Father Jay moving on as local churches set to welcome new priests

GREENE COUNTY―When Fr. Jay Atherton first came to Greene County in 2013 it was to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Windham. A year later, the Diocese of Albany also assigned him to Sacred Heart-Immaculate Conception Parish in Palenville and Haines Falls. Since then, his pasture grew even larger with the addition of churches in Cairo, East Durham, Greenville, Ravena, Coxsackie, Athens and Catskill.

But this past weekend, Atherton celebrated Mass at his parishes for the final time as he prepares for a new mission.

Bishop Mark O'Connell has assigned Atherton to Albany as rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and parochial vicar at the Historic St. Mary’s. He begins his new roles on July 1.

“Over the past eighteen months, I have been navigating several struggles with my health, including symptoms of burnout and depression. This has not been easy to acknowledge, and even less easy to accept. Like many people, I would much prefer to keep going, to push through, and to continue carrying the responsibilities entrusted to me,” Atheron shared in a letter to parishioners.

“I believe it is important to be honest about the reality I am living in—and because I know many others quietly carry similar burdens,” he added.

Atherton explained that he had to face the difficult truth that remaining in his current roles and “simply pushing through” would not be fair to parishioners or church staff.

“Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is not to continue as we are, but to step aside so that others can serve more fully,” he wrote, adding that he asked the bishop to allow him to step back from the responsibilities as pastor to focus on his health and healing.

The diocese not only granted Atherton’s request but also elected to assign multiple priests to the local parishes.

Fr. Russell Bergman has been assigned to Sacred Heart in Cairo, St. John the Baptist in Greenville and Our Lady of Knock Shrine in East Durham, while Fr. Pat Rice will serve Sacred Heart-Immaculate Conception Parish in Palenville and Haines Falls and St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Windham.

A third pastor, yet to be determined by the diocese, will be assigned to St. Patrick's in Athens, St. Patrick's in Catskill, St. Mary's in Coxsackie and St. Patrick's in Ravena.

Ordained in 2018, Rice is a familiar face among the local Catholic community. For the last year he has served all of Atherton’s churches as parochial vicar.

Bergman, who was ordained in 2022, currently serves as parochial vicar of a three-church community in Ballston Lake, Glenville and Scotia.

“I am at peace knowing that these communities will be well served by what comes next,” Atherton said.

He emphasized that neither parishioners nor the diocese are the blame for his decision and said that by sharing his struggles he hopes to encourage others to seek help.

“I do not wish any of you to worry for me. I am safe,” Atherton said. “What I am facing is real, and it requires attention, but it is something I believe I can move through with time, care, and God’s grace. I fully expect to enter a season of healing that prepares me for many more years of priestly ministry."

Following Mass in at Sacred Heart in Cairo on Sunday, Atherton was presented with a commendation from the Greene County Legislature for his leadership and service to local residents.

“I know that some may wonder whether it would be possible for me to remain, especially as more priests arrive and responsibilities are shared. I have considered that carefully. But the truth is that in order to focus on my healing, I need to step back from the responsibilities that come with being a pastor—even of a smaller assignment,” Atherton explained.

“God continues to guide all of us—even when the path forward is not the one we would have chosen,” he said.