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Here is a review of major news items about the Albany Diocese that appeared in The Evangelist during the 12 months of 2017:

JANUARY: Party surprises four 100-year-olds from St. Anthony's and St. John the Evangelist parishes, Schenectady...The Evangelist marks Catholic Schools Week with a special issue...Is STEM working? Catholic schools say yes...Special section on life issues coincides with national March for Life.

FEBRUARY: Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger shares diary of day at March for Life in Washington...Catholics speak out for New York farmworkers...Vietnamese Catholics celebrate Vietnamese New Year...Bishop asks Catholic politicians not to support Planned Parenthood...Gallery at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, provides unusual site for art...Sacristies at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, restored...Massive donation means new offices for St. Jude parish, Wynantskill.

MARCH: Lent begins...Bishop issues statement on immigration issues, citing Catholic Charities' assistance to immigrants...119 people to join the Church in Albany at Easter...Birth mother hears from son 50 years after adoption...Bishop Maginn High, Albany, changes curriculum to provide college courses, internships...Astrophysics program grows at Siena College, Loudonville...Bishop writes about real love during Lent.

APRIL: Bishop's Appeal campaign raises more than $7.5 million...Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard celebrates 40th anniversary as a bishop...Seminarians from Diocese will study in Rome, Italy...Bishop's Easter message speaks of the Gospel coming to life...Father and daughter reflect on joining the Church together....Special issue of The Evangelist honors priests of Diocese marking major anniversaries.

MAY: Diocese rolls out myParish app...The Evangelist's Mother's Day/women's issue includes stories on a parish "newcomer coordinator," women's retreats and 400 years of Ladies of Charity...Diocese forms CYO commission...Two Vietnamese men are studying for priesthood for Diocese...New diocesan vicar general, assistant vicar for clergy, superintendent of schools named...Four deacons ordained...WWI chaplain from Diocese added to Rensselaer Hall of Heroes.

JUNE: Diocese challenges abortion mandate in state Supreme Court...Bishop visits St. Francis School, Herkimer...Catholic Charities celebrates centennial in Diocese...Annual Rosary Walk for life held at State Capitol...The Evangelist's graduation issue highlights teachers working at alma maters, newest priest of Diocese, more...Interfaith panel discusses fighting racism...Retreat for lawyers on religious liberty issues is part of annual Fortnight for Freedom.

JULY: The Evangelist captures 11 national journalism awards...New diocesan position to focus on evangelization...St. Kateri School, Schenectady, dedicates early childhood center...Special section highlights how refugee crisis is affecting Diocese...Hoosick Falls works on flood recovery...St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry, Albany, offers unusual courses.

AUGUST: Once stillborn, woman takes part in beatification of priest whose intercession may have saved her...'13 Reasons Why' TV series sparks creation of diocesan mental health committee...St. Adalbert's, Schenectady, phones people not in pews...SS Maria Addolorata Society in Frankfort marks centennial...St. Teresa parish, Windham, has women's expo to fight domestic violence, boost women in Church...The Evangelist publishes back-to-school issue...Chaplain from Diocese offers shipboard Mass for fallen Marines...Speaker to address immigration at convocation for St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry.

SEPTEMBER: Collection helps those affected by Hurricane Harvey, other hurricanes and natural disasters...St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, celebrates 150th anniversary with book on history...Local faithful rejoice at beatification of Rev. Stanley Rother...Catechetical Sunday section profiles catechist-coach from St. Vincent's, Albany...Volunteers from Diocese head south to help after hurricanes...Amsterdam Catholics ask St. Michael to intercede in opioid crisis...High school Mass kicks off school year...Whitehall parish gets first-class relic of St. Faustina...Project Dawn by St. Michael's parish, Troy, feeds city's homeless.

OCTOBER: Potato collections at St. Mary's, Cooperstown, feed hungry all over area...Diocese holds annual Marriage Jubilee...Vermont bishop to speak at Autumn Diocesan Gathering on America as missionary Church...Diocese beginning Re-Igniting Our Faith evangelization and capital campaign...Respect Life Mass offered at cathedral...Diocese marks Mental Health Awareness Week...St. Clement's parish, Saratoga, turns 100...The Evangelist notes upcoming national Vocations Awareness Week with special section.

NOVEMBER: Annual teen issue notes that teens from Diocese are heading to National Catholic Youth Conference, highlights bowl-a-thon by LaSalle Institute, Troy...For Veterans' Day, local Catholics and Vietnamese Apostolate discuss how Vietnam War affected them...Grant through Catholic Charities boosts social justice in parishes...How Catholics are easing grief and fear amid national, world tragedies...For Thanksgiving, Bishop writes about thanking God for gifts, especially youth...Roarke Center, Troy, marks 20 years of assisting poor through social services and art...Vigil in Watervliet prays for abandoned, abused, trafficked children in U.S.

DECEMBER: Catholics in Diocese aid Puerto Rico's recovery...Volunteers needed to be 'face of Christ' for homebound...March for Life plans underway...Diocese reconsecrated to Mary...Bishop's Christmas message ponders, "Where is Christmas?"..."Rosary priest" Rev. Patrick Peyton takes step toward sainthood.[[In-content Ad]]

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