Office of Evangelization and Catechesis:
Letter from the Director
July 2008
Dear Friends,
Our parishes and diocesan offices are
concluding an 18 month period of prayer,
study, dialogue, and planning in our “Called
to Be Church” process. Many of you have
participated in numerous meetings and
consultations with your own staffs and local
planning groups as clustered parish groups
finalized plans for ministry in the Diocese
of Albany.
Although we will not know pastoral planning
decisions until January 2009, we know that
change is inevitable for parishes,
ministries, and offices as we envision new
ways to “Be Church” today and in the years
to come. Sometimes change occurs out of
vision, sometimes change occurs out of
necessity. Change offers both challenges and
opportunities.
Due to fiscal needs, some diocesan
offices have been asked to assume new
responsibilities and one very important
office will be closed. Beginning July 1, our
Office will assume the ministry of the
Family Life Office which includes family
life, marriage preparation and enrichment,
and respect life. We welcome Mary Fay who
coordinates Pre-Cana to our staff. We cannot
really fill the shoes of Meg Bergh and Karen
Fontanelli, but we will look to be faithful
to the ministry and mission in new ways. We
are grateful for their mentoring and support
in this time of transition.
In closing I wish each of you some Sabbath
time in these Summer months. This is a time
to restore, renew, and let go. May you be
blessed with health, time for rest and
re-creation, fun times with family and
friends, and quality time to spend with the
God who loves you beyond imagination.
May the peace and joy of this season be with
you!
Jeanne D. Schrempf
Diocesan Director
