Nov. 18, 2015 By John T. Ryan Peru - Many of the thousands of people who crowded the St. Augustine’s Parish Center grounds during the September 19-20 Applefest were surprised to find solar panels behind the St. Vincent’s Thrift Store a When fully operational the system will supply most of the power needs of St. Augustine’s Church, the parish’s maintenance garage, the former St. Vincent’s Thrift Store, the rectory, the current St. Vincent’s Thrift Store and Roger’s House, the parish’s household goods/Christmas shop. Father Alan Shnob, pastor of St. Augustine’s explained, “I started thinking about solar panels when Bishop LaValley installed a solar system at his residence in Ogdensburg. I think they confirm the Holy Father’s call to conserve the world’s resources. They’re also about more than saving energy. They’re a sign that our parish is looking to the future. We’re looking to future generations. We’re passing on a legacy to them.” The project is financially feasible thanks to the generosity of St. Augustine’s parishioners, parish savings, the hard work of St. Vincent’s Thrift Store and Roger’s House volunteers, a $30,000 New York Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant and a $20,000 gift from St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273. Edge Design and Consulting in Plattsburgh is the project designer and installer. Bishop Terry A. LaValley blessed the panels Oct. 3 following the 4:30 p.m. Mass during which Bishop LaValley assisted in the initiation of a Junior Catholic Daughters Court in the parish; another indication the parish is looking to the future.
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nd Roger’s House. If they looked across Main Street behind St. Augustine’s Cemetery they saw a much larger solar panel array being erected. 