From Sunday bulletins

St. Francis of Assisi parish in Albany hosted a dramatic reflection by BERTRAND FAY on the priesthood in times of crisis: author GRAHAM GREENE’S “The Power and the Glory”....

SUE DELSIGNORE will retire after Easter as organist and music director at St. Mary’s parish in Glens Falls.

St. Mary’s is starting its Advent food drive for the needy. Mass-goers receive a bag to fill with non-perishable items that will be distributed to the needy. The food will be divided up and sent to food pantries and groups that assist the needy at Christmas....

ANN MCCAULEY is the new pastoral associate for parish life at St. Mary’s parish in Ballston Spa. She previously served as pastoral associate for administration and parish life for three parishes in Columbia County and business manager at St. Ambrose in Latham. She holds master’s degrees in pastoral studies and, most recently, divinity, from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Albany....

KATHLEEN TOMICH joined the pastoral care ministry team at St. Thomas parish in Delmar....

St. Mary’s in Clinton Heights reported that CARL HACKERT played an organ concert at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, sponsored by United Healthcare....

At St. Edward’s parish in Clifton Park, the Our House social group for adults with disabilities is holding a silent auction of Christmas tress Dec. 1-2; winners will be announced after the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. All proceeds will go to Street Soldiers, an organization that benefits the homeless of Saratoga County. For information on the Our House group, contact COLIN ALLYN, (518) 320-4141
or [email protected], and see www./ourhouseatstedwards.club.

Also at St. Edward’s, Advent penance services will be held Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Advent evening prayer will be Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at 7 p.m., with sung psalms, Scripture and placing everyone’s needs and cares into God’s hands.

St. Edward’s has a family-focused liturgy at 9 a.m. the first Sunday of each month, with young adults and families serving as greeters, lectors and Eucharistic ministers....

Since the hall at Our Lady of the Valley parish in Middleburgh is under construction, the annual ladies’ Advent tea will be held at St. Mark’s Church in Middleburgh. It’s Dec. 8, 12:30-3 p.m....

St. Michael’s parish in Troy now has a signed Mass on the last Saturday of the month to benefit the deaf community, instead of the first Saturday....

The choral society of St. Adalbert’s parish in Schenectady is celebrating 115 years of service to the parish and community....

Holy Spirit in Gloversville notes that its Knights of Columbus are working with faith formation students on a poster contest called “Keeping Christ in Christmas.” Children from kindergarten to age 14 can make a poster; on Dec. 18, there will be a judging reception, after which the posters will be displayed in the church for the Christmas season....

All Saints on the Hudson parish in Mechanicville/Stillwater had a successful Thanksgiving dinner for seniors, a parish tradition for 21 years. More than 250 guests dined or picked up takeout meals, with donations from faith formation families of food and desserts....

On Dec. 1, 12:30 p.m., St. Luke’s parish in Schenectady will offer “A Year in the Life of Music at St. Luke’s,” a concert featuring the liturgical year in music....

Youth and adults from Our Lady of Victory parish in Troy and its mission church, Our Lady of the Snow in Grafton, will participate in a winter walk to benefit Joseph’s House in Troy Dec. 8, 2-4 p.m. Starting from the Little Italy Outdoor Marketplace on Hill Street, they’ll walk through downtown Troy, then have a traditional Italian posada where Mary, Joseph and animals go door to door, looking for space in the inn. The posada will end at the Hill Street Inn, with music and refreshments....

Ss. Anthony and Joseph parish in Herkimer is raising $64,000 to replace its boiler and keep the church warm during the winter....

Holy Family parish in Little Falls and St. Joseph’s in Dolgeville suggested parishioners try a “reverse Advent calendar” this year: Each day during Advent, they can add a non-perishable food item, a hygiene items, cleaning supplies and the like to a box, ending with at least 24 items for the needy while counting up to Christmas. At Christmas, they can bring the box to church to be delivered to the food pantry....

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany will offer a free concert of sacred music honoring the Blessed Mother Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. The Cathedral choir of adults and children with director Dr. Brian Gurley will perform pieces including FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN’S “Missa Cellensis in E flat”....

Parishioners of St. Patrick’s in Cambridge have adopted a needy family from Cambridge School  through “Operation Santa Claus” for Christmas.