LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Church of the Immaculate Conception

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing its
distinguished places of sincere worship; and
WHEREAS, The Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Schenectady, will
celebrate its final Mass on June 27, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Church was founded on May 1, 1904; its founding pastor
was Father John Ready of Little Falls, New York; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Church is to spread the word of Jesus
Christ, which is to worship God and bring the Good News of God's uncon-
ditional love to His people; and
WHEREAS, The first Mass was celebrated in a loft above Hildebrand's
Livery Stable on Broadway; and
WHEREAS, Father James Hayden replaced Father Ready in 1905; at this
time, a church was being built at the corner of Thompson Street and
Broadway; and
WHEREAS, Father James McDonald began serving the parish in 1945; he
re-established the Holy Name and Altar-Rosary Societies and organized
the first Society of St. Vincent dePaul; and
WHEREAS, The church celebrated the opening of the School of the Imma-
culate Conception on September 15, 1959; and
WHEREAS, Under the guidance of the church's fifth pastor, Father Fran-
cis Melfe, the Home and School Association was formed in 1970 to aid in
the mission of the school, which was then established with Pre-K and
Kindergarten through Eighth Grade; and
WHEREAS, The Parish Council was established in May of 1971; and
WHEREAS, 1972 saw the arrival of Father Ralph De Pasquale, OFM, who
led the community organization called We're All in This Together; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, diocesan parishes began working cooperatively in
geographic clusters in liturgical and social events; churches in Immacu-
late Conception's cluster included Our Lady of Assumption in Rotterdam,
St. Margaret of Cortona, in Rotterdam Junction, and Our Lady of Fatima
in Delanson; and
WHEREAS, The Church of the Immaculate Conception continued its excel-
lent tradition of sincere worship and fellowship, led by Father Bob
DeMartinis, its ninth pastor, until its closing; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Church of the Immaculate Conception; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Father Bob DeMartinis, Pastor, Church of the Immaculate
Conception, Schenectady, New York.