Episcopal Diocese of Albany - Priests and Deacons Update

Business Office: 68 South Swan Street - Albany, NY 12210 - (518) 465-4737
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center: 575 Burton Road - Greenwich, NY 12834 - (518) 692-9550

Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople
May 9th, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last weekend, we had the Clergy Wives Retreat at Christ the King. Father Nigel Mumford did an outstanding job in the talks and ministry. Father Bill Cooper provided the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the weekend. The wives of the clergy are the unsung heroes of many parishes. They pick up the loose ends, help as needed, and encourage the parishioners as well as the clergy. Thank you, Lord, for their devotion and dedication throughout the year.

The Deacons' Council met on Sunday and Monday and worked on the standardized format for Communion from the Reserved Sacrament that is to be used in parishes where Deacons officiate and no priest is available. They also worked on continuing formation, resource ideas, and workshops. The Deacons provide much leadership in the parishes and for the Diocese and all of us can be grateful.

Monday afternoon, I signed the sale papers for the former Beaver Cross property. The transaction should be completed by the end of the week. Thank you for all the prayers to smooth this paper flow. Our deep appreciation to Mike Costello for his legal expertise. (Speaking of Beaver Cross, it's beginning to fill up; reserve a spot for your young people by going to www.BeaverCross.com.)

Tomorrow, Carol and I drive to Virginia to visit our son for a few days. On the way home, I will be administering the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Maryland at the invitation of the bishop. The rector is familiar with Albany as he is an RPI graduate.

Bishop Dave will be leading a 1-Day Workshop with the focus of How to Share Your Faith without being obnoxious. Time: 9:00 a.m. coffee and registration; class begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends by 3:30 p.m. Cost: $15 pre-registration; $20 day of event. Scholarships available if needed; contact Deacon Laurie at LGRohr@albanydiocese.org

Mother's Day: Brunch at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center, from 10am to 2pm. Cost is mere $12 for adults and $5 for kids. Reservations not required. For more info or directions call 518-692-9550. Mother's Day is the largest dining-out day in the country. If you haven't made a plan, this could fill the bill. CtK is about 45 minutes north of Albany.

Father Tim Dixon and his wife Linda have retired and are moving to Cape Cod. Father Dixon has helped in several places and most recently completed a significant term at St John's, Cohoes. When the SLC was started, Fr Tim rented a bus and took a whole load up to visit the site and support this undertaking. We wish the best to him and Linda in retirement.

Father Keith Scott has completed his interim ministry at Grace and Holy Innocents in Albany. He continues to be available for supply, as does Father Fred Curtis.

Next week, will be going with Bp Dave and Fr Love to Nashotah (of which we are both alumni). One treat will be an address by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt. Rev'd NT (Tom) Wright. Bp Wright is perhaps the foremost biblical scholar in the Anglican Communion. Certainly among the bishops. I would recommend his 2005 book, The Last Word, Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture.

The Pre-convention Meetings by regions are scheduled as follows:

Mon, May 15, 7 PM Southern Adirondack/Upper Hudson Deaneries, Messiah, Glens Falls
Mon, May 22, 7 PM Susquehanna/Western Mohawk Deaneries, Christ Church, Cooperstown
Tue, May 23, 7 PM Northern Adirondack/St. Lawrence Deaneries, St. Mark's, Malone
Wed, May 24, 7PM Hudson/Metropolitan Deaneries, Cathedral of All Saints, Albany

Penecost Confirmation Service at CTK SLC, Sunday, June 4. Please send the full names (first, middle, last) of those to be confirmed or received to Canon Jerry Carroll at jcarroll@albanydiocese.org by May 26. Confirmands must be 16 years old. Watch for the PDU addendum giving details on reservations for the festive dinner to follow the service.

Diocesan Convention reservations stand at over 500. There is no mailed brochure this year. Please assist your non-computer savvy parishioners/friends by downloading and providing them with the appropriate forms (adult or youth).

Pray for Emmy Lou Wolff, wife of Fr. John Wolff, who is scheduled for open heart surgery at Buffalo General on May 22.

Deacon Ted Welty will be ordained to priesthood by me on Saturday, June 3 at 11 AM in the chapel at the Healing Ministry Center at CtK.

Last Friday I was honored to give the eulogy for a mentor and friend of many years, a nun who came to our school when I was 13. She was only 43, but seemed (of course) much older. Sister Mary Leo died in the 78th year of her life as a religious. She was 95. She was alert till just before she died. In the course of her life, she worked on Kodiak Island (at the hospital), was a science teacher, a nursing school principal, a high school principal, and a bursar. At one point her brother, a physician, died leaving a pregnant wife and 8 other children. So at the age of 62, she took a leave from the convent, helped raise the children, and having completed her mission, returned at the age of 77. She was the most remarkable woman I have ever known. It was a joy when she came for the weekend of my consecration, and a joy to take part in her final Mass at the motherhouse. She was a 'mother' to many, and like many nuns, was a missionary to the least, the last, and the lost. May she rest in peace in the company of the Mother of the Savior and all the saints.

LORD JESUS, at the Cross you gave your Mother to be ours as you inaugurated a new family in the blood and water flowing from your side: enable us to see in Blessed Mary, your Mother and ours, the pattern of discipleship to which we are called. Let us imitate her constancy from Bethlehem to Calvary, and to the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. Bless all our mothers, living and dead, confirming them in the love that flowed from your home in Nazareth. Amen.

In Christ,
+ Dan

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