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As the "Called by Name II" vocations effort continues, Catholics across the Albany Diocese have suggested close to 900 fellow parishioners whom they believe would make good deacons, sisters, brothers or lay ministers.

Those whose names were submitted have been invited to one of three discernment retreats this month with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard: at Holy Spirit parish in East Greenbush on March 15, Our Lady of Hope in Fort Plain on March 22 or Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury on March 29.

Called by Name II is the second phase of a successful initiative that began in 2012 with an effort to surface the names of possible candidates for the priesthood. That effort resulted in more than 80 men joining discernment groups to think about a possible vocation.

"Fewer numbers of priests available to lead parishes means that other faith-filled, well-prepared Catholics are needed to keep parish ministries going," as well, said Deacon Frank Berning, director of the diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning. "The goal of Called by Name II is to identify possible candidates for leadership roles as women religious, deacons, brothers and lay ecclesial ministers."

Last summer, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard sent letters to parish leaders about the program. Diocesan officials explained the effort to parish leaders at deanery meetings in the fall; then parishes chose two weekends in November to preach and/or invite a layperson to offer a reflection on Called by Name II.

On the second weekend, parishioners received cards and were asked to list names and contact information of women and men who demonstrated the potential to fulfill a leadership ministry within the Church. The cards were collected either during Mass or in baskets left at church entrances.

All told, the names of 307 Catholics were suggested for the diaconate, 84 for religious life, 437 for lay ecclesial ministry and 41 for ministry in general.

At the retreats, Deacon Berning said, Bishop Hubbard "will share his call from God and lead us in prayer as we continue to call on the Holy Spirit to build our Church and fulfill God's ministry."

(To learn more about Called by Name II, contact Rev. Anthony Ligato at [email protected] or Sister Rosemary Cuneo, CR, at [email protected].) [[In-content Ad]]

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