{"id":303855,"date":"2019-11-03T08:48:05","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T13:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=303855"},"modified":"2019-11-03T08:48:05","modified_gmt":"2019-11-03T13:48:05","slug":"albany-priest-killed-by-floodwaters-on-way-to-say-mass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2019\/11\/albany-priest-killed-by-floodwaters-on-way-to-say-mass\/","title":{"rendered":"Albany priest killed by floodwaters on way to say Mass"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u201cHe died as he lived \u2014 serving the people of God without fear or concern for himself.\u201d<\/em><\/h3>\n

From The Evangelist:<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Father J. Thomas Connery, a long-time priest of the Diocese of Albany, died tragically on Oct. 31.\u00a0While traveling to say Mass for the people of Herkimer and Newport, Father Connery was caught up in the flash flooding in that region.<\/p>\n

Father Connery, 82, a fixture in the Diocese, was best known as pastor at Immaculate Conception in Glenville from 1990-2007.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cWe are so saddened to learn of Father Thomas Connery\u2019s tragic death, but we know that he died as he lived \u2014 serving the people of God without fear or concern for himself,\u201d Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger said in a statement. \u201cFather Connery was a devoted priest who served faithfully for 56 years and just weeks ago had accepted a new assignment as sacramental minister for Sts. Anthony and Joseph Church in Herkimer as well as St. John the Baptist in Newport.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay he rest in peace, and may his family be comforted by the faith that served as Father Connery\u2019s strength and foundation throughout his life of ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n

State Police in Herkimer reported that at approximately 10:10 p.m., Father Connery drove his 2017 Ford Fusion through the flood waters along Military Road in the town of Norway, Herkimer County and barely made it through, according to an eyewitness. Father Connery then tried to walk back through the flood waters he had just driven through toward the eyewitness, lost his footing and was washed downstream, the report said. Due to the strong current, his body could not be recovered until the next day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Albany Times Union<\/a> <\/strong>notes:<\/p>\n

He was born in 1937 in Troy and ordained a priest in 1963, after studying at the now-shuttered Mater Christi Seminary in Albany, Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh and Mount St. Mary\u2019s Seminary in Maryland.<\/p>\n

Connery spent four years as assistant pastor at St. Mary\u2019s Church in Little Falls, Herkimer County, before moving to Alaska for eight years. There, he was assistant pastor, then administrator, at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage and later an administrator at St. Benedict\u2019s in Anchorage, St. Michael\u2019s in Cordova and St. Paul Miki in Anchorage, according to the diocese.<\/p>\n

He returned to Albany in 1977 and was named hospital chaplain at Albany Medical Center. A year later, he became pastor of St. Joseph\u2019s in Albany. Connery served as pastor of St. Mary\u2019s and Sacred Heart, both in Little Falls, in the 1980s before starting at Immaculate Conception in Glenville.<\/p>\n

Connery also led prison retreats, chaired the advisory board for the Little Sisters of the Poor and served as chaplain to Magnificat, a women\u2019s Christian group, the diocese said.<\/p>\n

Mary DeTurris Poust, diocese spokeswoman, described Connery as \u201ca very kind and generous spirit who lived an amazing life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poust noted that Connery had struck up a friendship with Thomas Merton, the Catholic monk and writer, while in Alaska and had also known the Rev. Stanley Rother, a priest who was murdered in Guatemala and is considered likely to become the first American-born man to be canonized as a saint.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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