Staff Writer
On Sept. 15, St. Helen's parish in Schenectady celebrated 75 years of living up to its mission statement of being a place where it is possible to "create a collaborative ministry that allows each parishioner to share in Christ's mission and to extend His priestly ministry in the world."
The current church is located at 1803 Union Street, but that is not where it began. The first building was a Sears & Roebuck prefabricated frame structure erected at the corner of Union Street and Woodland Avenue.
In 1926, the first pastor was Rev. Joseph A. Dunney, who was the author of a book titled, "Saint of the Snows," the life story of St. Helen of Sweden. Although the parish was initially named for another saint, parishioners changed it to St. Helen's when he was appointed pastor.
Formed as an outgrowth of St. John the Evangelist parish to serve the expanding Catholic community of eastern Schenectady and Niskayuna, St. Helen's managed to outgrow its prefab building by the end of World War II. Land was purchased on upper Union Street, and the current church was completed and dedicated by Bishop William A. Scully in 1955. In 1991, a major renovation project moved the altar, and created a semi-circular worship space, new seating, and a new entrance and greeting area.
According to Rev. James Kane, pastor, the Schenectady area is better because of the parishioners of St. Helen's over the past 75 years.
"The charitable outreach of the parish has touched the lives of countless poor and needy in this community -- and worldwide through their generous support of diocesan and mission collections over the years," he said.
Father Kane added that more recently, efforts have been continued through the sacrificial sharing from the parish's budget as well as "hands-on service by so many" over the years.
"Thousands of children have been nurtured in their faith through St. Helen's School and religious education programs in this parish, by the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, other religious and lay teachers, and volunteer catechists," he continued. "Church is not merely the building in which we gather for worship but who we are, and we are the Church. It is here that for 3,900 Sundays, we have gathered for Mass to hear God's Word and receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. In this place, we have shared in Christ's sacraments and the Church's sacramentals. St. Helen's is a place of God's of grace and peace."
(The annual parish dinner will be held on Oct. 12 to honor all parish volunteers. An anniversary parish directory has been published with pictures of current parishioners and their families.)