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Nestled atop a hill in Waterford that slopes into a quaint stretch of storefronts and historic buildings, the gothic structure of St. Mary's Church -- known locally as the "cathedral of the north" -- beckons onlookers with its granite stone and limestone façade and stained glass windows.

Waterford, with its federal-style homes and friendly downtown community, has a long history. The village, located at the juncture of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, was incorporated in 1794, making it the oldest in the nation.

St. Mary's sits at the southeast corner of Saratoga County. Amid growing suburbs with booming parishes, the small-town parish has been expanding in membership, excitement and activity.

Since 2009, when three parishes in the nearby city of Cohoes shut their doors, St. Mary's has gained 163 families, bringing its membership to a total of 1,565 families. Parishioners estimate that young families make up about 30 percent of the community.

The youth group has been revived, outreach ministries have gained members and sacramental ministries are growing in popularity. One group of parishioners who formerly went to St. Joseph's parish in Cohoes even brought its tradition of an active St. Anne's Society to their new parish.

From afar
In addition to those new faces, parishioners say St. Mary's also attracts Catholics from Clifton Park and Ballston Spa, where the Catholic parishes are larger. St. Mary's holds its own weight among these churches, as well as St. Mary's in Crescent and the two remaining parishes in Cohoes.

Sue Smith, parish secretary and a parishioner for 63 years, said the building itself fascinates visitors.

"There doesn't even have to be anyone in there," she told The Evangelist. "It just feels like home."

Prior to the church's construction in the early 1900s, Masses were celebrated in the town hall, then in the current parish hall, north of the parish school. St. Mary's was founded in 1843 by the Albany Diocese and was handed over to the Augustinian order of priests in 1858.

St. Mary's is one of two remaining diocesan parishes still staffed by Augustinian priests. The order pulled out of five parishes in the late 1990s and one last year.

"We're grateful that there's still a presence in upstate New York," said Rev. David Kelley, OSA, pastor of St. Mary's, where he and an associate pastor serve.

Augustinian presence
Parishioners say the Augustinian order has always brought a special quality to the community.

"I think it brings a love of the Eucharist, a love of Mary," said Cathleen "Keene" Olmstead, a parishioner for 25 years, noting that the priests live in community in the rectory. "I think they bring a spirituality to the Church."

Clergy at St. Mary's surpass the call of duty by being available for consultation or answering the office phone. "Sometimes, people need to hear Father's voice," Mrs. Olmstead said. "And our priests are really good about that."

Mrs. Olmstead heads the parish's youth ministry, RCIA program, baptism preparation and the adult education program. She taught religion in Catholic schools for 30 years -- 20 of which were spent at St. Mary's School.

So, when she retired and started in her current part-time position last year, she was confident she could generate enthusiasm for a youth group. Last year, eight high-school students participated; this year, 25 participate.

Teen time
"We've never seemed to be able to maintain it," she mused of past groups. "I keep saying to the kids, 'This time is a charm.'"

The teens have already hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for senior parishioners and community members; hosted days of Christmas- and Easter-themed activities for younger children, including an original puppet show on the Passion of Jesus; arranged a dance for middle school students; raised funds for the parish; and attended the Steubenville East youth conference in Rhode Island.

Mrs. Olmstead wants the group to continue to grow and get involved with more spiritual activities.

On the adult side, the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society gained 17 new members in the past two years, making the group about 25 members strong. Members staff the parish food pantry, which serves 20 to 30 clients monthly -- 50 to 55 near Christmas and Thanksgiving. Volunteers say this is a definite jump compared to previous years.

Society member Irene Sacala attended St. Bernard's parish in Cohoes for 20 years. She said she was nervous about coming to a new parish, but felt welcomed by St. Mary's.

"The people are very nice. They were very accepting," she said, adding that she thought the majesty of the church might breed an air of "religious snobbery," but that idea was debunked by the friendly parishioners: "They were all down-to-earth."

(11/04/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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