ABOVE: Bishop receives the Eucharist gifts during Mass at the Cathedral.
Bishop Lucia celebrates five years as Shepherd of Diocese of Syracuse
By Tami S. Scott, associate editor
Over the last five years, two distinct memories stand out for Bishop Douglas J. Lucia.
The first is the ordination ceremony, especially when he was lying prostrate on the floor giving himself over to God, he said. “On that day, I was totally at peace, totally calm. And to this day, it just reminds me [that] this is nothing about me. It’s all about Him.”
Anointing the sick during Mass at the Shrine of St Mary in Oswego.
The second memory that Bishop shared had to do with attentiveness. The lesson came in the form of a statue, which he now has placed in the center of a round table inside his office. He called it the “anonymous Jesus.” It’s a small replica of “When I Was Hungry & Thirsty” by Timothy P. Schmalz, which according to the sculptor’s website, is a visual representation of charity, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew 25:40: “And the King will answer, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brethren of mine, you did for me.’
“I went to preside at a Confirmation liturgy in Holland Patent at St. Leo’s … we processed in the church … and I never noticed this large statue of this same image in front of the altar. I never noticed it!” he exclaimed. “I get to the presider’s chair and I’m looking over. ‘Oh my gosh, how could I miss it?’ That was sort of an awakening and conversion for me.”
As bishop, that moment made him evermore mindful to be aware of his surroundings, he said, and to pay particular attention to people, recognizing that he sometimes might unintentionally overlook someone.
Becoming bishop
Bishop with CAP school students in 2023
On August 8, 2019, the Diocese of Syracuse celebrated the ordination and installation of its 11th bishop at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Chosen by Pope Francis after a lengthy discernment process involving input from both religious and laity, Father Lucia went from being a parish pastor in the North Country to the bishop of a seven-county diocese, a move that he himself said “stunned and surprised” him.
It was so shocking, he said, that he realized how on the day it was announced, he didn’t even know which counties comprised his new diocese. “I didn’t know any of the geography or even any of the stats,” Bishop said, laughing at the memory now that he’s quite familiar with them. “It’s home,” now, the Plattsburgh native said, “and so that’s a good thing.”
As a shepherd entrusted to lead a home of nearly 200,000 Catholics, Bishop Lucia reflected on both the highs he’s experienced and the lows he’s had to contend with or continues to navigate. These include the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, filing for bankruptcy and determining the best approach to parish reorganization. These trying times have gotten in the way of plans he’d like to see take off, like evangelization.
“We’re striving to be an evangelizing diocese, but … for me, the challenge is that I just think we have a lot more work to do in our parishes and even with our pastoral leaders [to] get us to this idea of collaboration,” he said, referring to the linking of parish communities.
Leading prayer during a Catholic Charities ribbon cutting.
He applauded the efforts of Oneida’s Spirit of Hope pastor Father Chris Ballard and parochial vicar Father James Buttner with their success in bringing together six parish communities into one. “I’ve seen that really take off,” he said. “I do see it happening, but I also see there’s a little nervousness about it.”
The uneasiness parishioners have expressed stems from the desire to maintain the status quo, keeping their parish community as it is, or from fears of losing their own culture and identity, or worse, their church. “I get that totally,” Bishop said. “But when it does start happening, it’s beautiful because all of a sudden you see a new type of cooperation between parishes or between church families.”
Bishop shared many hopes, two of which are for people to embrace change for the ultimate good of the Church, and that in the Church, everybody will find a home.
Eucharistic revival
More than 50,000 Catholics attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last month. Bishop left the conference with a hunger to bring home what he observed there — people experiencing deeper connections with God. “I really want people to know the Good News of Jesus Christ and have a connection with him,” he said. “The next five years is all about how we can better do that in our parishes, especially by embracing the Second Vatican Council.”
Enjoying the “Battle of the Bishops” basketball games between Grimes and Ludden.
Bishop Lucia, whose Italian surname translates to “light,” visualizes our diocesan parishes as becoming Eucharistic communities, where alongside the celebration of the Eucharist, there will also be more availability for prayer, adoration and the Sacrament of Penance.
When asked what brings him most joy as bishop, his response was consistent with character. “Certainly the parish visits,” he said. “Being able to go on a weekend and just spend time in a parish, celebrate Mass, [and] meet the people.
“I’m just an ordinary person, just like anybody else,” he said, adding that he wants congregants to approach him, not shy away due to his position in the Church. “I’m just a pastor of a larger territory. What matters to me most is prayer and God. That’s what I try to share.”
