Diocese of New Jersey | News

We the Bishops of Province II of The Episcopal Church were gathered for our annual retreat when we learned of the great earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Having spent our 2008 retreat in that country, we were already very conscious of the desperate situation of the Haitian people and of our Diocese of Haiti. This new disaster which has injured and killed so great a number touches us very deeply. Haiti is the poorest nation of the hemisphere and therefore the less able to cope with such a catastrophe.

Our brother Bishop Zaché Duracin had not been able to attend our retreat this year, and we learned with relief that he is unscathed. However, we have reports that his wife Marie-Édithe has been injured and their family home destroyed. It appears also that one of the Roman Catholic bishops of Port-au-Prince was killed when his office collapsed during the earthquake. Along with the great number of Haitian expatriates and all those who have loved ones and friends there, we await news of them with impatience and worry, including the Episcopal missionaries who do extraordinary work in that country.

We ask therefore that the faithful of our dioceses, as well as all people of good will, pray for this people devastated by yet another cataclysm, that they will know the mercy and comfort of the Holy Trinity. To support immediately our brother Bishop Duracin in the work of reconstruction, we pledge at least $10,000 from our own resources. We ask our members to join in these efforts by giving to Episcopal Relief and Development.

The efficiency of Episcopal Relief and Development in helping people in these crises is well known. They will update their website, www.er-d.org as they receive fresh information. They are currently accepting donations to the Haiti Fund (https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php) to support this assistance.

The Diocese of Haiti is the largest in The Episcopal Church. The efforts of their clergy and laity to proclaim and live out the Good News of Jesus Christ have in the past earned our profound admiration. Now that they have suffered yet another calamity, may the Holy Spirit give us the strength and resources to meet their new needs.

Bishop Gladstone Adams (Central New York)
Bishop Mark Beckwith (Newark)
Bishop George Councell (New Jersey)
Bishop Michael Garrison (Western New York)
Bishop William Love, (Albany)
Bishop Larry Provenzano (Long Island)
Bishop Prince Singh (Rochester)
Bishop Mark Sisk (New York)
Bishop Pierre Whalon (Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe)

• Pre-Convention Hearings

Pre-Convention Hearings
226th Convention of the Diocese of New Jersey

Everyone is invited to the four pre-convention hearings in February 2010, from 7pm until 9pm. The hearings offer a time for deputies to ask questions and discuss issues.

There is an agenda — to make the best use of the time — with representation from the Finance and Budget, Nominating, Resolutions, Constitution and Canons, and Board of Missions Committees.

Clergy, Lay Deputies, and Alternates should make a special effort to attend.

2 February: Church of the Holy Spirit
220 E Main St, Tuckerton
609 296-9618

4 February: All Saints’ Church,
213 Madison Ave, Lakewood
732 367-0933

8 February: St. John’s Church
158 West High St, Somerville
908 722-1250

10 February: Grace Church
19 King’s Highway East, Haddonfield
856 429-0007

If you'd like a PDF of these dates and places, along with driving directions, click here.

DECEMBER 2009

• Task Force on Restructure report

In the wake of the financial crisis, the Bishop and Diocesan Council recommended a budget to the 2009 Diocesan Convention that drew on $400,000 of cash surpluses and up to $122,000 from the principal of the Procter Fund to balance the budget.

Recognizing that this wasn't a viable long term strategy, Bishop Councell appointed the Task Force on Restructure in Spring 2008 and charged them with:

• How to fund the Mission of the Diocese in hard times;

• How to tie funding to the core commitments of the Mission of the Diocese and the Diocesan Vision;

and the bishop further asked the task force

• To offer options / make recommendations to Diocesan Council and the Finance & Budget Committee for their use in preparing the 2010 budget for the Diocese.

The report was presented to Diocesan Council on 17 November. It's now made available as a PDF to everyone in the diocese who is interested. Click here to download.

• DEATH NOTICE:
The Reverend Driss Knickerbocker Updated with memorial information

It is my sad duty to inform you that Father Driss Knickerbocker, former Vicar of St. Paul's Church in Rahway, died Sunday, December 13, 2009 at Pax Christi Hospice Center, which is part of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City. Father Knickerbocker was licensed in the Diocese of New Jersey and canonical in the Diocese of New Hampshire.

I ask your prayers for the repose of his soul. His body will be cremated and the remains taken to Christ Church in Delaware, where there will be a Funeral Mass, following which the cremated remains will be buried in the cemetery.

There will be a Memorial Eucharist on Tuesday, 22 December at 11am at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 80 Elm Avenue, Rahway, with a repast following in the Guild Room. Clergy who will vest are asked to bring a white stole.

All memorial donations can be made to Church of the Good Shepherd. Memo: Driss Knickerbocker Memorial.

For more information, please contact Fr. Salvador Ros: Church office, 732 388-3460; mobile phone, 732 882-3029.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

The Reverend Sal Ros
fatherros40@yahoo.com

• DEATH NOTICE:
The Reverend Wayne Lamar Reynolds

The Reverend Wayne L. Reynolds died of cancer on December 9, 2009, at his home in Questa, New Mexico. He was born in Whiting, New Jersey, October 21, 1947, the son of Paul and Golda Reynolds. He received his MS from Philadelphia Divinity School in 1973. Ordained deacon by the Right Reverend Alfred L. Banyard on April 28, 1973, he was ordained priest by the Right Reverend Albert W. Van Duzer on October 27, 1973 at Trinity Cathedral, Trenton.

He had four children by his first marriage. He was married to Marie Ann on November 6, 1999. Father Reynolds served as Vicar of St. Albans, New Brunswick from 1973-1978; Priest-in-Charge of All Saints Church, Highland Park from 1976-1978; Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Whiting, from 1978-1998; and Vicar of Holy Spirit Church, Tuckerton, from 1999-2004. He then moved to Questa, New Mexico, where he assisted at St. James' Church in Taos.

At his request the Rosary will be said at 6 pm, December 14, 2009, at St. James', Taos, followed by the Mass at 7 pm. The Rev. Franklin Schuster, Rector of St. James', will preside.

Biographical material provided by the Archives of the Diocese of New Jersey.

Earlier 2009 news

For news from September–November 2009, click here.
For news from June–August 2009, click here.
For news from January–May 2009, click here.

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