The Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County

Eternal God, may we always welcome Jesus into our hearts with joy. Help us to see Christ
in all people and to make them feel welcome. We make this prayer to you through Christ
our Lord. Amen.

We are here for you! Are you looking to receive a Sacrament? A number of parents have mentioned that their child or children have not received all their Sacraments. We will be hosting an informational meeting in June (date and time to be determined), however, we need to know who is interested. Please send an email to AnnValley at the ccnccformation@gmail.com.

Upcoming Family Faith Formation Events -

Final Family gathering #9: May 4, 9 am, St. James, and May 18, 5 pm, St. John’s. NOTE: St. James is first this month 

Sacramental preparations and dates -

Ann Valley’s 1st Eucharist youth:

Retreat - Sat., May 17, St. John’s 12:15 - 3:45 pm
1st Eucharist - 3 masses: Sunday, June 8th at St. James 9 am; Saturday, or June 14 at St. John’s 4 pm, or Sunday, June 15 at St. Joseph 10:45 am.

Jenn Pulver’s 1st Reconciliation youth:

Retreat followed immediately by the sacrament Sat., June 7 at St. John’s 9:30am - 3:30 pm.

Confirmation - June 1, 2-4 pm, with rehearsal May 31, 7-8 pm both at St. John the Baptist. Immediate prep sessions at Gatherings #8 and #9, and at St. Joseph’s on 2 evenings: April 27 (6-7 pm) and May 4 (5:30-7:45 pm). Attendance is very important!

¡Estamos aquí para usted! ¿Está buscando recibir un Sacramento? Varios padres han mencionado que su hijo o hijos no han recibido
todos sus Sacramentos. Vamos a organizar una reunión informativa en junio (fecha y hora por determinar), sin embargo, necesitamos saber quién está interesado. Por favor, envíe un correo electrónico a AnnValley en el ccnccformation@gmail.com. Esperamos con interés trabajar con usted y su familia.

Próximos eventos de formación de fe de la familia

Reunión final de la familia # 9: 4 de mayo (9 am ) St. James, y 18 de mayo (5 pm) St. ¡NOTA: St. James es el primero de este mes!

Sacramental preparaciones y fechas-

Ann Valley's 1 ª Eucaristía jóvenes:

Retiro - Sábado, 17 de mayo, St. John's 12:15 - 3:45 pm

1ª Eucaristía - 3 misas: Domingo, 8 de junio en St. James 9 am; Sábado, o 14 de junio en St. John's 4 pm, o Domingo, 15 de junio en St. Joseph 10:45 am.

Jenn Pulver 1 ª Reconciliación de los jóvenes:

Retiro seguido inmediatamente por el sacramento Sábado, 7 de unio en St. John's 9:30am - 3:30 pm.

Confirmación - 1 de junio, 2-4 pm, con ensayo 31 de mayo, 7-8 pm ambos en San Juan Bautista. Sesiones de preparación inmediata
en Reuniones # 8 y # 9, y en San José en 2 noches: 27 de abril (6-7 pm) y 4 de mayo (5:30-7:45 pm). ¡La asistencia es muy importante!

Please contact Ann Valley at (W) (518) 758-1828, (C) (518) 227-1025, or ccnccformation@gmail.com for more information about any of our programs.

Welcome New Members of the Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County!

On Sunday, January 12, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. With great joy our three parishes welcomed 21 new members through Baptism into our faith family in 2024! Please join us by celebrating the newest members of our church:

Church of St. Joseph/Stuyvesant Falls

St. James Church/Chatham

St. John the Baptist/Valatie

Christmas and New Year’s present an opportunity to share the many blessings we have received. Whether it is time, treasure or talent,
each of us has gifts we can bring to others in our churches and broader communities.

Please consider how you might volunteer this coming year with one of the many groups and ministries at our Catholic Community of
Northern Columbia County (CCNCC) parishes. If you see a need in our community that is not being met, please contact Fr. Steve, anyone in our office, and/or your parish trustees to discuss further. Fuller descriptions of these ministries are also available on our website, ccnccparishes.org, and you can sign up for more information and/or a discussion at  https://www.ccnccparishes.org/volunteeropportunities.

These can be wonderful ways to live the Gospel by serving others, while making new friends in our tri-parish community.
To get involved, please contact your parish office, who will put you in touch with each ministry or committee contact listed below. This list  is a work in progress, so if your name or committee is missing, please email sjofficeassistant@gmail.com and we will update our database.

Please come and share the gift of YOU in 2025!

Dear Parishioner,

Please click here or the image below for your copy of the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Financial Report, which was prepared by the St. James Finance Council. Printed copies will be available after Mass this Sunday, Oct. 27, and on our Welcome Table thereafter.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us by clicking here.

Faithfully,

The St. James Finance Committee

James Forster - Council Member
Fr. Steve Matthews - Pastor
Philip Mossman - Council Chair
Teresa Ribadeneyra - Council Member
Betty Sundstrom - Council Member
Janice Wallace - Council Member
Denise Barry - Trustee
Mickey Dennis - Trustee

September 2024

Dear Parishioners,

The Finance Council presents to you the Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Ended (FYE) June 30, 2025. This budget will provide adequate funding to meet operating needs and ensure current and planned parish programs can continue. Exhibit A provides the projected operational results for the new fiscal year including the projected income and expenses related to the Colbert House. Exhibit B provides the projected income and expense for the Colbert House. 

The operational budget reflects a breakeven net result (i.e. income equals expenses). As compared to the recently completed fiscal year, total income is projected to increase 2.7%, total collections are projected to increase 4.0%, and total expenses are projected to increase 7.7.%. The most significant increases impacted the following categories of expenses: Salaries and Benefits, Insurance, Utilities, and Shared Services. In addition, monies have been included in the budget for the sealing and remarking of the Church parking lot and the refinishing of the Sanctuary wood floors. Neither of these maintenance issues have been done in many years. 

The assumptions used in the development of the budget include but are not limited to the following:

• Inflationary increases for various expenses,
• Property and Building insurance increase of 5%,
• Mandated Priest salary increase, 
• Diocesan suggested a range of salary increases for lay person staff,
• Increases to utility costs, and
• Increases to shared services expenses.

The average budgeted weekly expense excluding expenses related to the Colbert House is $4,596 and becomes the new target for average weekly collection amounts. 

The Council will continue to explore various revenue options to ensure that funding exists for all current and future parish programs and initiatives and to also meet operating needs and requests all parishioners revisit and renew their financial commitment to St. Jamses.

Sincerely, 

Fr. Steve Matthews, Pastor                                                                  Philip Mossman, Fin. Council Chair
James Forster, Council Member                                                         Betty Sundstrom, Council Member
Janis Wallace, Council Member                                                          Teresa Ribaneneyra, Council Member
Mickey Dennis, Trustee                                                                       Denise Berry, Trustee

St. James Annual Budget Report FY25

Fr. John A Szukalski SVD will be at the CCNCC on August 24-25, 2024 to celebrate Masses and speak about the many ministries of his religious community, Divine Word Missionaries. They are an international religious community of missionary priests and Brothers serving in 79 countries helping to build chapels, celebrate the sacraments and spread the Word of God in remote mission communities.

Originally from Milwaukee, Fr. John professed perpetual vows as a Divine Word Missionary in 1996 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1997. He has ministered in Mexico, Paraguay, and in several Spanish-language pastoral assignments in the United
States (Chicago IL, Washington DC, and Yuma AZ). He also served as assistant pastor in a Vietnamese-American parish in St. Louis, MO. Fr. John holds a Ph.D. in Sacred Scripture from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Fr. John has taught sacred scripture and theology at Divine Word College in Iowa since 2012, and since 2017 served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at that same college. Fr. John is a member of the SVD Chicago Province and serves on the provincial council leadership team since 2020.

Nearly 6,000 active Divine Word Missionaries minister in the far corners of the world. They build hospitals to care for the sick and schools to educate the poor. They teach the hungry to farm, and they provide life’s necessities—water, food and shelter—in impoverished communities. These priests and Brothers help those neglected and forgotten by society to build a better future. They also foster vibrant Catholic communities of service and faith around the world.

This mission appeal is part of the Missionary Cooperative Program of our Diocese of Albany. Please be generous with your prayers and contribute to the second collection to help support the missionary work of the Divine Word Missionaries. To meet some of the people Divine Word Missionaries help, please read the stories at https:// missionimpact.svdmissions.org/mission-update. 

El P. John A Szukalski SVD estará en la CCNCC los días 24 y 25 de agosto de 2024 para celebrar misas y hablar sobre los muchos ministerios de su comunidad religiosa, los Misioneros del Verbo Divino. Son una comunidad religiosa internacional de sacerdotes misioneros y Hermanos que sirven en 79 países ayudando a construir capillas, celebrar los sacramentos y difundir la Palabra de Dios en las comunidades misioneras remotas.

Originario de Milwaukee, WI, el P. John profesó los votos perpetuos como Misionero del Verbo Divino en 1996 y fue ordenado sacerdote en 1997. Ha ejercido su ministerio en México, Paraguay y en varias misiones pastorales de habla hispana en EE UU (Chicago IL, Washington DC y Yuma AZ). También fue vicepárroco en una parroquia vietnamitaestadounidense en St. Louis, MO. El P. John es doctor en Sagrada Escritura por la Universidad Católica de América en Washington DC. El P. John ha enseñado Sagrada Escritura y Teología en el Colegio del Verbo Divino en Iowa desde 2012, y desde 2017 se desempeñó como Vicepresidente de Asuntos Académicos en esa misma universidad. El P. John es miembro de la Provincia SVD de Chicago y sirve en el equipo de liderazgo del consejo provincial desde 2020.

Casi 6.000 Misioneros del Verbo Divino activos ejercen su ministerio en los rincones más remotos del mundo. Construyen hospitales para cuidar a los enfermos y escuelas para educar a los pobres. Enseñan a los hambrientos a cultivar la tierra, y proporcionan las necesidades vitales -agua, comida y cobijo- en las comunidades empobrecidas. Estos sacerdotes y Hermanos ayudan a los desatendidos y olvidados por la sociedad a labrarse un futuro mejor. También fomentan vibrantes comunidades católicas de servicio y fe en todo el mundo.

Este llamamiento misionero forma parte del Programa de Cooperación Misionera de nuestra Diócesis de Albany. Por favor sea generoso con sus oraciones y contribuya a la segunda colecta para ayudar a apoyar el trabajo misionero de los Misioneros del 
Verbo Divino. Para conocer a algunas de las personas que los Misioneros del Verbo Divino ayudan, por favor lea las historias
en https://missionimpact.svdmissions.org/mission-update.

Fr. John A Szukalski SVD will be at The  Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County on August 24-25, 2024 to celebrate Masses and speak about the many ministries of his religious community, Divine Word Missionaries. They are an international religious community of missionary priests and Brothers serving in 79 countries helping to build chapels, celebrate the sacraments
and spread the Word of God in remote mission communities.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Fr. John professed perpetual vows as a Divine Word Missionary in 1996 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1997. He has ministered in Mexico, Paraguay, and in several Spanish-language pastoral assignments in the United States (Chicago IL, Washington DC, and Yuma AZ). He also served as assistant pastor in a Vietnamese-American parish in St. Louis, MO.
Fr. John holds a Ph.D. in Sacred Scripture from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Fr. John has taught sacred scripture and theology at Divine Word College in Iowa since 2012, and since 2017 served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at that same college. Fr. John is a member of the SVD Chicago Province and serves on the provincial council leadership team since 2020.

Nearly 6,000 active Divine Word Missionaries minister in the far corners of the world. They build hospitals to care for the sick and schools to educate the poor. They teach the hungry to farm, and they provide life’s necessities—water, food and shelter—in impoverished communities. These priests and Brothers help those neglected and forgotten by society to build a better future. They also foster vibrant Catholic communities of service and faith around the world.

This mission appeal is part of the Missionary Cooperative Program of our Diocese of Albany. Please be generous with your prayers and contribute to the second collection to help support the missionary work of the Divine Word Missionaries. To meet some of the people Divine Word Missionaries help, please read the stories at https://missionimpact.svdmissions.org/mission-update.

We ask your continued support in the Diocesan Collection on February 17 and 18 for Black, Native American & Latin American
Missions. Funds from this combined collection support projects and are used to help fund catechesis and evangelization programs throughout the United States and the Church of Latin America and the Caribbean. Your gifts will fund catechesis, pastoral programs, marriage and family life projects, seminarian education, and many other necessary programs. The Black and Native American Mission Office provides grants for projects that promote Native American and Black evangelization efforts throughout North America including programs in the Diocese of Albany. By contributing to next week's collection you will provide seeds to grow the faith for years to come. Please support the Black and Native American Missions of the United States and the Church in Latin America.

Mass cancellations:  We make every effort to communicate to all our registered parishioners when Masses or other events are cancelled.  If you did not receive the email(s) send this past weekend, please reach out to your parish office (see inside front cover) and provide us with your updated email, and check our website ccnccparishes.org and parish Facebook pages for the latest news and updates from our parishes.  

Cancelaciones de misas: hacemos todo lo posible para comunicar a todos nuestros feligreses registrados cuando se cancelan misas u otros eventos. Si no recibió los correos electrónicos enviados el fin de semana pasado, comuníquese con la oficina parroquial (ver el interior de la portada) y proporciónenos su correo electrónico actualizado. Tambien puede consultar nuestro sitio web ccnccparishes.org  y páginas de Facebook or Snapchat para conocer las últimas noticias y actualizaciones de nuestras parroquias. 

Thank You! ¡Gracias! Thank you to all who helped in any way to prepare for the Christmas Liturgies as well as all the ministers who helped at those masses.  A special thanks to Fr. Gary, Fr. Bill and Fr. Tom for all the extra masses and confession help (during Advent).  We could not have offered all the masses and services without you!  Additionally, I offer my sincere appreciation for our musicians - singers, instrumentalists, etc. for all the beautiful sounds provided at the Longest Night Service as well as at all the Christmas Liturgies! Thank you to all our volunteers and staff who helped in any way during Advent or during these 12 days of Christmas! Lastly, thank you to all who came and/or encouraged others to come to mass or any of the Advent offerings!  Let us continue to pray for all our sisters and brothers in need.  Merry Christmas Day 12 and Happy Feast of the Three Kings and Epiphany!

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Gracias a todos los que ayudaron de alguna manera a preparar las Liturgias de Navidad así como a todos los ministros que ayudaron en esas misas.  Un agradecimiento especial al P. Gary, al P. Guillermo y al P. Tomás por todas las misas extras y la ayuda en las confesiones (durante el Adviento).  ¡No podriamos haber ofrecido todas las misas y servicios sin ustedes!  Además, ofrezco mi sincero agradecimiento a nuestros músicos - cantantes, instrumentistas, etc. por todos los hermosos sonidos proporcionados en el Servicio de la Noche Más Larga, ¡así como en todas las Liturgias de Navidad! ¡Gracias a todos nuestros voluntarios y personal que ayudó de alguna manera durante el Adviento o durante estos 12 días de Navidad! Por último, ¡gracias a todos los que vinieron y/o animaron a otros a venir a misa o a cualquiera de las ofrendas de Adviento!  Sigamos rezando por todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas necesitados.  ¡Feliz Navidad Día 12 y Feliz Fiesta de los Reyes Magos y Epifanía!