Bishop Hubbard at Vatican with quinquennial report

Last year, the Albany Diocese celebrated its sesquicentennial. Recently, it completed its quinquennial -- report, that is.

Every five years, each diocese in the world is required to send a "quinquennial report" to the Pope, surveying the events, accomplishments and challenges it has seen over the previous five-year period.

The massive document, which details everything from the names and titles of all diocesan employees to the Diocese's goals for the future, was forwarded to Rome last month. This week, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will follow the same path when he flies to Rome to meet with Pope John Paul II and discuss the report.

Months of effort

It took two-and-a-half months for Sister Nola Brunner, CSJ, diocesan vicar for religious, to assemble the report, using the input of many offices in the Diocese. She had to sort through 25 pages of questions from the Vatican and decide which office should answer them, distribute the lists to department heads and collate their returned reports.

The document includes detailed statistics on the Diocese and sections on sacramental life, education, catechesis, the clergy, the laity, ecumenism, evangelization, social justice, health care, the Diocese's financial status and its outlook for the future, among other topics.

In Rome, each chapter will be distributed to the division of the Vatican that deals with its particular focus.

Bishop's input

As each piece of the report was completed, Bishop Hubbard read it and made changes. "It's important that all of this goes to the Bishop for review, because the document is signed by him," Sister Nola explained.

Bishop Hubbard also wrote his own section on "the ministry of the diocesan bishop," reflecting on his strengths, his leadership of the Diocese and even his schedule.

A three-page summary report encapsulated the present state of the Diocese. The report also included copies of the two books published for the Diocese's sesquicentennial anniversary: "How We Tell God's Story" and "Canals & Crossroads."

Findings

In the report, the Bishop mentioned both successes and challenges faced by the Diocese. He praised diocesan clergy as "sincere, dedicated and prayerful in their personal lives and ministries," and spoke of the "strong fidelity" of both men and women religious, as well as efforts to bring laypersons into leadership positions in pastoral ministry.

The Bishop expressed concern about the decreasing number of priests and said that this challenge is being addressed through "A Future Full of Hope," a new diocesan vocation awareness program; through the pastoral planning process; and through the Formation for Ministry Program and St. Bernard's Institute, which educate laity to take on leadership roles in the Church.

With regard to Catholic schools, the Bishop pointed out that there have been no school closings in the past five years and that the schools of the Diocese have grown, but he also admitted that "the financing of Catholic schools is a challenge in many instances."

Body and soul

He lauded the efforts of the diocesan Offices of Religious Education and Family Life in catechesis and support, and stated that the Diocese is focusing efforts on such issues as capital punishment, abortion, physician-assisted suicide, the rights of farmworkers, child labor, sweatshops and welfare reform.

Bishop Hubbard said that Catholic hospitals and healthcare institutions in the Diocese are "strong financially" and "enjoy excellent reputations." Though concerned about the future of Catholic health care, the Bishop mentioned the formation of the Capital Health Network by the Diocese's four Catholic hospitals as a means of better providing services under Catholic sponsorship.

Sister Nola told The Evangelist that other concerns remarked on by the Bishop included an increasingly secularistic society, churches that are in need of repair and "moral social teaching in an age of individualism."

The Bishop expressed particular pride in St. Bernard's Institute, the Diocese's graduate school of theology and ministry. "He was quite adamant" that mention of SBI be made even in the summary report, said Sister Nola.

The quinquennial report also included a detailed breakdown of the Diocese's financial status. The Bishop noted that the entire diocesan income and expenditures are audited by an independent firm each year. His summary report stated that he expects to institute a major capital campaign to meet "critical pastoral needs" in the next millennium.

Finished product

Several copies of the finished report were made. Four were sent to the Pope's apostolic delegate in Washington; three of those were sent on to the Vatican; another one was stored in the diocesan archives; two were kept in the Bishop's office and one in the chancery; and two were retained by Sister Nola.

Bishop Hubbard will be in Rome through the end of next week, completing his required "ad limina" visit by meeting with the Congregation for Bishops as well as the Pope, and visiting the Basilicas of Ss. Peter and Paul.

The quinquennial report "is a reminder that we are responsible to the Church in Rome," Sister Nola said. "The Bishop takes it very seriously. He wants to present the Diocese in its reality. His pride in the Diocese is reflected in the report, as well as his concerns as chief shepherd."

(02-19-98) [[In-content Ad]]