‘POT OF GOLD’

When I received an email from Father Michael Melanson with the words “Beautiful things have happened” in the subject line, I was, to say the least, intrigued.

Father Melanson, is the parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s in Athens and Catskill, parishes in the southernmost part of the Diocese of Albany. I had first met Father Mike when he was about to be ordained to the priesthood in 2019. Most people know his story: The longtime deacon at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville was married to his wife Peggy for 50 years, before she died of breast cancer in 2017. Following her death, and after a bout of depression, what followed for Father Melanson was a period of contemplation and revelation that led him to the priesthood at the age of 74.

Father Melanson, with his naturally upbeat personality, was excited to show off a nearly life-size crucifix he had recently acquired and installed in Athens as well as give me a tour of his parishes in Greene County.

After some email exchanges we settled on a date in June. This is the story of our day.

CATS’ MEOW
From the Pastoral Center in Albany, the drive to 66 William Street in Catskill — the location of St. Patrick’s — is just over 36 miles. And what a beautiful drive it was. Just take the New York State Thruway to Exit 21, then make a left on County Road 23B, which takes you right into downtown Catskill.

Two things you notice right away on historic Main Street: there is a statue of Rip Van Winkle almost in the middle of the street as it bends into the main section of town, and there are cat statues everywhere. They both make perfect sense! The fictional Van Winkle, created by author Washington Irving, fell asleep for 20 years in the Catskill Mountains, which loom in the distance. The cat statues — cats and Catskill, get it — have been made by artists for 15 years as part of the “Cat’n Around Catskill” initiative.

I find William Street, make a left, and am soon in the parking lot of St. Patrick’s, which offers great views of the mountains. I meet Father Melanson inside the parish office which houses his work space, the worship space and the offices of two key people: Janine O’Leary, parish life coordinator, and Michaela Anderson, pastoral associate for Evangelization and Ministry. They are all smiles and gladly, but after a little prodding, agree to take a picture along with Father Melanson, for the article. I think about how many Janines and Michaelas there are in this vast 14-county Diocese that are doing so much for their parishes by keeping them running financially while spreading the Good News. Without their dedication, parishes could not function; they are to be applauded. 

The impressive former church next door is not structurally sound and is no longer in use. The Mass takes place in the lower level of the parish office. And with that Father Melanson brings up a key point about his two non-traditional worship spaces. 

“Church is spelled c-h-UR-ch,” he says. “YOU ARE the church, NOT the building!”

It was a quote that has stuck with me since the day he said it. Father Melanson, who was the former parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury, Sacred Heart in Lake George and St. Cecilia’s in Warrensburg, has taken quickly to the area in the last year and a half
“Lake George is paradise. I just loved it up there. I loved all the rigmarole, all the hustle and bustle of everything. The Adirondacks are gorgeous,” he said. “When I got the assignment to come down here I literally said, ‘I don’t know where this place is.’ I grew up in the Capital District. I called Janine and she invited me down for a tour and I came down and said, ‘Wow.’ When you look over here behind us to the Catskill Mountains, in the winter time when it is snowcapped against the blue sky, it is magnificent. 

“The rectory that I live in in Athens is steps from the Hudson River. I am a water guy; I love watching the boats go by. There is a beautiful park where I go and pray in the summertime. … They are two unique parishes, but we are one: we are the Catholic Community of Saint Patrick’s in Athens and in Catskill.

“I actually told the Bishop (Scharfenberger), ‘Please don’t move me, I love this assignment.’ And Janine is just wonderful to work for; she manages the business side and I do the sacramental side.”

Before we go see the life-size crucifix at the church in Athens, Father Melanson points out he has started a memorial wall of crosses at both parishes and is proud to show off the cross that was installed on the front of the parish in Catskill. It is brightly illuminated at night, and it ties into the same style of cross on the front of the parish in Athens. 

ATHENS BOUND
I follow Father Melanson to Athens as we make a left out of the parking lot on to Spring Street and drive the nearly five miles on Route 385 North to Athens. The small town of just under 4,000 residents is replete with red, white and blue flags and posters of those in the town that have served in the military. 

The church, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is located at 24 North Washington Street just about a block and a half from where the old parish used to be before it burned to the ground in the late 1970s. The only thing left were some stained-glass windows that were restored and mounted on a wall in the back of the church, along with the tabernacle that was restored and is still in use today.

The entrance to the church is through a green space filled with trees and hostas as a brick path leads you inside the church that is filled with much light on this sunny day. Father Melanson is eager to show off the impressive crucifix, which does not disappoint. 

“In Athens, we never really had a real — I call it real — crucifix. There was a crucifix there but it was an image of God the Father blowing out of the breath of God, the life-giving breath of God,” Father Melanson said. “But we needed one with a Corpus on it. I spread the word around and we found one up in Altamont and we did a day trip; went up there and got it and it is magnificent.”

Father Melanson is quick to point out the uniqueness of the crucifix — which he estimates is at least 100 years old — and has a nail pounded into both Jesus Christ’s left and right foot. Just outside the church is a winding path to the rectory, an old Victorian building, where Father Melanson lives. 
He uses just one floor of the big house, and has his large trove of musical equipment — guitars, amps and mike stands — in another room. Father Melanson, who used to play in a band back in the day, graciously sits down to play “How Great Thou Art.” If you haven’t heard him sing and play guitar, it is worth going to The Evangelist Instagram page (evangelistalb) to hear his rendition.

Father Melanson walks me down to my car and thanks me for the visit. It is one that I recommend for everyone in the Diocese. Take a drive to Athens or Catskill (or to another parish in our expansive Diocese), enjoy the splendor of the mountains and majestic rivers and lakes, go for a hike, go to Mass on Saturday or Sunday, have lunch or dinner and make a day of it.

But don’t take my word for it, just listen to Father Melanson.

“I stepped into a real pot of gold,” he said. “I would hope (people) would want to come down to see how great everybody is here, how welcoming this community is. People are truly just different. You walk in the door and you are home and we try to make people feel at home. I am just still a newbie after only a year-and-a-half. I got to know them and they walk in as if I have known them all of their lives. 

“Our little village is tight-knit, but it is absolutely friendly as all get out. I did an Ecumenical service downtown here in Catskill and lots of people came and it was wonderful; all the various Christian denominations got together for a celebration. You won’t find better restaurants than down here in Catskill. If you like Italian food, this is the place to come to have great Italian food and every other type of food. We have a location sitting right on the Hudson River and the aesthetics are just wonderful. It’s a really pretty, pretty place. 

“Athens is small. My next door neighbors welcomed me and they are not parishioners. Across the street is a Protestant Church, the pastor and I are friends. It’s just wonderful.”