Fr. Ken Gregory’s homily on Sunday, November 19 at Our Lady of the Snows Church in Grafton dealt with faith and preparedness. He told the crowded church the people of the parish are people of great faithfulness and preparedness. While he, on the other hand is not quite prepared for “retirement.” But the time has come, he said, to do so. He reminded them “if there is anything I can do for you – you know where I am.” In an address filled with laughter and tears he recalled meeting the church’s sacramental minister Sr. Kenan on a dark gray day, much like Sunday, almost 22 years ago. He said his first words upon seeing the “old” church were “Dear God!” and, he added, that was not a prayer! The building had a useless key, inadequate heating and a lack of facilities. Sr. Kenan assured him they were going to have a new church “with running water.” And, of course, they do.
He described his 22 years as Chaplin at Albany Medical Center as some heavy days, some difficult times and much crisis intervention. “It gave me a different perspective on the meaning of life and, I hope with that, I helped you recognize what is really important,” he said. “Sometimes I would come here bearing the weight of the world,” he added. “And I would leave feeling light, refreshed and renewed. I have been honored to be here – to have served you. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me. Without you I don’t know where I would be today. Thank you for being you.”
He spoke of Sr. Kenan who passed away in 2011. “We just clicked,” he said. “We had weekly meetings together and spent holidays together. I still think of her every day.”
His one regret, he said, was the closing of Sacred Heart Church. “I loved that little church,” he said. He added that as a parish, “we have laughed a lot, we’ve had good times and tough times, but we have always been there to support each other.” As the Mass ended everyone remarked on how the sun chose that particular time to come out and brighten the church and the congregation. A farewell reception with a time of reminiscence followed.
Parishioners said they have so many wonderful memories of Fr. Ken. “He’s not just our priest, he’s our good friend,” one person said. Barbara Messinger referred to him as progressive and all inclusive. “He truly follows the teachings of the bible,” she added. Ann McGrath said he baptized her triplets, the only triplets he ever baptized! And the children… the light of his life have been the children. “Sister Kenan loved the children too,” he said. He refers to the youngsters of the parish as “my kids.”
“All my kids are a gift,” he said. Some of those babies he baptized have now graduated from college. One youngster he baptized was Jessica Crandall. When he presided at her wedding he said he thinks he cried more than her mother did! And later he baptized Jessica’s baby. “The greatest joy is serving the generations; it’s a wonderful joy, he added.
Fr. Gregory said a broken ankle a few years back has made walking difficult and that was the impetus for retirement. “It was too much walking in the hospital and the thought of winter driving to Grafton was also too much.” But, he won’t be idle. He is now Chaplin for the Sisters of the Resurrection in Castleton, about 10 minutes from his home. “I will get a chance to use my Polish,” he said. He’ll also be helping out at St. Mary’s in Clinton Heights and at St. John-St. Joseph’s, so he expects to be busier than ever. Plus, he added, he sees his 95 year old Mother at Evergreen Commons every day, and he has become the unofficial chaplain there as well.
The good news is that Fr. Ken will return to Grafton to serve Mass on Christmas eve. Retired Fr. Joe Falletta is now serving the Lady of the Snows congregation.