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 In April the Archdiocese of New York will send information about its history to each parish every month, to be shared with parishioners through the parish bulletin or by other means. It's all part of the plans now being formed for the celebration of the archdiocese's 200th anniversary in 2008.
Auxiliary Bishop Robert A. Brucato, the vicar general, is in charge of the celebration. He told Catlhloc New York that the archdiocese's 200-year history is "a fantastic story.''
"From an insignificant, sparsely populated diocese, through two centuries of exponential growth, the Archdiocese of New York has become one of the greatest archdioceses in the world through the tireless toil of waves of immigrants fleeing poverty, famine and oppression,'' he said.
Sister Eileen Clifford, O.P., vice chancellor, is in charge of planning for the yearlong observance, and is leading a coordinating committee that began meeting monthly last year. She told CNY that the committee is looking at the "spiritual, historical and cultural dimensions'' of Catholic life in New York, past and present. She also said that the celebration will highlight the work and achievements of priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters and the laity, as well as the many ethnic and cultural groups that make up the archdiocese.
"It's all-encompassing,'' she said. The celebration is to be a grass-roots effort, with participation being sought on the local level.
"We're looking for recommendations from the parishes and vicariates,'' Bishop Brucato said. He added with a smile: "The whole archdiocese can't fit into St. Patrick's Cathedral, but the whole archdiocese can fit into neighborhood parish churches.''
It is important for parishes to take an active role in the celebration, but each needs to design events suited to its needs and to the characteristics that animate its region, the bishop said.
The theme of the celebration is "Worshiping, Caring, Teaching, Growing.''
Sister Eileen said, "I believe there is a strong link between celebrating the contributions to the Church of New York of those who preceded us, and creating a powerful shared vision for the ministries of the Church in the future. We need to be responsive to the challenges presented by a rapidly changing world through worshiping, caring, teaching and growing together.''
The bicentennial year is expected to begin with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Egan in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The date, to be announced, will likely be in April 2007.
Parishes are being encouraged not only to use the historical information provided by the archdiocese, but also to update their Web sites to include information on their own history.
She emphasized that the celebration will extend throughout the 10-county archdiocese. She has begun a series of visits to all 19 vicariates to speak with priests about the bicentennial observance and to seek their ideas.
Sister Eileen also has met with senior priests at the John Cardinal O'Connor Clergy Residence in the Bronx to hear their ideas and to draw on their experience. She presented an update to the Priests Council, and she is meeting with representatives of various archdiocesan departments and offices.
The planners have "done a great deal of research'' on archdiocesan history, Sister Eileen said. She noted that she is using the archdiocesan archives located at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, with the help of the archivist, Sister Marguerita Smith, O.P.
Sister Eileen has been in touch with the archdioceses of Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, each of which is celebrating its bicentennial in 2008. All, including New York, were originally part of the Diocese of Baltimore and were established as independent dioceses on April 8, 1808. On that date the Diocese of Baltimore was made an archdiocese; the Diocese of New York became an archdiocese on July 19, 1850.
Sister Eileen said that the planners are researching possible locations and times for bicentennial observances. Under consideration, though not yet definite, are plans for youth events, lecture series and a bicentennial choir.
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