Bishop carries an image of Blessed Mother Mary during the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.
Bishop Scharfenberger prays during pro-life rally outside of Planned Parenthood.
On Sept. 22, 2018, the Albany Diocese hosted its first Eucharistic Congress since 1938, one of the more memorable days in the five years Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger has been Bishop of Albany. The Hearts Aflame Eucharistic Congress was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville. This all day event brought together nearly 5,000 Catholics of the Diocese to rejoice in the power of the Eucharist in the faith. The Bishop, who had been looking to host a diocesan-wide event since 2017, said “It was sort of like a diocesan Super Bowl. That would be a high point for everybody in the Diocese.”
Mike Matvey of The Evangelist interviews Bishop Scharfenberger for Catholic Voices.
THE BISHOP’S MISSION STATEMENT Our priorities spring from the Great Commission which Jesus gave to His Church: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19): • Evangelize. The heart of evangelization is the cultivation of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ — nurtured through prayer, Scripture and Sacrament, especially the Eucharist, which is the fire that impels us to share our faith with the world. • Strengthen faith communities at all levels — friends, families, parishes, schools, interparish, vicariate, diocesan — through prayer, resource allocation and the works of mercy. • Develop vocational and mission awareness at all levels through discernment, formation and empowerment. • Care of the poorest and most vulnerable— within and beyond our faith communities — at every stage of life, from conception to natural death. • Engage all diocesan agencies in support of the above, especially in parishes.
The Bishop embracing a child during Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church in Menands.
The Bishop during first Holy Communion at the Cathedral in Albany; high-fiving school kids; and, right, speaks with Cynthia Rodriguez from St. Edwards Church in Clifton Park, then a candidate for full communion in 2015.
Bishop Scharfenberger reads to kids in a class at All Saints Academy.
Bishop Ed uses a giant squirt gun to blast teens at a St. Isaac Jogues Youth Conference.
The Bishop at a confirmation ceremony during first Holy Communion at the Cathedral in Albany.
Bishop stands with farmworkers advocates, from top, in championing the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act.
Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, celebrating his fifth anniversary in Albany on April 10, delivers homilies at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Photos by Nate Whitchurch.
Bishop Scharfenberger takes part in the ordination of Father Brian Slezak, and parishioner Fausto Franco, top, carries the Bishop-Elect’s mitre in 2014.
Bishop chats with parishioners.
Bishop Ed gets out among the people at Holy Trinity Church in Hudson after confirmation ceremonies.
Bishop anoints an inmate with holy oils at the Great Meadows Correctional Facility in Comstock.
Bishop Scharfenberger celebrates a birthday as a young boy.
Bishop spends time with family as young boy.
Bishop greets Sister Joseph Mary at St. Kateri Tekakwitha School in Niskayuna during a dedication ceremony.
Bishop during a Catholic Voices interview.
Bishop attends a rally.
