Norwich parishes get new priest
SYRACUSE – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has appointed Rev. Ralph A. Bove as administrator for St. Bartholomew’s and St. Paul’s churches in Norwich, effective in July.
Father Bove, who is currently the parochial vicar of St. James Church in Johnson City, will replace Father Douglas Cunningham.
Last month, Cunningham surprised the greater Norwich Catholic community upon announcing his decision to resign at the end of June. He has served in both parishes for most of his 14-year career here.
Bove has also served as a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in Cicero. Prior to that, he belonged to the Scalabrini Order and served in parishes in New York City, Rhode Island and Canada. His first assignment as a Scalabrini was at St. Peter’s Church in Syracuse. He was ordained on May 27, 1978.
The Diocese made the announcement on May 8.
Several close to Father Cunningham, who is 52, have confirmed that he is resigning due to “serious health reasons.”
The office for both St. Bart’s and St. Paul’s parishes did not return phone calls about the appointment, nor about Cunningham’s health condition or future plans. The Norwich priest was also unavailable for comment.
The churches’ Finance Committee member Paul Del Fuoco of Sherburne said he met with Bove last week in Syracuse. He said Bove, who is in his mid 50s, was coming to Norwich “with the idea of serving both parishes.”
“He’s looking forward to coming here and I hope things will work out for everybody,” Del Fuoco said.
The Diocese underwent an unprecedented downsizing in the region over the last three years due to a lack of priests and a declining population. Back in March of 2006, Cunningham announced that St. Bart’s would likely close. The decision led to an uproar in the primarily Italian immigrant community that built the church on East Main Street back in 1927. Church council reorganizations and a lengthy legal investigation into the parishes’ finances ensued. In the end, the Diocese permitted both parishes to remain open under an agreement that they would share a pastor.
Del Fuoco said Cunningham’s illness required a less stressful work environment.
“He’s under quite a bit of stress here in Norwich. With his condition, it’s more of a load than you want to carry,” he said.
Father Bove, who is currently the parochial vicar of St. James Church in Johnson City, will replace Father Douglas Cunningham.
Last month, Cunningham surprised the greater Norwich Catholic community upon announcing his decision to resign at the end of June. He has served in both parishes for most of his 14-year career here.
Bove has also served as a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in Cicero. Prior to that, he belonged to the Scalabrini Order and served in parishes in New York City, Rhode Island and Canada. His first assignment as a Scalabrini was at St. Peter’s Church in Syracuse. He was ordained on May 27, 1978.
The Diocese made the announcement on May 8.
Several close to Father Cunningham, who is 52, have confirmed that he is resigning due to “serious health reasons.”
The office for both St. Bart’s and St. Paul’s parishes did not return phone calls about the appointment, nor about Cunningham’s health condition or future plans. The Norwich priest was also unavailable for comment.
The churches’ Finance Committee member Paul Del Fuoco of Sherburne said he met with Bove last week in Syracuse. He said Bove, who is in his mid 50s, was coming to Norwich “with the idea of serving both parishes.”
“He’s looking forward to coming here and I hope things will work out for everybody,” Del Fuoco said.
The Diocese underwent an unprecedented downsizing in the region over the last three years due to a lack of priests and a declining population. Back in March of 2006, Cunningham announced that St. Bart’s would likely close. The decision led to an uproar in the primarily Italian immigrant community that built the church on East Main Street back in 1927. Church council reorganizations and a lengthy legal investigation into the parishes’ finances ensued. In the end, the Diocese permitted both parishes to remain open under an agreement that they would share a pastor.
Del Fuoco said Cunningham’s illness required a less stressful work environment.
“He’s under quite a bit of stress here in Norwich. With his condition, it’s more of a load than you want to carry,” he said.
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