It is with great sadness that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany shares news of the passing of Fr. Thomas Holmes. He passed to new life early in the morning of January 13, 2025, after a courageous battle with ALS. Fr. Holmes was born on April 26, 1957. He is a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill in 1977 and received a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1980.
He received his seminary training at St. Mary’s Seminary Baltimore and was ordained by Bishop Howard Hubbard on June 8, 1991. He served as an Associate at St. Helen’s in Schenectady and then in 1992 was assigned to St. Teresa of Avila in Albany. In 1995, he was an Associate of St. Mary’s Glens Falls. In 1998, he was named Pastor of St. Catherine’s in Middleburgh and served as Sacramental Minister of St. Joseph in Schoharie and St. Vincent De Paul in Cobleskill. In 2012, he was named Pastor of St. Henry’s Church in Averill Park where he served until 2022. In July of 2022, he was appointed Pastor of the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights and St. John the Evangelist in Rensselaer. Fr. Holmes was diagnosed with ALS in 2023 and was granted a medical retirement in May 2024.
Services for Fr. Holmes include a Reception of the Body on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Family and friends are invited to pay respects between 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Church of Saint Mary at Clinton Heights, 163 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Church of Saint Mary at Clinton Heights on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 9:30am.