May 11, 2023 at 7:00 a.m.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
70th
FATHER JOSEPH F. BARKER was born in Albany and attended St. Ann’s. He went to seminary at St. Andrew’s in Rochester and Christ the King (St. Bonaventure).
Father Barker was ordained on May 30, 1953, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany by Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons. His first assignment was in the same year at Our Lady of Victory in Troy. From 1953-63, Father Barker was at St. Paul the Apostle and was chaplain at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. From 1963-69, Father Barker was administrator at St. Thomas in Schenectady. From 1969-76, he was at St Mary’s in Little Falls (his first pastorate and he was Dean of Herkimer County.) after an appointment by Bishop Edwin Broderick. From 1976-98, he was pastor at St. Patrick’s in Johnstown as well as Dean of Fulton County. He retired in June 1998. Father Barker resided at St. Francis de Sales and Our Lady of Victory in Troy until 2017 when he entered Teresian House in Albany. He also served on the Priests Senate and Personnel Board.
My 70 years in the priesthood have given me a very fulfilling life by allowing me to bear witness to the enduring love of God. During my active years of ministry, I was privileged to share in not only the joyous moments of my parishioners’ lives, but also to accompany them in their times of sorrow. I continue to be blessed in my later years as I live in communion at the Teresian House with some of my fellow priests.
Father Barker plans to celebrate his jubilee at a dinner with his family.
65th
FATHER PAUL P. TARTAGLIA, a native of Albany, has served as an associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Albany and chaplain for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. He taught at Catholic Central High School in Troy and at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, and served as pastor at St. Mary’s in Coxsackie, St. John the Evangelist in Rensselaer and St. Paul’s in Troy. He also served other parishes and programs and, for a decade, directed the diocesan Society for the Propagation of the Faith. From 1984-2008, he led retreats and parish missions in three countries.
FATHER ARTHUR A. TOOLE, a native of Hudson Falls, has served as associate pastor at St. Columba’s in Schenectady; St. Ann’s in Albany; Our Lady of Fatima in Schenectady; and St. Joseph’s in Scotia. He also taught at Cardinal McCloskey High School in Albany and was pastor at St. Vincent’s in Cobleskill and St. Matthew’s in Voorheesville. In retirement, he assisted at St. Michael’s in Troy.
60th
FATHER JOHN L. CAIRNS was born in Troy and attended several area grammar schools. He attended high school at Vincentian Institute in Albany and went to Siena College for one year. He attended seminary at Mater Christi in Albany and St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. After his ordination on May 25, 1963, Father Cairns was associate pastor at St. Peter and Paul in Frankfort from June-September 1963. He was also a member of the faculty at Catholic Central High School in Troy from 1963-71, and resided at St. Patrick’s in Cohoes from 1963-64 and Sacred Heart in Troy from 1964-72. From 1972-81, he was pastor at St. Anthony’s in Johnstown and then, for the next 25 years (1981-2006), Father Cairns was pastor at St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park. He retired in October 2006 and has been assisting several diocesan churches. Currently, Father Cairns is assisting at St John the Evangelist and St. Anthony’s in Schenectady.
Over the years I have learned that when priests no longer need to compete with one another or with lay ministers, a collegial form of leadership will emerge that is characterized by discernment, patience, kindness, compassion, caring and understanding. Priesthood remains a challenging and exciting ministry.
Father Cairns plans to observe his jubilee with a quiet, family gathering sometime during the summer.
FATHER LIAM CONDON was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland. He received schooling at CBS Mitchelstown. Father Condon attended seminary at St. John’s College in Waterford, Ireland, as well as Mount Melleray, Cappoquin, County Waterford. Father Condon was an associate at St. James in Albany from 1963-70, St. Peter’s in Troy from 1970-72 and St. Alphonsus in Glens Falls from 1972-75. Father Condon was pastor at Holy Cross in Salem from 1980-2011. Father Condon was also chaplain to Washington County Correctional-Salem Jail for 25 years until the prison closed. He also took on Cambridge and Greenwich after the Augustians left the area, starting in 1995.
Time spent at Cossayuna Lake at the old boys camp overlooking the lake all summer with a full home and families.
Father Condon has no plans for observing his jubilee at this time.
Father Robert Hohenstein, Father Thomas Kelly and Father Richard Shaw
55th
FATHER ROBERT J. HOHENSTEIN was born on May 29, 1940, to William G. and Ruth M. (Towsley) Hohenstein, Sr. He has two siblings: William G. Hohenstein, Jr., and Janet Hohenstein Gabriels. His home parish was Our Lady of Angels in Albany and he graduated from Our Lady of Angels Grammar School in 1955 and Christian Brothers Academy in 1959. He attended minor seminary at Mater Christi in Albany (graduated in 1962) and graduated from major seminary at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg. Md., in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree. He would later receive his master’s in divinity from the same school. Father Hohenstein would continue his education in the spring of 1984 at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at North American College in Rome. Father Hohenstein was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1968, by Bishop Edward Maginn, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Albany, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
In the summer of 1968, Father Hohenstein was assistant pastor at St. John the Baptist in Greenville. From 1968-73, he was assistant pastor at Our Lady Help of Christians in Albany. From 1968-70, he was a full-time teacher and guidance counselor at Cardinal McCloskey High School in Albany, and from 1973-75, he was chaplain at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. Father Hohenstein was named pastor at Our Lady Help of Christians in 1975 and remained there until 2002. From 2002-16, he was pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Schenectady. He has been a pastor in total for 40 years. His bishop appointments include: Diocesan Human Life Coordinator (1975-78), Dean of Albany City Deanery (1984-2000), Spiritual Advisory to the Catholic Women’s Service League and Weekend Chaplain at Albany Medical Center (1999).
His additional duties included: Albany Priest Senate (1974), Coordinator for the annual Red Cross Blood Drive in Albany (1988-94), member of the Albany Community Police Relations Board (1990-97), original member of the Diocesan Priestly Life and Ministry Council (2000-04), “Minister to Priests” from Diocesan Priestly Life and Ministry Council (2004-07), chaplain, Schenectady Police Department (2006-20), member of the Priest Placement Committee (2007-13), Evangelist Board member, diocesan newspaper (1997-present), board member of Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna (2002-08) and a member of the Priest Retirement Board (2013-19).
Since his retirement, Father Hohenstein has assisted at All Saints on the Hudson in Mechanicville (2015-present), St. Isaac Jogues Chapel in Saratoga Lake (2016-present), St. Mary’s in Glens Falls (2017-21) and Our Lady of Victory in Troy (2021-present). He has also been a member of the Presbyteral Council since 2021.
Father Hohenstein was also the founder of the Second Avenue Senior Citizens Center in Albany (1983), was the initiator and celebrant of the annual Triduum “In Honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton” at Our Lady Help of Christians for 25 years (1976-2001) and was the recipient of the 38th annual John Cardinal McCloskey Award from the Mount St. Mary’s Seminary on Oct. 1, 2013.
Father Hohenstein is likely the only priest of the Albany Diocese who presided over the closing of a parish (Our Lady Help of Christians, 1874-2002) where he was pastor for 27 years and served “Our Lady of Help” (Maria Hilf) as parish priest for a total of 32 years. He also preached the homily for the closing of his “home parish,” Our Lady of Angels (1867-2005) which was staffed by Conventual Franciscan Friars for 138 years.
Father Hohenstein was a deacon at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in 1968 when the new Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was dedicated, and one of four deacons who carried Mother Seton’s body from St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg to the newly-established National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton. Father Hohenstein attended the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, by Pope Paul VI, on Sept. 14, 1975. He had a statue made in Italy depicting Mother Seton walking over the continent of North America that was taken from the banner that was placed in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The statue was obtained by Robert J. Hedderman and is destined for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.
I entered Mater Christi Seminary on Sept. 9, 1959, and nine years later would kneel before Bishop Edward Maginn as he imposed his heads on my head and rise as a “priest forever.”
The next 55 years would allow me the privilege to serve as a priest of Jesus Christ at: Cardinal McCloskey High School, assistant principal at Our Lady Help of Christians in Albany, chaplain at St. Peter’s Hospital for two years and returned to “Our Lady Help” as pastor, serving there a total of 32 years before presiding over its closing in 2002. The next nine years of my priesthood as pastor would be to serve my beloved parish family of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Schenectady prior to my retirement in 2015. Since my retirement, I have had the privilege to serve the beloved people of St. Isaac Jogues Chapel on Saratoga Lake for the past seven years.
The greatest joy of being a priest is to minister to God’s people in the person of Jesus Christ when Jesus proclaims through me, “I baptize you, I absolve you and I anoint you.” Moreover when I proclaim, “This is my body” and “This is my blood.” While our journey as a priest of Jesus Christ will come to an end on this earth, the proclamation of Melchizedek echoes in our hearts, “Thou are forever a priest.”
The call to be a priest comes from the Lord. If one is chosen to be a priest, his greatest happiness will be in listening to the voice of the Lord and responding accordingly.
Father Hohenstein will celebrate his anniversary privately.
FATHER THOMAS J. KELLY was born in Enniscrone County, Sligo, Ireland and attended grade school at Enniscrone National School, high school at St. Muredach’s College and seminary at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, Ireland. From 1968-73, Father Kelly was associate pastor at St. Joseph’s in Green Island and from 1971-73 was part of the faculty at Keveny Memorial Academy in Cohoes. From 1973-81, he was associate pastor at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury, and pastor at Saint Paul the Apostle in Hancock from 1981-87. From 1987-2003, he was pastor at St. Patrick’s in Troy and from 2003-18, he was pastor at St. Mary’s in Ballston Spa.
The mentoring that I experienced from former pastors and the faith of the people I served has helped strengthen my faith. As a priest, one has a great opportunity to touch the lives of so many people through the ministering of the sacraments and the Eucharist.
Father Kelly plans to observe his jubilee with a quiet celebration with family and friends.
FATHER RICHARD SHAW was born in Brooklyn and attended Siena College, SUNY Albany and Christ the King Seminary (St. Bonaventure). In 1969, Father Shaw was chaplain at Memorial Hospital and from 1969-77, taught at Catholic Central High School in Troy. While at Catholic High, Father Shaw took on the three county jails of the Capital District: Schenectady, Albany and Rensselaer. In the 1980s, he was an adjunct professor in sociology at Maria College, chaplain at SUNY Cobleskill from 1987-90 and later chaplain at Summit Shock Prison. Father Shaw was a pastoral and sacramental minister at St. Anna’s Summit, completed his doctorate in the 1990s and taught sociology and criminology at Siena College.
At Bishop (Howard J.) Hubbard’s request I took on, full time, Coxsackie and Greene prisons in 2000 and acted as sacramental minister at both St. Patrick’s of Athens and Catskill. Sister Maria Mazza was parish life coordinator. We were a good team. I wouldn’t change any of the above. I loved every minute of it.
Some months before I would turn 75, I ended up in Saint Peter’s Hospital (not on assignment) but with heart difficulties. I left the hospital with machinery in my chest to keep everything going. Bishop (Edward B.) Scharfenberger suggested I retire a few months early. I told him that I’d like to cross the finish line when I’ve done the whole route. He said, “Okay, but if you go one day beyond it, I’ll make it happen.” I pass this on not because it says anything about me but what it says about him. We are blessed to have him as our Bishop. We priests are blessed to have him. He cares about us.
A memorable moment …
I almost didn’t get ordained back in the 1960s. These were years during Vatican II and many elder seminary professors were afraid of the changes that were happening. I was (affected by these) changes and put on probation for my last year of seminary. I was held back from being ordained a deacon. Two months before my classmates would be leaving to be ordained as priests, I was nothing. The faculty agreed that I could be ordained if a priest psychologist decided I could.
The priest psychologist met me in his office and we spoke for about 20 minutes. He then said, “Do you want to be a priest?”
I said, “Very much so.”
He got up from his seat with a smile on his face and said, “Then be a good priest.”
When I got back to the seminary grounds, seven religious sisters whose ministry it was to cook for the friars and the seminarians were standing on the steps of their house. They had told me that they would be praying for the outcome of the meeting.
I told them that after my ordination in Albany, I would come back to Olean to celebrate Mass with them. I did. Their morning Mass was very early because they had to get to the kitchen to get breakfast ready. I told these elderly sisters, “I owe my ordination to your prayers. I will remember each of you every day of my life.”
On the way out of their chapel, one of them laughed and said, “And don’t forget the psychologist.”
On the priesthood …
Priesthood is a gift. If you are being called to priesthood, I suggest to you that you begin by reading through the Gospels, listening to Jesus calling specific individuals to follow him. The rich, young man refuses the invitation because he loves his riches. The first apostles dropped all they had and followed after him. Listen to Jesus. To what is he calling you?
Father Shaw plans to observe his anniversary with his brother priests.
Father Kenneth Gregory, Father Thomas Hayes and Father John Moyna
50th
FATHER KENNETH W. GREGORY was born in East Greenbush and attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, Manhattan College and St. John’s University. He went to seminary at St. Bernard’s in Rochester.
In his 50 years as a priest, Father Gregory served many parishes and institutions. He served at St. Mary’s in Clinton Heights (associate pastor); Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hudson Falls, (associate pastor); St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar (associate pastor); St. Michael’s in Cohoes, (administrator); St. Joan of Arc in Menands (administrator); St. Madeleine Sophie in Guilderland, (pastor); Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Gloversville (pastor); Albany Medical Center (chaplain), along with being sacramental minister in Grafton and Berlin, as well as chaplain to the Sisters of the Presentation in Watervliet. He also served on the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission from 2000-12. In retirement, Father Gregory serves as chaplain to the Sisters of the Resurrection in Castleton
The greatest joy of my 50 years of priesthood was to witness the profound faith of the people that I ministered to, not only in the parishes but especially in my many years of ministry at Albany Med. The faith of God’s people was inspirational and uplifting for me. To bring people the love and understanding of Jesus in the most vulnerable moments of life has touched me profoundly and enabled me to realize over and over again the goodness of our God and to always remember that “God takes care of it all.”
To celebrate his jubilee, Father Gregory plans to concelebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Church in Clinton Heights on Sunday, May 21, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the parish center.
FATHER THOMAS J. HAYES was born in Wynantskill. He graduated from St. Jude the Apostle School in Wynantskill in 1961 and from Catholic Central High School in Troy in 1965. In 1967, he obtained his associate in arts from Mater Christi Seminary in Albany, and, in 1969, he obtained his bachelor’s from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. In 1972, he obtained a master’s in divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary and a doctorate in ministry from St. Mary’s Seminary in 1987.
Father Hayes served as associate pastor for St. Vincent de Paul in Albany from 1973-74, and St. Joseph’s in Albany from 1974-76. He went on to serve as pastor for St. John the Baptist in Albany from 1976-78; St. John-St. Ann in Albany from 1978-86; St. Helen’s in Schenectady from 1986-95; and Our Lady of Victory in Troy from 1995-96. He also served as administrator for St. Ann’s in Albany from 1977-78.
From 1996-99, Father Hayes was the canonical moderator for the Center City Cluster in Albany (Sacred Heart, St. Patrick, Our Lady of Angels, St. Casimir, St. George, St. Casimir School, Black Apostolate, Hispanic Apostolate and Vietnamese Apostolate). He went on to serve as pastor for St. Mary’s in Crescent from 1999-2010, and St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar from 2010-17.
His other duties included president of the Priests Senate from 1977-78; chair member of Priests Continuing Education from 2012-15; and director of the Hispanic Apostolate from 2012-17.
Originally, I chose the seminary to be a high-school teacher. However, in 1968, while in inner-city Baltimore, following the assassination of Martin Luther King, my whole focus changed from education to reconciliation. Over the 50 years of priesthood, I have had the privilege of being able to be a “bridge-builder” (the original meaning of the Latin word for priest, pontifex) between diverse folks. Such has been the case with my local assignments as well as with two sister parish relationships (Crescent and Guatemala; Delmar and Yucatan.) It has truly been a blessing.
Father Hayes has no current plans to celebrate his jubilee.
FATHER JOHN R. LANESE was born in Albany and attended seminary at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. After his ordination, from May-July 1973, he was associate pastor for special coverage at St. Mary’s in Hudson. From July-September 1973, he was chaplain at Marian Lodge, the diocesan camp, and from September 1973-August 1975, he worked at the Keveny Academy in Cohoes with residence with liturgical ministry at St. Joseph in Green Island and St. Marie in Cohoes. From August 1975-77, he worked at Bishop Scully High School in Amsterdam with a residence with liturgical ministry at St. Michael’s in Amsterdam. From September 1977-May 1978, Father Lanese was vice principal at Bishop Maginn High School with residence with liturgical ministry at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, as well as chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Names, Motherhouse, and the Pax Christi Community of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Kenwood. From June 1978-October 1982, he was associate pastor at Our Lady of Victory in Troy, and from October 1982-1995, he was pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish in Little Falls and administrator at Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s in Little Falls. From August 1995-May 1996, he was pastor at Annunciation Parish in Ilion and from May 1996-2010, he was associate pastor at St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park. From 2010-12, Father Lanese was pastor at St. Bernard’s in Cohoes, administrator at St. Joseph’s and St. Rita’s in Cohoes, and given the nickname of ‘The Closer” by his Cohoes parishioners. From 2012-14, he was pastor at St. James, St. John and St. Ann in Albany, and administrator at St. Francis of Assisi upon the merger.
Father Lanese was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and then covered various parishes in the Diocese, including a four-month period of coverage of St. Mary’s in Clinton Heights, until he requested retirement due to declining health. Father Lanese added, “As is evident, I took part in the merger and or closure of about eight parishes in the intended pastoral planning for the Diocese — not my proudest of accomplishments.”
I believe that as ordained priests our major role is in journeying with the people of God and enabling them to be able to recognize the face and presence of the Lord in all they encounter. In that encounter and recognition together we will be able to see, understand and respond to the Lord’s call to be his living church for all.
Father Lanese currently has no specific plans for observing his jubilee.
FATHER JOHN L. MOYNA was raised in the Bronx, where he attended All Hallows High School. He went to seminary at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie and Christ the King Seminary in Olean. Father Moyna served as associate pastor for a number of parishes during his first decade in the priesthood. He served at St. Clare’s in Colonie from 1973-75; St. Mary’s in Clinton Heights from 1975-79; St. Pius X in Loudonville from 1979-84 and St. John the Evangelist in Schenectady from 1984-86. In 1986, he became pastor of St. Mary’s in Coxsackie where he served until 2015. Father Moyna was also chaplain for the Coxsackie Correctional Facility’s Regional Medical Unit from 1996-2011, and Dean of Greene County from 2007-15.
I thank God for the gift of my vocation. It has been a wonderful blessing in my life. I have been privileged to serve the people of God on their journey of faith in times of joy and sadness as well. I have seen the face of God and the life of Christ in them. I have been inspired by them and I am deeply grateful to them.
Father Moyna plans to celebrate his jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 21, at 11:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s in Coxsackie.
Father Thomas Zelker and Father Robert LeFort
40th
FATHER THOMAS ZELKER was born in Glenmont and attended Bethlehem Central Schools and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. He attended seminary at Theological College at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Father Zelker adds that he was called to ministry in our church by the people of St. John’s-St. Ann’s Parish in Albany.
Father Zelker was associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany (1983-90) and St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady (1990-91). From 1991-92, he was co-pastor at St. Vincent’s Church in Cobleskill, St. Anna’s Church in Summit, St. Mary’s Church in Sharon Springs, SUNY Cobleskill and Summit Shock Facility. In 1992, he was administrator at St. John’s Church in Valatie and St. Catherine’s Church in Albany. From
1993-2010, he was pastor at St. Mary’s Church and All Saints Church in Granville, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Middle Granville, and chaplain at Washington Correctional Facility in Fort Ann. From 2010-21, he was pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls and sacramental minister at St. Patrick’s Church in Cambridge. From 2021-present, Father Zelker has been pastor at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Delanson and Our Lady of the Valley Church in Middleburgh
What a gift it is to be able to gather with so many diverse people at the Table of the Lord, celebrating and witnessing to the unimaginable Love of God revealed to us in Jesus … and experiencing this wonder in the dark depth of caves, canoeing and fishing on wild waters, skiing through ancient forests, gazing into the night sky galaxies, sharing Communion with homebound parishioners, making PB&J sandwiches for kids, visiting the hospitalized, and remembering stories of love in our family. Listen to God in your people.
Father Zelker plans to celebrate his jubilee with a Mass and a hot dog picnic on Saturday, July 8, at 5:45 p.m. in Middleburgh; and with an outdoor Mass and BBQ on Sunday, July 9, at 11 a.m. in Delanson.
25th
FATHER DAVID R. LEFORT was raised in the Ballston Lake/Glenville area and attended seminary at the Pontifical North American College from 1993-99.
Father LeFort’s first assignment was at Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham as parochial vicar from 1999-2002. He went on to serve at Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall and St. Ann’s in Fort Ann as pastor from 2002-07, and as vocations director of Seminary Formation from 2004-09. He was the rector for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany from 2017-21, and is currently serving as vicar general for the Diocese of Albany (2017-present) and diocesan director for the Pontifical Mission Societies (2020-present.)
When I was a young teenager and considering my future, a wise priest told me, “Find out what God’s will is for you; if you follow it, it will bring you joy.” And since becoming a priest, I’ve tried to echo that joy for all of God’s people. In the last several years, I’ve found myself more and more “stepping aside” in the liturgy and the sacraments in order to share a kind of “conduit” through which I can greater see God’s saving action. More and more, I’ve been blessed to witness the rewards of faith in my sisters and brother with whom I minister and that has been a blessed consolation to me. Thanks to so many who have shared these blessed years and experiences with me.
Father LeFort is still determining how to celebrate his jubilee.
Father Robert Longobucco and Father Scott VanDerveer
After ordination, Father Longobucco was parochial vicar at St. Mary’s in Oneonta (1998-2001); campus minister at the University at Albany (2001-06); and administrator at St. Matthew’s in Voorheesville (2006) and Sacred Heart in Lake George (2006-07). Since 2007, Father Longobucco has been pastor at St. Kateri Tekakwitha (formerly St. Helen’s and Our Lady of Fatima) in Schenectady-Niskayuna and has been vicar general since 2019.
The moments occur to me in a thick rush. The joy of young people making the Journey retreat, consoling the mourning, celebrating sacraments, developing relationships, growing our Church family, speaking out for justice as a member of the Albany Catholic Worker, and serving every part of our beautiful Diocese. There are so many ways to love and be loved in this life that I can never comprehend how blessed I am. If there is something that can sum it up, it may best be an unending experience of God’s mercy and grace.
The purpose of any vocation is to experience and share the love of Jesus Christ. It is what we are built for. When we do not recognize it, we feel the void. My priesthood has allowed me to touch people when they are at their most joyous and beautiful and wounded and vulnerable. To whisper the only news that ever makes a difference: God loves you. You are forever lovable. When your job is to tell that truth to a person and to a world hungering for it, you have a pretty good gig, one that I am grateful for every day.
Father Longobucco plans to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish (Union Street) on Sept. 24 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a picnic at Aqueduct Town Park in Niskayuna.
10th
FATHER SCOTT VANDERVEER was born in Pumpkin Hook, N.Y. (30 minutes east of Rochester), and attended Victor High School (1993), St. Bonaventure University (bachelor’s in journalism, 1997), and Boston College (master’s of education, 2006).
After receiving his degree in journalism and mass communication, Father VanDerveer traveled to more than a dozen countries during two years as a participant in the Up with People program. After returning from the road, he worked in a number of jobs, including at a foreign exchange and travel company, as a grant writer at a hospice and finally as a high-school theology teacher for five years at Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Boston. During that time he earned a master’s in education at Boston College (2006). In 2007, he took a 6th-8th grade religion teaching position at St. Pius X School in Loudonville, while he took a closer look at what it would mean to follow the pull he had felt for so long toward religious life. In 2009, Father VanDerveer returned to Massachusetts to study at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass., as a seminarian of the Diocese of Albany. He was ordained as a priest on June 8, 2013 at age 38.
From 2013-15, he was associate pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in Oneonta. He was pastor at St. Mary’s in Coxsackie and the Church of St. Patrick in Ravena from 2015-21, and since 2021, has been pastor at St. Mary’s in Glens Falls and St. Mary’s-St. Alphonsus Regional Catholic School (SMSA).
Sometimes I can’t believe that I now get to walk in the footsteps of the priests who inspired me as a child. When I’m preaching or presiding or sharing a sacramental moment with someone, I sometimes want to pinch myself. But being alive for these times means that I also minister in ways that the priests of my childhood couldn’t have foreseen — through YouTube, a podcast and livestreaming. These days are challenging for priests, for sure, but also incredibly rewarding. I am blessed that God called me to this amazing life.
Father VanDerveer plans on celebrating his anniversary with the parish at their Masses one weekend this summer.
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