Dear Parish Family…
There is an undeniable feeling of hope around us these days as more than a quarter of New Yorkers are now vaccinated from COVID-19. Plus, we have survived a winter of lockdown, one that we all dreaded, and have now come to the other side of that bleak time. The road ahead for us is still challenging, and there are many indications that this pandemic is far from over, but hope is alive, and spring is our daily reminder of that.
Another joy that is just around the corner for us is the ordination of five new priests for the Diocese of Albany! Kyle Gorenski, Nathan Resila and Stephen Yusko will all be ordained on Saturday, June 19 at 11:00 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany by Bishop Ed. In addition to those three names, which you may or may not recognize, are two we know well: Matt Duclos and Dan McHale!
Matt, 30, from Clifton Park, spent the summer of 2017 as a seminarian intern with us right before he shipped off to Rome for four years of study and preparation for this day. Dan, 40, from Stuyvesant (2 miles across the Hudson River from Coxsackie) came to speak about vocations in January 2017 and then spent much of the past four years with us as he’s been attending seminary in Boston, when he often took up residence at the St. Patrick’s rectory during his breaks and long weekends. Both of them are outstanding candidates and will be splendid parish priests.
Dan’s father is a Greene County native, his mother is from Hudson and his Aunt Carol is a member of our parish, so to honor these roots, and his connection to us here in Ravena and Coxsackie, Dan will be celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving the day after he is ordained a priest on – how perfect is this? – Father’s Day, June 20 at 4 PM at St. Mary’s in Coxsackie. Along with his family & friends, Dan will invite his priest mentors, parishioners from Windham, Haines Falls & Palenville where he spent his first summer internship in 2017… and you!
Because of social distance regulations, we are not yet sure how many spots will be available to each parish, but we know it will be a significant amount, so please stay tuned for announcements and instructions on how you can possibly join us that day. If you’ve ever been to a Mass like this, you know it’s not to be missed. We can’t promise Father-to-be Dan won’t be nervous, but we can promise he will be filled with grace and joy – and so will we.
It is your donations to the Annual Diocesan Appeal (formerly known as the Bishop’s Appeal) that have funded Matt and Dan’s tuition and room and board over the past four years of study… and that will now be used to fund those costs for the ordination class of 2022 and beyond. We can’t thank you enough for all you have done to make this joyful time possible!
It’s been a long, hard 13 months, and we certainly have suffered – which makes the infusion of hope we now get to feel an even bigger reason to celebrate and share our joy.
Your grateful pastor,
