AMSTERDAM & SCHENECTADY — The Rev. John Medwid, pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Schenectady, will take over at St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam effective Monday.

The announcement, made during last weekend’s Masses, has alleviated some of the anxieties felt by parishioners at St. Mary’s, who were faced with uncertainty prompted by the retirement of the Rev. James Gulley, pastor for 27 years.

The parishioners at St. Mary’s are pleased with the announcement, parish council member George Schuttig said. “We are very happy,” Schuttig said.

Medwid is an Amsterdam native who graduated from Bishop Scully High School. Medwid’s mother, Irene, attends Mass at St. Mary’s daily.

Medwid said one of the reasons he wanted to take the position at St. Mary’s was to be closer to his family.

“My mom lives in Amsterdam, so that is a draw, to be closer to her,” Medwid said.

Medwid, 47, was ordained in 1990 and has been at St. Anthony’s Church for 12 years.

Gulley, 73, who retired at the beginning of the month, kept an aggressive schedule, saying Mass at least once per day, visiting sick parishioners at St. Mary’s Hospital and providing counseling.

Currently, St. Mary’s hosts three daily Masses, something Medwid said was “unusual.” St. Anthony’s has only one daily Mass.

However, Medwid said he would be up to the challenge of a busier lifestyle.

“A priest’s life is very busy. You never know what’s going to happen. There is no set routine. You’re pulled in all different directions and you have to roll with the punches,” Medwid said. “I’m prepared for anything.”

Gulley also worked to keep St. Mary’s Institute a thriving institution. Medwid said he is excited to move into a “vibrant parish” that includes a school.

Giovanni Virgiglio, the new principal at St. Mary’s Institute, said while he hadn’t met Medwid yet, he was sure Medwid would be supportive of the school, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

“We’ve only heard great things,” Virgiglio said.

Medwid also speaks Spanish and has been actively involved with the Hispanic community in Schenectady.

Schuttig said Medwid’s familiarity with Spanish and with the Hispanic community would be useful as St. Mary’s Church moves into the future.

Under Called to Be Church, an initiative by the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese to look closely at its churches, a committee has recommended that Amsterdam churches St. Casimir’s and St. Mary’s merge under one administration. The committee also recommended that St. Michael’s Church close.

Both St. Michael’s and St. Casimir’s have a large Hispanic membership. St. Michael’s holds at least one Mass in Spanish.

Schuttig said St. Mary’s can expect to expand its Hispanic membership, regardless of what the Albany Diocese decides.

Medwid said he doesn’t expect to make any changes at St. Mary’s right away.

“My philosophy is to go in and observe for a while. Don’t do anything rash or drastic or immediate. You know, respect what’s there,” he said.

While excited about his new position, Medwid said the move is bittersweet.

“I loved my time at St. Anthony’s. It’s a wonderful parish. Part of me hates to leave them too,” Medwid said. “It’s a difficult vocation, the priesthood. You’re mobile in a sense. It’s part of your life to be in a place for a while and then move on to another community.”

In Schenectady, residents look forward to St. Anthony’s annual Italian Festa, where thousands of people gather for pasta fagioli, fried dough, games, music and rides.

“The festa is unique,” Medwid said. “It would be wonderful to duplicate it, but I don’t know if it’s possible. We’ll see.”