St. William's, which sits in the center of Troy's embattled Griswold Heights neighborhood, is named after a little-known medieval saint, William of Monte Virgine.

The twelfth-century Italian abbot gathered a community of men who "worked the fields, prayed together, and formed their own little church," according Rev. Gary Mercure, pastor. "William's charism was that of bringing people together."

Connection

William's monks would go out to the towns and farms surrounding the monastery "to teach the children, to see the sick and to bury the dead," Father Mercure explained. "Monks were witnesses in their day, living their religion and sharing it with the people who lived around the monasteries."

In Griswold Heights, the location of low-income housing built after World War II, St. William's has an opportunity to follow the precedent set by its namesake, he continued.

In an area suffering from "a lot of poverty," St. William's reaches out through a number of programs: a Bible study, food baskets and "Extra Helpings," a community meal for those in the area. In partnership with the Regional Food Bank, St. William's also distributes two weeks' worth of groceries for only $14.

Gathering crowd

In response to the parish's efforts, "more and more of our neighbors have been coming to see us," Father Mercure said.

Two years ago, for example, the annual Anointing of the Sick service drew 20 people. This year, adding a turkey dinner to the mix increased the head-count to 200.

The success of the dinner and anointing proves the point St. William made 900 years ago, said Father Mercure, and gives the Church one of the principles it abides by today: that along with fulfilling the spiritual needs of parishioners and neighbors, their physical needs have to be alleviated.

"Jesus showed that the spiritual and the physical were at one in His mind as Lord of Creation," said Father Mercure. "Most of the things Jesus did were the corporal works of mercy -- feeding the hungry, healing the sick. [The anointing service] is something St. William might have inspired us to do -- who knows?"

No matter their religion, age or ethnic background, said Father Mercure, "St. William's opens its doors to everyone, as St. William did many centuries ago in Northern Italy."

Chorus of faith

When thinking of a parish named after St. Cecilia, patron of music, one might envision large choirs and glorious pipe organs. But Rev. Patrick Gallagher, OFM, Conv., pastor of St. Cecilia's in Fonda, would rather hear the slightly out-of-tune but joyous voices of his congregation.

St. Cecilia was a third-century Roman martyr, renowned for her preaching. She became the patroness of music because of a story that described her hearing heavenly music when she was married. At St. Cecilia's, the pastor said, a cappella singing is the order of the day for more reason than one.

"The congregation is the priority," he explained, "even though we're fortunate to have some people to help out with the organ. In most small parishes, it's hard to hire a full-time organist."

In unison

At St. Cecilia's, there's no adult choir and no full-time music director. Occasionally, a talented teenager helped out by playing the organ, but she's going off to college soon, "so we'll see," said Father Gallagher.

"It's one of the things we're working on," he said. "I like music, I like to sing, and I like the people to sing."

Since parishioners are used to singing without accompaniment, "they're quite good," he added. "You can make the argument that when it's just them singing, they know they have to sing -- or there's nothing."

In tune

At any parish, music adds an essential dimension to the liturgy, said Father Gallagher.

"We live in a society in which we're much more visual than verbal, so that the spoken word doesn't make as deep an impression, whereas the sung word may," he said. "People are more likely to be touched by the words they sing than just the words they recite.

"On the practical level, you have to think about each generation, and how important music is to its formation and to its coming to understand the beautiful. One of the most beautiful things in our lives is the celebration of Mass, of God's mystery, and of His love for us. Music gives us a capacity for expression that is the strongest one we have in terms of beauty."