By Katherine Long
Sun associate editor

Family, friends, colleagues and parishioners filled St. Joseph’s Church in Camillus to overflowing last week, gathering to say goodbye to Father Gregory LeStrange.

Father LeStrange passed away Dec. 13 after a battle with cancer. He was 55.

A graduate of Catholic Central High School in Binghamton, Le Moyne College in Syracuse and St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, Father LeStrange was ordained to the priesthood May 15, 1982. He became pastor at St. Joseph’s in 2006, having previously served as pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville, and as parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist Church in Syracuse, Sacred Heart Church in Cicero and St. Mary’s Church in Baldwinsville.

Father LeStrange was active in many community organizations, serving on the boards of Catholic Charities, Francis House, Le Moyne College and the Samaritan Center. He received the House of Providence Bishop’s Medallion Award in 2003 and the Samaritan Center Award in 2009.

Remembered fondly for, among many other things, his organizational skills, Father LeStrange worked with many individuals to carefully plan his Vigil Service and funeral Mass before his death.

The Vigil Service was held Dec. 15, planned by Father LeStrange to be inclusive of the children of the parish. Understanding that death can be scary and sad for kids, he wanted to provide an opportunity for them “to learn to rejoice in the celebration of life,” said Kristen O’Hara, director of faith formation at St. Joseph’s. Nearly 200 young people, from third graders to college students, participated in a candlelight procession at the Vigil, O’Hara said.

Bishop Robert Cunningham celebrated the funeral Mass Dec. 16. Retired Bishop James Moynihan and retired Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Costello attended, as did many of Father LeStrange’s brother priests.

By Deacon Tom Picciano
Sun contributing writer

JOHNSON CITY —Tony Miller walked out of Blessed Sacrament Church for the last time with a camel resting in his arms. Miller has memories of one of the larger figures of the parish nativity set.

“I’ve had a special affinity for that camel. He’s been my favorite piece of the entire nativity scene. I only get to see him at Epiphany because he doesn’t come out until then with the three kings,” Miller said.

Other parishioners brought the rest of figures out the front door on Saturday, Dec. 10. The sun was shining brightly on the calm Susquehanna River, just a stone‘s throw from the parking lot. The scene was much different in September when several days of rain pushed the raging river out of its banks into the rectory, former convent and school as well as the church basement.

By Father Mike Bassano, MM
Sun contributing writer

Greetings from Tanzania. We never know nor can we control how life will turn out as we live each day. What we do know is that the presence of God within us guides and inspires us to live fully. The gift of Christmas is the surprise of God who loved humanity and all creation that Jesus came to share in our life in a humble way.

About five years ago, Edina came to share in our life at our home of compassion. We know nothing of her past except that she was born in Uganda, the country bordering Tanzania to the north. She was found wandering lost in a village not far from us called Kigera Etuma. Edina is mentally challenged and is able to speak. She has a scar on her left hand from burns she received long ago. Edina is 35 years old and with only the clothes on her back went through the village asking for food. She would sleep on the side of the road or in a nearby field. One of the villagers brought her to us where she has finally found a home. Edina is friendly to everyone and greets us with a smile every day. She also helps with the daily chores of washing dishes, cleaning clothes, taking care of our children as well as getting water and wood to cook food.

One day as I was talking with one of the elderly men, I saw Edina running toward a small pool of water. All of a sudden she pulled out of the water a three-year-old boy named Freddy from our home who accidentally slipped into the water. Had Edina not acted quickly little Freddy would have drowned. She then brought Freddy — who was conscious and all right — over to me. He was startled and very wet. We then took him to his mother, got him cleaned up with new clothes while giving thanks to God that he was alive.

Edina became our hero of the day, saving the life of the child. She, who others may think is intellectually or socially below average, became a sign for me of how God surprises us by showing how the poor and humble ones are the real treasures of the earth.

In this Christmas season we are surprised by how God came to us in a humble way as a poor child in Bethlehem.

May we always be surprised to find Jesus in the poor and humble ones among us.

Merry Christmas,
Father Mike Bassano