FOUR JOIN DIOCESE

The new director of human resources is one of four department heads who recently joined the Pastoral Center staff -- and in her spare time, she's a gourmet cook.

RESOURCEFUL SISTER

Sister Marilyn spent five years on the leadership team for her order, the Sisters of Mercy, and most recently was personnel director for B.E.S.T. Systems, Inc., in Albany. Aside from her professional career, the new director belongs to a gourmet club with five other Mercy sisters. Every other month, one serves the others a gourmet dinner.

"You can do whatever you want," she joked about her meal choices, "but they mock you if you don't do it right!"

In her new position, she hopes to help diocesan staff solve personnel problems, set new policies and procedures, and work on a policy handbook for diocesan agencies.

INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING

A former regional director for Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), Dr. Piccolino still teaches part-time at Maria College in Albany.

He cited several changes he'd like to see at SBI: "increased enrollment, a closer working relationship with community agencies, exploring distance learning, expanding our program in our geographic area so we are a niche between Rochester and Boston, and expanding our offerings to other denominations."

With such a hectic schedule ahead of him, he enjoys taking time to relax; he and his wife, Nancy, are parishioners of St. Thomas in Delmar but own a vacation home on Sacandaga Lake. They are parents of two and grandparents of four.

"I like to do outdoor things: hiking, boating, fishing," he told The Evangelist.

HAVING A PRAYER

"I use it as a time of prayer," explained the new director of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship. "Being able to go home in the middle of the day gives me a break. [My work] can be very intense. The questions people ask cut to the heart of their faith."

Born in Utica, Ms. Simcoe has lived in Connecticut and in several areas of New York State, but spent the past 23 years in the Albany Diocese. She has three adult children. She believes that much of her other work prepared her for this position: She has been faith formation director at St. John/St. Ann's parish in Albany, retreat director for the Jesuit Retreat House in Auriesville, and chaplain at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.

She has also spent the past year as coordinator of spiritual formation for St. Bernard's Institute, scheduling the school's annual convocation, retreats and workshops.

"The closest thing to my heart is prayer," she noted. "I have a group of women friends, all of whom are involved in ministry. We meet and pray together, and then we share dinner together."

Ms. Simcoe will carry on several projects already begun by the Prayer and Worship Office, including a newsletter and planning for diocesan liturgies. She also plans to develop networks of people concerned with aspects of the liturgy and "would very much like to see" a diocesan retreat center be created.

"I enjoy just being with people, accompanying them as they find their way through life," she said.

EMPHASIS ON FAMILY

Stepping up from Respect Life coordinator to director of the entire diocesan Family Life Office "is a whole new avenue for me," she said. "I feel I bring compassion and an understanding of family life, and the desire to see family life flourish in our Diocese."

An Ossining native who came to the Albany Diocese to attend The College of Saint Rose, Ms. Bergh is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham. The Office of Court Administration provided her early training in issues like conflict resolution, which she put to use as a consultant, leading seminars on communication skills, how to deal with difficult people, cultural sensitivity and other topics.

She has also owned her own travel agency, Travel Connection, for ten years. "I love to travel," she stated. "I went to Ireland this year; it was great! The countryside was gorgeous; the people were wonderful."

The new director wants to use her position to "do more leadership training, to get volunteers and be able to work with all of them: support groups, marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, Hispanic ministry, respect life, Elizabeth ministry."

(Contact the Human Resources Office at 453-6635; St. Bernard's Institute at 453-6760; the Office of Prayer and Worship at 453-6645; and the Family Life Office at 453-6677.)

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