April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
COHOES
St. Michael's celebration
In 1903, Rev. Valentine Gierlacki came to Cohoes with the sole purpose of fulfilling the needs of the Polish people there. In 1904, the cornerstone of the new St. Michael the Archangel Church was placed; on Easter Sunday 1905, services were held in the newly-completed church.
After a fire in 1924, the church was rebuilt with a 26-foot extension and a new stained glass window.
The Sisters of the Resurrection came to the parish in 1927 to teach the children; a new elementary school was completed in 1955.
Rev. Sigmund Olszewski replaced Father Gierlacki in 1954; Father Gierlacki passed away after 50 years of service. Father Olszewski purchased new buildings and refurbished the church, adding more stained glass windows. A parish council was formed in 1979. A new pipe organ was installed in 1988, an elevator in 1995.
In 1974, Reverend Richard Dybas, who had previously served as associate pastor, had returned as St. Michael's third pastor; he served for 31 years. Sister Beverly Marie Schickel, CSJ, became pastoral associate in 1990.
On Oct. 17, 2004, St. Michael's parish celebrated its centennial. Rev. Peter Tkocz came to the parish the following year and became pastor in 2009; he has focused on parishioners' spiritual growth, making children's religious education a top priority and adding an altar server program in addition to several renovations. An activities committee helps to uphold parish traditions; a pastoral care committee was formed in 2011. Deacon Charles Valenti was St. Michael's first deacon, serving from 2009-13.
"Our parish is rich in tradition. Our hope is that future generations can continue these traditions, which are unique to our Polish heritage," the parish history notes, citing Polish liturgies and polka Masses, a Polish choir, devotions to the Blessed Mother and the blessing of Easter baskets of food.
"We have a vision for the future and we will continue our traditional values. We must do all we can to encourage our young adults to be faithful and to grow up to be good Christians and active members of our parish," the parish history concludes.[[In-content Ad]]
MORE NEWS STORIES
BISHOP'S COLUMN
GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES
VIDEOS
SOCIAL MEDIA
OSV NEWS
- Inspired by millennial soon-to-be-saint, Irish teens create animated Lego-Carlo Acutis film
- Anxiety, uncertainty follow Trump travel ban
- Supreme Court rules in favor of Wisconsin Catholic agency over religious exemption
- Analysts: Trump’s action on Harvard, Columbia could have implications for religious groups
- Commission tells pope universal safeguarding guidelines almost ready
- Council of Nicaea anniversary is call to Christian unity, speakers say
- Vatican office must be place of faith, charity, not ambition, pope says
- Pope Leo XIV names Uganda-born priest as bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
- Report: Immigration data ‘much lower’ than Trump administration claims
- Religious freedom in Russia continues to decline, say experts
Comments:
You must login to comment.