NEWLY APPOINTED BISHOP ROBERT CUNNINGHAM VISITS ST. ANTHONY CONVENT CHAPEL TO PRAY AT BLESSED MARIANNE'S RELIQUARY

The Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Cunningham was announced as the new Bishop of Syracuse at a press conference on Tuesday morning, April 21.  He has been the Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg since May 18, 2004.  Born and raised in the Diocese of Buffalo, Bishop Cunningham served as a priest there for 35 years.  Obviously he is known very well by our Sisters in Buffalo especially Sister Patricia Burkard since he and her brother, Msgr. Paul Burkard, were high school and seminary classmates.  Sister Patricia worked with Bishop Cummingham when she was a Superintendent of Schools in the Buffalo Diocese.  After his press conference he visited 5 places in Syracuse one of which was The Blessed Marianne Cope Shrine where he prayed at her reliquary.

Many sisters were on hand to welcome him as well.  Sister Patricia Burkard and Sister Mary Laurence Hanley presented him with a biography of Blessed Marianne.  During his visit he addressed the sisters assembled.  He thanked them for their outstanding contribution in serving the ministries in Syracuse.  He also said that he looked forward to working with the sisters and supporting them in whatever work in which they were involved.

With his arms around Sister Marian Rose and Sister Patricia he commented on the fact that Buffalo is taking over Syracuse!

Bishop Cunningham will be installed as the Syracuse Diocese's Bishop on
May 26 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.