Greetings to my new parish family!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption church. I am following the many years of service of Fr. Burke, and more recently of Fr. Rutherford and Fr. Joseph. I look forward to getting to know you.

This is an exciting time to start my service as pastor, as we begin a new year under our newly-installed Bishop Mark. Our parish community is strong in its faith and generous in its service. I look forward to working with all of you as we journey in our faith and work to welcome more people into our parish community.

Please keep me in your prayers as we move forward together!

God Bless,
Fr. Tom

A Little bit about Fr. Tom

Fr. Tom describes his move to Our Lady of the Assumption as a “sort of homecoming.” The youngest of four boys, Fr. Tom was born in Utica, New York, and grew up in Colonie. He graduated from Shaker High School (1988) and Union College (1992), and he earned his law degree from Harvard Law School (1995).

He first felt a call to priesthood in college, but after a period of discernment, his life took a different direction. He married and worked as a lawyer for over twenty-five years, first in New York City and then back home in Albany. He served for several years as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn.

Fr. Tom felt the call to ministry later in life, while active at St. Pius X Parish and after his marriage ended. He found in his parish service and working with the pastor, Fr. James Walsh, great peace and joy. Over time, he entered the Diocese’s discernment program and was accepted as a seminarian. After studies at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry and Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, he completed his formation with a pastoral year at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Schenectady with the pastor, Fr. Bob Longobucco.

Fr. Tom was ordained a priest in May 2024. Since then, he has served at St. Kateri as parochial vicar.

Fr. Tom is blessed to be the father of Luke Fallato, who holds a degree in theology and sacred music from Franciscan University of Steubenville and who lives in the Albany area. Fr. Tom shares a close relationship with his mother, Mary, who recently turned ninety-eight and still lives where he grew up in Loudonville.

In addition to his parish work, Fr. Tom serves as an Assistant Vocation Director for the Diocese, serves as chaplain to the diocesan Catholic Lawyers Guild and works in the Catholic chaplaincies at Union College and Albany Law School. He also serves as a board member of the Friends of Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, Inc. Fr. Tom also authors a monthly column for The Evangelist.

In his free time, Fr. Tom enjoys reading, traveling with his son and visiting historical sites.

Receiving Christ as the Greatest Gift

At Christmas, Father Joseph invited our parish to pause—not simply to hear the familiar Gospel, but to enter its meaning more deeply and personally.

Proclaiming the opening of St. John’s Gospel, he reminded us that Christ is the Word made flesh, the true light who enters the darkness of our world—a light the darkness has not overcome. From the very beginning, God chose not to remain distant. He chose to come near.

Why Did God Become Human?

Father Joseph acknowledged the traditional answers we know well: God became human to save us, to redeem us, and to bring us back to Himself. All of this is true. But on Christmas, he invited us to look at the mystery in a more personal way.

When we receive truly good news, our first instinct is to share it. God did the same on Christmas Day. He did not merely send blessings or gifts—He gave Himself. The most complete way God could share Himself with us was to become one of us.

This, Father Joseph explained, is the heart of our Christian faith:

God became human so that we might share in His divine life.

He beautifully connected this truth to the prayer prayed quietly at every Mass:

“By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.”

God became small so that we might grow. He became vulnerable so that we might become strong in Him.

Seeing One Another as Gifts

Turning to the realities of our world, Father Joseph spoke plainly. We live amid violence, division, and conflict—in families, communities, nations, and even within the Church. He named two root causes:

1. God is no longer present in many hearts.
2. We have stopped seeing one another as gifts.

When we fail to see others as gifts, we begin to see them as obstacles, burdens, or enemies. That is where division takes root.

With both sincerity and gentle humor, Father Joseph asked us to examine ourselves:

• Children—do you see your parents as gifts or as conveniences?
• Parents—do you see your children as gifts or as burdens?
• Parishioners—do you see your priest as a gift?
• Do we see the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable as gifts—or as problems?

Christmas proclaims a different truth: God sees each of us as a gift. And if God sees us that way, we must learn to see one another the same way.

Jesus: The Greatest Gift

Drawing from an encounter with our Faith Formation students, Father Joseph shared a simple yet profound moment. When asked about the greatest Christmas gift, one young child answered without hesitation: “The Baby Jesus.” Wise beyond his years, he captured the heart of the feast.

Jesus is not simply a gift among many—He is the gift. When we accept Him, something extraordinary happens. We begin to take on His likeness. We begin to share in His divine life. This is the purpose for which we were created, and it is offered to everyone—without exception.

An Empty-Handed Shepherd

Father Joseph concluded with a powerful story. On the night of Christ’s birth, shepherds came bearing gifts. One shepherd, however, had nothing. Ashamed, he stood apart. But Mary noticed. She placed the Child Jesus into his empty hands. That shepherd, with nothing to give, became the throne of the Savior.

The message was unmistakable: empty hands are not a barrier to God—only closed hearts are.

As Father Joseph revealed the “gift” promised at the beginning of the homily—an empty box containing a letter—he shared God the Father’s message to His children:

“If your hands feel empty today… this day is for you. Accept my Son as your gift, and I will make you shine like stars. You are my greatest gifts, and I delight in you.”

A Christmas Invitation

This Christmas, Father Joseph reminded us that faith begins not with what we give, but with what we receive. Christ comes to us as a gift—meant to be welcomed, cherished, and shared.

May we receive Him with open hearts, see one another as gifts, and allow His light to shine through us—today and always.

Merry Christmas.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:16

As Father Joseph prepares to leave Our Lady of the Assumption Parish at the end of the year, we invite all parishioners to join us in gratitude for a priest who has truly been a light for God’s Church—here at OLA and beyond.

A reception in Father Joseph’s honor will be held on:

Sunday, December 28
Following the 9:00 a.m. Mass

Parishioners are warmly invited to gather after Mass to thank Father Joseph for his faithful ministry. Light refreshments will be served, including doughnuts, bagels, fruit, and special cupcakes, as we come together as a parish family.

As part of this celebration, a large card will be available for parishioners who wish to sign their name or share a personal message of thanks and prayer.

Throughout his time with us, Father Joseph has served with openness, humility, and a genuine spirit of welcome. Through moments of warmth and gentle humor, and through his consistent invitation for all of us to participate more fully in the life and ministry of the Church, we witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit drawing our parish together and pointing us, again and again, toward Christ.

We hope you will join us for this opportunity to thank Father Joseph, wish him well, and send him forth with our prayers.

Monday, December 15, 2025

On Monday evening, our parish gathered for a quiet and grace-filled Advent Night of Recollection & Reconciliation, an opportunity to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

The evening began prayerfully with the proclamation of the Magnificat, Mary’s great song of praise. Her words set the tone for the night—inviting us into humility, trust, and joyful surrender to God’s will.

We were then blessed to hear a deeply moving reflection from Sister Marilyn Vassallo, CSJ, whose decades of ministry in education, parish life, and canon law have shaped a faith marked by wisdom, honesty, and compassion. Drawing from Scripture and lived experience, Sister Marilyn spoke of Mary as the true model of Advent: one who waits, listens, asks honest questions, and ultimately trusts God without needing all the answers.

Her reflection reminded us that:

• Mary’s “yes” opens the door between the divine and the human, inviting all of us into God’s saving work.
• Faith does not eliminate questions; rather, it gives us the courage to ask them and the patience to wait.
• Advent is not passive—it is an active season of discernment, hope, and trust.
• When we truly believe we are loved by God, peace becomes possible, even amid uncertainty and suffering.

Following the reflection, priests were available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the stillness of the church, many took the opportunity to receive God’s mercy and healing—an essential gift at the heart of priestly ministry and a powerful way to prepare for Christmas.

This evening was a gentle but profound reminder that Advent calls us to slow down, to be still, and to place our lives—joys, wounds, and unanswered questions—into God’s hands.

Come, find stillness. Come, be reconciled. Come, let the Lord renew you.

The Catholic Bishops of New York State have released an important statement on immigration titled “For You Too Were Once Aliens…”, issued on the Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of immigrants.

The statement calls all Catholics to welcome the stranger, uphold human dignity, and follow the Gospel mandate to love our neighbor — especially those seeking safety, opportunity, and hope.

To help parishioners read and reflect on the message, we are providing both the English and Spanish versions of the flyer.

Download the Flyers

• English PDF:
  👉 Bishops’ Immigration Statement – English
  Download PDF
  
• Spanish PDF (Español):
  👉 Declaración de los Obispos sobre la Inmigración – Español
  Descargar PDF
  

The Bishops also encourage the faithful to sign the Cabrini Pledge — a commitment to pray, advocate, and work for the welcome, protection, promotion, and integration of immigrants and refugees.

Learn more & sign the Cabrini Pledge:
https://www.usccb.org/cabrinipledge

Please note that tonight’s Faith Formation meeting (6–7 PM) for middle school and high school students has been canceled.

Thank you for your understanding, and please help spread the word to other families. 

My dear families of Our Lady of the Assumption,

As we travel into a new year of Discipleship Formation, we thank you for prioritizing your family’s faith. There is great energy at OLA for all of the wonderful things happening! If you have not heard, the Vietnamese Community will be joining us as of
this Sunday, and having their masses at 10:30 on the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays of the month.

We welcome our new parishioners with great excitement and hope they find their home here with us to be one of caring and welcome. As with any growth, there will be adjustments, so please bear with me if schedules change or rooms get moved at times. We will thoroughly enjoy the busyness of our beautiful building and community space!

As we will hear in this week’s Gospel reading on Sunday, there are many things that can get in the way of being a disciple of Jesus. We all carry crosses, but as one family in faith we can help each other along the way. I fully understand the pressures on families in today’s society and have great empathy for the decisions you are called to make day by day, and even moment by moment at times. But know this, we are here FOR you, and with you, every step of the way. Our faith exists because of the
LOVE the Lord has for us, just as your family exists because of the love that brought it to life. I pray that we all spend this year getting to free ourselves of what the world says, and go back to the unconditional love the Father has for us. Isn’t that the world we want our children to know and grow in?

So as we enter into the next few months, let’s do our best to prioritize loving and caring for one another as Christ cares for His church. When your child is struggling, trust that we care why. When your family is going through challenges, let us walk beside you and support you. When your family is experiencing great joy, allow us to celebrate with you! We understand you are doing your best, and please know that we are too. Communication is KEY to us all working together! If you have not already,
please add youthola@olalatham.org, and ffadmin@olalatham.org to your address book so our emails do not wind up in spam. Also, if you prefer a text rather than an email, please let us know that too. I am hoping to utilize that as often as possible so communication is not lost.

Things are a little different in the office, and every day brings a new challenge. So, if I don’t get it right the first time, or if you need to share something with me twice, or I ask you to kindly put it in writing instead of telling me in the hallway, please understand I too am doing my best to balance it all with God’s help! I love this parish family as my own, and I pray you all feel that when you think of OLA. Do not ever hesitate to reach out about anything. Like I said at the beginning of this letter, we are here FOR you. If you can support us by being here a few times a year, so we can offer safety and security to our families and children on Sundays and Mondays, we appreciate any assistance you can give. We have a special place in our hearts for our volunteers! Look for the SignUp Genius coming your way soon via email. Blessings to all as you begin a new school year. We are holding you all in prayer.

Peace and blessings,

Rosemary Gavin

Pastorial Assoc. for Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

Starting this weekend before and after all Masses—and again at our Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 21st—our teens will be selling tickets for their Basket Raffle to support their journey to the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis this November.

🎟️ Ticket Prices

• $2 for 1
• $5 for 3
• $10 for 10
• $20 for “A Dave Loffredo Arm’s Length!”

✨ Winners will be drawn at the Parish Picnic. (You do not need to be present to win!)

Why It Matters

Nine of our parish teens are preparing to attend NCYC, a powerful gathering of young Catholics from across the country. This conference offers them the chance to grow in faith, deepen their relationship with Christ, and bring that energy back to our parish community.

We invite you to stop by the Gathering Space after Mass to read their inspiring biographies and to check out the dozens of amazing raffle prizes on display.

💡 Special News: Pope Leo XIV will be joining NCYC virtually this year to deliver a personal message to all participants—including our OLA youth!

🙌 Thank You to Our Sponsors

This raffle would not be possible without the generosity of our local business community. When you visit these establishments, please thank them for their support of OLA Youth!

76 Diner • 110 Grill • All4Fun/Control Tower • All Star Wine & Liquors • Applebees • Bare Blends Smoothie Shop • Bella Napoli • Cardona’s • Casa Flora • Dave & Buster’s • Dom’s Pizza & Subs • El Charro • Fresh Market • George’s Market • Gretchen’s Hallmark • Hoffman’s Car Wash • Icy Point (Rolled Ice Cream & Bubble Tea) • King Pin Bowling Alley • Lainey’s Cafe • Las Margaritas • New Panda • Nothing Bundt Cakes • O’Connor’s Church Goods • On the Farm • On the Hill Cafe • Otis & Oliver’s • Outback Steakhouse • The Works Cafe • Valley Cats • Whalen’s Automotive

💙 Thank you for supporting our teens as they grow in faith, fellowship, and service. Your generosity helps make this life-changing pilgrimage possible!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With hearts full of joy and gratitude, we are honored to share a very special moment in the life of our parish. On Sunday at 10:30 AM, we will celebrate the First Vietnamese Mass ever held in our community. This historic celebration is a sacred occasion of unity, faith, and cultural richness.

Following the Mass, all are warmly invited to join us for a Community Reception at 11:30 AM. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine will be served, and we look forward to gathering together in fellowship and joy.

This celebration is more than an event—it is an opportunity to embrace the beauty of Vietnamese heritage and to strengthen the bonds of love and hospitality within our parish family.

🙏 Your presence will be a true blessing.

With peace and joy,
Fr. Joseph Tuan Pham