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Press Release
New Hampshire Voice of the Faithful (NH-VOTF) requests Bishop
John McCormack seek to use up to $1 million in proceeds from the
sale of the bishop's mansion to fund the Emmaus House youth ministry,
instead of for a fund for his living expenses. The text of the letter
follows the introduction.
Emmaus House, the 64-room retreat center operated for 25 years
as part of the diocese’s youth ministry, was closed June 8 due to
budget shortfalls. (“Catholic teen retreat closes in Manchester”
The Union Leader 6-9-03) Thousands of young people passed through
its doors for confirmation retreats and other programs hailed as
a model for effective youth outreach. Sr. Bernadette Turgeon and
Matthew Goody were co-directors, who labored for decades with limited
finances to repair and furnish the building, and minister to young
people.
The bishop’s residence, a 5,348 sq. ft. mansion at 657 North
River Road, is also due to close because of the same budget woes.
It cost $50,000 a year to operate for Bishop John McCormack. (“Bishop’s
residence may be sold” The Union Leader 6-14-03 ) Former Manchester
Mayor George Trudel donated the mansion to the diocese in 1947 to
be used forever for a bishop’s residence.
McCormack is asking in probate court that the proceeds from
the anticipated sale of the property, ranging from $750,000 to $1
million, be placed in a restricted account for his personal living
expenses -- to most closely match the original intent of the donor.
He plans to move into the rectory at St. Joseph Cathedral.
New Hampshire Voice of the Faithful
P.O. Box 423
Concord, NH 03302-0423
June 23, 2003
Most Rev. John B. McCormack, D.D.
Diocese of Manchester
153 Ash St.
P.O. Box 310
Manchester, NH 03105-0310
Dear Bishop McCormack:
Two recent news events prompt this letter to you. The first is
the closing of Emmaus following a quarter century of outstanding
service to our young people. The second is the Diocese’s request
to be relieved of the conditions of Mayor George Trudel’s bequest
of the North River Road home for use as a residence for bishops,
sell the property, and establish a restricted fund for living expenses.
The juxtaposition of these events within a week of each other
led to some reflection on how to help the Diocese retain its nationally
recognized youth programs. Is there perhaps an opportunity here?
We commend your efforts to reconfigure the diocesan budget to
accommodate reduced revenues, especially your willingness to forego
the River Road residence and move into the rectory at St. Joseph
Cathedral. That is a personal dislocation we acknowledge and appreciate.
The appropriation of the proceeds to a restricted fund that honors
the intent of the donor is indirectly related to the purpose of
the original bequest, but we pose the following points for your
prayerful consideration.
Anticipating your proposed domestic arrangements are satisfactory,
and assuming significantly lower costs associated with them, would
you be open to requesting that the River Road proceeds to be assigned
to a different kind of residence; one that has housed and strengthened
thousands of young Catholics on their faith journeys at a key point
in their development?
Emmaus House is the home of new beginnings, a place of healing
and hope. In your message to Church leaders in February on our plan
for moving forward together, you wrote that the “vision of a vibrant
Church in New Hampshire” was born of listening to parishioners.
We are voices addressing you as our bishop and pastor, taking to
heart your word that “ministry to youth is a priority.”
You said further that you want our Church to be a place “where
young men and women can let the seeds of their faith come to full
bloom with full trust in those present to help and nurture them.”
Emmaus House is such a place, as amply demonstrated under the inspired
leadership of Sr. Bernadette Turgeon and her staff, who ministered
to 30,000 teenagers during their tenure. Individual parishes by
themselves cannot operate such a program and facility but the Diocese
did and, with your assistance and cooperation, we pray can continue
to do so.
Would it not also be in accord with the spirit of Mayor Trudel’s
bequest to appropriate his legacy to secure the residence that has
contributed more to Catholic identity for more teenagers than any
other program? No doubt there are mechanisms to negotiate before
such funding could be arranged, but with your backing, we believe
impediments could be resolved. The proceeds could establish a restricted
endowment fund for Emmaus House, which would greatly reduce the
expense burden on an annual basis, and perhaps lead to a self-sustaining
entity. We do indeed see an opportunity, a dream worth pursuing;
that says, not why, but why not?
Please reflect on our request, mindful of the impact on youth
who need to see new hope. May we look to your support before whatever
deliberative legal or pastoral groups are involved in the matter,
and may we participate in those venues?
Respectfully, we ask your blessing on youth ministries for the
genuine priority you recognize they are.
Sincerely,
Nashua Area Voice:
George Thompson
Marjorie Thompson
Peter Flood
Nancy Kring-Burns
Sandra Johnson
Durham/Dover Voice:
Lorraine Graham
Frank M. Graham
Margaret Boucher
Maggie Fogarty
Lynn Holmes
John Miskus
Dr. Eugene Tillock
Dr. Sylvia Weber Russell
John Carroll
Diana Carroll
Greater Manchester Voice:
Peggy Drago
Helene L. Belanger
Concord Area Voice:
Rose Marie Lanier
James Preisendorfer
Anne Pullen
Eileen Keim
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