GLOVERSVILLE - Joe Plumadore has been attending Mass at Sacred Heart Church for 20 years, since St. Mary's Church on Fremont Street was closed.
He'll see his second church close its doors in October when Sacred Heart is shut down.
"It's really too bad," Plumadore said. "But things do change. Everybody will get together."
The decision was announced Wednesday night and Pastoral Associate Karen Hoose told the crowd Sacred Heart was chosen to close because St. Mary of Mount Carmel was better equipped to be the sole church in the city because it has more parking, better bathrooms, more floorspace and is handicapped-accessible.
Plumadore, who also is an usher in the church, said he wasn't surprised by the decision.
"I kind of figured it was going to go that way," he said. "The other church is bigger. This is a nice church and I've been going here a long time, but things do happen. It's life."
Sacred Heart and St. Mary of Mount Carmel have functioned as linked parishes for years as they share the same pastor, the Rev. Donald Czelusniak, and most of the same parish staff. The only things the two parishes have separate are the Pastoral Associates for Administration and Buildings and Grounds supervisors.
All of the parish business is handled at 149 S. Main St., next door to St. Mary of Mount Carmel.
After the meeting Wednesday night, Czelusniak said he saw something encouraging as a man who previously went through the closure of St. Mary's and now attends St. Mary of Mount Carmel approached some of the Sacred Heart parishioners.
"After the meeting, he went up to some of the people from Sacred Heart and he said, 'I'm sorry. I went through it myself and I understand. And we're going to be here for you in whatever you need.' It was nice to see that," Czelusniak said.
Officially, St. Mary of Mount Carmel will close as well and a new parish, called the Church of the Holy Spirit, will take its place.
"Even though, we're going back, there is a loss, to some extent, on both sides, but different degrees and that's why we will be having two closing liturgies and not just one," Czelusniak said.
Czelusniak, during his sermon at Saturday's Mass at Sacred Heart, told the parishioners the process that will take place between now and October will be a journey for both sides and related it to a story from the Gospel of St. Luke, where two disciples were leaving Jerusalem with their hearts downtrodden after Jesus was crucified.
The story says they encountered the risen Jesus Christ, who broke bread and said a blessing, opening their eyes and they recognized him.
"It was an internal change that happened," Czelusniak said. "Their eyes opened and they recognized him. Instead of downcast hearts, their hearts were burning and on fire. Then, you can understand what's happening."
However, not only Sacred Heart parishioners attended the white church on Kingsboro Avenue. Frequently, St. Mary of Mount Carmel parishioners also attend.
Marilyn D'Erico, who attended Saturday afternoon's mass with her husband, Frank, said she attends mass at Sacred Heart occasionally.
"It's difficult for people in this parish to have to change because they've been here for so long," she said. "They've had so many family ties. Children have been baptized and married. It's unfortunate that one of them had to close. But I think the future is very bright for the Catholic family in Gloversville."
Czelusniak closed his sermon Saturday afternoon with a quote from the Prophet Isaiah that he felt best summarized the events of the past week:
Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not perceive it?
"We're on the journey of transition," Czelusniak said. "It doesn't mean you don't appreciate it and remember all that has gone before. When you appreciate it be grateful. ... That's how we emerge from grief and loss, by giving it expression."
Mike Zummo covers Montgomery County news. He can be reached by e-mail at montco@leaderherald.com.
