‘AN HONOR, A CHALLENGE AND A JOY’

Evangelist photographer talks about her ‘unusual relationship’ with Bishop Ed

Confirmation candidate Sarah O’Connor joins Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger for a picture during a reception following the confirmation ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Schenectady, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist (Courtesy photo of CINDY SCHULTZ)

We have an unusual relationship, Bishop Ed and I. Unusual in that I follow Bishop Ed with my eyes and feet, but we don’t directly interact while I’m working. He’s aware of my presence, but he does not acknowledge me. He knows that my mission is to capture authentic moments.

Our alliance started in earnest in 2020, on Ash Wednesday, when I began working as a freelance photographer for The Evangelist. I had covered Bishop Ed before while working for the Albany Times Union, but we had never spoken. It’s possible we would’ve continued in that manner except that I continued to show up and eventually became a familiar face. That’s when we began to share a greeting, a hug, and at times he’d even entertain my questions. That’s how I learned that the pointed miter the Bishop wears on his head folds up and fits in a briefcase. 

Photographing Bishop Ed has been an honor, a challenge and a joy. An honor because I’ve been blessed to work so closely with a revered leader of the Catholic Church (my mother would be so proud!). A challenge because of my determination to show regularly occurring events in new and different ways. And a joy because I see how the Bishop takes time to listen, laugh and pose for pictures, and I see the deep love and adoration that parishioners and members of the clergy have for him.

— Cindy Schultz, Freelance Photographer for The Evangelist

Freelance photographer Cindy Schultz has photographed Bishop Ed since 2020 for The Evangelist and here are some of her favorites:Bishop Scharfenberger delivers the homily during the Albany Diocesan Catholic Schools Mass on Feb. 10, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. ...

 ... and again on Jan. 27, 2023, at St. Mary’s Church in Ballston Spa. ...... Bishop Scharfenberger greets priests following the Ordination to the Priesthood of five priests at the Cathedra on June 19, 2021. ...

... Sarah O’Connor joins Bishop Scharfenberger for a picture during a reception following the confirmation ceremony at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Schenectady on Oct. 29, 2023. ... ... A portrait of Bishop Scharfenberger hangs in an honorary position next to Pope Francis in a school hallway at St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam in 2022. (Cindy Schultz photos for The Evangelist)