Two years in the making, a world-class pipe organ arriving at Sacred Heart Cathedral

Sacred Heart Cathedral’s long-awaited world-class pipe organ will arrive this Sunday (June 8, 2008) — in a host of boxes and a moving van. More than 50 parish volunteers will help unload boxes and pipes under the watchful eye of renowned organ builder Paul Fritts of Washington state. The organ will be assembled over the next few weeks, tuned all summer and debut in a special dedication ceremony and concert on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 7:30 p.m..

Unloading and moving the organ elements into the Cathedral will begin at approximately 12:30-12:45 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2008, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park (between Dewey and Lake avenues).

FAST FACTS:

— The organ, funded through gifts from donors, is arriving from Paul Fritts Organ Builders in Tacoma, WA. It was crafted over the last two years, beginning in Spring 2006.

— The organ weighs 25,000 pounds, stands more than 40 feet high and contains nearly 4,000 pipes.

— The largest pipes are more than 30 feet high, the smallest about the length of a pencil.

— Everything but the screws that hold the organ together are made in Paul Fritts’ shop. Each of the 3,890 pipes was cast by Fritts and his team of artisans. It was fully assembled and now has been taken apart piece by piece to be shipped in a Mayflower moving van.

— Reassembly will take up to two weeks, after which “voicing” must take place. Fritts and two assistants will painstakingly adjust each pipe for air flow, by ear, which results in a pipe’s specific tone and volume. As voicing progresses, more and more elements of the organ will be played during Masses and at weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.

— The polished oak organ case is a work of art itself and contains a number of religious symbols, including a statue of St. Cecilia, patroness of music, as well as the Old Testament figure of Miriam playing on an ancient timbrel.

— Fritts’ organs are located throughout Washington and the rest of the country, including at Vassar College, University of Notre Dame, Stanford U. Memorial Chapel, St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Columbus and Princeton Theological Seminary.

— Father John Mulligan, pastor of the Cathedral, says, “We selected Paul Fritts as the builder of our instrument because he has the reputation for consistently building organs of the highest quality and because his organs are truly liturgical ones, which invite congregational singing.”

— The Cathedral staff has worked very closely with the Eastman School of Music on the organ project.

Other resources:

• Paul Fritts website:frittsorgan.com/
• A photo of the fully assembled Sacred Heart Cathedral Organ, featured in a recent Washington daily newspaper’s profile of Paul Fritts: “Each Organ is His Opus” 
• Cathedral website: cathedralcommunity.org 

El Mensajero Católico also wins several awards

The Catholic Courier and its sister Spanish-language-publication, El Mensajero Católico, received a total of 13 awards — including the highest journalistic honor presented by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada — during the association’s annual convention in Toronto, Canada, May 28-30. The honors are for work published in 2007.

“The judges confirmed what I have long believed,” said Bishop Matthew Clark, who is publisher of the newspaper. “The Catholic Courier is an excellent newspaper that truly serves the Diocese of Rochester and its people consistently well with breaking news, interesting features and helpful information. I also am grateful that El Mensajero Catolico is receiving the recognition it deserves.”

Awards won by the Catholic Courier are:

First Place for General Excellence among diocesan newspapers above 40,000 circulation.

“These were excellent stories that reflect the Catholic community in the Rochester area,” the judges remarked. “There was great photography and design. The compelling cover story topics: Catholic health-care facilities in ethical dilemma while seeking partners; a look inside the Darfur crisis; global warming’s effect on the poor. Overall, an excellent paper.

This award is judged on the basis of three consecutive issues, which are rated on a number of criteria including news content, story range and writing quality, photography and graphic design. Due to its large number of subscribers, the Courier competes in the association’s largest circulation bracket. Newspapers serving the archdioceses of St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minn.; Washington, D.C.; and New York, N.Y., received second place, third place and an honorable mention, respectively, in this category.

The CPA represents six U.S. and Canadian national newspapers; 177 arch/diocesan newspapers; 231 magazines; 113 newsletters; and 49 foreign-language publications, including 15 that publish in Spanish. Collectively, its members reach more than 26 million Catholic households.

Other awards received by the Courier  are:

Third Place among all member publications in the category Individual Excellence/ Photographer/Artist for a portfolio of work by Photo Editor Mike Crupi.

Honorable mention among all newspapers in the category Best Scenic/Still Life/Weather Photo for Mike Crupi’s photograph of balloons being released during a service memorializing five Fairport teens who died in a June 2007 car accident.

Awards to El Mensajero Católico

First place among Spanish-language newspapers in the category Best News Writing — National/International for a series of articles on immigration.

First place among Spanish-language newspapers in the category Best In-Depth Analysis for “Programa ofrece cuidados de salud a migrantes” by Annette Jiménez from the October issue.

First place among all newspapers in the category Best Photo Story for “Los hispanos adoptan las Misas carasmáticas” by Crupi from the May issue.

Second place among all tabloid-sized newspapers in the category Best Front Page for the newspaper’s August, September and October 2007 issues.

Second place among Spanish-language newspapers in the category Best Feature Story for “Los hispanos adoptan las Misas carasmáticas” by Jiménez from the May issue.

Third place among all newspapers in the category Best Photo Story for Crupi’s August photo spread on Rochester’s 2007 Puerto Rican Festival.

Third place among Spanish-language newspapers in the category Best Lead Article  for “Logrando la paz con rima y razon” by Jiménez from the September issue.

El Mensajero also received three honorable mentions. Jiménez was recognized for Best News Writing-Local/Regional among Spanish-language publications for “Festival honra a los ‘pioneros ausentes’ de la comunidad” and for a portfolio of five stories in the Individual Excellence-Writer/Editor category. Crupi was cited for Best Feature photo for “Museo celebra la herencia hispana”.

The Catholic Courier is distributed to all Catholic households in the 12-county Diocese of Rochester and also is available online at www.catholiccourier.com

Seven men will be ordained to the diaconate – six as permanent deacons and one as a transitional deacon – on May 31, 2008, at a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rochester.

A permanent deacon – most often a married man – is ordained for service within the church, according to Deacon David Palma, director of deacon personnel for the diocese. A deacon’s ministry ranges from Service of the Word (proclaiming the Gospel message, teaching, conducting retreats and counseling), Service of the Altar (assisting at Mass, witnessing marriages, baptizing and presiding at wakes and funerals) to Service of Charity (building up human dignity as ministers of charity and justice).

The permanent deacons to be ordained are:

• Jose Berrios of Rochester
• Bienvenido DeJesus of Rochester
• Michael Donovan of Owego
• David Hudzinski of Rochester
• Edward Kohlmeier of Sodus
• Al Pacete of Elmira

Candidates for the permanent diaconate must participate in four years of formation at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. Many deacons complete a master’s degree in pastoral studies.

In addition to the six men, Brian Carpenter, who grew up in Rochester, will be ordained as a transitional deacon in anticipation of being ordained a priest in 2009. He is currently enrolled at Mundelien Seminary near Chicago, Ill.

The Diocese of Rochester currently has 101 active deacons.

For more information, visit Deacons Page

Church of the Most Holy Trinity dedicates Murphy Hall parish center and gym

Church of the Most Holy Trinity dedicates Murphy Hall parish center and gym

Webster, N.Y. – The dedication of Murphy Hall on Saturday, May 17, 2008 marks the completion of a two-building expansion and construction project on the campus of Church of the Most Holy Trinity parish in Webster.

In 2001, the Gathering Space was built to connect the church and Holy Trinity School and created additional meeting rooms. On April 29, 2007, the groundbreaking for what is now Murphy Hall took place.

Murphy Hall is named for Rev. Donald Murphy and Sister Francis DeSales Murphy, uncle and aunt of parishioners Val and the late Cornelius “Neil” Murphy.

A gala in the new parish hall immediately follows the dedication ceremony.  Members of the Murphy family will join more than 200 Holy Trinity parishioners and alumni of Holy Trinity School at the event.  Parishioners will be available for interviews.

The Church of the Most Holy Trinity was founded in 1861 and will celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2011. The school is among those 13 Monroe County Catholic schools closing this June 2008; a special segment of the ceremony will honor the long tradition of Catholic School education at the parish.

Church of the Most Holy Trinity, led by Father William Michatek, pastor, now is home to more than 2,000 families from Northeast Monroe County and Northwest Wayne County. The parish supports dozens of ministries in the community, including the HOPE House social justice ministry which is located on the parish campus. For more information about the parish community, visit www.holytrinityweb.com.

UPDATE: Bishop Clark now is recovering at home after a week at St. Ann’s Community, Rochester, in rehabilitative therapy. He will return to work as soon as his doctor allows. No date for his return to the office has been set as yet. He continues to do very well and wants everyone to know how much he appreciated their prayers and the many hundreds of get-well wishes he has received. (May 21, 2008)

Bishop undergoes hip-replacement surgery

ROCHESTER, NY — Most Rev. Matthew H. Clark, Roman Catholic bishop of Rochester, successfully underwent hip-replacement surgery this morning, Thursday, May 8, at Highland Hospital in Rochester. His left hip was replaced. Doctors report the bishop’s surgery, which lasted about 90 minutes, went very well.

After a brief hospital stay and initial rehabilitative therapy at the hospital, which is common in such procedures, he will recuperate at home. Bishop Clark hopes to return to work as soon as his doctor allows.

Those who want to send him notes and cards can write to:

Most Rev. Matthew H. Clark
1150 Buffalo Road
Rochester, New York 14624.

Bishop Clark, 70, was ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II in May 1979 at St. Peter’s Basilica. He was installed as the Diocese of Rochester’s eighth bishop in June 1979. He will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his episcopate in 2009.

Highland Hospital maintains a general website about joint replacement surgery and recovery at http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/hh/services-centers/evarts/

5K run,”fun walk” supports ministry to youth

The 12th annual “Run for the Young”, sponsored by the Diocese of Rochester, is Saturday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m., at St. Lawrence Church (1000 N. Greece Road) (click for location map).

The Run for the Young is part of the local Runner of the Year race series. Last year, more than 500 people participated.

The Run for the Young is an annual 5K (3.1 mile) road race and 1 mile fun run/walk open to any age person.

Proceeds from the event will go to help youth in our local parishes and the Diocesan Youth Scholarship Fund. Each year, more than $10,000 is raised to help youth attend diocesan and national conferences, retreats and leadership-training programs.

For more information, click here.

NEW DATE AND TIME!

Get answers to your questions about the Catholic faith in a special call-in with diocesan experts May 19, 2008

Have you always wondered why we Catholics genuflect? My mother says I can’t be married in the Catholic Church unless I’m confirmed. Is that true? What does the Church teach about divorce?Can I receive Holy Communion if I’m divorced? I’m not married, but I am a mother. Can my baby be baptized in the Catholic Church?

Catholics throughout the 12-county Diocese of Rochester can get answers to these and any other questions about the Church and their faith during a special toll-free “Catholic Call In” on May 19, 2008, between 2 and 8 p.m. The Call-In previously scheduled for April 22 was canceled due to technical difficulties.

The number is 1-888-477-1718.

The Call-in is just one part of a diocesanwide, three-year Spiritual Renewal called Spirit Alive!It was initiated by Bishop Matthew Clark in Lent 2008. Spirit Alive! will have three movements: Deepening one’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ, deepening one’s knowledge and understanding of the Word and deepening one’s commitment to discipleship and stewardship.

“It will be a very special and important time to deepen our relationship with Jesus,
our Lord and Savior, and to more fully learn and practice what true discipleship means,”
the Bishop has said. “This is, after all, what is truly crucial to our lives as Catholic
Christians.”

For more information and for resources for individuals and groups, visitwww.rochesterspiritalive.org

The Worm Masters Team uses Vermicomposting to help our earth

Avon, New York — Bright ideas, solid research and great teamwork won four students from St. Agnes School in Avon a berth as semifinalists in the Christopher Columbus Awards, a nationwide program that challenges middle-school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities.

Through research, the students learned about global warming and how excess trash contributes to global warming through the release of methane gas. These students believe the amount of trash in the world today is everyone’s problem and that if we don’t come up with a solution soon – our children may not have a world like we know today to live in when they grow up. Through the use of worms – or vermicomposting – these students hope to reduce the amount of waste in our world. By educating others and encouraging them to compost, they plan to reduce waste and make the world a better place for our families.

That’s the hope of this team of 6th graders— Grace Brinkerhoff, Liam Coyne, Jaclyn Hayes and Haley Moran, and their teacher Melissa Savino. The students built a worm composting bin at St. Agnes School and have been composting lunch trash and coffee filters for about 2 months. Their classroom has been using the rich soil created by composting to help their classroom plants grow even better – and they have already noticed results!

These students hope to make a difference in their community by helping the environment!

A panel of community leaders, scientists and experts in science education judged this idea as one of the top 30 Christopher Columbus Awards entries in the U.S.

A Chance to Compete at Walt Disney World®

On May 2, eight of the 30 semifinalist teams will be named winners of an all-expense-paid trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort, where they will compete in the Christopher Columbus Award’s National Championship, June 16-20, 2008. Rewards include $16,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds for the top two national winners. In addition, one team will bring home the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant to help bring its idea to life in the community.

The finalists also will attend the Christopher Columbus Academy, a custom-designed educational program. Conducted by scientists, engineers and educators, the program reveals the science and technology behind the thrills and excitement of Epcot® and the Magic.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Laura F. Hamilton, director of advancement, or Sr. Patricia Schoelles, President, (585) 271-3657

Hobart & William Smith Colleges president to speak at St. Bernard’s 2008 graduation ceremony May 9, 2008

St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry will celebrate its 2008 commencement at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m. Commencement speaker will be Mark D. Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Degrees will be granted to 21 candidates from St. Bernard’s Rochester and Albany program, who have completed their study for the Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts in Theology or Pastoral Studies. Graduate Certificates in Pastoral Studies will also be awarded, as well as certificates in lay leadership and ministries.

President Gearan, prior to his appointment to Hobart and William Smith in 1999, served as director of the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., a post he assumed in 1995. He has also served in the White House as assistant to the president and director of communications, as well as deputy chief of staff during the Clinton Administration. Gearan is a graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown University Law School. His early involvement in politics began in the office of the late Representative Robert Drinan, who was a Roman Catholic priest. Gearan’s commitment to public life and service is rooted in his life-long Catholicism, and his remarks at the commencement ceremony will focus on his vision of Catholicism and public life.

“The need for lay leaders in the Catholic church continues to grow. Our graduates help fill this growing need in the various ministries within the Catholic church and throughout the community,” said St. Bernard’s president, Sr. Patricia A. Schoelles, SSJ. “We are pleased that Dr. Gearan will be able to share some of his insight and experiences in civic engagement with our graduates.”

St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry is a Roman Catholic graduate and professional school educating men and women to serve the church and the community through lay and ordained ministries.For more information about St. Bernard’s, call (585) 271-3657 or visit www.stbernards.edu.

Catholic schools Math Fair slated for April 24

17 Monroe County schools will display projects

The fourth annual Catholic Schools Math Fair will take place on Thursday, April 24 at Bishop Kearney High School, 125 Kings Highway South. The event, which is sponsored by the Academic Excellence Committee of the Monroe County Catholic Schools Board, will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Seventeen schools have signed up to participate in this year’s event, which will feature hundreds of students in grades K-8 displaying their mathematical creativity through numerous projects.

“Practically every concept of math at the K-8 level will be represented by these projects,” said Christine Smith, who is coordinating this year’s event. “Projects will include games, stories, songs, etc. that connect math to real life experiences.

For more information about the Diocese’s Catholic Schools, visit www.dorschools.org

Pictured: Bishop Clark and Dr. Muhammad Shafiq, imam, Islamic Center of Rochester, at a recent gathering of the Catholic and Muslim communities. Photo courtesy Rochester D&C

The Muslim Catholic Alliance celebrated the fifth anniversary of Rochester’s Muslim Catholic Agreement of Understanding and Cooperation at a special gathering Wednesday, April 9. A dinner banquet featuring two national speakers was held at the Turkish Society of Rochester.

The Agreement of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation is believed to be the first agreement of its kind in the world. Signed by Bishop Matthew H. Clark, other diocesan officials and representatives of the Greater Rochester Council of Masajids on May 5, 2003, the Agreement affirms rights of free speech, thought, conscience and religion; rejects religious and ethnic intolerance; promotes and encourages a deeper knowledge of and respect for the history, traditions and sensitivities of the two faiths; and promotes collaboration to serve the needy in the Rochester community.

At the gathering, speakers addressed the topic of “Muslim Catholic Dialogue: Opportunities and Challenges.” Guest speakers were Imam Hassan Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, and Bishop Francis Reiss, auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

The Diocese of Rochester also signed what is believed to be the first formal accord between a Roman Catholic Diocese and Jewish community leaders. The Rochester Agreement was signed in May 1996 by Bishop Clark, the Jewish Community Federationand Rochester Board of Rabbis. That agreement, like the accord with the Muslim community, has led to many joint programs and activities to promote stronger interfaith relations.

For more information about the Diocese of Rochester’s ecumenical and interreligious activities, click here.

MARCH 17, 2008– Paul T. Pickering, the executive director of the Diocese of Rochester’s Catholic Charities Community Services, has been presented the Vincenza DeFazio Award by the New York State Council of Catholic Charities Directors. The award was established in 1992 to recognize someone who has contributed to the work of the council and exemplifies the quiet leadership exhibited by the late Vincenza DeFazio, a long-time attorney for Catholic Charities in New York City.

Pickering began working at CCCS in 1982. Under his guidance, the agency has grown from one residential facility with a total budget under $200,000 and 10 consumers to an $8,200,000 agency offering service coordination and other supports to more than 550 persons with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury or HIV/AIDS disease.

Over the last 25 years, he has also represented the Diocese of Rochester on several NYS Council of Catholic Charities subcommittees, including the committee for persons with developmental disabilities and the annual convening committee.

“Paul is a dedicated professional who has spent his entire career helping those in need,” said Jack Balinsky, diocesan director of Catholic Charities. “Like Vinnie DeFazio, his actions speak louder than his words.”

Pickering received his bachelor’s and masters’ degrees from Niagara University and has more than 38 years experience in the human services field.

After careful review of proposals by parents, Bishop Matthew Clark has determined that the plan announced Jan. 18 to close 13 Monroe County Catholic Schools will proceed.

“While I greatly appreciate these proposals, I remain confident that the Task Force recommendations to close these schools and focus our resources on 11 remaining schools is the best chance we have of stabilizing our financial pressures in the long term and preserving Catholic Education for the future,” he said.

Re-opening a school or schools would jeopardize retention and enrollment goals for the 11 remaining schools, thereby impacting financial stability of the system as a whole, he said.

Bishop Clark added that he was thankful that MCCS and diocesan officials were able to meet one-on-one with parent groups at affected schools over the past 10 days. Meetings requested by parents were held at Holy Trinity, St. John of Rochester, Good Shepherd, St. Margaret Mary, St. John the Evangelist, Holy Cross and St. Andrew schools, the latter for parents of several schools in the city that are scheduled to close in June.

“I offer my profound gratitude to the parents at these schools who worked incredibly hard on these proposals to keep their schools open,” Bishop Clark said. “I pray that we can tap their energy, commitment and passion as we move forward.”

Registration for the 2008-09 school year begins tomorrow. Packets were to be sent home to all parents today.

Regarding the issue of available space, we reiterate that we will do the best we can to seat every child who would like to receive a Catholic education. Once registration is underway, we will address space issues if they arise.

For more information on registration, visit www.dorschools.org

Special Services of Reconciliation and Hope Throughout the Diocese

As part of the Diocese of Rochester’s Spirit Alive! Spiritual Renewal, aimed at deepening people’s relationship with Jesus Christ, special prayer Services of Reconciliation and Hope are being held in numerous churches throughout the 12-county diocese.

The prayer services are an opportunity for people for prayer, reflection on Scripture and, if desired, confession and absolution.

The schedule is as follows:

Feb. 17 St. Michael, Penn Yan, 2:00 p.m.
St. Michael, Newark 4:00 p.m.

Feb. 20 St. Mary Church, Auburn 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 23 Church of the Annunciation 11:00 a.m.

Feb. 24 St. Mary, Canandaigua, 3:00 p.m.

Feb. 26 St. Pius Tenth Church, Chili 1:30 p.m. (Repeated at 7:00 p.m.)

Feb. 27 Immaculate Conception Church, Ithaca, 7:00 p.m.
St. Michael’s Church, Rochester 7:00 p.m. (Spanish)

March 1 Church of the Transfiguration, Pittsford, 10:00 a.m.

March 9 Our Mother of Sorrows, Greece, 2:00 p.m.
St. Mary Our Mother, Horseheads, 2:00 p.m.

March 12 St. Joseph Church, Penfield, 7:00 p.m.

April 6 St. Matthew Church, Livonia, 3:00 p.m.

(Steuben County TBA)

Spirit Alive! is a multi-year renewal initiated by Bishop Matthew Clark beginning in Lent 2008. “It will be a very special and important time to deepen our relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and to more fully learn and practice what true discipleship means,” the Bishop has said. “This is, after all, what is truly crucial to our lives as Catholic Christians.”

For more information and resources for individuals and groups, visit www.rochesterspiritalive.org
Media inquiries can be directed to Doug Mandelaro or David Kelly, 585-328- 3210 or via email to 

Related materials:

• Letter to Parents/Guardians of Catholic school children
• Q & A
• Map of Monroe County schools (PDF)
• Bishop Clark’s November 2007 letter on issues facing Catholic schools

  Critical issues addressed by Schools Task Force

• A spiraling deficit of more than $1 million for our Monroe County school system, which, unchecked, would rise to more than $5 million next year.
• Escalating tuition costs in recent years, pressuring families financially and forcing many to look elsewhere for their children’s education.
• An enrollment decline from nearly 9,000 pupils a decade ago to just over 4,800 this school year – a 45 percent drop.
• With enrollment declining and many buildings under capacity, average cost per student jumped from about $2,700 ten years ago to more than $6,000 now. In some individual schools, these trends were much worse, ranging as high as $12,000.

Restructuring initiative addresses critical financial issues facing Catholic Schools; tuition rate to drop 27%

ROCHESTER, New York (Jan. 18, 2008) – Accepting the recommendations of a special task force assembled to address critical issues facing Catholic Education, Bishop Matthew H. Clark announced today a major restructuring initiative in Monroe County aimed at concentrating all school resources at 11 schools and dramatically lowering tuition by nearly 30 percent.

This initiative to ensure the success of these 11 schools will mean the closure of 13 others in Monroe County.

In an effort to boost enrollment, which has declined by approximately 45 percent in the last decade, the Bishop announced that the base tuition rate will drop from $4,050 to $2,950, a key recommendation of the task force. Parents affected by closings will receive an additional, one-time $500 credit when they re-enroll their child in another Catholic School.

“I firmly believe that the changes we are implementing, while they are far-reaching and will likely cause much sadness for those displaced by school closings, are essential,” the Bishop said. “By acting now, we can free the system of potentially crippling financial woes and ensure our overall Catholic School program will not just survive but thrive in the future. We can focus all our resources on a core of strong and vibrant schools — ensuring they will be centers of excellence for the 21st Century and beyond.”

The much-lower tuition rate will greatly increase the ability of families able to afford a Catholic education at our schools and is intended to draw new families to them.

List of schools to close in June 2008:

• All Saints Catholic Academy, Gates
• Catherine McAuley School, Greece
• Corpus Christi School, Rochester
• Good Shepherd School, Henrietta
• Holy Cross School, Rochester
• Holy Family School, Rochester
• Holy Trinity School, Webster
• Andrew School, Rochester
• Boniface School, Rochester
• John the Evangelist, Spencerport
• John of Rochester, Fairport
• Margaret Mary School, Irondequoit
• Monica School, Rochester

Decisions to close the 13 schools were based on a number of key factors, including current and projected enrollment for each school, projected demographic changes, cost per student to operate the school, the availability of nearby schools, the condition of school facilities compared to other schools and/or, in some cases, small class sizes not conducive to a good learning environment.

Registration extended

Registration for the 2008-09 school year has been extended from Feb. 7 until March 19 for currently enrolled students

The tuition rates for the upcoming school year will be as follows:

Parish-registered families

Bishop Clark said that he is confident in the future, one in which every effort will be made to ensure that the remaining schools are at the forefront of technology and academic excellence.

“We are fully committed to ensuring Catholic Schools continue to offer not only the unique gift of instilling in our children the traditions of our Roman Catholic faith, but also are places of academic and technological excellence,” he said. “That is why Catholic school students consistently perform above-average statewide on New York state testing, and why many of our graduates go on to become leaders in our community and in their chosen profession.

Current enrollment in Monroe County is approximately 4,883. Before the implementation of the recommendations, projected enrollment for the 2008-09 school year was 4,040. The chart below shows the decline in enrollment in recent years:

NATIONAL TRENDS

Nationally, elementary school enrollment has dropped by 15 percent since 2001-02, according to the National Catholic Education Association, which also reports that in the 06-07 school year more than 212 schools were closed or consolidated across the country.

For more information, visit our website, www.dor.org

Bishop Clark invites Catholics to multi-year “Time of Renewal”

Letter read from the pulpits of the Diocese

ROCHESTER, New York (Dec. 1, 2007) — In a letter read from all the pulpits of the Diocese of Rochester at Masses this past weekend (Dec. 1 and 2), Bishop Matthew Clark has declared a multi-year “Time of Renewal” intended to deepen people’s faith and bring new energy and commitment to their Christianity. The renewal will involve all the parishes and faith communities in the 12-county diocese.

“These past few years have been hard on everyone,” the Bishop wrote. “A changing economy and shifting demographics have altered our parishes dramatically. The resulting pastoral planning has been truly painful as we consolidated, merged and closed churches. The abuse scandal has offended and discouraged many of the faithful. Mass attendance is down. Vocations to the priesthood and religious life are few. Some find us helplessly polarized between those who are impatient for further change and those who fear the complete erosion of our treasured past. Some say we have lost our focus. Commentators have called us ‘a people adrift.’”

“Now is the perfect time for renewal,” the Bishop continued. “I invite you to enter a multi-year commitment to nourish what is most important—a personal relationship with Jesus, through prayer and Scripture.”

The renewal will formally begin in Lent 2008 – the 140th anniversary year of the Diocese — and extend for approximately three years. While planning is still underway, the renewal will feature an “electronic” inspirational retreat available on DVD and led by Bishop Clark; ceremonies to bless people’s personal Bibles; programs to deepen study of Scripture; programs and resources to help people determine the particular gifts God has given them; and ways to fully practice the biblical principles of Stewardship as a way of life. It is hoped the event will conclude with a major, large-scale public gathering.

The Bishop has appointed Rev. Peter C. Clifford, pastor of St. John of Rochester Church in Fairport, and Maribeth Mancini, diocesan director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, to co-chair the renewal effort.

Issued by Office of Communications, 585-328-3210 or 

The complete text of the letter in English and Spanish follows:

LETTER FROM BISHOP CLARK (English)

LETTER FROM BISHOP CLARK (Spanish)