Bishop looks at "state of the diocese"

by

Mary Lou Kilian

Editor

Ogdensburg – As a new calendar year begins, Bishop Robert J. Cunningham looked back on 2007 as a year of great accomplishment in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

“One of the outstanding achievements was the beginning of Why Catholic?,” he told the North Country Catholic Jan. 10 in his annual interview on the “State of the Diocese of Ogdensburg.”

 “There were 3000 participants in parishes all across the diocese,” he said. “The response has been very enthusiastic on the part of the parishioners and, as we begin the second year, approximately 62 % of the parishes are participating with 240 team leaders in place.”

“While we’d be very happy with a 100% response, we understand that pastors have many different programs from which to choose,” he said. “But this is one of the best programs reaching out to our Catholic people. I believe that it is extremely beneficial and I hope for increased participation.

“Looking forward, we’re delighted that as part of the Why Catholic? program, a diocesan wide event has been scheduled to observe the church’s Year of St. Paul,” Bishop Cunningham said. “On Sept, 14, a vespers service will be held at the cathedral and our speaker will be the 12th bishop of the diocese, Bishop Barbarito.”

Celebrating Christ
Bishop Cunningham noted that “another wonderful event of the past year was “Celebrate Christ.”

“This was held Oct. 19-20 with about 500 participants coming to Massena from across the diocese,” he said. “Catholic school administrators, teachers, pastors, catechetical leaders, catechists and parish ministers heard keynote speaker Dr. Robert Wicks and took part in workshops and seminars.”

“This was an opportunity for spiritual and personal development,” Bishop Cunningham said, “as well as a chance for those attending to share ideas and experiences with colleagues in ministry.

“The participants seem to enjoy themselves,” he said. “and they told me that they hoped there would be future opportunities to ‘celebrate Christ’ in a similar fashion.”

Serving young Catholics
Another diocesan event, held to benefit Catholic schools, was the Nov. 30 Catholic School Symposium in Lake Placid.

“Catholic school principals, pastors with Catholic schools, state legislators and civic leaders gathered to consider the challenge presented by the US Bishops in Renewing our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium, Bishop Cunningham said. “We are seeking to insure that Catholic schools be affordable, accessible and available to parents who wish to choose them for their children.

“The symposium was a wonderful gathering that demonstrated commitment to the vitality of our Catholic schools,” he said.

Currently there are 2600 students in the 15 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Another 8200 students are involved in religious education programs in parishes throughout the North Country.

All young people are served by the diocese through the work of the diocesan director of youth ministry, the bishop said. Jim Lundy of Plattsburgh was hired for this position in June. He oversees the summer camp “sportscamp” and Guggenheim programs, diocesan youth gatherings including the event held Nov. 20 at Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh and participation in national youth events.

Bishop Cunningham said that he appreciates the enthusiasm of these teenagers, pointing out that 94 young pro-lifers traveled to Washington, DC, this week to the March of Life, visiting Catholic shrines along the way.

The bishop also discussed diocesan efforts to serve slightly older Catholics.

“The office for Young Adult Ministry is reaching out to people in their 20s and 30s,” Bishop Cunningham said. “A database of about 90-100 young adults involved in this ministry has been established and we hope that this will grow in the years ahead.

“Parish priests and administrators have reported that a growing number of young adults are becoming involved as parish council members, Why Catholic? leaders and in other parish ministries,” Bishop Cunningham said.

Nurturing vocations
One young adult in particular was the focus of great celebration for the diocese during the past year.

“Certainly a high point of the year was the ordination of Father Bernard Menard to the priesthood in May,” Bishop Cunningham said. Father Menard has been assigned as parochial vicar for Sacred Heart in Massena and St. Lawrence in Louisville.

“This year we are looking forward to the ordination of Adam Crowe as a transitional deacon,” he said, “and we are happy that four other young men are preparing for the priesthood, studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania.

“Our daily goal is to encourage young people to consider the priesthood and religious life,” Bishop Cunningham said. “While we have many people working in parishes and participating in the life of the Church, we are a sacramental church and need priests for the celebration of Mass and conferral of the sacraments.

“It would be wonderful if we could double the number of seminarians in hopes of their ordination to the priesthood,” he said.

Planning for the future
The decline in the number of priests in recent decades has led to a need for parish planning to insure that pastoral needs of Catholics in the North Country are met.

“The diocese has been engaged in the planning process for many years and we will continue along those paths,” Bishop Cunningham said. “It’s a mistake to think that ‘planning’ is something done once and completed. As demographics change and the number of priests we have changes, we need to continually study how best to meet the needs of the people in our diocese.”

“We have to say that there will be other changes in the future,” he said. “These changes are painful but nevertheless are necessary to provide Mass and sacramental ministry for the people.”

“We have done a wonderful job of building parish loyalties,” Bishop Cunningham said, “but we at times need to look beyond parish boundaries for the good of all in the church.”

“The planning process continues.” he said, “with input from the various deaneries and with recommendations from the diocesan planning committee, the diocesan pastoral council and the committee on assignments.”

Citing achievement
Bishop Cunningham noted that 2007 was a year of accomplishment for various constituencies of the diocese.

“We should herald the work of Catholic Charities,” he said, “which last year served over 30,000 people.”

“Sister Donna and her staff continually reach out to all those in need throughout the 12,000 square miles of the diocese,” he said.

The revitalization of the diocesan Ecumenical Commission was another important achievement, the bishop said, with the celebration of a ecumenical service in Tupper Lake. “At present we are observing the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a variety of services in the diocese.”

In September, Bishop Cunningham said. “I was privileged to commission 92 new lay ministers to serve in their parishes.

“These people have dedicated themselves to specific tasks and perform a great ministry in their individual parishes,” he said. “They are an immense help to their pastors.”

Bishop Cunningham added that 15 men studying to be permanent deacons also reached a milestone in the 2007 as he presided at their Rite of Candidacy in June.

Insuring fiscal health
“This past year was good for us fiscally,” Bishop Cunningham said, “due in large measure to the guidance of the Diocesan Finance Council. And, we had an outstanding year in investments for the diocese and for that we are grateful to the Investment Advisory Committee.

“The success of this year’s Bishop’s Fund and the generosity of individual parishioners expressed through bequests and legacies enables the Church to carry on its mission,” he said. “And, our current Increased Offertory Campaign in parishes has been of benefit to those parishes participating so far.”

Another accomplishment of the past year, Bishop Cunningham said was the establishment of the Foundation of the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

“As of March 15, 2007, we have had the opportunity to offer to parishes, schools and families throughout the diocese the hope of ‘Building a Bridge for the Future,’” the bishop said. “In every city and town in our diocese, “The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg will make possible, through investments and the establishment of endowments, a source of perpetual support to assist in spreading God’s word.”

“We are grateful for the generous response of so  many on a regular basis for the support of the diocese and individual parishes,” Bishop Cunningham said. “All of use are ‘companions on the journey’ and have the responsibility and privilege of supporting the work of the Church.”

Looking ahead
As Bishop Cunningham anticipates the events of 2008, he said that “we have much to look forward to as we recognize that the Church is much larger than our diocese.”

“This week, 94 teenagers and another busload of adults from the North Country are participating in the annual March for Life in Washington D.C.,” he said. “This spring, 88 people will be joining me on a pilgrimage to Catholic sites in Italy and over 600 will be attending the papal Mass in Yankee Stadium on April 20.

“A number of people have also expressed an interest in participating in the International Eucharistic Conference in Quebec City in Jnne,” he said.

Within the diocesan boundaries, 2008 will be a year in which “we will need to continue the planning process to provide for the church of the future,” Bishop Cunningham said. “We are looking forward to continue to build and strengthen our church.

“We have so many things going for us,” he said. “and we need to build on that foundation for the future.”