AUBURN - About 200 pastoral leaders from churches throughout the Rochester Catholic Diocese are in Auburn this week for a time of education, reflection and renewal.

Bishop Matthew Clark, head of the diocese, celebrated a Convocation Mass at 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Holy Family Church in Auburn as part of the program.

The Mass, attended by about 450 people, including parishioners, was the median point of a pastoral gathering which began at 2 p.m. Monday at the Holiday Inn. At that time, Michael Quill, mayor of Auburn, and Thomas D. McNabb, city councilor, welcomed the pastoral administrators, including priests, nuns, deacons, and lay administrators.

Chairman of the convocation was the Rev. Peter Clifford, pastor of St. John of Rochester parish in Fairport. Clifford, 58, is an Auburn native and former communicant of St. Alphonsus church.

The Rev. Dennis Shaw, pastor of Holy Family, said convocations have been held yearly for more than 25 years at various locations within the Rochester Diocese, including Rochester, Ithaca, Corning and Auburn.

Shaw welcomed all of those assembled for the Mass in his church.

“This is a special moment of grace and blessing for all of us,” he said.

The purpose of the pastoral gathering is educational, as well as theological, scriptural, and liturgical renewal, Shaw said.

Every year has a theme. This year's theme is the Eucharist.

“Once a year for about 48 hours priests and administrators gather for a time of enrichment, prayer, study, and reflection,” Bishop Clark said. “This year we are lucky to study the transformation of the Eucharist in our lives.”

The bishop spoke against a floral backdrop of azaleas, mums, and white Easter lilies, with a trickling fountain accenting his words.

“This water will be used to remind us of our baptism,” he said. “With this blessed water we celebrate our creation and our redemption.”

He alluded to the parting of the Red Sea and water symbols used by prophets to foretell God's covenant with the people, as well as Christ's baptism in the Jordan.

“We share the joy of all who have been baptized at Easter.”

After reading a gospel from the Acts of the Apostles, the bishop spoke of the power of the spirit in the risen Christ.

“The power of the Holy Spirit always opens new avenues for us,” he said. “The Eucharistic liturgy is not just the elements of bread and wine, but we the people are transformed by the Holy Spirit.”

The bishop then reminded the congregation that the clergy draws its strength from the people.

“I don't think you'll ever really know how important you are to all of us as ministers of God. The spirit of God in the Acts of the Apostles is here.”

Clifford expanded on the purposes of the convocation.

“First, we want to enrich ourselves around a common topic given by world class presenters,” he said, “to learn to deepen our knowledge and broaden our experience.”

“Second, it gives us an opportunity to gather as priests and pastoral administrators around the bishop.”

Clifford described reflections and conversations with Bishop Clark just prior to the Mass as “deeply personal.”

“He shared his experiences of life and invited us to respond,” Clifford said.

“A third aspect of the convocation is relaxing and sharing with friends whom we might not see for another year,” he said, “in a spirit of collegiality.”

The clergy returned to the Holiday Inn after the Mass for dinner and had the rest of the evening free.

Among those present were 11 female pastoral administrators and three male deacons, also administrators.

Gathered in the Holiday Inn lobby were: Sister Chris Treichel, of Sacred Heart parish in Auburn; Sister Diane Dennie, who administrates three parishes in Lyons, Clyde, and Savannah; Barb Swiecki, who administrates two churches in Henrietta; Sr. Karen Dietz, pastoral administrator of St. Agnes in Avon; Anne-Marie Brogan, from Kent, England, who administrates St. Mary's in Rochester; and Maureen O'Neill of St. Gabriel's in Hammondsport. Deacon Defendorf of St. Mary's in Bath and Dean Condon, of All Saints Parish in Corning were also there.

“The amount of deacons is growing,” Dean Condon said, “but it doesn't impact on the problem of declining numbers of priests.”

On Monday, guest speaker Jerry Galipeau, director of World Library Publications, a music publishing house, spoke about “The Eucharist: Engaging the Mystery in Song and Spirit: Singing a New Song of Evangelization.” After dinner he also spoke on “Singing in the History of Liturgical Reform.”

He will speak on Wednesday as well.

Early on Tuesday, Ed Foley, OFM Caputian Franciscan Professor of Liturgy at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, addressed Eucharistic prayer, communion, and the communion rite.

“Ed's reflection focused on breaking open the mystery of worship in the Eucharist, what we do and what it means,” Clifford said.

Wednesday's activities began with a Mass at Holy Family Church for those who wish to attend at 7 a.m., breakfast, and prayer.

Jerry Galipeau's presentation on the mystery of the Eucharist, and a concluding prayer service by Bishop Clark will end the event.

Next year, Convocation 2009 will take place in Ithaca at Cornell University.

Rev. Ron Rolheiser, “a superstar in the world of Catholic reflection,” Clifford said, will speak in Rochester at the Doubletree Hotel at the 2010 Convocation.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net