Posted on 08/30/2004 7:38:32 AM PDT by sidewalk
Parish mourns as St. Casimir's closes Albany-- Tears and anger during final Mass at church that was the heart of the Polish community
About 300 people packed the pews of St. Casimir's Church Sunday to say goodbye to the Catholic church that was considered the heart of the city's Polish community.
Parishioners watched through teary eyes as the last Mass was celebrated at the Sheridan Avenue church. In his homily, the Rev. Thomas Krupa said the closing means it's time for a "new direction, a new spirit to take over."
"No longer do the Polish ladies wash their sidewalks on Saturday so all the ladies who walk to church on Sunday can do so with pride," Krupa said. "So what happens now? As I said, it is up to you."
The Albany Diocese decided to close the church, a fixture in the Polish community for 111 years, at the recommendation of a pastoral council of the Center City Cluster, which includes St. Casimir's, St. Patrick's and Our Lady of Angels. The news was broken to the congregation in June, and on Sunday parishioners were still having a hard time accepting it.
"My childhood was here. I was baptized here, had my first Communion here and confirmed here. Loads and loads of memories are here. This is where my roots are," said Mary Krzanik Hayes, a member of the church from 1936 to 1950.
Hayes' parents were members of St. Casimir's for 36 years before they died more than 20 years ago; she wore their wedding rings Sunday in honor of them.
Krupa said the Polish tradition doesn't have to be lost with the closing of the church, and encouraged them to keep the memory of the church alive by telling others about the history.
St. Casimir's opened in 1893, providing not only a place of worship for Polish immigrants, but a place where they could hold on to their traditions.
"It's truly been a beacon of light for Polish Americans and their families," said Bishop Howard Hubbard, adding that the church has a "proud and proven track record" of providing parishioners with spiritual and educational needs.
And it was the church's success that ultimately led to its closing, Hubbard said. "More and more parishioners climbed the economic ladder of success and relocated to the suburbs. We know in this closing ... St. Casimir's has fulfilled its mission and enabled members of the parish to become faithful members of the community."
Irene Ropelewski of Clifton Park said St. Casimir's has a special meaning to her because her grandfather, Jan Rochminski, was one of the founding members. Ropelewski said she was sad to let go of a part of her family. "I was one of the people who moved out to the suburbs, but I've been coming back the last two years," she said.
Some parishioners were angry at the diocese for closing the church and accused the bishop of taking away a piece of their heritage. "Yes times have changed but it's those times when you need to keep the tradition alive and the church is the place to do that," Barbara Krzanicka, of Colonie, said as she wiped away tears.
She added that it was an insult when Hubbard addressed the congregation in Polish during part of his remarks. "He has no right to say anything in Polish. That was one big joke."
Henry Mazur of Niskayuna said he's never going to another Roman Catholic church. "This is the one and only Polish church in Albany. Why close it? They took everything away from us," Mazur said.
"As we close the doors of this beautiful and historical church, we do so with the confidence that the faith of the community will live on in minds and hearts," Hubbard said.
After the final procession outside, churchgoers gathered on the sidewalk and street in front of the church and watched was the doors were shut and locked for the last time.
"It's like a part of my life is gone," Hayes said.
"Bishop" Howard Hubbard, leader of the lavender mafia in upstate NY, stands accused of soliciting teenaged boys for sex in public places, and is alleged to be a a practicing homosexual. None of this is of my invention - it has all been in the news, quite openly over the past year.
And "Howie" is going to close this traditional, ethnic parish? How well he fulfills the agenda of Amchurch/Scamchurch!Typically, the proceeds from the sale of this building will enrich the Bishop's coffers - after paying of the legal settlements of the diocese.
Hubbard has done nothing in his nearly 30 year long reign of terror, but to deconstruct Catholicsm in the Capital District of upstate NY - close churches, drive away good, chaste vocations to the priesthood, and send decent faithful Catholics away in disgust.
He is surely being used by God as a chastisement of hte poor people of Albany!
"Bishop" Howard Hubbard, leader of the lavender mafia in upstate NY, stands accused of soliciting teenaged boys for sex in public places, and is alleged to be a a practicing homosexual. None of this is of my invention - it has all been in the news, quite openly over the past year.
And "Howie" is going to close this traditional, ethnic parish? How well he fulfills the agenda of Amchurch/Scamchurch!Typically, the proceeds from the sale of this building will enrich the Bishop's coffers - after paying of the legal settlements of the diocese.
Hubbard has done nothing in his nearly 30 year long reign of terror, but to deconstruct Catholicsm in the Capital District of upstate NY - close churches, drive away good, chaste vocations to the priesthood, and send decent faithful Catholics away in disgust.
He is surely being used by God as a chastisement of hte poor people of Albany!
Wow! The modernists have become very bold in promoting their new religion.
The neighborhood surrounding St. Casimir's is now low income. Over the past decade, St. Casimir's School tried unsuccessfully to provide a catholic education to inner city youth. This closing may be the first of several. The City of Watervliet is expected to lose 2 of its 4 Catholc Churches. That would leave 1 Roman and 1 Ukrainian Catholic Church. However, it will soon gain a Maronite Catholic Church ;-D.
St. Casimir, Our Lady of the Angels and St. Patrick's lost their immigrant congregations, when they moved out of the city and into the suburban sprawl. You can learn more about the history of these churches, and their plight, from this Times Union article.
There's nothing in the article about the Polish community banding together to raise money for the church or trying any alternatives to keep it open. I'd be happy to stand corrected if the bishop refused to consider any plan they proposed, but it looks like there are three big Catholic churches downtown with no parishioners and no financial support. Something had to give.
I notice that every single person quoted in the article is no longer a member of the parish, except possibly for the lady who adds as sort of an afterthought that she's been coming back for two years. But she lives 25 miles away. And I doubt she pledges to the church. It seems like the folks who are complaining have merely a sentimental attachment dating from the 1950s, and just showed up for the funeral.
I read the article. In no way do I pretend to know the recent history of Watervliet, but I do know of Hubbard, and from my experiences in and around NYC, I know what has happened over the last 40 years.
This bishop did nothing to stem the tide of decay of the neighborhood, for all of the social programns that prelates of his ilk profess to love - with their so-called concern for the poor (which is usually nothing but a bad joke). But I will even be generous (while laughing) and say that there is nothing Hubbard could have done about the cosial ills of the area.
There was a lot that hubbard - or any Bishop - could have, and should have done to stem the steady egress of people from parishes like these.
In many Protestant churches in urban areas, the congregation does not live in the area - a family may have moved away 2-3 generations ago, but still comes to "Mom's church", or "my grandfather's church". There is a sense of pride in the historical association, and in passing it on to one's children.
Let's examine what other factors will keep those folks coming: the like the music - aesthetically, and spiritually, and are pleased & proud of it. They like the historic appearance of the sanctuary of their church - and will give money until it hurts to maintain it. They like the pastor, and feel supportive of him, and his ministry. They like the style of the worship service. They feel, by the maintainance of the traditions of their church a sense of continuity - and of kinship with parishioners gone before them. They are made to feel comfortable and welcome.
If any of these factors - and certainly if too many of these factors are changed, erased, or radically altered, they will - as intelligent people - vote with their feet!
Let's see what happens in most Catholic parishes by contrast: the music is awful, disrespectful, and is in no way connected to the past; by its very nature the past is rejected. The historic appearance of the church's sanctuary is mutilated & wreckovated beyond all reason - and usually for the purpose of being disruptive - jarring; it rips out the heart of what should be the joy and prixe of the building. The pastor, regardless of individual personality & outward appearance, cares little for the parishioners; and it shos in the response to him - he treats them as strangers in their own land! Their money is used - whether they like it or not, to fund such destructive projects.
The style of the service of worship (mass) is so horribly altered that one is uncertain what is going on, or where it is all heading, Modernist pastors do everything posiible to constantly change things &/or agitate for change, that one is left on a very unsure footing.
This has been the state of most urban Catholic parishes over a nearly 40 year period. Is it any wonder that the parishioners left - and never came back, even if they could still get there on Sunday?
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