May 18, 2022 at 3:47 p.m.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
TIME TO CELEBRATE
FATHER JAMES D. O’NEILL, who was born in Ravena, has been associate pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish in Albany; administrator of St. Mary’s in Stuyvesant Falls; and associate at St. Joseph’s in Rensselaer and St. Patrick’s in Johnstown. He was the founding pastor of St. Bonaventure’s Parish in Speigletown — now called Transfiguration Parish, with worship sites in Speigletown and Schaghticoke — where he served for 16 years. He then served as pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Green Island and, finally, St. Peter’s in Stillwater.
Wonderful rewards and services in every parish. My most memorable moment was the dedication of St. Bonaventure in Speigletown.
Father O’Neill will celebrate his jubilee very quietly with friends and family and with gratitude for the Teresian House.
60th
FATHER TERENCE P. HEALY, who was born in Dalkey County, Dublin, attended Mount St. Joseph College in Roscrea, County Tipperary, in Ireland, and seminary at St. John’s College in Waterford, Ireland. He was associate pastor at St. Patrick’s in Watervliet (1962-66), St. Gabriel’s in Schenectady (1966-68), St. Peter and Paul’s in Canajoharie (1968-70), St. Helen’s in Schenectady (1970-72), Annunciation in Ilion (1972-75), and pastor at St. Joseph’s in West Winfield (1975-2012) and St. Joseph the Worker Parish in West Winfield/Richfield Springs (2009-18). He was sacramental minister at Holy Family Parish in Little Falls (2013-18) and St. Joseph’s in Dolgeville (2013-18), and since 2018, has been serving as sacramental minister at Sts. Anthony and Joseph in Herkimer and St. John the Baptist in Newport.
I have been very blessed with good friends and good health. My most memorable moments have been serving the people of the Albany Diocese. I would recommend the vocation to others because it is a way to help people in their life’s journey.
Father Healy plans to celebrate his anniversary with Mass on June 19 at Sts. Anthony and Joseph Church in Herkimer and a celebration in the parish hall.
FATHER DAVID JONES, MM, is a Troy native and a Maryknoll priest who spent many years in Tanzania and Sierra Leone, and also served in the U.S. Maryknoll offices. He’s been a hospital and prison chaplain in Rensselaer County and was administrator of St. Patrick’s Parish in Troy from 2003-10.
FATHER LEO F. MARKERT, who was born in Albany, attended Our Lady Help of Christians and Cathedral Academy, and seminary at Mater Christi and St. Joseph’s in Yonkers. He was an associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Oneonta (1962-66), St. Patrick’s in Watervliet (1966-68, while also teaching at Catholic Central High School), St. Teresa of Avila in Albany (1968-71, while also chaplain at AMCH) and St. Michael the Archangel in South Glens Falls (1971-75). From 1975-79, Father Markert was an active duty chaplain in the U.S. Navy. From 1979-84, he was pastor at Sacred Heart in Sidney and, from 1984-2007, pastor at St. Gabriel’s in Rotterdam.
The priesthood is not something — it is someone — Christ. I have truly enjoyed and treasured this call to serve God and his people for 60 years. If he is inviting you — please RSVP.
For his jubilee, Father Markert has plans for a family picnic at Galway Lake.
FATHER FRANCIS A. O’CONNOR, an Albany native, attended Vincentian Institute in Albany and seminary at Mater Christi and St. Mary’s in Baltimore. Father O’Connor was associate pastor at seven parishes: St. Brigid’s in Watervliet (1961); St. Mary’s in Granville (1963-65); St. Peter’s in Troy (1965-66, while teaching religion at Catholic Central High School); St. Mary’s in Hudson Falls (1966-67); St. John the Baptist in Schenectady (1968-70); and St. Joseph’s in Albany (1970-74), where he became pastor (1974-78). He also served as secretary to Bishop William Scully (1967), as a health-care chaplain at Albany Medical Center (1978-83) and as pastor of St. Patrick’s in Albany (1983-2001). He also served at Nativity and St. Mary’s in Stuyvesant Falls and Holy Family in Stottville (2002-2010). He has also been in Hispanic ministry and is currently chaplain for the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas in Albany.
In discussing his most memorable moments, Father O’Connor said, “Celebrating Mass at Lwanga House on Sunday afternoons and recognizing the presence of Jesus in the gathering of the people. The second experience was the first time I stepped out on the altar to celebrate Mass in Spanish and saw the most wonderful faces and recognized our oneness in Jesus. I have always treasured the privilege of celebrating the forgiveness and unconditional love of Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I would recommend this vocation to anyone who wanted to proclaim and celebrate the love of God in Jesus for everyone.
Father O’Connor plans to celebrate his jubilee (as well as Deacon Miguel Fabian’s 15th anniversary) with a bilingual Mass on Trinity Sunday followed by a reception.
55th
FATHER JOHN J. BRADLEY, who was born in Albany, attended Blessed Sacrament School (Grades 1-8), and Vincentian Institute (Grades 9-12) and graduated from Siena College in 1963. He attended seminary at Our Lady of Angels. From 1967-69, Father Bradley was an associate at Sacred Heart in Albany and chaplain at Memorial Hospital. From 1969-1976, he was an associate at St Luke’s in Schenectady, and from 1976-2018, he was pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Albany. Since his retirement in 2018, he has served as an interim priest at Holy Spirit in East Greenbush (2018-19), at Mount Carmel in Schenectady (2019-2021) and at Mater Christi in Albany (2021-22). Each assignment was for 10 months.
The greatest joys of the priesthood have been the people I was called to work with and to serve. These include the many priests who were both my pastors and associates. The communities of religious sisters I ministered with included: the Sisters of Mercy, Presentation, St. Joseph, Atonement and the cloistered Carmelite sisters. I was blessed and enriched by the staff I worked with in every assignment. Together with the parishioners who shared their faith, we were able to build vibrant, faithful parishes. I pray that others will give the priesthood serious consideration. I love it and never felt I worked a day in my life. My vocation is a gift and a joy. Think about it, pray about it, try it. You may like it. I know I did.
Father Bradley will celebrate his jubilee with his family.
FATHER DOMINIC S. INGEMIE, a native of Albany, was a teacher, vice-principal and principal at Catholic Central High School in Troy. He also taught at St. Patrick’s High School in Catskill and Maria College in Albany and had a stint as acting superintendent of diocesan schools. His priestly ministry included St. Francis de Sales Parish in Troy, St. Henry’s in Averill Park and St. Patrick’s in Catskill (while chaplain for Greene County Jail). He has served as pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish in Schenectady, St. James in Albany and St. Peter’s in Saratoga Springs, retiring in 2014.
50th
FATHER WINSTON BATH, who was born in Marshall, Texas, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and seminary at Theological College in Washington, D.C. From 1972-73, he was associate pastor at St. James Parish in Albany and associate pastor from 1973-85 at Sacred Heart Parish in Troy. From 1985-90, Father Bath was administrator at St. Mary’s Parish in Hudson and, from 1990-2009, was pastor of the Parish of St. Mary’s in Hudson (which was a merger of Sacred Heart Parish in Hudson, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Hudson, and the Parish of St. Mary in Hudson). From 2009-17, he was pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Hudson and Germantown (a merger of the Parish of St. Mary in Hudson and Resurrection Parish in Germantown). He is currently serving in retirement at Holy Trinity Parish.
My service as a priest has been punctuated with many blessings and many challenges. I can honestly say, however, there has never been a time when I found being a priest was boring. (Except for that afternoon when I heard children’s confessions for three hours in a row). My life has been filled with memorable experiences. One of the most special occurred in June 2021, when I had the privilege of seeing two fine young men from our parish, Dan McHale and Steve Yusko, ordained to the priesthood. Being there with them was as close as I ever got to feeling like a proud father.
A decade ago a survey was taken of the American population and this study asserted that the happiest part of the citizenry were Catholic priests. I have no quarrel with that observation. If a young man (or even a more mature man) has any thoughts about life as a priest, I would encourage them to examine and explore those thoughts and feelings with great care. There is no way of life where a person will be happy all the time; but a life of service to the Lord and to the Church can be incredibly fulfilling.
Father Bath will celebrate his 50th anniversary on May 21 at a Mass at 4 p.m., at St. Mary’s Church of Holy Trinity Parish in Hudson. Following the Mass, weather permitting, there will be refreshments on the lawn.
FATHER PETER S. CHEPAITIS, OFM, was born in Hudson and attended St. Mary’s Academy in Hudson, Siena College in Loudonville, and the University of Notre Dame (Summer Master’s Program in Pastoral Liturgy). He attended seminary at Washington Theological Coalition in Silver Spring, Md., and was ordained on Aug. 26, 1972, at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson. He taught French and music at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon (1971-72) and switched to teaching French, religion and worked as coordinator of Liturgy at Timon High School in Buffalo (1972-77). He worked on staff at St. Joseph’s House of Prayer for Holy Name Province in Callicoon and Warwick (1977-87), and at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany on the Campus Ministry Team (1987-92). He became a traveling preacher with the Ministry of the Word Fraternity of Holy Name Province in East Rutherford, N.J. (1992-95), and currently works with Bethany Ministries (www.bethmin.org) in Middleburgh, N.Y., as co-founder with Sister Anna Tantsits, IHM, to his ministry organization “dedicated to prayer, proclamation and hospitality.” (1995-present)
Most of my 50 years as a presbyter have been devoted to teaching, preaching, spiritual direction and prayer. I have had the great joy and the challenge of preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and living that Good News. I have used the gifts I received through my parents, especially from my father, who was a violinist, and my mother, who was a singer, to proclaim the love of God.
My most memorable moment was Easter Vigil at the House of Prayer in Callicoon in 1977. I had just joined the House of Prayer community and was tasked with coordinating the liturgies for the Triduum. I was able to collaborate with friars, with men in formation and with lay men and women who were visiting. We scheduled the Vigil to begin an hour before sunrise on Easter. As we moved from the Liturgy of the Word to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we were blessed with Easter water from a working fountain, which the young friars in formation had built. There were large windows behind the altar table, which we set up in the former seminary dining room. As the presider came to the Words of Jesus at the Last Supper, the sun broke over the horizon and flooded the room with light, as if a switch had been flipped. We all gasped and paused in awe-filled joy.
My scariest moment in the priesthood was beginning a new ministry in the Albany Diocese with Sister Anna Tantsits, IHM, before knowing what it would look like. I have grown in my understanding of priestly ministry over the years, abandoning any pretense of entitlement and learning more and more how to be a servant leader. Some of my deepest experiences of God’s presence and love have been in times of collaboration with religious and lay persons and of contemplative prayer, both when alone and with others.
Father Chepaitis plans to celebrate his anniversary with a Eucharist at Our Lady of the Valley in Middleburgh. He plans to join his celebration with Sister Anna’s 60th anniversary of profession for both of their families & friends.
40th
FATHER PATRICK J. BUTLER, who was born in Troy, attended school at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and seminary at Theological College, also in Washington, D.C. Father Butler has served at Corpus Christi in Round Lake (1982-86), Annunciation Church in Ilion (1986-89), St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park (1989-92), Christ the King in Albany (1992-2006) and has been the pastor at St. Edward the Confessor since 2006.
I am grateful to God for the many faith-filled and gracious people that God has placed in my path. In each of the parishes where I have been privileged to serve, they have been faithful companions on the way. They challenged me and helped me to grow. I am more grateful to those who allowed me to walk with them in their time of loss, and for those who accompanied me in mine. They will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
Due to COVID, Father Butler will be observing his anniversary with his family.
FATHER JOHN L. CLOSE was born in Stephentown and attended Stephentown Grade School, Berlin Central High School, HVCC, SUNY at Brockport, University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. Father Close attended seminary at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester. In 1982, Father Close was in residence at St. Lucy’s in Altamont and then was associate pastor at St. Michael’s in Troy (1982) and at Immaculate Conception in Schenectady (1983). In 1984, he was chaplain at Pyramid Lake Camp and from 1984-89, he was associate pastor at St. Henry’s in Averill Park. Also in 1989, he was chaplain at Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls. From 1989-2000, Father Close was director for Computerization of Parishes at the Pastoral Center in Albany. Since 2000, Father Close has been pastor at Immaculate Conception in New Lebanon and sacramental minister, since 2014, at St. Mary’s in Nassau.
I have found the priesthood to be a very rewarding vocation. While I might change a few things in preparing for it, I would not change my choice of being a priest to God’s people. From my first few years, I’m sure someone in the Diocese was asking “now that we have him, what do we do with him” due to some of my skills, interests and hobbies.
Some of the memorable moments for me would be: The joy of finally being ordained after being delayed twice; celebrating the Eucharist on the top of a mountain overlooking Pyramid Lake Camp with the campers; and serving the Marines as chaplain for eight years and especially the year-and-a-half on active duty, which was some of the most rewarding ministry I have ever done. While not completely a priestly ministry, another memorable moment was the satisfaction of seeing 85 percent of the Diocese with computers and using a uniform set of programs as I left the IT department to become a pastor. The joke was: “They use my technical degree on the weekdays and my theology degree on weekends.”
Why would I recommend the priesthood or any religious vocation is simple. You will never find a more rewarding way to spend your life than to be part of God’s plan and to help move it forward by serving His people. I would and do recommend the priesthood to any who feels the call. I also advise them to not let anyone — schoolmate, coworkers, friends or even parents — dissuade them from following God’s call. Be yourself during your training and after ordination, as God called you as you were for a reason. Be prepared to truly follow Christ for you, like our Lord, will see both joy and sorrow as you serve Him. Hold fast to your prayer life and the Eucharist as both will be your food for the journey as you serve the people.
Father Close has not made plans to celebrate his jubilee saying, “I would imagine there will be a celebration of some sort in one of the churches I minister to but I’m not looking for anything extraordinary. For myself, I will certainly be taking some time to thank God for the years I have spent and to ask that I remain in good health to continue to do so.”
FATHER EDWARD S. KACERGUIS, who was born in Bethlehem, Conn., attended Providence College (1960-65, a bachelor’s and a master’s in history), Kent State University (1966-68, graduate work) and the University of Virginia (1968-70, graduate work toward a doctorate). He also attended St. Mary’s Seminary and University (1978-82: S.T.B.; S.T.M., May 1982). Father Kacerguis was associate pastor at Our Lady of Victory (1982-84), administrator at the Church of St. Anthony from 1987-89, and pastor at St. Michael’s, Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph’s churches from 1984-86. From 1989-2019, Father Kacerguis was resident Roman Catholic chaplain and co-coordinator of Religious Affairs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. From 2006-19, he was pastor at Christ Sun of Justice in Troy and is currently sacramental minister to three parishes.
Through ordained priesthood, God has called me into the mystery of living out my life in a manner that prayerfully brings the love of the Trinity to all people. My gifts, whatever they are, find themselves available to everyone. Hopefully through these day-to-day efforts God is made present. I have been blessed more than I can imagine as a result. My greatest joy is to see and experience people recognizing in themselves who they are, having been made in the image and likeness of God. This has happened over and over again. This is the Kingdom of God being built here and now and all around us.
Father Kacerguis has no plans to celebrate his jubilee at this time.
FATHER GORDON POLENZ, who was born in Schenectady and attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Schenectady, went to seminary at Mater Christi (1959-62), and attended St. Mary’s in Baltimore (1962-66), St. Bernard’s in Rochester (1979-81) and North American College in Rome from 1981-82. Father Polenz also attended Siena College from 1977-79. He was associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Granville while also chaplain at Comstock Prison in August 1982. From September 1982 to June 1984, he was associate pastor at St. Theresa’s in Albany. And from July 1982 to June 1986, associate pastor at St. Helen’s in Schenectady. From July 1986 to November 2015, Father Polenz was pastor at Sacred Heart in Sidney. In retirement since November 2015, he has served St. Joseph’s in Winter Haven, Fla.
It has been wonderful. I only wish that I had been ordained in 1968 with my original classmates. My whole 40 years as a priest have been memorable and I would recommend this life to all. I especially enjoy retirement as I can just be a priest. I help out at three parishes and also at the county Catholic high school. I usually celebrate more Masses every week than I did as a pastor and I love it.
On celebrating his jubilee, Father Polenz said, “Nothing special other than celebrating Mass in one or two of the parishes that I assist.”
25th
FATHER BERNARD OSEI AMPONG was born in Jachie Ashanti in Ghana, West Africa. He attended Jachie Pramso Secondary School, Akwamuman Secondary School, Binghamton University and Le Moyne College, where he obtained a master’s in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Study. He is still at Le Moyne College currently pursuing a doctorate in the Executive Leadership Program (Ed.D). He attended seminary at Saint Hubert Minor Seminary in Kumasi, and Saint Paul’s Major Seminary in Accra, and Saint Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, in Cape Coast, Ghana. He was associate pastor at Saint George’s Parish-Kuntanase, in Ashanti, Ghana (1997-98); Saint John the Evangelist Parish-Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, Ghana (1998-99); and Mary, the Mother of God Parish-Piano in the Ashanti Region, Ghana (1999-2003). He was pastor at Saint George Parish-Fomena, Adansi in Ashanti Region, Ghana (2003-06) and associate pastor at Saint Peter’s Church in Rome (2006-10), and Saint Mary’s Church in Oneonta (2010-13). He was then pastor at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in West Winfield and Richfield Springs (2013-16), Since 2016, he has served as pastor for Sacred Heart Church in Sidney.
My priesthood experience could be described as one that is constantly discerning God’s voice and the call to service. My priesthood experience has brought me to cultivate in my heart the love for prayer and the effort to grow deeper in my relationship with God. One of my memorable moments is the day of my ordination to the holy priesthood, and of course the day I celebrated my first time ever the sacrifice of the holy Mass. It was an amazing experience for me to celebrate holy Mass with the people of God including my family, friends and all loved ones. Another memorable moment is the day when the late Most Rev. Thomas K. Mensah, (then Bishop of Obuasi Catholic Diocese) officially informed me of his intention to send me to the Syracuse Diocese to do pastoral ministry. “Will you go and do you have a Ghanaian passport?” These were the two questions Bishop Mensah asked me and I answered in the affirmative. I welcomed the news with joy and excitement but then as the days of my departure from Ghana to the United States drew near I began to feel some uneasiness and sadness over the fact of leaving my family, friends and loved ones behind and heading to “the unknown,” but I have learned that wherever God sends us, He prepares a home for us there.
I find fulfillment in the holy priesthood and recommending this vocation to others is an important thing for me and I think for every priest to do.
Looking back to the days of my ministry in Ghana, I remember the little impact I had on an altar boy helping him to discern the call to the holy priesthood. I could smell the fragrance of the priesthood in this altar boy and did my best to help him to enroll in the seminary. Thanks to God, this altar boy is now a priest, (Rev. Father Francis Darko) and currently the director of vocations in the Diocese of Obuasi in Ghana. It is always a joy and an honor to see my little effort bearing great fruit for God and for his Church.
Father Ampong plans on visiting Ghana in the summer to celebrate his 25th jubilee in his hometown of Jachie at Saint Anthony of Padua Parish. After, he hopes to celebrate the occasion with the Sacred Heart parishioners in Sidney.
10th
FATHER JOSEPH PHUONG NGO, O.CARM, who was born in Hanoi, went to school in My Luong, Tot Dong, and seminary at Dominican Institute in Saigon, Vietnam, and Washington Theological Union in Washington D.C. He also attended Creighton University. Father Ngo lived at the Carmelite Hermitage in Austin, Minn., and was parochial vicar at St. Joseph Church in Ottawa, Minn. (2012-13). Father Ngo was pastor at St. Jude and St. Paul Church in Manzanilla; St. Dominic Church in Fishing Pond; and Our Lady of Lourdes in Biche, Trinidad and Tobago (2013-16). From 2016-20, he was associate vocation director for the Carmelite Order of St. Elias Province in Middletown, N.Y. and is currently pastor of St. Joseph Church in Troy.
Father Ngo currently has no plans to celebrate his jubilee at this time.
FATHER DANIEL QUINN was born in Johnstown and graduated from Johnstown High School, Fulton-Montgomery Community College and SUNY Fredonia. He attended seminary at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. Father Quinn was parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament in Albany from 2012-14 and at the Catholic Community of North Columbia County (St. James, St. John the Baptist and St. Joseph) from 2014-16. He was pastor at St. Paul the Apostle in Hancock from 2016-20 and is currently pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Albany.
On plans for his jubilee, Father Quinn said, “None right now. Maybe climb a mountain. Certainly celebrate Mass, probably 7 a.m. that morning.”
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