The Catholic Sun
Digital Update
for
August 10 – August 16

Preview edition

‘We have to root everything in prayer’

Bishop notes fourth anniversary, reflecting on the past and present but always looking ahead.

By Dc. Tom Cuskey
Editor

“Happy anniversary, Bishop!”

On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia marked four years of service to the people of God in the Diocese of Syracuse as their spiritual shepherd. As he shares, “It is hard to believe that I am starting my fifth year!”

A brief review

Bishop was a parish pastor in his home Diocese of Ogdensburg when he got the call in June 2019 that he would head south to Syracuse to become the 11th bishop of the seven-county diocese. He served his former diocese at a number of parishes before becoming a pastor at two, St. Mary’s in Waddington and St. John the Baptist in Madrid. During his years of priestly service he took on additional roles as Director of Vocations and completed study as a canon lawyer, serving as adjutant judicial vicar and vice chancellor. He would lead the Office of Worship, serve as Director of Seminarians and eventually be named Chancellor and Episcopal Vicar. Still, with such a background of leadership and pastoral focus, the call from the papal nuncio came as a surprise. “I was just totally shocked,” he told the Sun then.

The celebration of this anniversary was somewhat subdued as the timing followed the recent announcement of a settlement, via the Chapter 11 reorganization process, totaling $100 million for the survivors of sexual abuse. The diocese, parishes and diocesan entities all participate in funding the settlement. The process of finalizing the agreement with the court system is

Diocese to participate in National Religious Retirement Collection

By Sister Katie Eiffe
Contributing writer

In 1988, the United States Bishops established a yearly collection for the National Religious Retirement Fund in order to aid both men’s and women’s religious congregations to care for their retired, elderly and infirm members. The collection has been held annually ever since.

‘They walk out with something they didn’t have before they walked in’

Cortland’s Catholic Charities team tackles complex challenges with simple goals

By Dc. Tom Cuskey
Editor

Catholic Sun readers by now should be well aware that Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Syracuse is celebrating its 

Celebrating St. Lawrence the way he would want it

By Dc. Tom Cuskey
Editor

The year was 258, and the Church of Rome was led by Pope Sixtus II. The pontiff had a team of seven deacons — not unlike the calling of seven men as the first deacons in the Acts of the Apostles. Like their predecessors, these men were in charge of tending to the poor and needy, a charism that is foundational in

Holy Cross Academy alumni join Board of Trustees

The Holy Cross Academy Board of Trustees recently welcomed two additions to the Board of Trustees for the Catholic junior/senior high school in Oneida, Andrew Vanderhoof and Amy (Collins) Gilfert. 

Vanderhoof is a 2008 graduate of Holy Cross. He attended West Point Academy where he served as an Aviation Officer. Currently Vanderhoof works as a

St. Joseph’s Health Hospital retains #1 ranking in Syracuse

Honor marks ninth consecutive year

St. Joseph’s Health Hospital of Syracuse retained its #1 ranking in Syracuse Metro and was named a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report on its list of 2023-2024 Best Hospitals. It is also tied for 22nd in New York State. This is the ninth consecutive year St. Joseph’s has received

Long before Pope Francis, popes recognized our duty to care for our common home

By Dominic Wilkins
Contributing writer

When we think of the relationship between the Catholic Church and the environment, Pope Francis usually comes to mind, primarily because in 2015 he released the encyclical Laudato Si’. This landmark document called Catholics and

Events in our Diocese
week of 8/10 – 8/16

Here is a listing of a few events of interest happening in our Diocese.

Visit here for a complete list.

Sacrum Cor-Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration

August 10, 2023
St. Daniel Church – Syracuse

Formation for Ministry/Deacon Formation Information Session

August 13, 2023
Immaculate Conception Parish- Fayetteville

Novena to Our Lady of Knock 2023

August 14, 2023
St. Patrick’s Church-Binghamton

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