The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester, is inviting all Catholic parishes in the 12-county Diocese to conduct a Second Collection to assist financially stressed families with heating bills.

“I am writing to ask your assistance for the poor and vulnerable of our Diocese. You are all aware of the physical and financial hardship brought on many of our families by the brutal cold we have been experiencing this winter. There has been a particular burden on those financially stressed families who simply cannot pay their heating bills,” Bishop Matano wrote in a February 4 letter to pastoral leaders. “Our seven regional Catholic Charities agencies continue to be able to provide direct financial assistance to many families, both through the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and for those who do not meet that program’s criteria, from your charitable dollars.”

But, the Bishop noted in his letter, rising need is outpacing the ability of the Catholic Charities agencies to help financially.

Jack Balinsky, diocesan director of Catholic Charities, noted that parishioners throughout the Diocese historically have responded with great generosity to assist people affected by hardship. “Catholics in our Diocese are always willing to lend a helping hand to their neighbors in need, whether they be thousands of miles away or right next door. This winter has been a hardship on everyone, but most especially the poor. I am grateful for any help people can provide through these parish collections.”

Those who wish to contribute should watch their parish bulletins for additional information, or may also contribute directly by sending a check to Diocese of Rochester, 1150 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624 with “Catholic Charities Heating Fund” in the notes/memo field.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, with more than 300,000 Catholics, has 97 parishes in the counties of Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates, Tompkins, Schuyler, Tioga, Chemung and Steuben.

Finger Lakes Guild event: Dr. Paul Carpentier

Please join us for a stimulating and timely presentation on “The Progress of NaProTECHNOLOGY: from Donum Vitae to ObamaCare while Healing Couples and Supplanting In Vitro Fertilization” by Dr. Paul Carpentier on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 pm, at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, 120 French Road, Rochester.

Dr. Carpentier, of Massachusetts, is a family physician and NaProTECHNOLOGY medical consultant, as well as president of In His Image Family Medicine. He is also the recent president of the American Academy of Fertility Care Professionals as well as the current VP of both the Worcester Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, as well as the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine.

For more information about the Finger Lakes Guild: http://fingerlakescma.org/

“COMMUNITIES OF FAITH, KNOWLEDGE, AND SERVICE”

Catholic Schools Week 2014 will run from Sunday, Jan. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 1, with 20 Diocese of Rochester schools celebrating the benefits of Catholic schooling by hosting multiple events throughout the week.

“Catholic Schools Week highlights our wonderful Catholic schools communities as part of a national celebration of Catholic school education. In connecting with our current and prospective families, our Diocese of Rochester faculty and staff are able to showcase the loving environments present at our schools,” said Anthony Cook, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Rochester. “If you are considering a Catholic school education for your children, please make every attempt to visit one of our schools during Catholic Schools Week.”

Catholic Schools Week began in 1974 and always begins the last Sunday in January. There are currently more than 6,600 Catholic schools around the country with a combined total of approximately 2.1 million students. The 20 schools in the Diocese of Rochester have a total of 4,175 for students Pre-K through 8^th grade (as of Jan. 1, 2014).

For more information on Catholic Schools Week, visit www.ncea.org/catholicschoolsweek

For a more detailed open house schedule, visit www.dorschools.org

Related:

Bishop Matano’s letter on Catholic Schools

List of Open Houses

Join Bishop Matano for the March for Life Jan. 21/22 in Washington, DC. Flyer

Additional Resources:

Details on the March for Life may be found at www.marchforlife.org

The Prayer Vigil for Life is an awesome event

Tickets are required for participation at the Youth Rally

Related:

USCCB Resources for Nine Days for Life

Click here for the Run for the Young webpage

Evening Prayer is Thursday, Jan. 2, at 7:30 p.m.;

Mass of Installation is Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.

ROCHESTER, New York – The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano will be installed as the 9th Bishop of Rochester in a special Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday Jan. 3, 2014, at 2:30 p.m.

Present at the Mass of Installation will be Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, along with many Catholic bishops from throughout the country. Also attending will be priests, deacons,  men and women religious, parish representatives, Bishop Matano’s family, guests and community leaders. Tickets are required to attend.

The Mass of Installation will be televised live by Time Warner Cable News in the Greater Rochester area (Channel 9), as well as on its website (rochester.twcnews.com). Courtesy of TWC News, the websites www.catholiccourier.com and democratandchronicle.com will carry the live broadcast, as well as the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Audio of the Mass will be broadcast by WHIC, the Catholic radio station in Rochester (1460AM/92.9FM).

Bishop Matano has been serving as Bishop of Burlington, Vt. Pope Francis appointed him as bishop-designate of the 12-county Diocese of Rochester on Nov. 6, 2013. He succeeds Bishop Matthew H. Clark, who served as Bishop of Rochester for more than 33 years, before retiring in September 2012. Bishop of Syracuse Robert J. Cunningham has served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Rochester since Sept. 21, 2012.

Events surrounding the installation begin on Thursday, Jan. 2, with Evening Prayer at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. (ticket holders only). In a ceremony that comes after the prelude, Bishop Matano will knock three times from outside the Cathedral door. Bishop Cunningham, accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Clark and The Rev. Kevin McKenna, pastor of the Cathedral, will open the door and welcome in the Bishop-Designate. Bishop Matano will be handed a crucifix to kiss and then sprinkle those around him with holy water.

At Friday’s Mass, Cardinal Dolan will preside over the entrance procession and introductory rites. Archbishop Vigano then will read the Apostolic Mandate, or letter of appointment, from Pope Francis.  Archbishop Vigano will ask if Bishop Matano accepts the appointment, and Bishop Matano will answer with the words, “With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God in my heart, I do accept the pastoral care of the people of God in the Diocese of Rochester. I resolve to serve faithfully the spiritual needs of this local church.” 

The newly installed 9^th Bishop of Rochester then will be led by Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Vigano to the cathedra, or bishop’s chair, where he will receive his crozier, or staff. Bishop Matano will preside over the remainder of the Mass and deliver his first homily as the 9^th Bishop of Rochester.

Bishop Matano has adopted the phrase In Unitatem Fidei (In the Unity of Faith) as his Episcopal Motto from the Latin scriptural passage of St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (4:13), which will be read at the Mass. By choosing this motto, Bishop Matano embraces the Apostle’s conviction that Jesus Christ desires that the entire family of God’s children, working together, strive to attain their fullness of maturity in the unity of the one Faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.