THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ALBANY, NEW YORK

Transcription

1 THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ALBANY, NEW YORK

2 My dear friends in Christ, First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you for all you do in your parishes and in your communities to build up the Church as the living Body of Christ. You know we hear a lot these days about spreading the joy of the Gospel, so often in fact that sometimes it sounds cliché. I would ask that we prayerfully reflect on what the joy of the Gospel really means. What is the good news found in the Gospel, the message that has transcended the ages and which is repeated in many tongues over and over around the globe every day? The good news is that Jesus, the Son of the living and eternal God is alive in the world today and that He offers all of us the gift of His love, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life. We, as Catholics, are called at our baptism to be Disciples of Christ in our own time to bear witness to Jesus and to share His Gospel, His good news with others. How do we share the good news? Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, writes, An evangelizing community gets involved by word and by deed in people s daily lives. We need not go out and bang on doors or hit people over the head with Bibles. No, there are better ways. There are ways to volunteer, to serve in a parish ministry, in a soup kitchen or a food pantry, or by visiting seniors in a nursing home. We don t have to look far to find people in need of our love and kindness. Spreading the joy of the Gospel need not be complicated. It most effectively happens one person at a time; it starts with you and with me! Another very meaningful way to be an instrument of God s love, which has a very real and broad impact, is to share our resources with those who have little or nothing at all. This can be done by making a monetary gift to help support the annual Bishop s Appeal which, for the past 63 years, has provided the major financial resources which enable some thirty ministries of the Church to serve and to care for the spiritual and temporal needs of others. I encourage you to read this brochure and to visit to learn how your gifts are put to use in serving others. Remember, every gift, no matter the denomination, makes a difference one person at a time! Thank you and may God bless you and yours. I place the success of the 2018 Bishop s Appeal under the protection of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of our diocese and nation. Sincerely yours in Christ, Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D. Bishop of Albany

3 We Are All Saints In The Making Your gifts to the Bishop s Appeal help strengthen our parish Faith Formation Programs. Rebecca Cronin, Coordinator of Faith Formation K-5 with 4th and 5th grade level faith formation students at St. Joseph s Church - Saint Paul s Mission, Greenfield Center. Your gifts to the Bishop s Appeal help provide training and certification for catechists in parish faith formation programs. Rebecca Cronin has been the Coordinator of Faith Formation of the K-5 program at St. Joseph s in Greenfield Center, Saratoga County, since 2015, and a Catechist for nine years. Having a vibrant and effective Faith Formation program is paramount to creating life-long Disciples of Christ. I genuinely love teaching and sharing the Catholic faith with my young disciples. Teaching others about Jesus and His Church is an honor. I am able to share my love of God, and my passion of bringing others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I am blessed to have the ability to bring our faith to life. My approach is not to use a workbook, but to use all resources at my disposal to make forming our young disciples faith engaging, tangible, and real. Our Catechists and assistants share this passion and are wonderfully creative! We share ideas and learn a great deal from one another. As a team, we continue to explore, strategize, and plan new initiatives to grow and strengthen our Faith Formation experience. We can no longer do things the same as we ve always done them and expect successful results. We strive to meet the families where they re at, and provide opportunities for them to be spiritually fed and ultimately develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Recently one of our Faith Formation parents shared this: My kids really love Faith Formation and are disappointed when they don't have it - a true testament to your efforts to shape the program! Faith Formation is creating and developing a fundamental foundation for all those entrusted to our care to live out a holy life. We re all saints in the making! SPREADING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IT STARTS WITH YOU

4 Recognizing Human Need At All Stages Of Life Your gifts to the Bishop s Appeal help to support the agencies and programs of Catholic Charities like Sunnyside Child Development Center. Catholic Charities services include food pantries and soup kitchens, homeless shelters and supportive housing, domestic violence assistance programs, counseling and mental health assistance, support for adults and children with developmental disabilities, help for seniors and their caregivers, substance abuse prevention, chronic disease management, and many other services. What guides us in our work is to recognize Christ in the poor, the downtrodden, those who are suffering, people in our midst who are in need of hope and assistance. We seek to encounter those in need where they are, and to walk with them. Through the financial support of generous donors to Catholic Charities and to the Bishop s Appeal, we are able to serve those who turn to us with compassionate assistance and respect for the dignity of each person in need of our services. Sunnyside Child Development Center Sunnyside Child Development Center is located in North Central Troy, New York, one of the highest poverty stricken areas within the City of Troy. Sunnyside Center has served the children and families of Troy since Sunnyside offers children ages 6 weeks to 12 years the opportunity to enhance their quality of life by providing them with a safe, supportive environment while participating in recreational and educational activities. The center provides many programs to alleviate the socio-economic challenges which the children face daily. Programs and services include: Early Childhood Education, After School, and Summer Programs. Sunnyside s Childcare Center serves 32 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old on a daily basis and operates year round, Monday through Friday, from 7:00am to 5:30pm. Sunnyside Center provides children with a safe and structured environment with an emphasis on educational programming that focuses on physical development, cognitive development, language development, social development, emotional development, and self-help skills. SPREADING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IT STARTS WITH YOU

5 'A Wise Investment, A World Of Potential The Diocese of Albany Catholic Schools. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Albany prepare nearly 5000 students each year for the challenges of the world and the call of the Gospel. Children and young adults attending any one of our 22 schools thrive in a stimulating, faith-inspired and rigorous academic environment where minds are opened, hearts are nourished, and servant leaders are born. Our students are well rounded and participate in a broad range of creative and character-building pursuits, including arts, music, theater, world language, service clubs and competitive sports, all while maintaining high academic standards, often exceeding the standards of New York State. More than 97% of our high school graduates go on to higher education. Last year, graduates of the Class of 2017 received over 26 million dollars in combined college scholarships. Through grants and partnerships, we offer innovative learning techniques, prevention education services and early access to college curriculum all in a faith-filled environment. Our growing collaboration with local colleges enhances our curriculum and offers many scholarship opportunities. Since the creation of our competitive Higher Powered Learning grants in 2013, the Albany Diocesan School Board has awarded over $500,000 to our schools for innovative and creative projects. The Catholic School Office provides a myriad of important support services to our schools, including financial management and guidance, educational technology assistance, curriculum development and assessment, marketing programs and communication initiatives, personnel services and Catechetical formation. Professional development and enrichment programs are held annually. Together, the Diocese of Albany Catholic Schools recently achieved AdvancED accreditation, the first Diocese in New York State to reach this significant milestone, which shines a light on our many accomplishments and helps us to paint a vision for our future. Strategic planning is our focus with independently identified improvements being an ongoing priority for our Catholic School Office, Diocesan School Board and our individual schools. We are proactively adapting to our changing demographics by making sound decisions, ensuring that Catholic education will remain in perpetuity. We unequivocally believe that we can instill intellectual, spiritual, moral and social values in our students, unlocking their full potential and transforming their lives for the good of themselves, each other and our world. Inspired by Christ the Teacher, it is our everlasting mission to provide a transformative learning experience for our students in an evangelizing community. SPREADING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IT STARTS WITH YOU

6 Your Gifts Help to Nurture Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life Nurturing an Ongoing Culture of Vocations. Seminarians from left to right Nathanial Resila, First Theologian, St. Mary's of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL. Peter Thien Van Nguyen, Second Theologian, St. Joseph's Seminary Dunwoodie, Yonkers, NY Charles Onyeneke, Second Theologian, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD. Daniel McHale, First Theologian, Pope St. John XXIII Seminary The Bishop s Appeal provides the resources which enable the Office of the Vicar for Vocations to plant the seeds from which vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, and religious life will grow. Your gifts help support our seminarians with financial assistance as they undertake the journey to be ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Albany. The future of vocations in the Diocese of Albany is promising indeed. Currently there are 33 seminarians and aspirants (individuals seriously discerning a vocation) and more than 109 men throughout the Diocese of Albany who are actively discerning a vocation. The St. Isaac Jogues House of Discernment in Watervliet, New York has 13 men participating in our two-year discernment program which prepares men to go on to seminary formation. There are 6 men who live at the St. Isaac Jogues House of Discernment. With this number, the house is at capacity. This promising future for the priesthood in our diocese is built upon a rich tradition of faith lived out through the participation of the People of God in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. We are all given a share in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ by virtue of our baptismal call. That baptismal call enables us to share in the mission and ministry of Jesus as Priest, Prophet and King. It is in the living out of that threefold ministry that we are able to nurture an ongoing culture of vocations. Commitment to mission is not something added on to the Christian life as a kind of decoration, but is instead an essential element of faith itself. A relationship with the Lord entails being sent out into the world as prophets of His word and witnesses of His love. Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium Seminarians Matthew Duclos (left) and Stephen Yusko (right) are both First Theologians at The Pontifical North American College in Rome. SPREADING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IT STARTS WITH YOU

7 Nice People To Meet Who Serve The People Of God And Spread The Joy Of The Gospel, Thanks To You! David G. Amico Director: Office of Lay Ministry & Parish Faith Formation David Amico has been in catechetical ministry for almost 30 years as a catechist in parishes and Catholic schools, a parish director of religious education, and as a diocesan staff person since Currently he serves as the Director of the Office of Lay Ministry and Parish Faith Formation. He holds a Master s in Education with a concentration in Religious Education from Boston College. David s ministry covers a wide range of administrative and pastoral responsibilities most of which relate to the formation of lay men and women for service and leadership in their parishes. Joyce Solimini Associate Director: Office of Lay Ministry & Parish Faith Formation Joyce Solimini has been in catechetical ministry for 40 years, first as a parish catechetical leader, then, since 1990 as an associate director for the Diocesan Catechetical Office. She holds a Masters Degree in Theology from St. Bernard s School of Theology and Ministry. She works mainly with parish catechetical leaders and/or parish teams in the areas of leadership formation, adult faith formation, and intergenerational faith formation. She also helps parishes who wish to enhance their formation for the Eucharist, Confirmation, infant baptism ministry and Christian Initiation (RCIA). Mary Fay Associate Director: Marriage & Family Ministries Mary Fay is the Associate Director for Diocesan Marriage and Family Ministries. For the past 13 years, she has worked here at the diocese in marriage and family ministry. Marriage ministries in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany include marriage formation and preparation programs, natural family planning resources, marriage enrichment resources and programing, as well as support for those with struggling marriages and healing for those whose marriage has ended. Family ministries programing includes parenting and communication workshops for all ages. Sister Donna Irvine Chaplain: Glens Falls Hospital Angie Marczewski Catholic Chaplain: Ellis Hospital Schenectady As a Catholic chaplain, Angie Marczewski ministers to the needs of patients and families at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. In her 8 1/2 years as a chaplain at Ellis, Angie is often asked if she is a nun, to which the answer is always no. Angie is a Licensed Social Worker who was hired as a chaplain in In addition to directly ministering to the needs of patients and families, she also oversees 25 Eucharistic Ministers and coordinates the visitation of local priests especially in times of emergency. Angie has encountered patients who have, for whatever reason, fallen away from the Church and the faith altogether. While she is not there to proselytize, it is often comforting for patients to know that a Catholic chaplain is nearby. Compassion and a willingness to listen is a big part of the job says Angie. Sr. Donna Irvine, SSND, became a Sister of the School Sisters of Notre Dame some 50 years ago. Originally from Cambridge Massachussets (she still carries a distinct accent) Sister Donna taught elementary school at St. Clement s in Saratoga Springs and at St. Michael the Archangel in Glens Falls. 34 years ago after extensive training and preparation she became a hospital chaplain, first at Albany Medical Center, then at St. Clare s Hospital in Schenectady and for the last 15 years at Glens Falls Hospital, where she works today. In carrying out her ministry, Sister Donna kindly cares for the spiritual needs of patients and their families who find themselves in challenging life situations. Sister Donna calls her work as a hospital chaplain a sacred journey that is guided day to day by the Holy Spirit.

8 The Bishop s Appeal Sixty-Four Years Spreading The Joy Of The Gospel For sixty-four years the Bishop s Appeal has provided the financial resources which enable the ministries of our Church to serve the people of God in the fourteen counties of the Diocese of Albany, bringing the Gospel to life every day by literally touching the lives of thousands of people in many ways. Just as the weekly offertory is needed to ensure the ongoing vitality of a parish, so, too, is the Bishop s Appeal needed to ensure the vitality of programs and services of the Church, which a single parish could not possibly take on alone, such as Catholic Charities, Catholic Schools, Faith Formation, Religious Education, the Diaconate, Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. Indeed, spreading the Good News and Joy of the Gospel happens one person at a time, starting with each one of us extending the hand of Christ s love and compassion to another person. Celebrating Our Parishes As Frontline Communities Of Faith It is the parish that is the primary center of evangelization, family life, and spiritual and catechetical formation. Grounded in the theology of what the Church is, every parish should be a school of discipleship, a family of families and a family for those without family. Our Pastoral Center exists solely to serve the parishes. This follows the model of the servant leadership of Jesus who spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in order to seek out the lost sheep. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger There are 126 parishes which serve as a spiritual home to the Catholic faithful living in over one hundred thousand households throughout the fourteen counties of the Diocese of Albany. Each parish is unique. Each is a gem in the crown of God s Church of Albany. All are united in the Eucharist and in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the Bishop s Appeal is all about.

9 In addition to the ministries mentioned in the previous pages, your gifts to the Bishop s Appeal help to fund the following ministries, programs and offices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany: Catholic Charities Catholic Charities employees and volunteers serve nearly 100,000 people annually throughout its 15 community-based agencies, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable. The services provided by Catholic Charities are varied as new needs arise and represent a seamless continuum of care to address the needs of children, women and men at all stages of life. Education Office of Catholic Faith Formation and Education The Office of Catholic Faith Formation and Education is a collaborative effort to provide seamless access to resources for growing in the knowledge and experience of our faith at all stages of the human journey from baptism preparation for parents of infants through childhood and teenage; through young adults on college campuses, marriage preparation, formation of the unbaptized seeking to join the Catholic Church to adult enrichment and lay ministry formation. Catholic School Office The Catholic School Office provides essential support to our Catholic elementary and high schools. This office provides consistent curriculum standards and learning outcomes, professional development opportunities for our teachers and staff, assistance with institutional Middle States accreditation and integration of technology into the learning curriculum. St. Bernard s Institute St. Bernard s Institute is a Roman Catholic graduate and professional school located in the Dioceses of Rochester, Syracuse and Albany offering graduate degrees in theology and continuing education opportunities for those seeking personal enrichment and a deeper understanding of the convictions of faith. Pastoral Services Apostolates and Ethnic Ministries This program provides pastoral support to the Vietnamese and Korean Apostolates as well as the Spanish speaking communities. Campus Ministry Campus Ministry is the official presence of the Church on each college/university campus. There are many dimensions to this ministry. The faith community consists of students, faculty and staff on each campus. Communications Office This office works to advance the overall mission of the Diocese of Albany and to inform the Catholic and non-catholic community about the work of the diocese through strategic communications, including media relations, social and digital media, and public information. In addition, the Office of Communications works in collaboration with other diocesan offices and departments to promote events and programs to the general public. Ecumenical Commission The Commission facilitates ecumenical and interfaith collaboration with other faith communities throughout the diocese. Parish Services The Office of Parish Services provides resources that can be used by the diocese, parishes, and individual Catholics who want to strengthen their ministries and nourish their faith life. Pastoral Health Care This program provides ministerial support to hospitals and health care facilities in the diocese. Pastoral Planning The Office of Pastoral Planning is responsible for ensuring the presence and vitality of the Church and planning for the future of our fourteen county diocese. Prayer and Worship The Office of Prayer and Worship provides services to parishes in preparing programs for worship, organizing diocesan choirs and providing educational programs for parish leaders on liturgy, prayer and music. Scouting The Diocese of Albany provides spiritual support services and programs to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls and Junior Catholic Daughters of America. Tribunal The Tribunal responds to the needs of people as they prepare to enter into marriage as well as those who are troubled by marital discord. Additionally, the Office of Canonical Services gives advice and counsel to the Bishop, agencies or offices and to parish personnel in matters of canon law. Youth Recreation The Youth Association provides a wide array of athletic programming for children throughout the diocese. Religious Personnel Development Consultation Services The Consultation Center provides professional counseling and mental health services to individuals and groups. Initial and Ongoing Formation Initial and Ongoing Formation includes formation for deacons which provides the theological education for those discerning a call to the diaconate and the Kateri Institute, for those discerning a call to lay ministry. Permanent Diaconate The Permanent Diaconate Office provides the ongoing spiritual formation and theological educational programs for ordained deacons. Vicar for Clergy This office provides personnel support services and administrative oversight to the priests of the diocese. Vicar for Religious The Vicar for Religious provides liaison services between the Bishop of Albany and religious communities. Vicar for Vocations The Vocations Office provides discernment, educational programs and support for men and woman who are called to a life in ordained or professed ministry. Support Services Architecture and Building Commission The Architecture and Building Commission provides technical assistance to diocesan parishes who are engaged in capital building projects. Archives Office This office oversees the diocesan archives and provides historical information to parishes, individuals and diocesan offices. Real Property The Real Property Office maintains the Pastoral Center, provides advice and assistance to the diocese and our parishes in regard to real estate matters, and oversees all acquisitions, sales or leasing of property. Cathedral Our diocesan Mother Church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, receives partial funding from the Bishop s Appeal to support general operations and diocesan wide liturgies and celebrations. Chancery Operations Chancery programs provide financial management and accounting support services to the varied ministries, programs and parishes of the diocese. Bishop s Appeal allocations to the Chancery also support the Bishop s Office. Contingencies This fund is utilized to meet unexpected or emergency requests for funding from diocesan ministries, programs or parishes. Stewardship Office The Stewardship Office conducts the annual Bishop s Appeal and coordinates the majority of diocesan fundraising initiatives, including increased offertory programs and capital campaigns for parishes. Information Technology This office provides comprehensive computer and information technology assistance to parishes, ministries, programs and offices of the diocese. Office of Human Resources The Human Resources Department serves employees by developing and implementing personnel policies, overseeing the compensation and benefits program, providing support, advice and consultation on all employment issues and the hiring of new personnel. Extra-Diocesan Responsibilities to the Larger Church The Holy Father The diocese makes an annual contribution to support the ministries and charitable works of the Holy Father. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) The USCCB is the episcopal conference of Catholic bishops in the United States. The purpose of the USCCB is to unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States, to organize and conduct religious, charitable and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education and to care for immigrants. The New York State Catholic Conference The New York State Catholic Conference represents the Bishops of New York State in matters of public policy. The role of the Conference is to seek justice, fairness and charity for all, with a particular emphasis on the poor and vulnerable.

10 A Report on Gifts to the 2017 Bishop s Appeal Your gifts made to the 2017 Bishop s Appeal are providing 70% of the support in the current fiscal year needed to serve the People of God in the fourteen counties of the Diocese of Albany. Support Services $2,227,672 29% Pastoral Services $1,441,846 19% Catholic Education $1,291,278 17% Catholic Charities $ 902,206 12% Religious Personnel Development $ 793,795 11% Vocations $ 717,025 9% Extra Diocesan Responsibilities $ 225,000 3% to the Greater Church The Bishop s Appeal will begin April 28 & 29, Total: $7,598, % Making A Gift Of Stock You can easily make your gift to the 2018 Bishop s Appeal with a gift of stock. Upon receipt of a stock gift, the shares are immediately sold and the parish you designate is credited accordingly. Contact the Stewardship Office to obtain instructions for the delivery of stock to assist your parish s contribution to the Bishop s Appeal. Making A Matching Gift Some companies will match their employees and retired employees charitable gifts. It is a great way to maximize the impact of your gift while tapping into your employer s desire to invest in the community. To have your Bishop s Appeal gift matched, inquire with your human resources office about a matching gift program. You may make your gift through your parish, online at or through The Stewardship Office Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany 40 North Main Avenue Albany, New York Phone: stewardship@rcda.org Web: Your gift will be credited to the parish of your choice and is tax deductible. Most generous and loving God, we your faithful people in the Diocese of Albany sisters and brothers all united as one desire to know ever more deeply what it means to be the merciful heart and hands of Christ, to be His ambassadors of love and service to others. Help us to see and to appreciate the blessings you have bestowed on us. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, Help us to open our eyes and hearts to all our neighbors, especially those less fortunate than we. Grant us the grace to live gratefully, confident of your love. Bless our efforts in the coming year to provide the resources needed to fulfill the mission of Your Church, to teach, to heal and to sanctify. We ask this in the holy name of Jesus, who is our Lord and our brother, forever and ever Amen Alleluia, Alleluia

11 Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany The Bishop s Appeal 40 North Main Avenue Albany, New York Please give as generously as you can to the 2018 Bishop s Appeal.