Church set to reopen after 5 years
Hoosick Falls parishioners to gather as repairs done in time for Christmas Eve
HOOSICK FALLS — It’s been five years since Roman Catholic parishioners last worshiped upstairs in the Immaculate Conception on Main Street. But that changes at 4 p.m. Sunday when they return for Christmas Eve Vigil Mass.
Flooding in July 2017 and roof damage that led to the ceiling falling on the altar in the sanctuary in 2018 forced parishioners from their 154year-old church to worship in the Presbyterian Church and eventually return to the downstairs hall at Immaculate Conception.
When the parishioners gather to celebrate Mass for the first time since 2018, it’s expected to be an emotional experience, especially for older members of the congregation who have been part of the parish their entire lives. The Immaculate Conception community has come a long way since it first feared the damage to the church would lead the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese to permanently shut down the building. That didn’t happen.
“As a parish it’s really significant. We’re honoring the past, the parishioners who came here, the Irish, Polish and Italian immigrants. It was built by blue collar workers,” said Beth Ferrannini, the pastoral associate for Immaculate Conception.
“What’s making us the happiest is our long-term parishioners who’ve missed the space a lot,” said Ferrannini.
Inside, the church appears to be brand new, with only the stained glass windows flanking the altar still missing. A special photo reproduction of the original windows is being done in Spain so that they can be restored. It’s the same restoration work being done at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris that was heavily damaged by fire, said Mary K. Rosmus, parish life coordinator of the Battenkill Network of Roman Catholic Parishes.
Immaculate Conception will be in the middle of services held to celebrate Christmas by the Battenkill Network of three parishes. The first Christmas Vigil Mass to be said is at 10 a.m. Sunday at Holy Cross in Salem, Washington County, then the 4 p.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception in Hoosick Falls and finally, the 10 a.m. Christmas Day Mass at St. Patrick’s in Cambridge, Washington County.
Immaculate Conception Church has been a prominent part of the Hoosick Falls community since the cornerstone was laid in 1869.
“The building is very important to many people, not just the parishioners but Hoosick Falls in general. I feel we’re part of a rising in Hoosick Falls. The economy is turning around,” Ferrannini said.
Rosmus said the parishioners and community should take great pride in what’s been accomplished to restore the church since the flooding in 2017 and the renovations in the nave and sanctuary. The church is looking ahead, she said, with a layout that accommodates the current worshipers with seating for 220 people and a more inviting area for them to gather in when they enter the building.
“This is a community effort to put the church back. The generosity of the parish is outstanding,” Rosmus said.
The church will open for the Christmas Vigil Mass and continue for services beyond the Christmas holiday weekend. All of the renovation and repair work is expected to be completed in the late spring to early summer.
With the church returning to life in its upstairs worship space, the installation of the new windows flanking the altar and the repairs being completed, Ferrannini and Rosmus see the parish expanding its outreach and ministry more into the community. The church serves as an anchor and a beacon for this work.
“We want to build a beautiful space that suits us and our ministry,” Rosmus said.
Ferrannini became emotional as she reflected on the money donated for rebuilding and parishioners donating their time over the last five years and in the final weeks leading up to Sunday’s Christmas Vigil Mass celebration. Ferrannini said, “It’s happening not only for the Immaculate Conception parish but also for the Hoosick Falls community.”