LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 175th Anniversary of St. Joseph
& St. Patrick Church of Utica, New York

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and Nation to pay tribute
to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the
ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
175th Anniversary of St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church of Utica, New York;
this momentous occasion will be celebrated with a Mass and Luncheon with
Bishop Cunningham presiding, on Sunday, May 1, 2016; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph Church is older than any Diocese in the state
except for New York City, under whose Bishop, Most Reverend John
DuBoise, 1826 to 1842, the Church was organized; in the early nineteenth
century Catholics of German origin were found in and around Utica, New
York and they wished for a Church and a Priest of their own; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Trustees purchased the First Methodist Epis-
copal Church on Lafayette Street on October 15, 1840; and
WHEREAS, On April 23, 1847, the Diocese of Albany was established
during which time a site was established on St. Joseph Street to the
Church and was the first record of a cemetery belonging to the Church;
and
WHEREAS, A Ladies Society for the maintenance of the Altar was estab-
lished on November 25th of the same year, and is now known as the Altar
Rosary Society; and
WHEREAS, A new Church building was started in 1870, and the first
priest's residence was built against the Church wall of the eastern
transept; on May 7, 1871, the cornerstone of this new Church was laid by
the Right Reverend Theodore Noethen, Vicar General of the Diocese Alba-
ny; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, on November 9, 1873, the present Church was
dedicated by Bishop Francis McNierney, Coadjutor Bishop of Albany; and
WHEREAS, St. Patrick Church was established in 1848, and one year
later in December, a small chapel was erected; cornerstone of a new
Church was laid by Bishop John McCloskey the evening of July 13, 1851,
and its first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph and St. Patrick Churches were merged in 1966, at
the former St. Joseph Church; the first Pastor of the merged Churches
was the Reverend Colman Greevy, with the first Mass of the merged
Churches celebrated on September 4th of that same year; and
WHEREAS, Located on Columbia Street in Utica, New York, St. Joseph &
St. Patrick Church has been under the luminous direction of the Rever-
end Richard Dellos since July 9, 2002; and
WHEREAS, At present, St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church stands humbly,
prayerfully, meditatively and joyfully; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church stands on the threshold of
tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while
retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 175th Anniversary of St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Richard Dellos, St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church,
Utica, New York.