My dear friends in Christ,It is hard for me to believe that already five years have passed since I was

appointed by our Holy Father, Pope Francis to become Bishop of Albany. The word that immediately comes to mind in reflecting on the last five years is simply.....thanks. Thanks, first, to Almighty God for the gift of being called upon to serve as shepherd to His people in this wonderful diocese of ours and thanks to every one of you for all that you do who are living out the beauty of the Gospel and our Catholic faith.

This year, 2019, the Church of Albany commemorates an anniversary, the 65th anniversary of the Bishop’s Appeal. When I was asked to choose a theme for this year’s Appeal, again, the word that came to mind was…..thanks. Thanks to you, for your abundant generosity which makes it possible for many of our sisters and brothers of all ages to encounter Jesus and to receive His love and grace through the good works of service and mercy and the sacramental life of the Church.

To say we cannot do it without you may sound like a cliché but it is very true. The mission of the Church to teach, to heal and to sanctify depends on the generosity of the faithful. I encourage you to read through this brochure and to visit the website www.thebishopsappeal.org to learn how your gifts help change people’s lives for the better. Remember, every gift, no matter the denomination, makes a difference.

I thank you dear friends and ask God to abundantly bless you and those you love. Let us pray to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of our diocese and nation, for each other, and for the success of the 65th annual Bishop’s Appeal.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D. Bishop of Albany

Thomas Fowler – Director of Religious Education at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Tom Fowler grew up in Rensselaer where he graduated from St. John’s Academy. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University at Albany. In 2014 he received a Ph D in philosophy from the same institution. He has taught courses in philosophy at both the University at Albany and the College of Saint Rose. He has also offered a number of programs at the Cathedral in Catholic social thought, Mysticism and 20th century Catholic philosophers. As a member of the Cathedral community for 25+ years, Mr. Fowler responded to a call for faith formation and joined the staff as Director of Religious Education in 2011. In this position he, along with an extremely able group of catechists, is re-sponsible for children and youth catechesis. In addition, adult programs include book study groups and lecture series, the most recent of which was on the 21st century Church.

The children/youth program is small, anywhere from 20 to 40 youngsters, depending on year. Though small, the program is inclusive; covering Kindergarten through high school. This includes sacramental preparation: First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. While the emphasis is on learn-ing our faith, it is not limited to the classroom. The young people are encouraged to carry that faith into action. For Mr. Fowler, the most satisfying aspect of his ministry lies “in seeing the youngsters play roles in the life of the Church through service to others and active participation in prayer and liturgies.” If you would like to learn more about faith formation at the Cathedral, you are welcome to speak with Mr. Fowler. He can be reached either by phone or email: 518-463-4447, FFCICa@rcda.org.

LIVING THE GOSPEL, CHANGING LIVES THANKS TO YOU!

Teaching And Sharing The Catholic Faith With Others Thanks to you, the Bishop‘s Appeal strengthens Faith Formation Programs for children and adults in our parishes.

THANKS TO YOU!

Maureen Petrie joined Catholic Charities of Herkimer County 18 years ago as a Program Assistant for the Agency’s Prevention Council. Today, Maureen is the Executive Director who oversees a staff of 40 professionals and is assisted by over 250 volunteers who serve over 11,000 clients living throughout Herkimer County. Herkimer County, like most of upstate New York, has seen its share of challenges in recent times. Challenges brought on by societal issues with attendant problems such as rural poverty, substance abuse, homelessness, hunger, illness, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, crime and domestic violence. So great and varied is the need that sometimes the social service agencies of government are stretched thin, backlogged and unable to assist. Maureen says that people in need are often told to “call Catholic Charities”, and when that happens, the phone rings in her office located at 61 West Street in Ilion, New York. According to Maureen’s Program Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Rae Raffle-Maxson, “people call us for everything and we will go anywhere.” “Everything” has meant answer-ing cries for help such as working with clients to insure that they have heat and basic needs, finding housing for the homeless, rescuing a senior person who was literally starving and living on popcorn, providing shelter for run-away youth, victims of domestic violence, counseling, suicide prevention, working with schools in the district to provide substance abuse and violence prevention services, and providing services to seniors such as transportation and companionship. “We will go anywhere” - Fran Reina, Driving for The RSVP RIDE Program of Catholic Charities

The geography of Herkimer County, the longest county in the state, is vast and mostly rural. One of the greatest challenges faced by seniors living in remote locations is the lack of transportation to medical facilities located in distant urban centers such as Cooperstown, Utica, Rome, Syracuse and Albany. For 32 years, the RSVP RIDE Program, managed by Catholic Charities of Herkimer County, has recruited volunteer drivers to transport seniors to medical and health services. Today, there are 16 volunteer drivers who last year alone clocked 127,340 miles driving 384 passengers. There are 9 addi-tional volunteers who donated 2,188 hours to support the program. Five years ago, Fran Reina of Frankfort, New York and a parishioner at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Apostles, retired from his career as a financial adviser and was looking for ways to volunteer his time. He applied and was accepted as a driver for the RSVP RIDE Program. Since then, Fran has logged thousands of miles and hours

driving his passengers to a multitude of medical appointments throughout Herkimer County and beyond. Fran says that many lasting friendships with his riders have developed. It’s not just about providing a ride, but also providing companionship, comfort and compassion to seniors feeling the stresses of illness and advanced age.

LIVING THE GOSPEL, CHANGING LIVES

Calling Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities of Herkimer County… “To Serve and Empower Those in Need”

To Maureen Petrie (right), Rae Raffle-Maxson (left) and all the staff and volunteers who form the Catholic Charities family of Herkimer County, the most rewarding part of doing what they do every day in serving others is when clients they have assisted, especially young people, will stop by the office to say hello often adding “thanks, we don’t know where we would have been without your help.”

THANKS TO YOU!LIVING THE GOSPEL, CHANGING LIVES

The Catholic schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany are a premier choice for educating young people, which open minds, hearts and souls. Students attending any one of our 22 schools thrive in a stimulating and rigorous academic environment where faith in God is nourished and solid citizens are formed. Inspired by Christ the Teacher, it is our everlast-ing mission to provide a transformative learning experience for our students in an evangelizing community. Thanks to your gifts, a young girl named NiLar will soon graduate with honors from Bishop Maginn High School Seventeen year old NiLar was born in a refugee camp located in Thailand after her family fled persecution as members of the Karen people in Myanmar, formerly called Burma. When she was nine years old, her family came to the United States. NiLar remembers that it took a week of medical clearance before they were allowed to travel. Her visions and imagining of America came from the movies they watched as a treat in the refugee camp. In those mostly Disney films, everyone wore a princess dress and lived in a castle. NiLar arrived in the U.S. too late to begin third grade after attending second grade at the camp school. She could not wait to get to the classroom but was told she’d have to wait until the next school year. The next year, she was placed in fourth grade due to her age, so she completely missed third grade. It was during her time in elementary school that she vividly remembers sobbing during a state test they put in front of her due to a language barrier.

NiLar was accustomed to giving 100% in school, however, the differ-ence in language made that very difficult. Other students made fun of her, called her names, and treated her poorly. It seemed some of the teachers had little patience to help. Fast forward to 9th grade! NiLar and several others from the local refugee community arrived at Bishop Maginn High School as fresh-men for their first day of classes. According to Sue Silverstein Gilli-gan, “NiLar has given 100% to each and every thing she has done during her four years at Bishop Maginn.” Now a senior, she will finish at the top of her class and has been accepted by Russell Sage College in Albany with nearly a full scholarship. NiLar’s goal is to become a nurse and to one day care for children in refugee camps, like the one she and her family came from not long ago. Ms. Silverstein Gilligan sums it up, “It has been a blessing to have NiLar as part of the Bishop Maginn High School family.”

Our Catholic Schools Inspired By Christ The Teacher

Thanks to you and the gifts you give to the Bishop’s Appeal, the Office of Vocations, under the direction of the Very Reverend Anthony Ligato, offers opportunities and programs for education and discernment to help potential candidates for the priesthood and consecrated life determine if God is indeed calling them. Parish and school based vocations formation programs throughout the Diocese of Albany, help to educate our youth and adults in all the ways we can live out God’s call in our lives and help support men and women who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood, religious life and diaconate. These efforts, thanks be to God, are showing results. Priestly vocations in our diocese have risen dramatically, and today, there are 111 men in various stages of discernment. Currently, there are 32 men officially in formation, with 21 in seminary and 11 as aspirants. While this is indeed very good news, the increase in seminarians presents significant financial challenges to meet the rising costs of preparing for the priesthood. The average cost of one year of tuition, room, board and expenses for a seminarian is approximately $50,000. That cost is borne by the diocese. The road to ordination takes, on average, six years. Your gifts to the Bishop’s Appeal help to defray those costs. The New St. Isaac Jogues House of Formation and Pre-Seminary On January 4, 2019, thanks to funding from the Bishop‘s Appeal, the new St. Isaac Jogues House of Formation and Pre-Seminary opened at the former Cathedral Convent at 93 Park Avenue in Albany to replace the old House of Discernment in Watervliet which could accommodate only seven men in resi-dence. The new House of Formation and Pre-Seminary can accommodate up to 20 men in residence, and provides a beautiful chapel with a capacity for 40 people. The new House of Formation will facilitate greater and more expanded formation and discern-ment programs as well as a new academic program in partnership with St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, which also receives funding from the Bishop’s Appeal.

To Serve Christ And One Another In Love

LIVING THE GOSPEL, CHANGING LIVES THANKS TO YOU!

Thanks to funding from the Bishop‘s Appeal, the new St. Isaac Jogues House of Formation and Pre-Seminary opened at the former Cathedral Convent.

HERKIMER

OTSEGO

DELAWARE

FULTON

MONTGOMERY

SCHOHARIE

WARREN

SARATOGA

SCHENECTADY

ALBANY

GREENE

WASHINGTON

RENSSELAER

COLUMBIA

Support Services $2,399,996 30% Pastoral Services $1,338,611 16% Catholic Education $1,232,192 15% Vocations $1,134,269 14% Catholic Charities $ 902,210 11% Religious Personnel Development $ 855,553 11% Extra Diocesan Responsibilities $ 225,000 3% to the Greater Church Total: $8,087,831 100%

A Report on Gifts to the 2018 Bishop’s AppealYour gifts made to the 2018 Bishop’s Appeal are providing 70% of the

support in the current fiscal year needed to serve the People of God in the fourteen counties of the Diocese of Albany.

2019 marks the 65th anniversary of the Bishop’s Appeal. Bishop William A. Scully envisioned what he called the Bishop’s Development Fund for Religion and Education.

This initiative was to be a one year campaign with a goal of $500,000. The campaign was so successful that Bishop Scully decided to establish an annual

appeal for funding to assist him in furthering the greater mission of the Church. For 65 years, this annual appeal has been quietly and faithfully answered by the

people in every parish of the diocese.

The Bishop’s Appeal is more than a fundraising campaign; it is a testament of faith and caring, of big heartedness and goodwill. We will never know the names or the number of souls whose lives were changed by the countless acts of kindness, service

and charity made possible by the Appeal, in a shelter, a food pantry, a hospital, a classroom or a pew.

Just as the weekly offertory is needed to ensure the ongoing vitality of a parish,

so too is the Bishop’s Appeal needed today to ensure the vitality of programs and services of the Church, which a single parish could not possibly take on alone, such

as, Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, faith formation, religious education, serving the diaconate, fostering vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and much more.

The Bishop’s Appeal At Sixty-Five Years Living The Gospel, Changing Lives

In Gratitude to Our Parishes Where We Encounter Jesus Every Day

The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.

Pope Francis From Amoris Lettitia

There are 126 parishes which serve as a spiritual home to the Catholic faithful living in over one hundred thousand households throughout the fourteen counties of the Diocese of Albany. Each parish is unique. Each is a gem in the crown of God’s Church of Albany. All are united in the Eucharist and in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Catholic Charities Catholic Charities’ employees and volunteers serve nearly 100,000 people annually throughout its 15 community-based agencies, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable. The services provided by Catholic Charities are varied as new needs arise and represent a seamless continuum of care to address the needs of children, women and men at all stages of life. Education Office of Catholic Faith Formation and Education The Office of Catholic Faith Formation and Education is a collaborative effort to provide seamless access to resources for growing in the knowledge and experi-ence of our faith at all stages of the human journey from baptism preparation for parents of infants through childhood and teenage; through young adults on college campuses, marriage preparation, formation of the unbaptized seeking to join the Catholic Church to adult enrichment and lay ministry formation. Catholic School Office The Catholic School Office provides essential support to our Catholic elemen-tary and high schools. This office provides consistent curriculum standards and learning outcomes, professional development opportunities for our teachers and staff, assistance with institutional Middle States accreditation and integra-tion of technology into the learning curriculum. St. Bernard’s Institute St. Bernard’s Institute is a Roman Catholic graduate and professional school located in the Dioceses of Rochester, Syracuse and Albany offering graduate degrees in theology and continuing education opportunities for those seeking personal enrichment and a deeper understanding of the convictions of faith. Pastoral Services Apostolates and Ethnic Ministries This program provides pastoral support to the Vietnamese and Korean Aposto-lates as well as the Spanish speaking communities. Campus Ministry Campus Ministry is the official presence of the Church on each college/univer-sity campus. There are many dimensions to this ministry. The faith community consists of students, faculty and staff on each campus. Communications Office This office works to advance the overall mission of the Diocese of Albany and to inform the Catholic and non-Catholic community about the work of the diocese through strategic communications, including media relations, social and digital

media, and public information. In addition, the Office of Communications works in collaboration with other diocesan offices and departments to promote events and programs to the general public. Ecumenical Commission The Commission facilitates ecumenical and interfaith collaboration with other faith communities throughout the diocese. Parish Services The Office of Parish Services provides resources that can be used by the dio-cese, parishes, and individual Catholics who want to strengthen their ministries and nourish their faith life. Pastoral Health Care This program provides ministerial support to hospitals and health care facilities in the diocese. Pastoral Planning The Office of Pastoral Planning is responsible for ensuring the presence and vital-ity of the Church and planning for the future of our fourteen county diocese. Prayer and Worship The Office of Prayer and Worship provides services to parishes in preparing programs for worship, organizing diocesan choirs and providing educational programs for parish leaders on liturgy, prayer and music. Scouting The Diocese of Albany provides spiritual support services and programs to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls and Junior Catholic Daughters of America. Tribunal The Tribunal responds to the needs of people as they prepare to enter into marriage as well as those who are troubled by marital dis-cord. Additionally, the Office of Canonical Services gives advice and counsel to the Bishop, agencies or offices and to parish personnel in matters of canon law. Youth Recreation The Youth Association provides a wide array of athletic programming for children throughout the diocese.

In addition to the ministries mentioned in the previous pages, your gifts to the Bishop’s Appeal help to fund the following ministries, programs and offices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany:

Religious Personnel Development Consultation Services The Consultation Center provides professional counseling and mental health services to individuals and groups. Initial and Ongoing Formation Initial and Ongoing Formation includes formation for deacons which provides the theological education for those discerning a call to the diaconate and the Kateri Institute, for those discerning a call to lay ministry. Permanent Diaconate The Permanent Diaconate Office provides the ongoing spiritual formation and theological educational programs for ordained deacons. Vicar for Clergy This office provides personnel support services and administrative oversight to the priests of the diocese. Vicar for Religious The Vicar for Religious provides liaison services between the Bishop of Albany and religious communities. Vicar for Vocations The Vocations Office provides discernment, educational programs and support for men and woman who are called to a life in ordained or professed ministry. Support Services Architecture and Building Commission The Architecture and Building Commission provides technical assistance to diocesan parishes who are engaged in capital building projects. Archives Office This office oversees the diocesan archives and provides historical information to parishes, individuals and diocesan offices. Real Property The Real Property Office maintains the Pastoral Center, provides advice and assistance to the diocese and our parishes in regard to real estate matters, and oversees all acquisitions, sales or leasing of property. Cathedral Our diocesan Mother Church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, receives partial funding from the Bishop’s Appeal to support general operations and diocesan wide liturgies and celebrations. Chancery Operations Chancery programs provide financial management and accounting support services to the varied ministries, programs and parishes of the diocese. Bishop’s Appeal allocations to the Chancery also support the Bishop’s Office.

Contingencies This fund is utilized to meet unexpected or emergency requests for funding from diocesan ministries, programs or parishes. Stewardship Office The Stewardship Office conducts the annual Bishop’s Appeal and coordinates the majority of diocesan fundraising initiatives, including increased offertory programs and capital campaigns for parishes. Information Technology This office provides comprehensive computer and information technology assistance to parishes, ministries, programs and offices of the diocese. Office of Human Resources The Human Resources Department serves employees by developing and implementing personnel policies, overseeing the compensation and benefits program, providing support, advice and consultation on all employment issues and the hiring of new personnel. Extra-Diocesan Responsibilities to the Larger Church The Holy Father The diocese makes an annual contribution to support the ministries and charitable works of the Holy Father. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) The USCCB is the episcopal conference of Catholic bishops in the United States. The purpose of the USCCB is to unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States, to organize and conduct religious, charitable and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education and to care for immigrants. The New York State Catholic Conference The New York State Catholic Conference represents the Bishops of New York State in matters of public policy. The role of the Conference is to seek justice, fairness and charity for all, with a particular emphasis on the poor and vulnerable.

You may make your gift through your parish, online at www.TheBishopsAppeal.org, or through The Stewardship Office Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany 40 North Main Avenue Albany, New York 12203 Phone: 518.453.6680 Email: stewardship@rcda.org Web: www.TheBishopsAppeal.org Your gift will be credited to the parish of your choice and is tax deductible.

Making A Gift Of Stock You can easily make your gift to the 2019 Bishop’s Appeal with a gift of stock. Upon receipt of a stock gift, the shares are immediately sold and the parish you designate is credited accordingly. Contact the Stewardship Office to obtain instruc-tions for the delivery of stock to assist your parish’s contribution to the Bishop’s Appeal. Making A Matching Gift Some companies will match their employees’ and retired employees’ charitable gifts. It is a great way to maximize the impact of your gift while tapping into your employer’s desire to invest in the community. To have your Bishop’s Appeal gift matched, inquire with your human resources office about a matching gift program.

The Bishop’s Appeal will begin April 27 & 28, 2019.

Most generous and loving God, we your faithful people in the Diocese of Albany sisters and brothers all united as one

desire to know ever more deeply what it means to be the merciful heart and hands of Christ,

to be His ambassadors of love and service to others. Help us to see and to appreciate the blessings you have bestowed on us.

Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, Help us to open our eyes and hearts to all our neighbors,

especially those less fortunate than we. Grant us the grace to live gratefully, confident of your love.

Bless our efforts in the coming year to provide the resources needed to fulfill the mission of Your Church, to teach, to heal and to sanctify.

We ask this in the holy name of Jesus, who is our Lord and our brother, forever and ever

Amen Alleluia, Alleluia

Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany The Bishop’s Appeal 40 North Main Avenue Albany, New York 12203

Please give as generously as you can to the 2019 Bishop’s Appeal.

www.TheBishopsAppeal.org