Dec. 14, 2016

For Clinton, Essex, Hamilton-Herkimer deaneries

By Patricia Marie
Contributing writer

Peru - On a beautiful, balmy autumn evening, Oct.  14, about 84 commissioned lay ministers from the Clinton, Essex, Hamilton-Herkimer deaneries gathered to attend the annual Fall Event of the Eastern Region Commissioned Lay Ministers’ Association which was held at St. Augustine’s Church and Parish Center.

Judging from the attendees’ feedback and comments, the evening proved to be enjoyable for everyone as the agenda offered an evening filled with spiritual and social camaraderie

In keeping with the month of October and the Holy Rosary, the evening began with a public recitation of the rosary in St. Augustine’s Church.  Immediately following the Rosary, Bishop Terry LaValley who was the main celebrant and the evening’s keynote speaker, offered Mass along with area priests and deacons; host pastor Fathers Alan Shnob, Patrick Mundy, John (Mickey) Demo and Eduardo Pesigan.  Deacons  John Lucero and Deacon Jack Lukasiewicz also assisted at Mass.

After Mass, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Monica’s # 2598 hosted a dinner at the parish center.

Bishop LaValley delivered the keynote address, noting his support for commissioned lay ministry and offering a few suggestions for the participants to consider.

He spoke of the fact that we need to get back to “rootedness” in our parishes - which seems to have all but disappeared in our present day society.

“We need to bond to one another again - especially in our spiritual lives,” he said. “With so many changes in today’s society, many of us may have forgotten that important sense of being connected (or rooted) to each other in our parishes.

As God has made us social beings, that innate need to belong to others must be nurtured and we should be cognizant of that need, the bishop said.

He suggested other ideas to help Catholics along their life’s journey: to be aware of hospitality, exude the joy of the Gospel and to never refuse a person’s offer to help, regardless if there is a real need or not.

We can also develop skills of being a good listener, to claim our responsibilities and obligations of our Baptismal promises and to focus on our other Sacramental gifts, he said.

Perhaps one of the bishop’s best comments can be summed up in a simple but profound thought: although we have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, our faith should not be private. As our lives and faith are communal, so too should our faith be in communion with God and others.

For Jefferson and Lewis deaneries...

By Deacon Kevin  Mastellon
Staff writer

Watertown - - James D. Crowley, chancellor of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, addressed an audience of commissioned lay ministers in Watertown at the fall dinner meeting of the CLM Association of the Jefferson and Lewis Deaneries held at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse.

Bishop Terry R. LaValley named Crowley chancellor in May 2016.  He also serves as coordinator of ministry to lay pastoral leaders in the diocese so his first presentation to the commissioned ministers in Watertown was in his dual role.

The chancellor used the opportunity to briefly outline the Living Stones Planning Committee report and plan approved earlier this year by Bishop LaValley. 

Crowley's theme for the talk, "Do We Ask Enough of God's Mercy" permitted him to weave the challenges facing the diocese as outlined in the Living Stones plan with a call for prayer and collaboration among all the people of the diocese.

"We will need God's help and mercy in this endeavor," Crowley said, "we will also need cooperation and collaboration among the clergy, religious and lay leadership in order to successfully deal with the challenges we face." 

That was a reference to the report's forecast of only 34 priests available within the next decade to serve as pastors of parishes. 

The Living Stones report can be downloaded from the Diocesan web site www.rcdony.org.  The report according to Crowley outlines the new configuration of parishes in each deanery.

Commissioned lay ministers will play an important role in parishes as the new groupings are developed according to the chancellor.  That will require continuing education for CLM, retreat opportunities and closer collaboration among all the faithful.

Chancellor Crowley is currently a candidate for ordination as a permanent deacon.  The ordination for his class of 16 men is scheduled for October 2017.

The evening started with Mass celebrated by Msgr. Paul Whitmore and assisted by Deacon Lawrence Ambeau.

Karen Donahue is the current chair of the CLM Association of the Jefferson and Lewis Deaneries.