October 21, 2025 at 8:02 a.m.

A ‘VERY HAPPY’ TIME

Bishop Scharfenberger discusses his years as bishop, upcoming retirement

Outgoing Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger speaks during a news conference to introduce incoming Bishop Mark O’Connell on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at the Pastoral Center in Albany, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist (Courtesy photo of CINDY SCHULTZ)

By Emily Benson | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

“I can’t believe 11 years went by that fast,” a heartfelt Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger said on Monday.

On Oct. 20, the Diocese of Albany announced that Pope Leo XIV had accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, 77, and appointed Bishop Mark O’Connell, 61, the current auxiliary bishop of Boston, as his successor.

Reactions to the appointment
of Bishop Mark O’Connell
“Today, we rejoice in the appointment of Bishop Mark O’Connell as the new Bishop of Albany. At the same time, we give thanks to God for the ministry of Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 more than two years ago.

“We look forward with joyful anticipation to Bishop O’Connell’s arrival in our state’s Capital City, and as the local Bishop to the New York State Catholic Conference staff. Bishop O’Connell’s background as vicar general and moderator of the curia of one of the largest archdioceses in the country prepares him well for leading the faithful in the Diocese of Albany. His commitment to synodality is evidenced by his podcast “Listening to Catholic Women,” which he recently launched. As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, Bishop O’Connell has demonstrated great pastoral concern for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

“While we welcome Bishop O’Connell, we express our love and appreciation for Bishop Scharfenberger, whose ministry as Bishop of Albany was marked by being a bridge builder and walking with survivors of abuse while being one of the Church’s leading voices for reform. He came to a Diocese facing many challenges and has shied away from none of them, always imploring those under his pastoral care to not lose faith in Jesus Christ and to develop a personal relationship with Him. Bishop Scharfenberger’s own personal faith and serenity have been inspirational to all of us. We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

Dennis Poust, executive
director of the New York State Catholic Conference
****
“Along with the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Albany, I rejoice in the appointment of Bishop Mark O’Connell as the eleventh Bishop of Albany and warmly welcome him to the Province of New York. I look forward to working with him on behalf of God’s people here in the Empire State.

“At the same time, I express my deep and sincere gratitude for the 12 years of faithful service of Bishop Edward Scharfenberger as Bishop of Albany. Bishop Ed has been a wise and trusted colleague, and I am confident that even as he relinquishes his administrative duties, he will continue his priestly and apostolic ministry. May he enjoy a long and fruitful retirement.”

New York Cardinal
Timothy M. Dolan

Both bishops greeted and took questions from the media at the Pastoral Center, discussing Bishop O’Connell’s experience and his hopes for continuing to bring disciples to the church in the Albany area.

“It was in great joy and confidence in God’s love that I have accepted being named the 11th Bishop of Albany,” said Bishop O’Connell. In an emotional speech, the new bishop said he has loved “every single thing about being a priest” and pledged to continue bringing that love to the people of Albany.

Speaking of his time as bishop in the Diocese, Bishop Scharfenberger said he has been “very happy.”

“These 11 years have been wonderful years,” he said. “I love the people of this Diocese and I love the work that I do and I’ll be happy to be able to do a lot of the work I always wanted to do as a priest.”

Bishop Scharfenberger submitted his mandatory resignation letter to the Vatican in 2023 after turning 75, but planned to continue serving the Albany Diocese until his successor would be named. After the Diocese filed for bankruptcy in March 2023, Bishop Scharfenberger anticipated a successor might not be named until things were tied up. The announcement may have been a quicker turn around than expected, but one that ultimately made sense.

“They must have decided I put in my time and (Bishop O’Connell) was ready,” he said.

Born in Brooklyn, Bishop Scharfenberger grew up attending Catholic school. He went on to graduate from Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, N.Y., in 1969 with a degree in English.

He studied at the North American College in Rome and the Pontifical Gregorian University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology. In 1973, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Bishop Scharfenberger was named the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Albany by Pope Francis and ordained to the episcopacy in April 2014. He succeeded Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who had led the Diocese since 1977.

In his tenure, he strived to serve the Diocese with a pastoral heart, caring for his people like a priest would serve a parish. He also shepherded the 14-county Diocese through one its most turbulent periods, navigating bankruptcy, walking with survivors after the passage of New York State’s Child Victims Act, working through the on-going lawsuit with St. Clare’s Hospital workers over their lost pensions, and starting the Diocese on its “Remade for Mission” initiative.

“I have to say that to all of those I’ve worked with over these years, all you in the Diocese first, all of you priests and parish leaders, all staff, the team that we’ve built over the years has been wonderful,” Bishop Scharfenberger said. “I thank also those that have not always agreed with me, and I offer an apology to anybody who I may have hurt or offended over the years, even if not personally, and I continue to ask that they accept my sincerest apologies.”

Now, as he gears up to pass the torch to the next bishop, he noted that his resignation is not a formal goodbye.

“I’m not leaving the Diocese, sorry to say for those who are hoping,” he quipped, “but for those who want me to hang around, I’ll be here.”

While retired, Bishop Scharfenberger said he’ll be available to guide Bishop O’Connell in his new role and to continue serving the Albany Diocese in his new title as Bishop Emeritus Scharfenberger.

“I’ve never been retired before, so I have no idea what to do, but I don’t think it’s something a priest ever really does,” he said. “We’re ordained and we’re a priest forever, so I just want to go on doing what I pledged to you at the time I first started. I said I want to bring out the best in you, and please bring out the best in me. And I want to continue that.”