November 16, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

'WE ARE COMMUNITY'

Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany offers help to Bishop Comithier and Elijah Missionary Baptist Church after fire

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany has offered to help Bishop Avery Comithier and his congregation after a fire at Elijah Missionary Baptist Church in Albany’s South End destroyed the church on Nov. 14.

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger reached out to Bishop Comithier on the morning of Nov. 16 saying, “Whatever we can do, we will do. This is what we are called to do, to come together and help each other.”

The Diocese has offered some of their Albany churches so Elijah Missionary Baptist can continue to worship; this past Sunday a service was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

“We are community,” Bishop Scharfenberger said. “Not just Catholics, but everyone. It is important to know our neighbors, to listen to each other, to know one another’s stories.”

Father David Mickiewicz, rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, works closely with Bishop Comithier. Both are chaplains for the Albany Police Department. “Our humanity comes forward at a time like this,” Father Mickiewicz said. “We pull together in a time of need. This is not just a building. It’s their home.” Father Mickiewicz urges all to “keep this community in prayer that they can walk into an unknown future right now, not knowing where God is calling them to.”

The Diocese plans to stay in touch with Bishop Comithier and offer further assistance where possible. May all impacted by this fire find hope on their journey forward and may they experience the love of Christ in all who journey with them.

The church, formerly known as Our Lady Help of Christians, was closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese in 2002 due to low enrollment.