Recently, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio presented a re-organization of the Central Diocesan Administration to the curia and to diocesan employees. The Bishop explained, “This structure allows us to conduct the essential services of the diocese and attain our mission of the New Evangelization in the most effective and efficient manner possible.”

 

He used two charts to illustrate how the various diocesan offices are structured by their functions in relation to the Episcopal Vicars and Secretariat Council. “No organizational chart, no matter how good, can really demonstrate the dynamic activity that must occur among the various offices within the Central Diocesan Administration and their relationship to the parishes,” he said.

 

Episcopal Vicars and Secretariat Council

The Episcopal Vicars and Secretariat Council (see Chart A), also referred to as The Bishop’s Cabinet, is composed of 16 members whose purpose is to advise and inform the Bishop and other Council members on matters relating to the responsibilities of their respective offices.

 

The Bishop’s Cabinet includes:

 

Vicar General and Vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life

Auxiliary Bishop Raymond F. Chappetto

 

Moderator of the Curia and Vicar for Evangelization

Very Rev. James Massa

 

Judicial Vicar

Msgr. Steven J. Aguggia

 

Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

Msgr. Anthony M. Hernandez

 

Territorial Vicar for Brooklyn

Msgr. Joseph Grimaldi

 

Territorial Vicar for Queens

Msgr. Edward Scharfenberger

 

Vicar for Financial Administration and Econome

Msgr. Michael J. Reid

Vicars for Black and Hispanic Concerns

Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros, Vicar

Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq, Vicar

 

Vicar for Communication

Msgr. Kieran E. Harrington

 

Vicar for Development

Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello

 

Vicar for Ecumenical Interreligious Affairs

Msgr. Guy Massie, Vicar

Very Rev. Joseph M. Zwosta, Assistant Vicar

 

Vicar for Higher Education and Campus Ministries

Msgr. John J. Strynkowski

 

Vicar for Human Services

Msgr. Alfred P. LoPinto, Vicar

Very Rev. Patrick J. Keating, Assistant Vicar

 

Vicar for Migrant and Ethnic Apostolates

Msgr. Ronald. T. Marino

 

Secretary for Human and Information Resources

Deacon Edward S. Gaine

 

Central Diocesan Administration (CDA) Offices

While the new organizational chart (see Chart B) maintains many of the structures as designed in the re-organization of 2009, it now reflects the central role of evangelization and the importance of parishes, clergy, consecrated life and vocations.

 

The Major Changes (see Chart C)

 

Office of the Vicar General and Vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life

Auxiliary Bishop Raymond P. Chappetto

 

In addition to the canonical duties Bishop Chappetto has as Vicar General, he maintains his responsibilities as Vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life and, as such, oversees the Office of Clergy Personnel, the Episcopal Delegate for Religious, and Senior Priest Life and Benefits.

Under the re-organization, Bishop Chappetto also will oversee Cathedral Preparatory High School, the Vocations Office and the Cathedral Seminary House of Formation.

 

Office of the Moderator of the Curia and

Vicar for Evangelization

Very Rev. James Massa

 

By creating this new position, Bishop DiMarzio has demonstrated the importance of the New Evangelization in the parishes, in schools, in faith formation and with coordination of key vicars.

In his new position, Father Massa takes on the oversight of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, the Retreat Center, the Liturgy Office, the Pilgrimage Office and the Office of Diaconate Formation.

Prior to Father Massa coming to the position, Bishop DiMarzio combined the Office of Faith Formation, with its functions of Catechetical Formation, Youth Ministry, Marriage Ministry, R.C.I.A. and Religious Education with the long-standing Pastoral Institute to create the School of Evangelization. The overall objective of consolidating the various operations is to maintain the unique content of the programs while combining many of the common functions for greater effectiveness and efficiency.

As a member of the Episcopal Vicars and Secretariat Council, Father Massa will coordinate with Vicars where opportunities for New Evangelization are identified in Higher Education and Campus Ministries, Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Black and Hispanic Concerns and Migrant and Ethnic Minorities.

 

Deanery Structure – Office of the Territorial Vicars

Msgr. Joseph Grimaldi, Brooklyn.

Msgr. Edward Scharfenberger, Queens

 

By creating the deanery structure (article in The Tablet, April 27, 2013) and entrusting the coordination of the deans to his Territorial Vicars, Bishop DiMarzio seeks to create a more direct link from the parishes to the Central Diocesan Administration (CDA) to improve service and support.

In his address to the CDA, he encouraged the employees “… always remember that we here, in these offices, work to support the parishes and schools of our Diocese.”