News from our dioceses...

Diocese of Albany

JOHNSTOWN — Members of a Johnstown community organization (St. John’s Episcopal Church ) cautiously believed they could raise $200,000 for a years-long capital campaign over the holiday season. But they raised $373,000 instead. “In the last week, we reached $70,000 and thought ‘wow, we’re doing great’ and then at the end, bam, it really came in, so we ended up with lots,” said Tom Bell, member of One Church Street steering committee. “It’s really fabulous. Happy New Year to us.” One Church Street is roughly $400,000 away from fully funding the renovation of a three-story community nourishment center. Read More >

La Iglesia Episcopal en Cuba

The Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba website has been updated.  the blog now contains several messages from Bishop Griselda and a report on the Project Feliz Navidad.  There is a slide show of the celebrations. The website also includes ways that you can help the church in Cuba. Find out more >

The Diocese of New Jersey

This past Fall, our bishop and the Discerning Our Common Call Commission of the Diocese of New Jersey asked diocesan leaders and members of congregations throughout the diocese to participate in a spiritual inventory called My Way of Love. Its goal was to give us a broader understanding of where we are in our formation as disciples of Jesus Christ and in carrying out God’s mission of reconciliation in the world. The survey asked us to reflect on our beliefs and spiritual practices—how our relationship with God shapes our life. Nearly 800 people responded.
Go to the website for more information >

Diocese of the Virgin Islands

From the Very Rev. Sandye Wilson:
In Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, with Fr. Ellis Clifton and the Vestry of St Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church, as we engage in a Mutual Ministry Review in this gorgeous place.

The Episcopal Dioceses of Western New York & Northwestern Pennsylvania

Episcopalians Feed Neighbors in Wake of Historic Storm
As Western New York continues to recover from the deadly blizzard that began on December 23 and brought 51.9 inches of snow to the Buffalo region, congregations in our partnership have been helping people in need. In the days following the storm, St. Paul's Cathedral posted signs (see image) alerting downtown neighbors that food was available. St. Philip's, Buffalo's food pantry was also open following the blizzard, and the congregation took food to the Delavan Grider Community Center, which was distributing food to others in the area. "Many of you faced hard situations in your families and congregations during the storm, and I know that the experience has taken its toll at the end of what was already a difficult year for many of us, our congregations and the entire Buffalo region," Bishop Sean wrote to clergy last week. "Recovery is now underway, even as rising temperatures and rain present a risk of flooding. We are working with Episcopal Relief & Development to assist us with recovery efforts and help us build infrastructure for response to future storms." Please continue to pray for all those affected by this storm and its aftermath.

Diocese of Central New York

Illustration by redgreystock on Freepik, available through a free Creative Commons license.

A New Year's Resolution this year could be to examine what you consume. Everyday millions of products enter our homes.  Are they from environmentally responsible companies?  Are they packaged in unnecessary plastic?  Are there options of the same product being sustainably produced?  Consider some online research to determine where to shop.

Click here to read more, including a list of more than ten suggestions for how to green-up your product purchases this year

l'Église Épiscopale d'Haïti

https://theglobalamericans.org/2022/12/haiti-policy-stumbling-toward-2023/

A Notice by the Homeland Security Department on 01/09/2023
​​This notice describes a new effort designed to respond to and protect against a significant increase in the number of Haitian nationals crossing the border without authorization, as the U.S. Government continues to implement its broader, multi-pronged and regional strategy to address the challenges posed by irregular migration. Haitians who do not avail themselves of this process, and instead enter the United States without authorization between ports of entry (POEs), generally are subject to removal. As part of this effort, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is implementing a process—modeled on the successful Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and Process for Venezuelans—for certain Haitian nationals to lawfully enter the United States in a safe and orderly manner and be considered for a case-by-case determination of parole. To be eligible, individuals must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide financial support for the duration of the beneficiary's parole period, pass national security and public safety vetting, and fly at their own expense to an interior POE, rather than entering at a land POE. Individuals are ineligible for this process if they have been ordered removed from the United States within the prior five years; have entered unauthorized into the United States between POEs, Mexico, or Panama after the date of this notice's publication with an exception for individuals permitted a single instance of voluntary departure or withdrawal of their application for admission to still maintain their eligibility for this process; or are otherwise deemed not to merit a favorable exercise of discretion.  Find out more >

The Diocese of Newark

Stories Over Stigma: Supporting mental health in high school
Jan 22, 2023, 5:00PM TO 6:30PM
Calvary, Summit is proud to feature Minding Your Mind, which produces programs for youth and their caregivers to raise mental health awareness, reduce the stigma often associated with seeking help, and increase use of healthy coping skills.

High school students are invited to hear a story of hope and recovery from a young adult speaker who has successfully and productively coped with their own mental health challenges. Food and de-stress tools will be provided. We will meet in Calvary's Parish Hall.

Parents and caregivers are invited to join a corresponding zoom program led by a licensed counselor on Tuesday, January 24 from 7-8:30 PM to learn about the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges among teenagers and how
you can be a support via zoom.
Find out more >

The Diocese of Rochester

Epiphany from Episcopal Diocese of Rochester on Vimeo.

The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe

Avenue George V, the Cathedral tower, and the Eiffel Tower on a pearly Parisian day..

In March 2023, Holy Trinity will celebrate its centennial as The American Cathedral in Paris, seat of the bishop of the European Convocation of American churches, leader of Episcopal worship on the European continent. Becoming a cathedral was not a step lightly taken a century ago, but preparing the ground was the most critical act: first, Holy Trinity had to become a free church... Becoming a cathedral also indicated the presence of a bishop. The system from the late 19th century had a
U.S.-based Episcopal bishop regularly making a circuit of Europe-based American churches in cities such as Paris, Rome, Munich and Geneva. When the majestically neo-Gothic Holy Trinity Church was built and consecrated in 1886, there was already talk about creating a seat for a resident bishop there. It had the look of a cathedral from the very first architectural sketch. 
Read more about the history of Trinity Cathedral in Paris and the Episcopal presence in Europe >

The Diocese of Long Island

Call for Applications: Scholarship Program for the Descendants of Enslaved People in Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties Accepting Applications through March 31
The Reparations Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island is now accepting applications for the Barbara C. Harris Scholars Program – a scholarship designated for the Descendants of enslaved people in Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The Reparations Committee was formed in the Fall of 2021 with the goal of foster equity in education. 
Find out more >

The Diocese of New York

From Trinity, Wall Street:
The holiday season is a time of traditions so let’s renew a custom we’ve observed for several years now by reviewing the Top 10 videos of the year from the website of Trinity Church Wall Street and its social media platforms. 

We’ll review the videos in reverse order, beginning with an eleventh we call Honorable Mention, a video about a ministry at Trinity that was brand-new in 2022, Trinity Youth Afterschool, and that already serves more than 800 students in grades 6-12 every week.  Find out more >

Iglesia Episcopal Diócesis de Puerto Rico

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
​Episode 4: Blessed
On this episode, the P. Restrepo tells us an acecdote to reflect on the blessings we have, many times without even knowing it. More often, we can find them in the places where we least see them.
This and other podcasts, you can listen to them on our podcast platform of the Episcopal Church Diocese of Puerto Rico, by accessing: https://podcast.episcopalpr.org/

Visit the 13 Dioceses of the province at their websites:

 Albany, Central New York, Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe,
La Iglesia Episcopal en Cuba (no official website yet), ​l'Église Épiscopale d'Haiti, Long Island, New Jersey, New York, Newark, Iglesia Episcopal Diócesis de Puerto Rico, Rochester, Virgin Islands, The Episcopal Dioceses of Western New York & Northwestern Pennsylvania