April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
JUBILARIANS
SPECIAL SECTION: PRIESTHOOD ANNIVERSARIES
REV. JAMES VAUGHAN'S most memorable moment as a priest is right now.
"To reach my 65th year in the priesthood" is impressive, he said: "It is a privilege, honor and joy to be a Catholic priest. I thank God for calling me to serve as a parish priest and also to experience some special priestly ministry as a chaplain in the Navy and Marines and at Coxsackie Correctional Facility. 'What a life, o priest of Jesus Christ!' And hopefully more to come, God willing!"
A Syracuse native, Father Vaughan calls Troy his hometown. He's been at Sacred Heart parish in Troy since 1973; he spent 27 years as pastor and stayed on as "pastor emeritus" when he retired in 2000. Before Sacred Heart, he served as an associate pastor at St. Mary's parish in Troy, a chaplain for the U.S. Navy Reserves, associate pastor at Sacred Heart and at St. Ambrose in Latham, pastor of St. Patrick's parish in Athens, chaplain to Coxsackie Correctional and pastor of St. Mary's parish in Hudson.
The decreased number of priests available "to serve God's people in the Church" troubles Father Vaughan. "'The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few,'" he mused. "Pray that the Lord of the harvest [will] send more laborers into the vineyard."
He offered his own enticement: "Besides being such a wonderful life to live -- very fruitful and rewarding -- [there's] hopefully a place in heaven with the good Lord forever."
Father Vaughan will mark his jubilee during one of the regular Masses at Sacred Heart Church in Troy.
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SIX DECADES OF PRIESTHOOD
FIVE PRIESTS are marking their 60th anniversary of priesthood:
REV. MICHAEL CLEMENTE, born in Gloversville, has served as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Hague, St. Anthony's in Schenectady (where he was later administrator), Sacred Heart in Cairo, St. Mary's in Frankfort, Our Lady of Angels in Whitehall and St. Brigid's in Watervliet, and administrator of Nativity in Stuyvesant. He was pastor of St. Joseph's in Little Falls and director of the Diocese's Deaf Apostolate, studying sign language at Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C., and at the National Institute for the Deaf in Rochester. He then founded and spent 25 years as head of the Capital District Deaf Center. In 1978, he became pastor of Holy Cross parish in Schenectady, where he stayed for 25 years until his retirement.
Father Clemente will mark his jubilee with a Mass June 28, 11:30 a.m., at St. John the Evangelist parish in Schenectady, with a reception afterward.
REV. FRANCIS DUNBAR, who hails from Whitehall, has served as associate pastor at St. Francis de Sales parish in Herkimer, St. Mary's/St. Paul's in Hudson Falls and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, and as pastor at Immaculate Conception parish in Haines Falls and, for 17 years, at St. Anthony's in Johnstown.
"I have found that the experiences of everyday life in the world and the influence of the priesthood are the Lord's blessings today," he remarked. "The Lord's Gospel, the holy sacrifice of the Mass and the seven sacraments are the meaning of life for the priest, his people and society."
Plans are in process for the celebration of Father Dunbar's 60th anniversary.
REV. JOSEPH GIRZONE, an Albany native, is best known as the author of 27 books on spirituality, most of them best-sellers, from the "Joshua" series to last year's "Stories of Jesus: 40 Days of Prayer and Reflection." He began as a Carmelite priest, teaching and serving at parishes from New York to Pennsylvania; he was incardinated into the Albany Diocese in 1970 and served at St. Clare's parish in Colonie; Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham (while teaching at Mercy High School in Albany), Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Schenectady, St. Joseph's in Scotia, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Amsterdam and St. Patrick's in Ravena.
"As a priest, we have a chance to make Jesus real for people -- which can change their lives," he said. "I recommend others' accepting a call to priesthood because we can allow Jesus to become real through our ministry and touch people's lives in a way no other calling can."
To mark his jubilee, Father Girzone will offer Mass at his home in Altamont "to thank God for all His goodness and allowing me to serve Him and make Him real to others."
REV. LAWRENCE MCTAVEY, a native of Troy, was associate pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Troy while teaching at Catholic Central High there; associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Albany, while assistant principal and then principal of Cardinal McCloskey High in Albany; and, from 1972-2007, pastor of St. Bernard's parish in Cohoes.
Father McTavey said he'll never forget celebrating his golden jubilee of priesthood and recommends "serving God in a vocation."
He'll offer a jubilee Mass at Holy Trinity parish in Cohoes June 13, 4 p.m., followed by an informal reception in the parish hall.
REV. JOHN ROOS, an Albany native, served at the Cathedral in Albany; studied canon (Church) law and served the diocesan Tribunal; taught at Mater Christi Seminary in Albany; and was pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Scotia, St. James in Fort Plain, Annunciation in Ilion and St. Mary's, Cooperstown, then -- after his 2000 retirement -- sacramental minister at St. Thomas the Apostle in Cherry Valley and elsewhere.
"There's a quote I've always liked: 'If Jesus is for real, things fit. Without Him, nothing makes any sense at all,'" he said.
Father Roos plans to celebrate his anniversary along with Revs. John Rosson, Andrew Cryans and Gregory Weider (see Father Rosson's anniversary information).
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GOLDEN JUBILARIANS
The Albany Diocese has three priests reaching the 50-year mark in 2015:
REV. ANTHONY CHIARAMONTE, a native of Albany, was associate pastor at St. Mary's parish in Oneonta; he did campus ministry and taught at SUNY-Oneonta and Hartwick College, and at Maria College and The College of Saint Rose in Albany; he was also diocesan director of campus ministry. His counseling studies led him to be named director of the diocesan Consultation Center in 1989; he served there until his retirement in 2011.
"The priesthood has enabled me to meet so many wonderful people along the way and provided me with so many outstanding experiences of faith and service," he said. "I feel deeply indebted to each and every one of them."
He has no anniversary plans.
REV. JOSEPH DWORAK, a native of Green Island, served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Victory, Troy; St. Vincent de Paul, Cobleskill (while chaplain at SUNY-Cobleskill); and St. Teresa of Avila, Albany. He was also pastor of Our Lady of Victory. After 19 years as chaplain at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam, he was named pastor of St. Joseph's, Fort Edward. He later served as pastor of St. Mary's/St. Paul's, Hudson Falls. Father Dworak has no jubilee plans.
REV. LEO JOSEPH O'KEEFFE, a Glens Falls native, was a Jesuit priest who became command chaplain of the Army's military district of Washington. He was incardinated into the Albany Diocese in 1997 and retired from the Army in 2005; he was a Veterans' Administration chaplain until 2013 and is now retired. He has not announced plans to mark his anniversary.
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SEVEN TIMES 40 YEARS
A SEPTET OF PRIESTS is celebrating 40 years of priestly life:
REV. GEORGE BRENNAN, whose hometown is Hartford, Conn., was a LaSalette priest whose assignments included counseling, spiritual direction and heading shrines; he served in his home state, in Massachusetts and at the LaSalette novitiate in Altamont before being incardinated into the Albany Diocese in 2009. Since then, he's ministered to the homeless through Catholic Charities, served as sacramental minister for St. Mary's parish in Troy and St. John's/St. Ann's in Albany, and had a stint as director of the ecumenical Capital Area Council of Churches. Since 2010, he's been pastor of Our Lady of Hope parish in Copake Falls.
"Ever since I was a teenager, I have believed that God was calling me to be a priest," Father Brennan said. "My understanding of my call to priesthood has grown profoundly, and it has led me in directions beyond my imagining. In my early years of priesthood, I often spent my day off studying psychology, and eventually I became a licensed psychologist, ministering at inpatient and outpatient clinical centers. In the later years, I have ministered to homeless people in Albany. Now, I serve as pastor of an awesome parish. All of those experiences have been awesome, and I am most grateful.
"Ordination day seems like yesterday. As I look back, I think of it as the beginning of many new adventures. Somewhere along the way, people taught me to trust and be open to the surprising ways that God calls and leads everyone. I am grateful for the call and to the people who taught me how to listen to God, to trust where God leads."
Father Brennan has no plans to mark his jubilee.
REV. JOSEPH CEBULA, a Watervliet native, has been associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Catherine of Siena parishes, both in Albany; and St. John the Evangelist and St. Paul the Apostle, both in Schenectady; and pastor of Sacred Heart/St. Philip Neri parish in Stamford, along with responsibility for Most Precious Blood in South Kortright. He was pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption in Rotterdam for a decade; in 2010, he became pastor of St. Mary's in Crescent.
"During the past 40-year 'walk,' I have had the privilege of meeting many people who have been and continue to walk daily with the Lord and witness to the Gospel in so many ways," he said. "I am thankful for the many people who have been a blessing to others and to me these many years. I hope that I have, in some ways, been a blessing to others during our 'walk' together. 'Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.'"
Father Cebula's anniversary celebration will be during the regular Mass May 31, 10 a.m., at St. Mary's in Crescent, marking his ministry and that of the parish. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
REV. L. EDWARD DEIMEKE comes from Parsons, Kansas. He was in the U.S. Air Force and then was associate pastor for St. Jude the Apostle parish in Wynantskill before reentering the Air Force as a chaplain, serving at bases in several states and in the Philippines and Germany, as well as in the Office of the Air Force Chief of Chaplains. Back in the Albany Diocese since 2000, he served at Immaculate Conception parish in Schenectady; as administrative advocate for priests for five years; and, since 2005, as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Watervliet.
"It has been absolutely wonderful," he declared. "When I was making or recommending assignments for priests in the Air Force, I used to tell them, 'Every assignment is a good assignment!' It has been that way for me, although not every assignment was one I asked for -- in fact, few of them were in that category. I would recommend priesthood to anyone who is looking for a fulfilling life."
Father Deimeke will retire May 31, so his jubilee celebration will be after Masses that weekend at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, Watervliet.
REV. JAMES DONLON'S hometown is Troy. He's been a chaplain at Albany Memorial Hospital, associate pastor at St. Mary's parish in Oneonta and chaplain for Christian Brothers at LaSalle School in Albany, and a weekend assistant at parishes from Albany to Lake George. Currently, he assists at All Saints on the Hudson in Mechanicville/Stillwater and St. Vincent's in Cobleskill, as well as working -- as he has since 1982 -- in the diocesan Tribunal, where he is judicial vicar. Last year, he also became vicar for religious for the Diocese.
Father Donlon will celebrate an anniversary Mass May 31, 8:30 a.m., at St. Vincent de Paul, Cobleskill. A breakfast in the church hall will follow.
REV. RICHARD FRAGOMENI is a native of Schenectady who served as a chaplain at St. Peter's Hospital, Albany; associate pastor at Corpus Christi parish, Round Lake, and St. Vincent's, Albany; and director of the Liturgy Center before heading to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he's been a professor since 1990. He also teaches at DePaul University and is rector of Chicago's Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii.
"These years have been filled with amazing riches that, if I had had all the resources in the world, I would never have been able to procure for myself," he told The Evangelist. "All has been a gift. All has been a grace. I am most grateful to Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard for the opportunity to share these gifts with others -- first with the sick, then with the parish communities, then as director of the Liturgy Center for five years.
"I am grateful for 25 years of sharing these gifts with priests and sisters, consecrated religious, seminarians and laymen and women from all over the globe. I literally have former students on each continent who share the gift of faith in liturgy, preaching and catechetics learned at Catholic Theological Union. They are part of the new evangelization. I am truly honored to have shared gifts with all my students - and, through me and the ministry I have been given to do, the Diocese of Albany, with our new bishop, Bishop Scharfenberger, enriches the world."
Father Fragomeni said he'll wait until his 50th jubilee to celebrate his years of priesthood.
REV. DENNIS MURPHY, a Troy native, taught at Vincentian Institute and Bishop Maginn High School in Albany; was associate pastor at St. Ambrose parish in Latham and pastor of St. Cecilia's in Warrensburg and St. Peter's in Saratoga Springs; and was a hospital chaplain. From 1997-2008, he was pastor of St. Margaret of Cortona Church in Rotterdam Junction; since then, he's been pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Fort Plain.
"I have met a wide range of people through my various ministries," he stated. "It has been a time of transition, adjusting to the spirit of Vatican II and, presently, to the changes due to parish closings and mergers. We are in a time when many no longer practice the faith, as is shown in dwindling attendance at Mass. We need dedicated men to answer God's call to priesthood, as well as men and women for religious life. On a positive note, many laypersons are being trained for leadership in parish and other ministries. Also, the reemergence of the diaconate is a wonderful thing. I pray for God's grace for me and my fellow jubilarians."
Father Murphy has not yet made plans to note his jubilee.
REV. JOHN PETER ROSSON came from Irvington, N.Y., and served in Nebraska before becoming a parochial vicar for St. Mary's parish in Little Falls, teaching at St. Patrick's High School in Catskill, serving as a chaplain for the Newman Society at SUNY-Oneonta and teaching at Hartwick College there. He was pastor of St. John's parish in Schenectady and has been pastor of St. Mary's in Cooperstown for the past 15 years.
"The priesthood, for me, has never been a position, an assignment, a job, a career, a title, certainly not a privilege," he said. "After 40 years, I am still becoming a priest. Becoming a priest is never a destination, but always a journey. A priest never arrives, but is always becoming more like Him. I would not subtract one day in my priesthood. Every day since ordination day, I am ordained anew."
Father Rosson will concelebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving with Revs. John Roos, Andrew Cryans and Gregory Weider at St. Mary's in Cooperstown June 14, 11:30 a.m., with a parish picnic afterward.
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QUARTER-CENTURY MARK
REV. THOMAS KONOPKA is hoping for help in celebrating his quarter-century of priesthood: "In lieu of gifts, please consider a donation to the Tour de Cure in which I plan to ride June 7. For information, go to http://main.diabetes.org/goto/frtomk."
A native of Fort Edward, Father Konopka has served as associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament parish in Albany and St. Pius X in Loudonville. He was pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Greenwich and sacramental minister for St. Patrick's in Cambridge, and part of a cluster team that included those parishes and Holy Cross in Salem. He spent three years as pastor of St. Michael's parish in Troy, then became sacramental minister for St. Clare's in Colonie -- where he still serves, along with directing the Consultation Center in Albany and working as a therapist there.
"Many experiences I've had as a priest have changed me deeply. It always happens in my interactions with people," Father Konopka told The Evangelist. "People have challenged me to see that God is the source of all that is and have challenged me to be a better Christian.
"Rev. Bob Taylor, of blessed memory, was my supervisor during my pastoral year, [the last year before ordination]. In my first year as a priest, I went to see him because I was overwhelmed by it all. Bob pointed at the crucifix and asked me who was there. My reply was, 'Jesus.' Bob replied, 'He already died for us' -- meaning that all I needed to do was bring that message of hope to others.
"When I remember that, the priesthood has been a joy; when I forget it, I make it too complicated. Thankfully, God is very patient with me. I firmly believe God is calling others to the ordained priesthood; I would challenge them to take the leap and do it. After all, it is a privilege to preach Christ crucified and risen in the sacraments, and by walking with others as they find Him."
Father Konopka will celebrate his 25th jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving June 14, 10:30 a.m., at St. Clare's parish in Colonie. [[In-content Ad]]
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