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Catholic Church thriving in Albany
KENNETH DOYLE. Times Union. Albany, N.Y.:Dec 30, 2006. p. A11 |
While some Catholic (and other) churches may have closed as worship sites in downtown Albany, as they have in other urban parts of the 14-county Albany Diocese, the Catholic presence in downtown Albany remains strong and in many ways has grown (in some cases operating out of those very same former church buildings). There remains a vibrant multiplicity of programs that reach, among others, tenants, the working poor and children at risk.
The former St. Casimir's, Our Lady of Angels and St. Patrick's churches have been merged into the new Holy Family parish, which offers worship services to longtime parishioners and newcomers, especially through its weekly Mass and Youth Ministry program for Albany's growing Hispanic community.
All of the Catholic churches in downtown Albany maintain food pantries (Holy Family, St. Mary's, the Cathedral and St. John's/St. Ann's). This past year, St. John's/St Ann's purchased and refurbished a firehouse across the street to provide wonderful dining space and outreach services to those in need in that neighborhood.
Recent stories in the Times Union have focused on Roman Catholic churches and former churches in downtown Albany.
As these stories revealed, population shifts have changed the landscape of downtown Albany in many ways, as they have in many urban areas, especially in the northeastern United States. These demographic changes have indeed impacted where - and the way in which - God may be worshipped by the residents of these communities.
While some Catholic (and other) churches may have closed as worship sites in downtown Albany, as they have in other urban parts of the 14-county Albany Diocese, the Catholic presence in downtown Albany remains strong and in many ways has grown (in some cases operating out of those very same former church buildings). There remains a vibrant multiplicity of programs that reach, among others, tenants, the working poor and children at risk.
The former St. Casimir's, Our Lady of Angels and St. Patrick's churches have been merged into the new Holy Family parish, which offers worship services to longtime parishioners and newcomers, especially through its weekly Mass and Youth Ministry program for Albany's growing Hispanic community.
The Franciscans at Holy Family Church operate a soup kitchen in the former St. Patrick's School. They also founded and support the Poverello Health Clinic for the uninsured and provide space for the Healthy Capital District Initiative, which offers Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicare enrollment assistance to the poor and working poor.
St. Patrick's Home-based Child Care Partnership on Central Avenue is another example of the church's commitment to downtown. This program trains and supports women who operate day cares in their homes so they can establish financial independence and transition off of public assistance. United Tenants, a program created by Bishop Howard Hubbard when he was still a street priest in the South End in the late 1960s, continues its fine work as an advocacy organization aimed at preserving and protecting tenants' rights.
Catholic Charities operates the Neighborhood Community Center on First Street with a Saturday youth enrichment program serving 55 young people. The center also houses a food pantry and after-school program run by the Albany United Methodist Society.
In addition, Catholic Charities sponsors the Center for Community Collaboration on the corner of Henry Johnson Boulevard and Clinton Avenue. This storefront drop-in center offers housing and employment, counseling, pre- and post-school sessions for grammar school youngsters, parenting education and HIV/AIDS services.
Catholic Charities Housing runs two residences for the homeless, Mercy House at the former St. Joseph's rectory in Arbor Hill and St. Charles Lwanga Center at the former Masterson Day Nursery in the South End. They serve 34 homeless men and women. The agency also provides 50 units of housing for low-income individuals in the Waldorf Residence in downtown Albany and 12 apartments for formerly homeless families in West Hill and the South End.
The former Our Lady of Help of Christians Church on Second Avenue is now the Mother Teresa Center. Numerous outreach services are available to neighborhood residents at this location and its former rectory. This includes the New Day Art Center, which offers more than 30 at-risk youth a wonderful art-based after-school and summer program.
Additional programs aimed at at-risk youth include the Arbor Day Program reaching youngsters at the Livingston Middle School and the Juvenile Mentoring Program on Slingerlands Street.
All of the Catholic churches in downtown Albany maintain food pantries (Holy Family, St. Mary's, the Cathedral and St. John's/St. Ann's). This past year, St. John's/St Ann's purchased and refurbished a firehouse across the street to provide wonderful dining space and outreach services to those in need in that neighborhood.
The Catholic Church still operates a very successful school in West Hill, St. Casimir's, which, incidentally, enrolls a significant number of non-Catholic students from that neighborhood. Even though the parish church closed about two years ago, this very vibrant school, under diocesan leadership, has continued to demonstrate improved academic achievement levels, with 100 percent of the students now meeting or exceeding state standards. At the same time, enrollment levels also have been maintained.
It is these and other Catholic programs, services and efforts that truly demonstrate how the church continues to take seriously its connection with these neighborhoods.
The Rev. Kenneth Doyle is chancellor for public information of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese and a member of the Mayor's Committee to Revitalize Albany.
| Author(s): | KENNETH DOYLE |
| Publication title: | Times Union. Albany, N.Y.: Dec 30, 2006. pg. A.11 |