Sept. 20, 2017

Lake Placid –  Registration is now open for Celebrate Christ 2017, “Called to Lead,” a two-day conference to be held Oct. 20 and 21 at the Crowne Plaza.

The theme of the program is “Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis: Doing the Laundry, Dusty Shoes and the Monastery Bell.”

The Oct.  20 session is directed at pastors, Catholic school principals, teachers and school personnel while Oct. 21 is designed for pastors, parish catechetical leaders, catechists, youth minsters, RCIA Directors, adult faith formation, lay ministers and all interested in parish ministry

Keynote speaker
Chris Lowney, author of five books, including the just-published “Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church,” will be the keynote speaker. He has also authored the bestselling “Heroic Leadership” and “Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He leads.”

A one-time Jesuit seminarian, Lowney later served as a managing director of JP Morgan & Co on three continents until leaving the firm in 2001.  He currently chairs the board of Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States.

St. Joseph Sister Ellen Rose Coughlin, diocesan director of Catholic education, said, “Leadership is a vital factor as we focus our attention and resources on the diocesan priority of building parishes with living stones.  Chris Lowney’s presentation Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis: Doing the Laundry, Dusty Shoes and the Monastery Bell will encourage us and support our efforts to carry out the diocesan priorities.”

Registration information
Registration information is available at www.rcdony.org/celebrate. A $30 fee covers the conference and lunch. The deadline is Sept. 29.

On the day of the conference, registration and exhibits open at 7:30 a.m. Bishop Terry R. LaValley will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m.

Sharing the Light of Faith
One of the highlights of the day will be the presentation of the  Sharing the Light of Faith Award which recognizes an outstanding individual in the diocese who has had a major impact on the faith life of the Church. 

The individual must be one who is generous in his/her response to the call of God in giving witness to the gospel through exemplary service to a parish and, in doing so, to the diocese at large.

Past recipients have been Sister Kieran Quinn, OSU (1988); Mrs. Alice Dixson, Madrid (1989); Margaret Woods, Massena (1990); Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana (1991); Sister Mary Felicitas Wells, RSM (1992); Mrs. Lucille Peters, Hogansburg (1993); Mae Schneeberger, Croghan (1994); Rev. J. Michael Gaffney (1995);

Also, Margaret Testani, Ogdensburg (1996); Sister Maurice Black, SSJ (1997); Thomas Schneeberger, Croghan (1998); Anne C. Thomas, Sackets Harbor (1999); Sophia Roffe, Old Forge (2000); Eunice Trombley, Cumberland Head (2001); Barbara Corron, West Chazy (2002); Glory Rufa, Massena (2003); Anne Borsellino, Massena (2004); Cathy Bishop,  Watertown (2007); Joan Fetsko, Lyon Mountain (2009); Tamara Murphy, Malone (2011) and Sister Diane Marie Ulsamer (2015).