Many bishops of Albany share Spirit-ed moments

In fact, several bishops from other Roman Catholic rites and Christian denominations head dioceses that include parts, or all, of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese.

To mark the feast of Pentecost, The Evangelist offers profiles of some of these bishops, along with their personal reflections upon particular experiences when they felt the grace and presence of the Holy Spirit in their ministry (Bishop Hubbard writes at length about the Spirit on pages 14-15):

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BISHOP HERZOG

* Ordained bishop in 1997.

* Earned bachelor's degree from St. Bonaventure University and master's degree from St. Lawrence University. Completed theological studies at Nashotah House, Wisconsin, and will receive an honorary degree from the school next month.

* Served as curate at St. John's Church in Ogdensburg, and as rector at Christ Church in Morristown and Christ Church in Schenectady.

* "I'm a new bishop, just six months by Pentecost. The ordination liturgy includes a dozen or more bishops laying on hands. I felt the weight of 20 centuries of apostolic ministry in those hands.

"Later, I found myself laying hands on new confirmands. Then I took part in the consecration of a new bishop in New York, and I was part of those 20 centuries. It reminds us that God chooses to mediate His Holy Spirit through imperfect vessels like us. Of course, He acts directly in people's lives as well.

"Recently, at a parish visitation, I invited people to come forward to the altar rail if they desired to renew their faith and pray for a renewal of the Spirit in their lives. I was astonished as 100 did just that. But I felt deeply moved as adult men and women came forward. God seemed to be doing a new work in this parish."

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BISHOP MORRISON

* Assigned to serve the Albany Episcopal Area effective Sept. 1, 1996.

* Elected to the episcopacy in 1988 at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

* Earned bachelor's degree from Drew University, master of divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology, and doctor of ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary.

* Serves as director with the General Board of Church and Society, chair of the United Methodist Genetic Science Task Force, and treasurer of the New York State Community of Churches, Inc. Also serves on Council of Bishops Episcopal Initiative on Children and Poverty Task Force, and on Advisory Board for Encounter With Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean.

* Interests include traveling, gardening, landscaping, photography, antique refinishing, sports and sports memorabilia collecting, movies and theater, and mystery novels.

* "The experience that comes to mind most readily was the first time I ordained clergy as Deacons and Elders in the United Methodist Church. The laying on of hands was spiritual. The sense of awe and mystery of their call and of that moment was evident. I deeply felt like an instrument of God's blessing and call."

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BISHOP MILLER

* Elected bishop in 1992.

* Earned bachelor's degree from Princeton University, master of divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and doctor of divinity degree from Columbia University. Received honorary doctor of divinity degree from Hartwick College.

* Served as dean of education at Good Shepherd Church in Brooklyn, assistant pastor at First Lutheran Church in Jamestown, and pastor at First English Lutheran Church in Lockport.

* Immediately prior to his election as bishop, served as assistant to the bishop and as mission director for the Synod.

* Board member of Lutheran Social Services of Upstate New York and of Lutheran Theology Seminary at Philadelphia. Convener for the Collegium of the New York State Community of Churches.

* Enjoys travel, Disney-related items, Coca-Cola, trains, walking, exercise and theme parks.

* "Certainly, I experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments and rites of our Church. One of the very special times was the ordination in an urban parish in Buffalo, where we got a glimpse of what a whole and diverse church can be like. I expect it again at the ordination of our son this summer.

"But the time I share with you is alongside the hospital bed of a dying pastor. He had suffered mightily. The hospital room was covered with cards on three sides and the ceiling, cards from all across our Synod as written prayers for him.

"The pastor was talking about going home. By that, he meant two things: he would like to go back to his place of residence so that he could be with his family in a familiar place, and he also meant that he was going home to be with Jesus. As those words were spoken, they became more full of meaning as each second passed. We all knew what the grace of God was in that moment.

"He survived the hospital stay, he went to his home and a few days later to be at home with Jesus."

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BISHOP LOSTEN

* Named bishop of the Diocese of Stamford in 1977. Previously served as auxiliary bishop and apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

* Earned bachelor's degree from St. Basil College, attended St. Josaphat Major Seminary in Washington, D.C., received licentiate in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America. Ordained in 1957. Received honorary doctor of laws degree from Sacred Heart University.

* Served as personal emissary to Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky for the Relief and Development of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukraine.

* Member of the Eastern Catholic Associates (collaborative effort of Eastern Catholic Bishops in the United States), National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Connecticut Catholic Conference, and New York State Catholic Conference. Also belongs to Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue of Stamford and National Conference of Catholic Bishops Jewish-Catholic Dialogue.

* "The day was my 25th anniversary as bishop, the time was the Liturgy of Thanksgiving concelebrated with brother priests and some of the more than 34 bishops and archbishops in attendance, in the presence of five cardinals and three Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchs.

"During my words of appreciation at the conclusion of the Liturgy, I reflected on the wondrous workings of the Holy Spirit in my life, in the lives of my confreres, and in the Eparchy of Stamford. The realization that the Holy Spirit has so blessed me and the people with whom I share life was overwhelming. I have learned to take nothing for granted and begin every morning on my knees.

"I have much for which to be grateful and I know that the Holy Spirit will always be with the Church in times of celebration and elation, as well as in those times when our fallibilities and limitations make us anxious about tomorrow. That day of thanksgiving will always be with me, as will the grace and presence of the Holy Spirit."

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ARCHBISHOP PETER

* Installed as archbishop in 1990. Previously served as Bishop of New York, Bishop of Brooklyn, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Europe, and Bishop of Chersonese, France.

* Earned degree from the Institute St. Denys in Paris, attended school of higher studies at University of Paris, received licentiate of theology and doctor of Canon Law degree from Moscow Theological Academy.

* Ordained in 1954. Served at Three Hierarchs Church in Paris and as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Paris.

* Contributed substantially to the official translation of the Divine Liturgy into French. Participated in several Patristic and Byzantine congresses.

* Serves as chairman of External Affairs Department of the Orthodox Church in America, and as a Canonical Advisor to Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America.

* "One experience when I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit was during my election and consecration as Bishop of Chersonese, France, because it was in a very difficult time for the Church in France. Of course, this year I'm celebrating 30 years of the episcopacy, and during that period I have experienced the Holy Spirit on many occasions."

(Other bishops whose jurisdictions include the Albany area who were unavailable for comment in this article include: Stephen H. Doueihi, Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, Maronite Catholic Rite; Anthony Rsyz, Polish National Catholic Diocese; Archbishop Spyridon, Greek Orthodox Diocese of America; George W. Walker Sr., African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; and Philip Cousins, African Methodist Episcopal Church.)

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