Parish management and community issues were at the forefront as leadership and pastors of the Archdiocese of New York gathered for an annual retreat.

Participation in the event is voluntary, but offers attending pastors an opportunity to discuss archdiocesan and parish issues in a relaxed and informal setting.

On the morning of the event’s second day, October 8, Father George Sears provided an update on the Called By Name vocations program. “We’re trying to keep up with all the people interested,” Father Sears said, noting that more than 900 candidates had registered or had their names put forward by people in their parish. Boys and young men who have indicated interest have the opportunity this autumn to attend Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and then meet with Cardinal Timothy Dolan for small group discussion afterward, he said. 

Father Sears, who is pastor at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, asked for his fellow pastors’ assistance with candidates for the priesthood. “If they have no path to citizenship, it is not likely they are going to become an Archdiocese of New York priest,” he said, lamenting the current visa situation for religious workers. Also, the parish has an important role to play for each candidate, he said. “They need solid grounding in their parish. Who is your pastor?”

Later in the morning, Sister Mary Grace Walsh, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York, provided an overview of Catholic education in the archdiocese, emphasizing the importance of strong Catholic leadership and pastor participation at both regional schools and those attached to a parish.

Before lunch, the pastors joined Bishop Edmund Whalen, vicar for clergy, Bishop Peter Byrne, Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, Bishop Joseph Espaillat, and Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, vicar general, all of whom attended the retreat, for Mass with Cardinal Timothy Dolan at the nearby Church of St. Margaret. Bishop John Bonnici attended Friday’s meetings in Spring Lake. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, concelebrated as Cardinal Dolan’s guest, and later gave the pastors an update on the situation for Catholics in his country.

A time for perspective 

After Mass and lunch, Cardinal Dolan offered some reflections for the pastors. He thanked the bishops, Monsignor LaMorte, and the pastors for all of their work throughout the year. He spoke of his time at the conclave that selected Pope Leo XIV in May.

“I just wanted to share with you guys that I think the Holy Spirit was extraordinarily wise in giving us Pope Leo. I would trust that you all would share in that early assessment. Now, I look back myself upon the popes that I’ve been blessed with in my 75 years, going back to Pius XII and John XXIII, Paul VI, who was the pope when I was a student in Rome, John Paul I, not too long did we have him. John Paul II, my Lord, who was there my seven years back in Rome as rector of the [North American] College. He was the pope then. Benedict and Francis. And now it’s almost like we can be convinced that Jesus always gives us the pope that we need as the shepherd of the Church. And for that, we’re grateful,” he said.

Cardinal Dolan also talked about the positivity he feels in the archdiocese. “I’m looking out at some of you with the parishes where I visited this summer, they’re beautiful, the people are receptive, they’re there, they participate, they’re proud, they’re grateful, they’re generous, they love their priests, they seem to be proud that I would visit, they seem to be very much aware that they’re members of a wider church, diocese, and Church Universal,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for our pastors to come together, learn from each other, learn with each other, appreciate the gift of the people whom we serve, and to be able to help let that service grow. I think we heard a lot of positive things. We heard a lot of potential. It really engenders some great ideas and strengthens our guys’ faith,” Bishop Edmund Whalen, vicar for clergy for the archdiocese, told The Good Newsroom at the event.

“This year at Spring Lake, not only was I glad to reconnect with pastors whom I haven’t seen in a long time due to the distances in our archdiocese, but it was really good to meet some of the new talent serving the faithful of New York,” said Father Arthur Rojas, pastor of St. Mary-St. Peter–Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish.