCC and another 235 at St. Mary's in Ballston Spa!"

Father Ebert hopes that, through the chapel in his honor, Father Maione will continue to inspire young hearts and minds.

01/14/10 [[In-content Ad]]