A year of mergers in Albany Diocese

Here is a review of major news items about the Albany Diocese that appeared in The Evangelist during the 12 months of 2009:

JANUARY: Officials say state budget hurts Catholic schools... Albany Diocese offers pilgrimage sites for year of St. Paul... Bishop Howard J. Hubbard advocates human rights for all...Parishes await results of "Called to be Church" pastoral planning process...Albany to host forensics tournament... Diocese announces final "Called to be Church" decisions.

FEBRUARY: Bishop: Life issues demand Catholic voices...Peter Young Housing, Industry and Treatment turns 50...Diocese to welcome Iraqi and Burmese refugees...Albany's Cathedral is closed for renovations.

MARCH: Bishop says God gives true freedom...Merger planned for St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, and Seton Health/St. Mary's, Troy, with Samaritan in Troy and Albany Memorial... Catholics lobby State Legisla-ture at Public Policy Day...St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany marks 20 years...St. Casimir's School, Albany to close...Children raise tuition for African counterparts... Parishes link to promote life.

APRIL: Bishop: With holy oils, we bless and liberate...Lay ministers meet before Albany parishes merge...Parishes without resident priests adjust to visitors...Mass traffic jams streets near Annunciation, Ilion...Teens from Diocese serve elsewhere on spring break.

MAY: Annual Bishop's Appeal campaign begins in Diocese...Bishop cites common duty to call forth priests...Our Lady of Victory School, Troy, to close...Forensics competitors swarm Albany for Catholic nationals.

JUNE: Bishop says laity have evolved into leadership...St. Peter's and St. Paul's parishes in Troy close...Priests serve paternal role for parishioners...St. Pius X School, Loudonville, mourns student and father.

JULY: Mergers create 'new' parishes across Diocese... Deacons must humbly serve, writes Bishop...Korean Catholics build community in Loudonville...Teens rally at Auriesville youth conference... Roarke Center performs works of mercy in Troy...Black Catholic Apostolate marks 25th anniversary.

AUGUST: Bishop discusses "Year for Priests" and year of St. Paul...Bishop's Appeal collection down, but close to goal... New principals bring experience to Catholic schools... Catholic mom trains altar servers.

SEPTEMBER: Bishop: Catholics must be heard on healthcare reform...Rabbi takes helm at Albany synagogue tied to Diocese...Clergy and youth back drug prevention... Presi-dent Barack Obama visits area...Canonization of Blessed Jeanne Jugan brings message on end-of-life issues.

OCTOBER: Bishop invites Catholics to Parish Convening... Quartet of vocations came from one family...Faith formation at St. Edward's, Clifton Park, deluged with newcomers...Pro-life group sues to block public funds for egg donation...Teens learn Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body."

NOVEMBER: Initiative will bolster marriage, writes Bishop...Corinth/Lake Luzerne pastor is welcome in public schools...Cathedral restoration heads toward completion... North Country parishes get advanced adult religious education.

DECEMBER: Bishop says to fix climate now...Bishop's Christmas message advocates faith amid an uncertain future.

(12-24-09) [[In-content Ad]]