Welcome to St. Michael’s Church!
Excerpted from Bishop Mark O’Connell’s letter to all parishes, September 29, 2026:
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Peace be with you.
I am pleased to share with you the enclosed “Parish Sustainability and Growth Discipline” for
the Diocese of Albany.
Since my arrival in Albany and installation on December 5, 2025, I have indicated that this was
forthcoming. I am convinced that we must approach the challenges we face honestly and
prayerfully, while looking with hope to the future. Parish sustainability and growth is about
keeping our parishes healthy and planning for the future; it is not about closing parishes. As I
have said throughout the diocese, I will not close any parish without the people of that parish
knowing and having the opportunity to exercise agency in planning their future. This is that
opportunity of which I have been speaking.
See the October 4, 2026, Bulletin for the rest of the Bishop’s letter: Click here to find it.
You can find the Parish Sustainability and Growth Discipline here.
*******
****
On Friday, March 27, 2026, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York, and the Official Committee of Tort Claimants announced that they have reached a settlement agreement in the chapter 11 case filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of New York on March 15, 2023.
See related documents below.
The settlement will provide payment in the amount of $148 million to survivors of sexual abuse for acts perpetrated against them by clergy, religious, lay employees, and volunteers of the Diocese. Although the settlement amount remains subject to a creditor vote and court approval, the dollar figure of the settlement has been accepted by the Tort Committee. The Committee is composed entirely of individuals who themselves survived sexual abuse when they were children by clergy members and employees within the Diocese of Albany.
The Diocese and the Tort Committee believe that this settlement is an important first step in forming a chapter 11 plan that will lead to the Diocese’s exit from chapter 11.
March 27, 2026
Monetary Settlement Reached in Diocese of Albany Bankruptcy Case
St. Michael the Archangel welcomes all to our regular Masses.
To watch a Mass live (4 PM Saturdays or on Holy Days), please visit the parish YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoRmh9joNvRgNRZFfSKWKBA
The link to prayers/resources for Mass can be found on our “Livestream Masses” page ( https://stmichaelschurchsgf.com/ministries/livestreamed-masses/ ).
For His assistance and protection during these trying times, we pray to our Parish’s patron:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
May God bless you! Take care and be kind.
~ Father Tony