The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany is mourning the passing of one of its own. The Rev. Thomas Holmes has passed away after a courageous battle with ALS. Father Holmes was a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill in 1977 and received a bachelor’s degree in science from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1980. In 2012, he was named pastor of St. Henry’s Church in Averill Park, where he served until 2022.

During the pandemic in 2020, members of the parish organized a birthday parade for him.

Family and friends are invited to pay respects between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights in Rensselaer on Sunday, Jan. 19.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the church on Monday, Jan. 20 at 9:30 a.m.