TIME TO CELEBRATE!

14 diocesan priests, celebrating jubilees, talk about their lives and their calling.

65th

Father George W. Brucker, a native of Schenectady, attended St. John the Evangelist School and St. Joseph’s Academy in Schenectady and seminary at St. Andrew’s in Rochester and North American College in Rome. Father Brucker has served as an associate pastor at St. Joseph’s in Scotia (1957-65) and St. Patrick’s in Catskill (1965-68); as spiritual director at Mater Christi Seminary in Albany (1968-71); and as administrator at St. Joseph’s in Richfield Springs. He was pastor of St. Patrick’s in Troy (1971-74), then associate pastor at St. Michael’s in South Glens Falls (1974-77), before becoming pastor of St. Paul’s in Schenectady, where he stayed from 1997-2006, until his retirement. From 2006-18, Father Brucker served as a visiting priest at St. Henry’s in Averill Park.

Sharing from the priesthood of Jesus Christ has been a joy beyond all measure. I am deeply grateful to the Lord for my vocation and the many years of ministry. I am indebted to my parents who engendered the faith within me. Then, the many priests, religious, deacons and parish leaders who, by their example and prayers, enriched my faith. The Blessed Virgin Mary has been my special protectress. My greatest joy has been and continues to be the celebration of the Eucharist. Nothing can equal its beauty of Christ’s presence, love, healing and grace. The final lines of Lacordaire’s poem, “The Priest,” are:

“To teach, to pardon, console and bless

What a life and it is yours, O priest of Jesus Christ.”

Thanks be to God for deeming me worthy.

Father Brucker does not have any plans to celebrate his jubilee due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Father Leo P. O’Brien was born in Raymertown, attended Catholic Central High School in Troy and seminary at Theological College. He first served as an associate pastor at St. Paul’s in Schenectady (1956-64). Then, starting in 1964, he spent more than 40 years as an advisor to the bishops of the Albany Diocese in the roles of chancellor and vicar general. In 1972, he was named pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Albany, where he served until his retirement in 2006. He continues to be chaplain at Albany’s Avila Retirement Community and at St. Vincent de Paul in Albany.

One of my best experiences is the parish celebration of the Sacred Triduum, including those entering the Church at the Easter Vigil. This is such a marvelous community celebration; the entire RCIA and the support of the whole parish, praying and welcoming. These celebrations are expressions of the Church at our best, the People of God.

Yes, I would encourage an interested person to seek Holy Orders. This is a time of the Gospel call for the witness of the Good News; the time to grow with the faith community in worship, service and faith sharing. We need people who listen, encourage, enable and challenge to be in the Church of today and tomorrow with outreach to the poor and a passion for justice and mercy. I certainly would encourage someone searching out this ministry of Holy Orders. 

Father O’Brien plans to observe his jubilee with family and friends at his home at Avila.

60th

Father Joseph E. Anselment, a product of Watervliet, attended St. Patrick’s in Watervliet and Catholic Central High School in Troy, and attended seminary at St. Thomas in Connecticut and St. Andrew’s in Rochester. Father Anselment, who also attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C., served in guidance and as vice principal at Cardinal McCloskey High School and as principal at Bishop Scully High School in Amsterdam. As pastor, he spent 20 years at St. Peter’s in Stillwater and 11 years at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury.

Of his time in Stillwater, Father Anselment said: It was a great time. The people were enthusiastic about participating in the sacramental life of the parish as well as the many social dimensions and programs. 

Father Anselment currently has no plans to celebrate his jubilee at this time.

Father Pascal A. Iannotti was born in Amsterdam and attended Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School and Wilbur H. Lynch High School in Amsterdam, and seminary at Our Lady of Angels at Niagara University. Father Iannotti served as assistant priest at St. Mary’s Church and taught at St. Mary’s Academy in Amsterdam (1961-68) and later taught at St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam (1968-70). He started as an associate and later served as a pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Amsterdam (1968-80) and taught at Bishop Scully High School (1970-83). He later served as pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Johnsville from 1980-2000; and, since 2001, has assisted at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Amsterdam, the Kateri Shrine in Fonda and Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville. Since his retirement, he has also served as pastor at Saint Mary’s Hospital.

There is no greater calling than being able to bring the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, to those who suffer. On May 27, 1961, I vividly recall how excited I was; joyful and apprehensive as well. These past 60 years have gone by very quickly. I appreciated and enjoyed the assignments that I have been given. I believe they have been times of growth for me. During the retreat in preparation for ordination, I recall the retreat master telling us that the people whom we serve will teach us how to be priests and will ordain us again and again throughout our priestly lives. 

As I look back over the years, I am grateful for the encouragement, support, counsel and loving correction that people and brother priests have given me in my various assignments. Gratitude is the one dominant feeling I have as I celebrate this anniversary. One last thought: one of the happiest times in my priesthood has been my years in the classroom. 

I close with the words of St. John Paul: “I have come to serve; not to be served.” St. Joseph, pray for me as I continue to serve the Lord and his people.

Father Iannotti plans on celebrating his 60th anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Kateri Chapel in Auriesville.

Father James M. Mackey, a native of Troy, attended P.S. 18 and Catholic Central High School in Troy. He then attended Mater Christi Seminary (1954-56), St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester (1956-58), and North American College and Gregorian University in Rome (1958-62). Father Mackey served as associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Hudson Falls (1962-66), St. Patrick’s in Albany (1966-70) and St. Anne’s in Waterford (1970-74). He also served in various roles for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith (1966-2000), the Diocesan Development Program (Bishop’s Appeal) from 1966-84, the National Catholic Stewardship Council and North American College in Rome (1979-85). Father Mackey served as chaplain at St. Colman’s Home in Watervliet (1974-83), and was pastor of his home parish, St. Michael’s in Troy (1983-2002). He also served as pastor at St. Mary’s in Glens Falls from 2002-07, and since 2020, Father Mackey continues to serve as a sacramental minister at St. Jude’s in Wynantskill. 

Working with people in parishes —  being part of their lives in baptisms, weddings, funerals — (is) so important and appreciated by them. (To) share happy anniversaries with them and see how they come closer to God in their lives and families, it’s very rewarding and fulfilling. I would recommend it to anyone. Their happiness brings you happiness. 

Father Mackey plans to celebrate his jubilee sometime in the fall at St. Michael’s in Troy.

Father Donald J. Ophals, an Albany native, served the Diocese as assistant pastor at St. Brigid’s in Watervliet from 1961-65, and, in 1965, spent three years at St. Mary’s in Troy. Starting in 1967, Father Ophals spent a year serving as assistant superintendent in the Catholic Schools Office in Albany, was in residence at St. Marie’s in Cohoes (1968), and later served at St. Mary’s in Little Falls as pastor (1968-71). From 1972-73, he served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick’s in Catskill and at St. Francis De Sales in Troy (1973-76). Starting in 1976, Father Ophals served as pastor at St. Francis De Sales in Troy for 32 years.

My years as a priest have been happy and fulfilling. ... If God calls you to the priesthood, it’s the only way to happiness.

Father Ophals plans to celebrate his jubilee privately.

50th

Father John Facci, SAC, is a product of Schenectady and graduated from schools there. Father Facci studied for one year in Boston at the School of St. Philip Neri and another year at St. Jerome’s in Kitchener, Ontario. Father Facci was accepted by the Pallottine Fathers in September of 1963. After a period of preparation, he was sent to Rome, Italy in December of 1964 to pursue his studies for the priesthood. Father Facci resided in different parts of Italy, and after a short visit to the United States, he was ordained on June 20, 1971 in Rome. He celebrated his first Mass in his home parish, St. Anthony’s in Schenectady. After starting his priestly ministry in Malone and staying there for four years, Father Facci was assigned as associate pastor at St. Rita/Sacred Heart in Cohoes in July of 1976. As associate, Father Facci was in charge of the youth programs at the parish. Under his guidance, he began the “Living Stations’’ program; a dramatic portrayal of the Stations of the Cross that became a successful evangelization tool. According to Father Facci, the City of Cohoes donated a bus for them to use and the mothers of the youth in the program “reenacted” the Stations and read Scripture. In 1991, he was appointed pastor and retired in 2007. He was also chaplain to the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus in Cohoes.

Father Facci currently has no plans to celebrate his jubilee.

Father James J. Kane, was born in Buffalo and attended St. Thomas Aquinas (1959), Bishop Timon High School (1963) and Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Glenmont. Father Kane was deacon at St. Jude’s in Wynantskill and parochial vicar at St. Agnes in Lake Placid (1971), and parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s in Port Henry (1971-72). From 1972-76, Father Kane was parochial vicar at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, where he was co-founder of the Saranac Lake Ecumenical Council. From 1974-76, he was director of the Office of Liturgy for the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Father Kane was then parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in Albany (1976), St. Helen’s in Niskayuna (1976-82) and St. Vincent de Paul in Albany (1982-89). From 1989-90, he was administrator at St. Mary’s in Gloversville, before becoming pastor at St. Agnes-St. Patrick in Cohoes (1990-95), and then pastor at St. Helen’s in Niskayuna (1995-2007). He was parish administrator at St. Peter’s in Stillwater (2007-10) and at Assumption/St. Paul in Mechanicville (2009-10), before becoming pastor at St. Patrick’s in Ravena from 2010-15.

It has been my privilege to have served the four “Ps” of priesthood: Preside … Preach … Pray ... Pastor … and an honor to have been the diocesan director for Ecumenical Interreligious Affairs for nearly 40 of my 50 years. 

Father Kane plans to celebrate his jubilee on Priesthood Sunday on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m., at Christ our Light Church in Loudonville.

Father Thomas J. Krupa, a native of Amsterdam, attended St. Stanislaus and St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam, and seminary at Mater Christi in Albany and St. Bernard’s in Rochester. Father Krupa served as associate pastor at St. Gabriel’s in Rotterdam (1971-79) and at St. Adalbert’s in Schenectady (1979-83). He was pastor at St. Casimir’s in Albany (1983-92) and, going on 29 years, continues to serve as pastor at Sacred Heart parish in Castleton.

Every day has been a unique experience with many opportunities to serve my people. I have seen great faith among the parishioners in all my assignments as well as a commitment to true family values which has been an inspiration to me. Celebrating the Eucharist as well as the other sacraments has been a privilege. The time has passed so quickly that I am amazed at all that has happened. I would not trade this for any other life. The happiness and joy that my priesthood has brought me is priceless. I ask God’s blessings especially on my family and on all those others who have assisted and supported me during this incredible journey.

Father Krupa has not yet made plans to celebrate his jubilee due to the pandemic.

Father Michael T. Schmitt was born in New York City and graduated from Don Bosco High School in Ramsey, N.J. His education for the priesthood was at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, Yonkers, and Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Glenmont. Following his ordination at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany on May 22, 1971, Father Schmitt was appointed associate pastor at St. Helen’s in Schenectady. He later became associate, then administrator, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Gloversville. Starting in 1978, Father Schmitt served the parish of St. Clare in Colonie, first as associate, then as administrator and, starting in 1981, as pastor. In 2005, Father Schmitt was named administrator at St. John the Baptist in Schenectady.

Father Schmitt currently has no plans to celebrate his jubilee.

40th

Father James Belogi was born in Troy, attended St. Augustine’s (1968), Catholic Central High School (1972), Hudson Valley Community College (1974), the University of Buffalo and University of Albany (1976) and seminary at St. Bernard’s in Rochester. Father Belogi was associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Rensselaer (1981-83), associate pastor at St. Madeleine Sophie in Guilderland (1983-84) and associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Glens Falls (1984-86). Father Belogi was pastor at St. John’s-St. Ann’s from 1986-95 and pastor at St. Madeleine Sophie from 1995-2021.

The priesthood for me is filled with memorable moments of great joy and sorrow. The great gift of sharing in the priesthood of Christ is the opportunity and privilege of being a part of the significant moments of people’s lives. People’s faith and generosity is very humbling. I would recommend discerning a call to the priesthood for anyone desiring a life of service and sharing the full range of human experiences in the light of faith.

Due to present circumstances, jubilee plans for Father Belogi are to be determined.

Father Donald L. Rutherford was born in Kinderhook and graduated from Ichabod Crane High School and attended seminary at St. Bernard’s in Rochester. Father Rutherford was associate pastor at St. Gabriel’s in Rotterdam (1981-84), chaplain at Albany Medical Center (1984-87) and associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Oneonta (1987-90). From 1990-93, Father Rutherford was Battalion & Brigade Chaplain in Fort Bragg, N.C., and served in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. From 1993-96, he worked at the Office of the Chief of Chaplains in Washington, D.C., was Division Chaplain, 3rd Infantry Division, in Ft. Stewart (1996-98) and Community Chaplain in Ansbach, Germany (1998-99). From 1999-2003, Father Rutherford was Student & Garrison Chaplain at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. From 2003-06, Father Rutherford was Corps Chaplain of the 18th Airborne Corps stationed in Ft. Bragg and Baghdad, Iraq, and from 2006-07, he was United States Army Europe Chaplain in Heidelberg, Germany. He returned to the states and was Deputy Chief of Chaplains at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (2007-11) and later Chief of Chaplains (2011-15). Father Rutherford was Moderator of Curia in the Diocese of Albany from 2015-18 and currently is pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Watervliet.

In these 40 years I have been in the beautiful Diocese, I have experienced the joy of people and helped them in their sadness: from the beautiful hills of Otsego County to the fear in the streets of Baghdad and Kandahar. I know that God has been with me. I often wondered who ministered to whom? At my first Mass, Father Ken Doyle said the priesthood is easy — God does all the work.  After 40 years, I know he was so right!

Father Rutherford plans to observe his jubilee dinner with the class of ’81 — Giving thanks to God for his abundant blessings.

25th

Father Simon I. Udemgba, was born in Achara, Uturu, Nigeria, attended St. Joseph Seminary in Nigeria, and received his master’s from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, and his doctorate from Capella University in Minnesota. From 1997-2001, he served as parochial vicar at Mary Magdalene Church in Pocantico Hills, and from 2009-16, he served at the Peter Young Housing, Industry and Treatment organization. Starting in 2011, Father Udemgba has served as sacramental minister and pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish of Greenfield Center in 2011 and continues to do so today. 

I am always awed and humbled by the privilege of serving God as a priest. I hope God will use me longer in this life, to bring his love and peace to his people. Whenever I am challenged, I always repeat this prayer: “God make me an instrument of your love, progress and peace.”

Father Udemgba plans to celebrate his jubilee with a Mass at St Joseph’s in Greenfield Center, on one of the Sundays after Aug. 24; just a regular Sunday Mass. Then he will celebrate with family in Nigeria, at his home parish, St. Michael’s in Achara, Nigeria in December.

10th

Father Jay J. B. Atherton was born in Northville and attended St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Father Atherton attended Northville Central schools, LeMoyne College (B.A. in religious studies) and Siena College (pre-theology studies). Father Atherton attended seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. After his ordination, Father Atherton was associate at St. Mary’s Parish in Ballston Spa (2011-13) and is pastor at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish in Windham (2013-present) and Sacred Heart-Immaculate Conception Parish in Palenville and Haines Falls (2014-present).

I could have never imagined just how “right” the priesthood feels to me. It is a feeling of being comfortable in my own skin that I first noticed at the beginning of my formation that has only deepened and strengthened as the years have passed. I love the perspective on life and faith that it gives me as I not only continue to grow in my own friendship with Jesus but introduce others to his friendship through my ministry and get to watch what grows. 

New horizons continue to open up before me on this journey I am making with the Lord. As I approach my 10th anniversary, I find myself just beginning to understand the unique niche Jesus has for me within this great and beautiful mystery called “priesthood.” That this is only just now happening fills me with great joy and excitement over what other surprises and adventures are in store for me! I face struggles and frustrations to be sure, but I know of no path in life, certainly not for a Christian, where these are absent! So far, not even once have I been bored, not even once have I doubted the value of bringing people to Jesus or bringing Jesus to people, and not even once have I regretted following Jesus here. 

To ANY fellow disciple of Jesus, I would say, “Follow wherever the Lord wishes to lead you. Even if he wishes to lead you in a direction you don’t think you want to go, even if the path ahead intimidates you, trust him and follow. Yes, you will have to take up a cross to follow him, but in carrying it, you will become the person you desire to become in the very depths of your heart.” 

Father Atherton has no specific plans to celebrate his jubilee.