Published June, 2019
Dear friends,
Greetings in this season of Pentecost when we are strengthened by the Spirit who helps us revere the "strangers" among us for God's Spirit and gifts in them! I am encouraged by the fact that invisible people are valued and lifted in our state! The Farmworkers Bill of Rights has the excellent potential of passing! The Green Light Bill was just signed into law. It gives access to driver's license for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status!
My hearty congratulations to all families and friends who are celebrating our young people as they mark their progress of growth and development by graduating! Our teenager, Eklan, graduates from high school and prepares to go to college this fall. We will say goodbye to a few of our Priests as they take on new cures in other parts of our beloved church. We send them with our prayers and generous wishes! I am sad to see them go and grateful for their thoughtful ministry among us! We gave thanks for the life and witness of Canon Karen Hanson, who served as Diocesan CFO for over a decade, at a very touching memorial service with her family and friends at St. Paul's in Rochester.
I will be taking my two-month Sabbatical from June 22-August 24, 2019. I intend to use most of this time for reflection and prayer while embracing a hermit-like lifestyle in South India. I will be reflecting mainly on the growing phenomenon of nationalism by revisiting a portion of my doctoral dissertation on India’s Hindu nationalism in the early years of this millennium.
I ask you for your prayers and to accept my heartfelt gratitude for allowing me the privilege of this downtime to recharge and revision. A competent team including the President of Standing Committee, Sarah Peters, Canons Todd and Johnnie, Chancellor Phil Fileri and my Assistant Carolyn McConnell will be monitoring things in my absence. Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe, Diocesan of Central New York, will be available to this team for any advice on matters if necessary.
I will be in touch at the end of August when I return! Thank you again for allowing me to take this time off for prayer, renewal and rest! My prayers for you are that this will be a time of rejuvenation and rest for you and yours, too!
With affection,
Prince