Watervliet parish marks 150 years

On Jan. 28, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard celebrated Mass at St. Brigid's Church in Watervliet in honor of its sesquicentennial. Rev. Joseph G. Busch, pastor, and Rev. Frank Gilchrist, a retired priest of the Albany Diocese, concelebrated.

In his homily, Father Gilchrist, a native son of St. Brigid's, reminisced about growing up in the 150-year-old parish.

He spoke of pageants and elaborate ceremonies held in the church during the years that Msgr. James P. Hanrahan was pastor, from 1936 to 1962. He remembered close-knit neighbors who supported one another when times got tough.

As he reminisced, those assembled traveled through time with him, their own memories of St. Brigid's taking them back.

Beginnings

In 1839, Rev. Thomas Kyle, pastor of St. Patrick's in Watervliet, was instrumental in having a second church built to meet the increasing demands on his large parish that included the Port Schuyler area and southern section of the old village of West Troy.

He built the new church on the corners of Salem and Mansion streets. The cornerstone was blessed by Bishop John McCloskey, the first bishop of Albany, on Oct. 27, 1850. For a few years, the church was a mission where itinerant priests celebrated Masses. Then, in 1854, Rev. William Cullinan became the first resident pastor.

Named after St. Brigid of Ireland, the new church was built in the Romanesque style of architecture, with rounded doors and windows that enclosed stained glass renderings of St. Brigid, the Immaculate Conception, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus.

Education

A parish family of primarily Irish immigrants who had come to the U.S. to work on the construction of the Erie Canal and the railroads, the people of St. Brigid's built a one-room school so their children could have a Catholic education.

That school expanded, eventually consisting of both a grammar and high school that were acclaimed as among the finest in the Capital District.

In 1936, Father Hanrahan was appointed pastor. A native of Watervliet, he was superintendent of schools for the Albany Diocese from 1927 until 1955. During his years as pastor, he was a big supporter of the school. In 1957, Bishop William Scully approved the request of parishioners to have a new addition at the school named the Msgr. Hanrahan Annex.

St. Brigid's Regional Catholic School remains open and currently serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

Sisters' contribution

Father Busch, who has been pastor since 1994, said that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet have been instrumental in the life of the education in the parish.

"In the early days, the sisters used to skate from Troy across the Hudson River when it was frozen and come by boat in the warm weather to teach the children at the school," he said. "They have been a big part of parish life here over the years and remain an integral part of the community today."

He also noted that many religious vocations have come out of the parish, including more than 50 sisters, several brothers and nearly 20 diocesan priests, including Father Gilchrist, who also gave a homily during the parish's 125th anniversary Mass 25 years ago.

"I've already got him booked for the 200th anniversary," Father Busch said.

Celebrating

The parish plans to celebrate throughout this year:

* In April, the parish will sponsor a "Teddy Bear Tea" for children from grades 1 through 6. They will listen to stories about their patron saint and receive teddy bears that have been outfitted by volunteers to honor the sesquicentennial.

* In May, St. Brigid's will sponsor Confirmation for its cluster parishes -- Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Patrick's and Sacred Heart of Mary, all in Watervliet, and St. Joseph's in Green Island.

* The parish history will be updated and presented in a slide show to parishioners at weekend Masses in September.

* A gala celebration will be held at Michael's Banquet House in Latham on Oct. 26.

* The parish will pray for all deceased members from the past 150 years at a Mass in November.

* A ceremony concluding the year of celebration will be held in December.