Priest anniversaries

25th

Father Anthony F. Ligato, was born in Troy, and attended Troy High School, Hudson Valley Community College, Siena College and St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md.

From 1995-99, Father Ligato was associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany, and associate at Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville from 1999-2001. From 2001-04, Father Ligato was pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Stamford/St. Philip Neri Mission Church in Grand Gorge, and from 2004-09, he was pastor at Holy Family Parish in Little Falls/Sts. Anthony and Joseph’s Church in Herkimer. Since 2009, he has been pastor at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Wynantskill, and has been pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Troy since 2018. Since 2013, Father Ligato has been the Vicar for Vocations in the Diocese of Albany.

“Each day as a priest is memorable, for the Lord calls us to share our lives as priests with the people we serve. In serving the People of God we encounter holiness each day. In fulfilling our mission as priests to proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the Holy Eucharist makes each day memorable and fulfilling as a priest. In the Vatican II document — Presbyterorum Ordinis: Chapter II, The Ministry of Priests — priests have the primary responsibility to proclaim the Gospel of God. ‘Going therefore into the whole world preach the Gospel to every creature.’ (Mk 16:15) The life of a priest is to shepherd the people of God who have been entrusted to him by the bishop. This means we are called to love the people we serve as Jesus loves. ‘Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He then said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’ (John 21:15-17) As the Vicar for Vocations, this is the message I give to the seminarians entrusted to me for formation, to love the Lord means to feed the people of God by providing his word and the sacrament."   

Plans for observing jubilee: My jubilee plans have been postponed due to the pandemic until at a time when I can celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving with my parish communities, family, friends and seminarians.

Father Joseph Manerowski was born in Brooklyn and attended Hofstra University and St. John’s University. He attended seminary at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. He began his ministry at St. John the Evangelist in Schenectady as associate pastor from 1995-96. In 1996, he served as pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Delhi and campus minister for SUNY/Delhi. In 2000, he became pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Hoosick Falls and chaplain of St. Mary’s Academy while also serving the mission of St. George’s. After Hoosick Falls, he accepted the assignment of pastor for St. Mary’s Parish in Glens Falls, retiring in September of 2017. 

“My vocation to the priesthood came rather late after a teaching career, marriage, children and then working as a counselor and in a drug rehabilitation center. In the meantime, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement helped me to discern my call to the priesthood. As a priest, three moments especially stand out in my memory. One was, of course, my ordination and then presiding at my first Mass in my home parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst with many family and friends present. One very pastoral moment was when I was called to Glens Falls Hospital to pray with and anoint Archbishop Harry Flynn who had been admitted there. A most sorrowful and difficult moment was presiding and preaching at the funeral of my oldest child, Alysia, who died at 36 years of age while I was pastor in Hoosick Falls. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I so joyfully proclaim in homilies or on other occasions, that my call to the priesthood is all at once profound, mysterious, humbling, exulting, joy-filled and holy. To administer the sacraments and to be with God‘s people in good times and in bad is an ‘awe-filled’ experience. I am grateful and happy as I do my best to live out my priestly vocation first as an active and now retired priest. I so appreciate the friendship and support of the many who have formed me into the priest and man I am today and, of course, for the graces, blessings and guidance of the Holy Spirit as I journey forth.”

Plans for observing jubilee: There are no plans at this time.

Editor’s note: Due to an unfortunate oversight, the 25th anniversaries were not included in last week’s issue of The Evangelist.