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DIOCESAN NEWS

Deacon named director of pastoral planning as Manning retires

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has appointed Deacon Frank Berning as director for the Office of Pastoral Planning, to replace John Manning, who is retiring after 35 years with the Diocese of Albany.

Mr. Manning was one of the lead architects of the diocesan "Called to be Church" pastoral planning process and shepherded the collaborative project through its many stages. 

"This in itself was a monumental task which brought all the parishes in the Diocese together in local planning groups and guided them through an evaluative and visioning process so that the mission of the Church of Albany might fruitfully continue in the years to come," Bishop Hubbard said in a statement. 

During the three-year process, the Diocese's more than 160 parishes were divided into 39 planning groups and several other committees that involved more than 1,000 lay and pastoral leaders. 

The groups submitted recommendations for the future of their institutions and congregations last year, and these were reviewed and made final in January.

During his diocesan decades, Mr. Manning worked as a teacher and principal, district superintendent of schools and, for 17 years, director of the Bishop's Appeal. 

For five of those, he also served as executive director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

"His accomplishments are many," Bishop Hubbard continued, "including the Capital Campaign 2000, which exceeded all expectations and the most recent."

The change is effective July 1. Deacon Berning will continue in his current position as director of diaconate formation, as well.

"I am grateful to Frank for being willing to step into these big shoes and am confident that his skills and talents will further the good work already begun," 
Bishop Hubbard added.

(06/11/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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