Stephentown mission celebrates

The first Catholic church in the Taconic-Lebanon Valley, an area that borders Massachusetts, the building was erected in October 1852 on a hill overlooking Lebanon Springs, next to what is now the oldest Catholic cemetery in the valley.

How the church got from Lebanon Springs to Stephentown is part of its interesting and twisting history.

Beginnings

The pastor from St. Mary's, Rev. Francis Hurley, faced a long journey each time he went to the Lebanon Valley, a trip he made for 16 years. In 1868, the mission was transferred to St. James parish in Chatham, about seven miles south of Lebanon Springs.

Over the next 134 years, as the mission was moved from one parish to another, its members maintained a strong, viable faith community. It is now part of Immaculate Conception parish in New Lebanon.

On the move

It was decided that St. Joseph's church building could better meet the needs of Catholics a bit north, so it was moved to Stephentown. The building was taken apart board by board and moved by parishioners in horse-drawn wagons.

In 1874, Rev. John J. Brennan was appointed the first pastor of Immaculate Conception. St. Joseph's officially became a mission of the new parish until 1928 when it was transferred to Sacred Heart in Berlin. It remained there until its was once again returned to Immaculate Conception.

'Joyful' event

The people at St. Joseph's "really are a community of their own, a 'parish within a parish,' so to speak," he added.

Father Close, who grew up in St. Joseph's, said the two churches are bound by a common history and a spirit of being one community.

"This is primarily a rural community and parishioners of the two churches have always been close. They live and work together, and they rally together as parishioners all the time," he said.

Working together

They also built a replica of St. Joseph's Church as a float for the town's annual parade; it is currently on display at the mission site.

"In many ways, we are two parishes; in others, we are one big community," the pastor said. "As I look back at the history of this mission parish, I marvel at the faith and willingness of the people to take ownership of their church. Their roots go deep here, and I feel honored to have been raised in such a faith community and now to serve that community as its pastor. The faith of the people here is strong and vibrant as ever."

(10-10-02) [[In-content Ad]]