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

October 17, 2007 - Ignatius of Antioch, and Martyr

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The first of my visits to the eight deaneries of the Diocese begins tonight at St. Ann’s, Amsterdam with the Western Mohawk Deanery. The Deans have worked out the following routine: Day 1 (Beginning at 6 p.m.) – Meet with clergy and laity of the deanery for Evening Prayer, dinner, and discussion; Day 2 (Beginning at 9:30 a.m.) Meet with clergy for morning of prayer and worship, lunch, discussion, and individual meetings. Your Dean will be sending out more detailed information. Following the schedule listed below I will be able to visit each deanery by Christmas.

Oct 17 St Ann’s, Amsterdam Western Mohawk Deanery
Oct 18 St. John’s, Johnstown

Oct 23 St. Stephen’s, Delmar Metropolitan Deanery
Oct 24 Christ Church, Schenectady

Nov 1 St. George’s, Clifton Park Upper Hudson Deanery
Nov 2 Calvary, Burnt Hills

Nov 19 & 20 Grace Church, Canton St. Lawrence Deanery

Nov 26 St. Eustace Lake Placid Northern Adirondack Deanery
Nov 28 Christ & St. John’s, Champlain

Dec 4,5 St. James, Lake George Southern Adirondack Deanery

Dec 13,14 St. John’s, Delhi Susquehanna Deanery

Dec 17 Christ Church, Hudson Hudson Valley Deanery
Dec 18 Christ Church, Coxsackie

The October 6th Missions Conference at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center was excellent. Mtr Eileen Weglarz and the Missions Committee did a super job. Our guest speaker was the Rev. Cn. Tom Pritchard of Sudan Sunrise who shared with us the powerful work the Lord is doing in Sudan amidst all the strife in Darfur. Here is the note he sent Mtr Weglarz and the committee following the conference.

“Dear Friends in Christ of the Diocese of Albany,

I was blessed and encouraged by your mission conference! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share the story of what Southern Sudanese are doing to help their former enemies. The best part of the story hasn’t happened yet, and I am writing to ask you to help get the word to people who would want to be involved if they knew such an effort existed! If you could forward this around, people who are interested can sign up for our newsletter under the “get involved” section of www.sudansunrise.org. Many thanks!

Blessings in Christ,
Tom+
The Rev. Canon Tom Prichard”

Last week was the Clergy Conference at Christ the King. We had 80+ clergy and spouses gathered for education and fellowship. The Rev Dr Jack Gabig and Mtr Laurie Garramone-Rohr gave a series of outstanding presentations on practical Christian Education in the family and various ways individual parishes can support families in raising their kids in the Church.

After the conference on Friday, I drove over to Syracuse to see Canon Curtis Denney. He fell and fractured his neck at home in late September and has been in the hospital since then. He hopes to be released from the hospital later this week to continue his recuperation at home. Please keep Fr. Denney and his wife, Mary, in your prayers.

On Sunday, I visited St. Paul’s, West Middleburgh. It was a very enjoyable time. I left there just in time to attend my wife Karen’s official Change of Command Ceremony, where she officially relinquished command of the 109th Mission Support Group to the new commander. She misses the Guard, but is enjoying her new position teaching High School math in Lake Luzerne. Following her service, I left for the Spiritual Life Center where I had a very enjoyable and productive overnight meeting with the Deacon’s Council.

Monday evening I worshiped and dined with the Cathedral of All Saints Great Chapter prior to their meeting. It was a good meeting and opportunity to visit with them.

This Saturday, October 20, Grace Church, Waterford will be celebrating the ministry of Mtr Carola vonWrangel with Eucharist at 1 PM with a reception to follow. I will be celebrating and Fr Sanderson preaching. For clergy attending and vesting, red stoles.

This coming Sunday, I will visit St. Luke’s, Chatham to celebrate their patronal feast with them and their new vicar, the Reverend Ellen Neufeld. In the afternoon, I will head further south into the Hudson River Valley to be with Christ Church, Hudson as they celebrate the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the church.
Coming up next weekend, Sat, Oct 27, is Walk Through the Bible at Trinity Church, Potsdam. WTTB begins at 9 and ends at 4. Cost is $25 per person (ages 13 and up) and includes lunch and materials or Buy One Get One (BOGO) - Register yourself and a friend at the same time and pay $25 for two!!!! This is an excellent course for parents, teachers, preachers, clergy, vestry, and, students. Pre-registration is greatly appreciated. Go to www.albanydiocese.org. For information or questions, please contact Mother Laurie Garramone-Rohr here.
The Reverend Diana Freeman, Rector, St. Luke’s, Catskill, has accepted a new position and will be leaving for Texas in November. Mother Diana has done a wonderful job and will be greatly missed.

I have appointed the Very Reverend Susan Baker-Borjeson as the new Dean of the Hudson Valley Deanery. She has much to offer and will be a valuable addition to the Deans.

Deacons should have received their invitation to the Deacons Retreat, Nov 16 – 17. If you haven’t received it, please contact Canon Carroll here.

Father Jack Zimmerman, Rector, St. Boniface, Guilderland, has announced his retirement effective February 1, 2008. His last Sunday at St. Boniface is January 27th. Fr. Jack, we are appreciative of your faithful service to our Lord and His Church.

On a sad note, two of our clergy have had a death in their families. Mtr Ellen Neufeld’s mother, Catherine Hirsch, passed away last night. Her funeral will be this Saturday, Oct. 20th, at St. Andrew’s Church in Scotia, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Fr Chris Smith’s brother, Jim, passed away this week. Funeral arrangements are pending. We are postponing the October 28th visitation to St. Ann’s.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn; that, casting all their care on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP pg 505)

Faithfully Yours in Christ,
+Bill
Bishop of Albany

Back to Index

Disciples Making Disciples