Click on the thumbnail to view the Galleries
2016
Divine Mercy Sunday - Second Sunday of Easter
Note the blood (red) and water (blue) from the side of the pierced Christ.
Views of St. Mary’s
Father’s Day: Carnations and Blessings at the 6/18/16 Vigil Mass
Father John and “Sister” Edna are almost hidden by the 400 carnations.
List of honored fathers, festooned by brilliant red carnations, adorn table alongside ambo. 6/18/16
2015 Christmas – Celebrating The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
Confirmation, December 10, 2015
Fall 2015 Socials
... following the 11 am 4th-grade Mass, as families enjoyed cookies, donuts and coffee, milk and juice.
Sunday morning, October 25, the Parish Hall once again entertained parishioners with conversation and treats for a monthly Coffee Social ...
Father John enjoyed many discussions with community members and parishioners at the Oktoberfest.
Approximately 50% of the 200+ in attendance were from outside our parish.
St. Mary's welcomed the parish community to Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 24, 2015.
Introducing our Faith Formation Religious Education Staff for 2015-16
Mrs. Colette Tangel will be guiding our First Year Confirmation Classes as they begin their three-year journey.
Mr. Bill Weldon, Fifth Grade and Mrs. Carolyn Lewis, Sixth Grade
Mrs.Roe Abbate, Director of Religious Education. (Note that Mrs. Abbate is seated in our new Internet Café in the Parish Hall, available to parents & guardians. Free Wi-Fi, coffee & cake will be available to enjoy while students are in class upstairs, before families proceed to 11 am Mass.)
Father John blesses the new and rejoining staff, commissioning them for another school year.
Greetings and introductions of religious education teachers
Mrs. Athena Hopkins & Mr. James Willsey, Fourth Grade
Mrs. Susie A. Conklin, Third Grade
Mrs. Michelle Kennedy, Second Grade. She will be joined by Lia Fickbohm and Joanne Crowson
Miss Molly Mooney, First Grade
Mrs. Mary Margaret Kuhn, Kindergarten
9/20/15 Baptism of Jesse William Torruella
September 13, 2015 – Mass & Picnic at Glimmerglass State Park
September 11 – St. Mary’s 2015 Remembrance
August 9, 2015 – Lemonade on the Lawn
June 14, 2015 – Ordination Anniversary Mass & Picnic
Last but not least, Father John proudly displaying the chausble in which he was ordained 40 years ago that very day!
Fr. Greg and Fr. Andrew look on as Fr. John makes the first cut.
Marge's cake speaks eloquently for itself. If you didn't get to taste it, you really missed a treat!
... while some of the younger parisioners entertained themself on the front lawn.
And a dynamic duo entertained us from the gracious wrap-around front porch of the rectory ...
Now that's a happy quartet which barely looks 192 years "old".
And quickly the tent was filled with smiling faces, food and congratulations.
The consecrated host is raised and soon the congregation will process to the altar to receive the Most Holy Eucharistic Feast
Lord, bring down your spirit.
The blessing of the body and ---
Fr. John's Sister, Mary Ellen and her husband Jim Constantino present the gifts.
Cantor and parishioner Dr. Steve Markuson leads us in song and psalm.
Mark Perrella, a friend and parishoner from a former assignment of Fr. Rosson's in Schnectady, proclaims the first reading.
(right to left) Fr. Greg Weider, Fr. John Rosson, Fr. John Roos & Fr. Andrew Cryans.
Dignity and grace festoon the altar with the placement of a purple orchid gift.
Father Roos enjoys God's sunshine with parishioner Julie Auriemma as final preparations are made inside.
...with yellow roses being Fr. John's favorite.
Roses encircle the altar ...
Parishioner Marge Landers (baker and artist extraordinaire) and Fr. Andrew, attempt to get the priests together for the cake cutting.
Parishioner Paula Pugliese is digging in!
Food, families and flowers filled folding furniture.
Parishioner Gail Sacchi presented Fr. John with more yellow roses while enjoying the party.
Father John, after Mass, under the open-air tent, presented anniversary/commemorative bats to each Priest.
The Mass has ended - Go in peace (and enjoy the picnic!)
The lines were long as approximately 250 parishioners and friends crowded our humble Church.
Fr. John and acolyes Kelly Mooney and Briana Bischof await the presentation of the gifts.
An animated and annointed homily is proclaimed ... and to think ... Fr. John has probably given over 2,000 Sunday homilies!
Preparation for the gospel ... Allelulia!
Parishioner Bruce Makusen recites the petitions and the second reading.
Next comes Fr. John Rosson, current pastor of St. Mary's
And Fr. Andrew Cryans and Fr. Greg Weider enter as Fr. John Roos smiles down from the altar.
Pleasant harp sounds lightly permeate the air, courtesy of parishioner Suzanne Rudy.
Candles are lit ...
Sharon Oberriter, our ever-competent event chairnan, with the help of incognito Fr. John, entrust Mary with the engraved bats to be presented to the priests at the picnic..
And a Papal Blessing to commemorate Fr. John Roos' Diamond/60th anniversary.
Papal Blessings adorn the entranceway, marking the Ruby/40th anniversaries of Fr. Andrew and Fr. John ...
Souvenir bookmarks commemorate the 40th anniversaries of Fr. Andrew Cryans and Fr. John Rosson AND 60th anniversary of Fr. John Roos
June 7, 2015 – The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
The Most Blessed Eucharist is placed on the outdoor altar
Father John is assisted by Acolyte Brendan and Eucharistic Minister Penney as he decends the steps
...and processes to the Church's front entrance.
Father John leaves the altar
The Monstrance now holds The Most Blessed Eucharist
Mass - Sunday, June 7, 2015
Outside altar awaits the Corpus Christi Procession after Mass on a day blessed by God in every way imaginable
Souvenir bookmarks commemorate the 40th anniversaries of Fr. Andrew Cryans and Fr. John Rosson AND 60th anniversary of Fr. John Roos
Blessing of Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist
Father John read the blessing for the Eucharistic Ministers and the parish to hear
Then each individual minister was blessed by a laying on of hands and a personal blessing
Father John read the blessing for the Eucharistic Ministers and the parish to hear
May 10, 2015 – Mother’s Day & May Crowning of Mary
May 9, 2015 – First Holy Communion
Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015
Acolyte Brendan Bragg prepares for Easter recessional
We are greeted by Father John P. Rosson and Parish Council Member Robert Bohm at the Solemn 11 AM Mass of Easter, to receive the Body and Blood of our RISEN Lord Jesus Christ.
The consecration of the most Precious Blood of our Lord so that we may receive His Body and Blood
The Holy Water and Palms have all been blessed during this most holy of weeks ...
The 2015 Paschal Candle shines proud and tall on this Easter morn. It is a gift of the Chase, Schwintosky and Yates Families in memory of Helen & Robert Yates
The rite of "sprinking of Holy Water" upon parishioners gives us a shower of God's holy blessings.
Preparing incense
Let us pray this "winter Easter" morning, thanking the risen Lord for all our many blessings.
... and now Father John blesses the Easter morning altar with incense.
Easter Vigil, Saturday evening, April 4, 2015 – Sacred Triduum
... as CHRIST IS RISEN!
We once again celebrate The Eucharist ...
Father John blesses the Holy Water, followed by our Renewal of our own Baptismal Promises.
The shimmer of candle-lit parishoners hear The Word proclaimed before the Church Bells ring out and all lights rise.
The altar glows in anticipation and Mary's window is resplendent overhead ... maybe more so than usual!
Indoors, as darkness begins to surround us, the parishioners gather to celebrate the final chapter of The Sacred Triduum
Soon we will be rejoicing over the Risen Christ.
As we warm ourselves by the New Fire, even our "Winter Easter", so aptly named by Father John, is well represented on our front steps.
And now we step outside to kindle the New Fire to light the Easter Candle as darkness begins to fall.
Mary Magdelan is in the garden ...
The Holy Water is awaiting its blessing on this glorious night ...
The ALELULIA Banner is placed beneath the Tabernacle ...
The altar seems to appear like an empty tomb, as we note the three burial cloths nested among the lilies.
… as the Easter lilies surround
The altar awaits the Easter Vigil
Good Friday, April 3, 2015 – The Sacred Triduum
We gaze through a crown of thorns ... upon a hill ... as Jesus takes his final breaths and commends his soul to His Father to save ours.
A "lily of hope" was brought to the altar by Isabell Qua, a First Communicant of 2015, and placed atop the empty tabernacle by James Havener as Father John thanks and blesses Isabella.
Lift High the Cross
... we Venerated The Holy Cross
The bare tabernacle was covered with artwork as we entered
Behold the cross
The front steps beckoned us to come in and adore the cross of salvation
The cross was visable in many forms
This "Winter Easter" saw a melting of snow as we approached St. Mary's in silence.
Prayers said before ...
Today's Gospel was The Passion of the Lord according to John read by Father John Rosson, James Havener and Brenden Bragg
The congregation kneeled as Father John performed the Prostration Rite
Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2015 – The Sacred Triduum
After the breaking of the bread a ciboriium with the Blessed Sacrament is transfered to the St. Kateri Undercroft Repository
We celebrate the Eucharist
Father blesses the altar with incense
And Mandatum Emilia Longh, were among 20 Apostles to have their feet washed on Holy Thursday this year.
Mandatum Joseph Longhi ...
Mandatum Kathy Shirm ...
The Sacred Chrism Oil "Sancta Chrisma" is presented by Kathy Shirm
The Blessed Oil of Catechumen "Oleum Catcchumen" is presented by Sharon Oberriter
The Blessed Oil of the Sick " Oleum Infirmorum" is presented by Susanna Longhi
... complete with the Mandatum for the ancient rite of foot washing
Lift High the Cross as the procession begins ...
Pitchers of water, basins and towels are in place
Chairs are ready in the center aisle
St. Mary's Church is prepared and awaits the Apostles
Holy Thursday is upon us as we commemorate the Evening of the Lord's Last Supper, the Apostles and Sacred & Blessed Oils
2015 Maryellen Wrubleski Annual Lenten Food Drive
The annual food drive emphasized food through the ages, beginning with baby food.
Sprinking Holy Water on the food and in turn, on those who will be sustained by it.
Father John blessing the food before it is to be packed and delivered. To his side is Cathy Raddatz who co-chaired this year’s Food Drive with Betsy Jay.
Dottie Phillips among the several tons of donated food and health-care supplies.
Acolyte Brendan Bragg is surrounded by the expansive piles of food donations. which stretched from one side of the altar to the other.
Fasting, almsgiving and prayer are the center of our Lenten Food Drive
The blessings mount among the palms
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
Lenten Fish Dinner and Stations, March 20, 2015
We "Lift High the Cross" with the help of our organist/pianist Lucille Gargiulo.
The Stations conclude at the Woeppel family read of Jesus being layed in the tomb.
An image of Calvary amongst the Stations.
Rev. Betsy Jay tells of Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry his cross and the Markusen family bring forth the news of Jesus' death in Station #12
Mary Margaret Kuhn presents us with Station #4, as Jesus meets his mother.
Mary Dirr and Lisa Mooney start us off with Station #1 as Jesus is condemned.
The Stations were written by a past Religious Ed Director of St. Mary's, the late Amy de la Torre.
Father John tells us about the Stations version that the families will be reading from this evening.
Maureen Davidson distributes small twig crosses.
Roe Abbate, Director of Religious Education relates a touching story about a grateful young man who in turn shared his goodness with us.
The cross takes center stage as we enter.
The Sohacki/Gannon family read Station 2, Jesus and His Cross.
... and the crowd of 80+ people listen.
Day of Ashes leads us into the early days of Lent, 2015
One inviting corner of the chapel seems to realize that we celebrate Christmas all year long as Christians, as the purple Lenten candles lovingly surround the poinsettias.
The simple appointments against the rugged stone walls of the chapel are both humble and annointed.
On the first VERY chilly Lenten Monday, Mass was VERY warmly celebrated in our beautiful grotto chapel on the lower level of the Rectory.
As the first week of Lent began, so began the daily Masses in St. Mary's Rectory Chapel at 12:10 PM
The decor is sparse, reminding us of Jesus in the desert for 40 days.
Father John also celebrated a Mass with Ashes at Otsego Focus. Carole LaChance was lector and cantor.
Purple altar cloth and the icon with its reflections, reminds us to reflect on prayer, repentance and fasting.
Large bowl of ashes await
Announcing Services & Mass
Burning of the Palm Branches for Lent, 2/17/15
Father John enjoyed his Mardi Gras borrowed boller at the conclusion of the service
Fr. John shares his smoke with Fr. Matt in true ecumenical spirit
Fr. John disappears as Fr. Matt grins
As we and the ashes are blessed, the smoke edges towards the clergy
Fr. Matthew Stromberg from Christ Episcopal and Elder Anne Blabey from Cooperstown Presbyterian read Psalm 51
We came together on a cold day to humbly ask God to bless these ashes
Rev. Betsy Jay read scripture as a fire burned in our hearts and in the fire pit of palm branches.
Fanning the flames
Advent, 2015
The Magi are "not yet seen"
The manger awaits
Winter 2015 Sights at St. Mary’s
Even the Blessed Mother is crowned with snow as she shows patient faith, awaiting the crown of flowers in May.
The snow reached up for the sign.
The statues were peering out beneath the snow as we readied to burn ashes.