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The following are the texts of the citations for the Bishop's Crosses awarded at the 235th Convention of the Diocese to Sister Faith Margaret, CHS, Johanna Shafer, José Torres and the Rev. Richard C. Witt, Jr.
In The General Thanksgiving of the Daily Office, we ask for such an awareness of God's mercies that we will, with thankful hearts, display our praise of the sacred "not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to [God's] service…walking before God in holiness and righteousness all our days…." In the life and ministry of Sister Faith Margaret, CHS we have a living witness to God's mercy, of a thankful heart, of an example of praise and self-sacrifice and of a model of holiness and righteousness. A native of Staten Island who majored in mathematics in college and worked for a time as a group underwriter and employee benefits consultant, she entered the Community of the Holy Spirit in 1986 and made her Life Profession in 1992. She taught Math at St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School for five years, while she also worked as a Financial & Benefit Analyst at the Episcopal Church Medical Trust for seven years. For her religious community she has served as a member of its Community Council and as Treasurer. In addition to being a spiritual director and retreat conductor, she has been the Treasurer of the Diocese of New York since 2004. She is tireless and gracious in her efforts, professional and devotional in her focus and merciful in her life.
Therefore, in recognition and gratitude for her service to her community, her diocese and the larger Church offered to the glory of God, we, on this 14th day of January 2012, in the fourteenth year of our consecration, do award her
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Fifteenth Bishop of New York
(Presented at the Election Convention, November 19, 2011)
St. Francis of Assisi reportedly once said, "Always preach the Gospel. Sometimes - use words." We know that the Church benefits immeasurably and most significantly when the Gospel is displayed by behavior. It is clear that Johanna Shafer has spent her life proclaiming the Good News in Christ by the example of her life. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, she graduated from Bard College and married The Reverend Michael Shafer in 1967. Together they raised Reuben, their son, and Gail, their daughter, in a home dedicated to their care and that of others. In the early 1970s she revitalized an old and large rectory in order to create a pre-school program that lasted for over a decade, and was subsequently used for a youth ministry center, and ultimately as a half-way house for young adults in need. Johanna's maternal ministry enriched the lives of many. She eventually received a Master’s degree in Social Work and worked for the Albany County Mental Health Office, when she created a drop-in center for teens that specialized in suicide prevention. She completed her professional career as the Director of Social Services at the Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck, New York. She has since then given tirelessly to diocesan work and offered outstanding leadership as a Coordinator for Urban Latino Ministry, as the Chair of the Diocesan linkage with India and as coordinator of the Diocese of New York of the Indaba Project of the Anglican Communion.
Therefore, in recognition and gratitude for her service to her community, her parish, her diocese and the larger Church offered to the glory of God, we, on this 19th day of November 2011, in the fourteenth year of our consecration, do award her
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Fifteenth Bishop of New York
We learn from the Hebrew Scriptures (Proverbs 20.7) that "The righteous walk in integrity - happy are the children who follow them!"
Since 1971 the outreach of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine has been blessed by the righteous example of José Torres, who was instrumental in the foundation of the Adults and Children in Trust program. ACT provides a safe haven where children spanning toddlers to teens from many faiths, cultures and economic backgrounds gather to learn, play and grow as they participate in the broad range of programs offered by highly-trained, caring adults. A.C.T. has since grown into a multi-faceted year-round program that enrolls close to 2,500 students a year, and provides affordable educational and recreational services that include early childhood programs, summer programs and afterschool programs that aim to support working families, while bringing them in touch with the beauty, wonder and drama of the Cathedral and its natural setting.
José Vincent Torres grew up in Harlem and, as a CUNY student, was a counselor in the first A.C.T. program. As a program leader from the mid-1970s, while completing his MSW degree at Columbia University, José was named the Director in 1981, and he became the Executive Director in 1992.
José has built bridges to the local community, guided the counselors to high standards in their conduct and work ethic, and elevated the learning experience of future leaders. By enhancing the ability of young people and families "to thrive in diverse communities” these young people have become citizens equipped to respect the dignity of all persons. Jose has been, as he would say, a navigator – one who has guided many with their unique talents to achieve common goals as they influence the lives of others.
Therefore, in recognition and gratitude for his service to his community, to the Cathedral and to the City of New York, we, on this 14th day of January 2012, in the fourteenth year of our consecration, do award him
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Fifteenth Bishop of New York
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice…" (St Matthew 5.6). These words of Our Savior from His Sermon on the Mount both inform us and transform us, but they also define and describe the dual ministry of teaching and effecting change that has characterized the exemplary priestly work of Richard Witt, Jr. He has established a consistent and impressive record of prophetic leadership, and in the twenty years he has been the Director of the Rural and Migrant Ministry, one of the jewels in the crown of our Diocese, he has demonstrated courage, compassion, foresight, intelligence and persistence, thereby giving us a model for the Church's witness to uphold the values of social justice, to promote the dignity of all of God's people and to bring hope to those who are disadvantaged and struggling. He is commended not only for what he has accomplished, but also for the manner in which he reached these achievements: he has shown determined patience, unbounded optimism and measured assertiveness as he has given unwavering dedication to the rural workers of New York State and their families. His steady leadership in the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign, by seeking equal rights in his pursuit of the legislative enactment of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, is a powerful witness to God's commission to fight for the vulnerable. Additionally, he has been an inspiring example to countless young people in the Youth Arts Group, leading them to challenge the status-quo, to seek excellence in education and to build leaders for rural social transformation. His creation of the annual rural summer camp, that serves more than 100 children from farm worker families, has been influential in teaching them the values of justice and equality.
Therefore, in recognition and gratitude for his service to our community, his parish, his diocese and the larger Church offered to the glory of God, we, on this 14th day of January, 2012, in the fourteenth year of our consecration, do award him
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Fifteenth Bishop of New York
