April 6, 2008

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

It is a sunny and mild spring like day in New York's Southern Tier. The crocuses are well through the ground and a daffodil or two is expected to open within the week. I love this time of year.

The main activity last week involved the diocesan convocation of priests and pastoral administrators which took place in Auburn, New York on Monday - Wednesday. It was one of the best - featuring two excellent presenters. Jerry Gallipeau, the music editor for World Library Publications and Fr. Ed Foley an author, liturgist and professor at the Chicago Theological Union approached the topic of Eucharist from two varied approaches as the center of our Catholic Christian Identity. Both presentations were down to earth and approached Eucharist from theological, liturgical and social awareness (mission) perspectives. Much food for thought and action.

Before leaving Auburn, Maureen O'Neill (pastoral administrator of nearby St. Gabriel's parish in Hammondsport) and I met with Fr. Mike Conboy, who heads the priest personnel committee for the Diocese. We learned that Bishop Clark would be appointing Fr. Jim Jaeger as sacramental minister for our two parishes. This was very good news as I've known Fr. Jim for nearly all of his 22 years as a priest and think highly of him as a person as well as priest. I'm attaching to those of you who receive attachments with your email, an insert that I prepared for this week's bulletin to introduce Fr. Jim to our parish. If you don't receive attachments, my friend and webmaster Rob Lash will, I'm sure, add it to my website within the next few days.

Pat and I attended an excellent production of Les Miserable on Thursday night at East High School in Corning. "Les MIS" is my favorite musical (even more so than Godspell) and the teens did an admirable job with it. Congratulations to the cast and especially to the adult directors who. perhaps courageously brought this epic music to a high school stage. On Friday night (while Pat attended the Phoebe's Friends Retreat with wives of Permanent Deacons, I attended a second high school musical production at Bath-Haverling High School. Although worlds apart in content and scope, this production of Cinderella was also a joy. Again kudos to the cast, crew, orchestra and all who bring theatre into our schools and communities.

Again this week, I ask your prayers for my sister in law Peggy Defendorf who will have a heart valve replaced on Monday (April 7) in Topeka, Kansas. Also pray for others that I've been asked to remember in prayer by readers including Nathaniel Couture, a Sr. at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass and Ed Mancini who has begun chemotherapy this week.

May God bless you and those you love during this Easter Season.

This week's Column: April 6, 2008 - A Week of Convocations

Each year during Spring, Bishop Clark hosts two convocations - the Convocation of Priests and Pastoral Administrators and the Convocation of Permanent Deacons. Last week, I attended both.

Deacon Convocation
This year’s Convocation of Deacons and wives took place on Saturday, March 29 the auditorium of Monroe County Hospital in Rochester. The day included a keynote talk - Deacons: Responding to the Signs of Our Times, by Monsignor William Shannon. At 90 years of age Monsignor Shannon continues to write and speak with great clarity and depth on matters of church and theology. A diocesan priest for 65 years he, in recent years, has shared his great insight with students at Nazareth College and nationally as the former president of the scholarly Merton Society. The Deacon Convocation is hosted by Bishop Clark who was named Bishop of Rochester shortly before the first class of permanent deacons were ordained twenty-six years ago. The day also includes a formal luncheon and Mass honoring the 25th anniversary diaconal ordination class. The Convocation, typically draws more than one hundred deacons and spouses who serve this diocese. Pat and I enjoy this opportunity to connect with classmates and get to know recently ordained deacons and wives.

Among those honored at the Convocation Mass was our own Deacon Ed Wight who this Fall will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Deacon Ed was ordained for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, but has resided in the Bath area and served St. Mary’s parish for many years. In his home diocese, Ed was one of the first deacons to serve in the role of pastoral administrator, ministering to a parish community in Long Lake, New York. Later this year, we will plan a special parish event to honor Ed’s ordination anniversary.

At the Convocation Mass, Deacon Ed received a 25th anniversary stole created for him as a gift from St. Mary’s Parish. I received a similar stole last year.

Convocation of Priests and Pastoral Administrators
About ninety-five percent of the priests and pastoral administrators currently ministering within the diocese gathered March 31 - April 2 at the Auburn Holiday Inn for three days of collegial prayer, spiritual growth, discussion and socialization.

It is a varied group that attends this annual convocation. Attending are home grown diocesan priests, priests from several religious orders, priest externs from Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Poland and Viet Nam, retired priests and pastoral administrators (11 women and 3 deacons).

This was the sixth convocation that I have attended since being named a pastoral administrator in 2001. While not all topics and speakers have been universally applauded by pastoral leaders, I have enjoyed and learned something at each.

This year’s convocation theme: “Spiritual Renewal and the Eucharist” featured presentations by two nationally known speakers Father Ed Foley OFM, Cap., Professor of Liturgy and Music at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Dr. Jerry Galipeau, Worship Resources Editor of World Library Publications and frequent speaker on the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults, liturgical music and adult spiritual formation.

Hopefully, these opportunities to gather with our Bishop and colleagues will enrich not only our ministry, but the parishes that we will serve with refreshed and invigorated spirits.

Mary Carol Wall Update

I am happy to report that Mary Carol Wall is recovering nicely from her recent surgery. She is grateful for your prayers and reports that the surgery to remove a small patch of colon cancer was successful. God is good.

Have a good week. Serve one another well

Deacon Ray

Click image for printable document... (Adobe PDF file, plugin needed)   (Click Here For Sent To Serve Archives)

Bulletin: April 6th, 2008

Bulletin Insert: April 6th, 2008