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