May 2017-Bp Ball Memorial
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VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2 MAY 2017 2 Inside This Issue... 4 The 7TH Bishop of Albany Is Remembered “Memories and Why They’re Important to Being 8 Church” - V. Rev. S. Peay, PhD Episcopal Diocese of Albany Diocesan: The Chrism Mass In Holy Week The Right Reverend William H. Love 10 Business Offi ce: 580 Burton Road Diocese Dedicates New Oaks of Righteousness Center Greenwich, NY 12834 12 Phone: (518) 518-692-3350 Fax: (518) 692-3352 Clergy In Transition Email: [email protected] 16 Website: albanyepiscopaldiocese.org Spiritual Life Center: “Let Your Light Shine” – Bishop Love 575 Burton Road 17 Greenwich, New York 12834 Phone: 518-692-9550 The 2017 Diocesan Convention Fax: 518-692-8777 18-26 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ctkcenter.org Mission To Madagascar - 2017 Albany Episcopalian Editor: 27 Cn. George J. Marshall [email protected] 31 Upcoming Diocesan Events Communication & Technology Offi cer: The Rev. Jill Stellman [email protected] 32 Youth Ministry 33 Beaver Cross Camp Schedule 34 Christ the King Spiritual Life Center Update Planned Giving Corner Diocesan Updates 35 The Diocesan Update is the diocesan weekly e-mail newsletter, containing news and events from around Bishop’s Visitation Schedule the diocese. If you’re interested in 36 receiving the Diocesan Update, send an e-mail to: webmaster@ albanydiocese.org. Put “Subscribe” in the subject line, and include your name, address, phone number, and parish (or other diocesan affi liation) in the body of the message. 3 4 The Rt. Reverend David the Navy was no easy task because A highlight of Dean Ball’s Standish Ball, the 7th Bishop of David was color blind, and at tenure at the Cathedral was to Albany, was fi nally at rest with that time, people who were color offi ciate at his parents’ renewal Our Lord, just 53 days short of blind had diffi culty getting into of their marriage vows on their his 91st birthday. The Diocese the military. Determined to do 50th wedding anniversary in 1970. and the entire church lost a dear his part to defend his country, he How proud his parents would friend this day and any attempt memorized the entire eye chart have been had they lived to see to write a story about this loving, prior to his examination. It might their son eventually become the Christian man, faithful bishop be said, “He passed the physical 7th Bishop of Albany. and true pastor is not without with fl ying colors!” Now a sailor, While at the Cathedral, Dean great diffi culty. To those who David was assigned to the Atlantic Ball began to see that his city was were honored to know him, and fl eet on the Navy destroyer, the changing. The numbers of poor those who wish they did, here is U.S.S. Cone. seemed to grow exponentially, a brief story of his life as outlined When World War II ended in and with that, a rising number of in the May 2016 The Albany 1945, “Dutch” could take his life in homeless roamed Albany’s streets. Episcopalian. a new direction. In the fall of 1946, Inspired by a plaque that hung David Standish Ball was born he entered Colgate University and on the wall in his offi ce which on June 11th, 1926, the second it was there at Colgate that David read, “IT CAN BE DONE”, it was a son of Percival and Hazelton Ball. Ball received that special “call” to constant reminder that with faith, He had three brothers, an older serve a new master and be a priest the “impossible could be done”. brother Robert and two younger in the Episcopal Church. That call Dean Ball elected to take on the brothers, George and Peter. There was answered. overwhelming task of addressing were no daughters in this family. He entered General Theological the need of housing for the poor. David Ball’s education began Seminary soon after graduation He joined the Board of the Albany in the Menands Elementary from Colgate in 1950. Three Interracial Council and became School, and he then moved on years later, on June 14th, 1953, its President in 1968. He then to the Milne School. (He always he was ordained Deacon by enlisted the Cathedral of All Saints pronounced it “Mill-in”). He was Bishop Barry in the Cathedral to join forces with the Morningstar an outstanding catcher and hitter of All Saints. On December 21, Baptist Church to begin the for Milne and voted All-Albany in 1953, Deacon Ball was ordained largest project ever undertaken baseball and Most Athletic in his a Priest. His fi rst assignment was by two denominations in the class. While attending Milne in curate of Bethesda Church in city of Albany. Elected President his teenage years, he was Capt. of Saratoga Springs, serving there of the Dudley Park Housing the Basketball team, President of for 3 years. In 1956, he accepted Development Company, Dean Ball the Boys Athletic Council, Captain an opportunity to serve at the helped raise more than 5 million Of the Traffi c Squad and President Cathedral of All Saints, starting as dollars to build an apartment of Phi Sigma Society. Canon Sacrist. Two years later, he complex to house 263 families became Canon Precentor. in the heart of Arbor Hill. The Because of his fair skin and project was built and completed very blond hair, David was It was the custom at that time in little more than one year. given the nickname, “Dutch”, a that a few promising priests Glancing back at the “IT CAN BE nickname he carried throughout from the United States would DONE” plaque, it could now be his entire life. In later years, as in have the opportunity to attend said, “It was done”. his teen years, “Dutch” excelled the prestigious St. Augustine’s in athletics, taking up golf, College in Canterbury, England. By now, it was 1984. fi shing, and even tried his hand David Ball, one of those promising Consecrated Bishop Coadjutor at horseback riding. When asked young priests, was invited to in February, he was installed the about his profi ciency in handling attend and went enthusiastically 7th Bishop of Albany in October equines, he humbly admitted to a on to Canterbury. However, of the same year. Albany’s lacking in this noble endeavor. he wasn’t to stay in England newest bishop soon discovered an urgent need to raise funds to Graduation from Milne came very long, because in 1960, a transatlantic cable from a very ill simply operate the Diocese, so he in 1943 and college was on the established the Step Out in Faith horizon. However, World War Bishop Barry shortened his stay. Bishop Barry asked him to come campaign. Attaining support of II was raging in Europe and the many parishes, individuals and Pacifi c, and like so many young home to be the new Dean of the Cathedral. He would be Dean of various organizations, several men of his generation, he was million dollars were raised to called to serve his country in the the Cathedral for the next 23 years. United States Navy. Getting into 5 pay for many long overdue Bishop Ball was an active in performing priestly Diocesan projects. avid New York Giants fan and and bishopric duties in the “ cathedral and beyond until It was not widely known, but this Bishop of Albany a great admirer of Willie Mays, shortly before his death. In made it a high priority to the Giants great center fi elder. spite of failing health, each Sunday he still stood tall, one faithfully commit to spending Over the years, discussions as one week each year in each hand on his walker, the other Deanery of the Diocese – a to which was the better team, holding a microphone, and total of 7 weeks. Bishop Ball i.e., the Brooklyn Dodgers or in a beaming voice, gave a Blessing over the congregation. regarded these weeks in the New York Giants, often brought Deaneries as “periods of great In all his 63 plus years as a joy”; a welcome opportunity spirited, but lighthearted cleric, he was a true pastor to to spend meaningful time dialogue. When the Giants and his fl ock. with his clergy and laity; Bishop Ball had a great an opportunity to share Dodgers moved to California fondness for the Cathedral of the concerns, hopes and in 1957, he was not silent on his All Saints. He spent 27 years aspirations of the parishes, dismay to see such betrayal to at the Cathedral (4 as a Canon Diocese and the wider church. and 23 as its Dean). He was the New York fans. His fondest On Saturday, June 11th, 2016, Diocesan 14 years and Bishop- a celebration of his 90th memory of the Giants was In-Residence 18 more for a total birthday was the highlight of when he was actually at the 59 of those 63 years as a cleric associated with the cathedral. the Diocese’s 148th Annual Polo Grounds to see Willie Mays Convention at Camp of the When TAE Editor asked Bishop Woods, Speculator. The make the famous “sensational Ball about the cathedral, he celebration included a video catch” in the history of the responded “It is the Mother Church of the Diocese…it’s a of his life story, special awards game, followed by an equally and many accolades before symbol of our connection with an appreciative and loving sensational throw back to each other and to the bishop. audience. As always, he was the infi eld to prevent runners In that sense, every member humbled by such praise.