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Father Young still young
in energy, heart, soul
Friends
laud priest's accomplishments as he passes three quarters of a century
As Rev. Peter Young, pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Bolton Landing, celebrates his 75th birthday this year, friends are reminiscing about all he has accomplished in his parish work, ministry to persons with addictions and to inmates, and his other expressions of the social Gospel.
For example, Kathi Di Mauro, a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament, has known him since she was a teen, when he arrived as the new pastor. Today, she is married and has two teenage sons. She knows him as a consistent, positive influence in her life and the life of the parish.
"Father Young is a great guy," she said. "He's a dynamic person, and I would have to say he is the personality of our parish."
Leadership
Mrs. Di Mauro noted that Father Young "gives a consistent example of leadership and positive perseverance to our parishioners."
Over the years, she has watched Father Young give "tremendous example" of the Gospel message through his life and actions.
"When there is a need, he is right there with ideas about what can be done to help others," she explained. "No matter how big the problem may be, he just hands it over to God and never worries or seems nervous about anything, no matter how serious or how bad it is."
Role model
In addition, Mrs. Di Mauro said that Father Young has been a positive influence on her sons.
"As a parent, you do what you can when raising your children," she said. "You hope that others will also come along and be a positive influence in their lives. Spiritually, Father Young has inspired both our sons in a definite way. There is no distance between him and our community. He is a good friend to us all."
New life
Dennis Bassat is the Chief Operating Officer [of 820 River Street, Inc.], which is operated by Peter Young Housing Industries and Treatment (PYHIT). Originally from the Bronx, Mr. Bassat relocated to the area after meeting Father Young at Mt. McGregor State Prison in Wilton.
"I met Father Young 19 years ago as I was getting ready to transition out of prison," he recalled. "I had come to Mt. McGregor from the Elmira facility with a 19-year history of drug and alcohol abuse. I was in what is called a 'revolving door' situation -- in and out of prison for years fighting my addictions.
"When I met Father Young, he was chaplain at Mt. McGregor and had just founded ASAT, the Alcohol Substance Abuse Treatment program. I attended the orientation. We talked about making changes in our lives. Since I was still 'on the fence' regarding whether or not I wanted to do that, he and I had some interesting conversations."
Mr. Bassat decided to enter ASAT.
Finding work
When the time came for Mr. Bassat to transition back into society, Father Young trusted him with a job when "no one wanted to touch me," he said. "My record was such that I couldn't seem to kick the drug and alcohol abuse."
The first job that Mr. Bassat held was as assistant manager at a half-way house in Troy where he went to live. It was the first house in the newly established program [820 River Street, Inc] for those who have served time in prison and want to make a positive change in their lives.
"We now have 15 licensed programs throughout New York State," Mr. Bassat noted, listing drug and alcohol abuse recovery programs, and outpatient clinics for men and women throughout the state.
Assessment
"Father Young is quite a man," Mr. Bassat declared. "He gets an individual to get in touch with their inner self.
"I'm Hispanic and have a Catholic background, but it was also a background of violence and abuse. In our talks, Father Young somehow saw my gifts, even though I couldn't see them myself. He taught me to grow up, how to live.
"He has saved my life."
(9/22/05)