Three will share chancellor role

First for Diocese

While there have been lay chancellors in other U.S. dioceses and women religious have served as vice-chancellor in the Albany Diocese before, Bishop Hubbard believes his threefold model is a first. He had been thinking about having several chancellors collaborate for some time.

"I took a look at the duties and responsibilities that I've accrued to the office of chancellor over the years, and I said, `This is really too much for one person to juggle all these responsibilities,'" he told The Evangelist.

Since he has been promoting collaborative ministry in his pastoral letters and parish visits, Bishop Hubbard decided that having several chancellors work together would be a good opportunity for the Diocese to model a collaborative approach.

Opportunities

In appointing several chancellors, the Bishop said he hopes to provide an opportunity for greater communication between chancellors and diocesan departments.

"There's a better opportunity for supervision for the departments," he said. "Prior to this, all the departments reported directly to myself. Now, there will be more on-hand supervision coming from the chancellors."

The final configuration of a trio of chancellors -- priest, woman religious and layperson -- came about gradually, the Bishop explained.

"I began to look at the bulk of the chancellor's responsibilities, and a lot of it had to do with business, financial and legal issues," the Bishop said. "I said, `Someone who has a good background in administration might be better prepared to do this that to bring in a priest from a parish who would have to learn all these duties."

The Bishop pointed out that laypersons in parishes are already being encouraged to take on leadership positions when it comes to parish business concerns, so that priests have more time to address spiritual concerns. As such, asking Mr. Feeney to serve as a chancellor seemed natural to Bishop Hubbard.

Broad experience

Mr. Feeney has a wealth of background and experience with administration, planning and finance in his many years with the state government. He has also served on the diocesan Budget Review Committee, and is an ongoing member of the diocese's Finance Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee.

Bishop Hubbard called Mr. Feeney "a valued consultant in the area of diocesan administration and finance."

Mr. Feeney will supervise the day-to-day operations of the Diocese. Diocesan comptroller Richard Farrell and real property director Noel Olsen will report to him.

Mr. Feeney, a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Albany, told The Evangelist that his appointment as chancellor is "a great honor. I have a great sense of responsibility to the Church. The Church has done a lot for me over the years. I believe that only through a commitment to Christ will we resolve some of the ills of society."

'Exciting'

Sister Kathleen and Father Burke are equally enthusiastic about their new positions.

"It's a very exciting appointment," Father Burke remarked. "Having a layman as well as a religious woman shows the Bishop's vision in strategic planning."

Father Burke's new duties will include answering inquiries from the media and preparing press releases for the Diocese, as well as serving on the Diocesan Cemetery Board and the board of Teresian House, a nursing home in Albany.

"I'm hoping that the Priests' Personnel Office will continue to serve the needs of the priests, but that in the diocesan structure the three of us will be working in a collaborative manner," he said of the chancellors, adding: "We're going to have to learn as we go along."

Many gifts

Sister Kathleen was pleased that the new configuration of chancellors "recognizes the gifts of all and tries to use those gifts in leadership."

The Pastoral Planning process, she said, has surfaced a number of needs in parishes. As diocesan offices begin to look at developing new programs or training others to meet those needs, she sees the three chancellors as coordinators of that process.

Sister Kathleen called the collaborative model "one I believe very strongly in. We in leadership positions can live what we're asking other people to do."

The bulk of her duties will involve Pastoral Planning, such as working with parishes in the event of a merger, implementation of cluster plans, and other issues.

Working together

The trio of chancellors plan to meet weekly to divide the work that comes into the chancellor's office, and to review what each chancellor is working on. All three remarked on a single goal: open communication.

"I'd like to see us really listen to one another," Sister Kathleen stated.

The Bishop will also hold weekly meetings to ensure good communication among the leaders and provide guidance as they adapt to their new positions.

He pointed out that use of the new model is not carved in stone. "It's conceivable that at the end, we might have to make some adjustments," he stated. "If it doesn't accomplish its mission, we'll have to adjust."

However, he said, "I think this can be a fine model. It's a different model, obviously -- but we will have the wisdom and experience of three people now. This is an indication of the Church at the vast level putting into practice the call of the Second Vatican Council for people to be involved in the mission of the Church."

Rev. Geoffrey Burke, ordained in 1979, has served as associate pastor at St. Mary's parish in Oneonta and St. Thomas the Apostle, Delmar. Since 1990, he has directed the diocesan Office of Priests' Personnel and chaired the Priests' Personnel Board. He is also the chaplain for St. Joseph's Provincial House in Latham.

Jay Feeney has held a number of positions with the New York State government, including special assistant to Gov. Mario Cuomo and director of the Office of Management and Productivity. He has served as deputy comptroller for the state since 1993. A resident of Albany for 36 years, he is married with five children and 13 grandchildren.

Sister Kathleen Turley, a Sister of Mercy, came to the Albany Diocese in 1986 to work with the Diocesan Service Corps and the Diocesan Pastoral Council. She became associate director for the Office of Pastoral Planning in 1988 and has served as its director since 1990. (07-18-96) [[In-content Ad]]