Immaculate Conception Will Be Saved
By Doug La Rocque
The Albany Roman Catholic Diocese announced, via a letter to the church’s parishioners on Sunday, July 21 that the building will be restored and re-opened. The news comes two years and three weeks after the devastating floods in the Village that ruined several homes, tore up roadways and flooded the church’s basement, causing extensive damage. In a statement to The Eastwick Press, the Diocese says “after many discussions and meetings over the past two years, Immaculate Conception parish and St. Mary’s Academy are prepared to move forward with a plan, one that both the parish and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany believe is good not only for the parish but for the wider community of Hoosick Falls.
The parish, through its leadership and ongoing study, has determined that it wishes to pursue restoration of Immaculate Conception Church. The parish is also pursuing an agreement with an outside organization interested in purchasing St. Mary’s Academy, believing that the sale of the school property has the potential to benefit all people of Hoosick Falls, which includes the parish. The Diocese supports the parish’s decision and prays for the success of this plan.” The Reverend Tom Zelker, Pastor of the Immaculate Conception Parish is out of town, and unavailable for comment.
There is a buzz about the Village that the now closed St. Mary’s Academy is being purchased by the Hoosac School, but Hoosac’s Headmaster Dean Foster tells The Eastwick Press that is not the case. He did indicate however, he could have more to say about any Hoosac involvement in the future.
“Hallelujah” seems to be a good word to describe the reaction of Village residents. It was July of 2018 when Bishop Edward Scharfenberger visited Hoosick Falls to say the future of the church was yet to be determined and announced plans to move masses to St. Mary’s Academy. That move nearly came to fruition, and parishioners and area residents rallied to tell the Bishop, they wanted Immaculate Conception repaired. Now, their hopes and prayers have been realized. Perhaps the words of Mayor Rob Allen say it best: “This is the best news Hoosick Falls has had in some time. I am just so happy about the whole thing.”