What Needs To Be Done

As you know, I was not expecting a transfer. After it came, I began to think of all the things that still need attention. Of course, each parishioner needs attention along with all of the daily tasks within any given parish. However, this is a list of programs, activities, projects that are, I believe, needed for each parish. I will start the list today and probably update it in the days to come. These items are not listed in order of importance.

BOTH PARISHES

• Follow up on the great work done by the census takers during our parish census.
• Further exploration into what resources, especially people, can be shared by both parishes.
• Improved Faith Formation for our children.  One big problem is parents sending their children to faith formation only for First Confession, First Communion, and Confirmation.  Thus, we are creating a huge generation of children who are less-informed Catholics and whose knowledge of the faith is, at best, very weak.  Our current model of providing faith formation and the current level of parental support and participation are not adequate for the eventual full and active participation of current and future families if the fullness of our Catholic faith.
• An organized program of faith formation for those who home-school their children.  The pastor shoud require a defined curriculum of studies and texts especially in those years when children are prepared for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation.
• An organized outreach to yound adults within the parishes.
• Youth Ministry that goes beyond faith formation classes.
• Campus Ministry participants who are willing to reach out and invite other university students to participate in the life of campus ministry.
• A more organized outreach to the homebound especially in bringing them Holy Communion.
• A Parish Nurse Porgram

ST. MARY'S

• Finish the handicapped lift
• A parish center
  • A separate building
  • Sell the rectory since the offices could be put in the parish center.  The rectory is much too big for just one priest to live there if the pastor were to live in Potsdam.
• Some roof repair.
• The bells in the bell tower ring for the Angelus, but they do not work properly when we want to ring them at funerals and other special events.
  
• The stairs to the vault at the cemetery need to be replaced or another form of access to the vault is required.

ST. PATRICK'S

• Cemetery Fence
• Drainage around the rectory and the church
• Some of the sliding door frames are rotted out and need repair.

Bruce or Caitlyn

The story of Bruce Jenner has certainly captured the news media these past weeks. As many of you know, I greatly respect Fr. Robert Barron and his comments. He has commented on this topic and done a very good job of it. I encourage you to read his article. It is heavy to read, but it contains the true basis for our objections.

Click here to read the article.

Why The Census??

Some have questioned why we conducted the census.  Why did the Bishop want it?  What did Msgr. Aucoin think it was important?  Active Catholics are dwindling to the point that we do not know who they are.  A census of the area allows us to find out who they are.  The erosion of our Catholic faith and its replacement by a diluted version of Catholicism makes the value of our practices seem useless.
   I encourage you to read this article from America Magazine entitled "Your Average American Catholic."  This article accurately describes the degradation of our Catholic heritage.  It is filled with statistics, but I encourage you to follow it to the end.

This is the article

Camp Guggenheim - An Experience for Life - An Experience for a Lifetime

I encourage our teens (ages 12 to 18) and their families to consider Camp Guggenheim for a great week in the summer.  Check out this video:

Parish Census - We Are Ready to Start

We are ready to go. Census workers are receiving their training. Their packets have been prepared. Materials to leave at the homes are ready. Prayers have been prayed. Mailings to parishioners and to all living in our townships have been sent.

This is such an exciting project. Frankly, last year when the census was announced, I had no idea how it could happen. However, parishioners of both parishes have graciously responded. The leadership team has work diligently over the past months to make sure that everything is ready to go. This project would never have happened without their dedication and enthusiasm. Thank you very much.

Please welcome our census workers who are looking forward to visiting you as well as your neighbors and friends.

Bishop LaValley Speaks to Census Volunteers

Parish Census - A Letter from Bishop LaValley

Dear Parishioners:

Soon, parishes throughout the North Country will conduct a door-to-door census of all the households within each parish.  Bishop Wadhams, while reflecting on his assignment to be the first Bishop of this new Diocese of Ogdensburg, wrote:  “I know the task I have before me… this is a land of long distances.  The people cannot be reached by railways or stage-coaches.  Even good wagon-roads are few.  But I tell what I mean to do.  I shall get a good pony that will carry me anywhere; and you take my word for it, it will not be long before I visit every family; and every man and woman, barefooted boy and yellow-headed girl in my diocese will know me.  Yes, sir-ee!” (Early Ritualism…, 169, Walworth, 1893)

Bishop Wadhams’ goal is our goal. Yes, sir-ee!  This very ambitious undertaking is absolutely critical. So that we can invite others to find their home in Christ, we must know who they are and where they live, not proselytizing, but inviting them to know us and to join us in worship. This census of every home in our parishes is crucial in addressing our diocesan priorities addressing vocations, family faith formation and pastoral planning.  This newly acquired information will allow us to make good decisions about tomorrow.

Neighbor to neighbor census taking is truly evangelization at work.  Such visits will increase your faith and confirm your own love for the Church.  It will energize your participation in the life of your parish.  The census will remind your neighbors that the local Church is vibrant, that we seek to address their concerns and provide support for the local folk.  As Pope Francis continually reminds us:  “we cannot passively and calmly wait in our Church buildings; we need to move from a pastoral ministry of merely conserving things [the way they have always been], to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry.” (The Joy of the Gospel, #15, 2013)

            Finally, we are hope-filled, knowing that this is God’s work with His Spirit as our constant companion. You are vitally important in helping others to find their home in Christ:  renewing faith, nurturing hope and discovering anew God’s love for every one of us.  Thank you so much for offering your time, your joy-filled, can-do attitude and, most importantly, for your prayers when your pastor seeks your assistance.  God be with you as your parish family sets out on this exciting journey of our local Church.

                                                                                                Faithfully yours in Christ, 

    

Most Reverend Terry R. LaValley

Bishop of Ogdensburg