Assistant Editor
The Albany Diocese is one of several "on call" to send priests to New York City to celebrate funeral Masses for the victims of last week's attack on the World Trade Center.
Rev. Edward Deimeke, administrative advocate for priests for the Diocese, said Cardinal Edward Egan of the New York City Archdiocese called Bishop Howard J. Hubbard to ask for the priests' assistance.
No details have been settled about when -- or even if -- the priests will be needed, said Father Deimeke, but the cardinal wants a contingency plan in place in case the archdiocese is suddenly flooded with funerals as victims are unearthed from the debris. The cardinal has requested similar help from several other dioceses.
So far, 37 priests from the Albany Diocese have agreed to go to New York City if needed. The priests would either officiate at funerals or fill in at regular Masses so that the priests from New York City were free for the funerals, said Father Deimeke.
This could mean parishes in the Albany Diocese would hold Communion services in the absence of a priest, but Father Deimeke noted that "I don't anticipate any of these guys being gone over weekends. Funerals are usually done on weekdays."
Since several dioceses have been asked to send priests, he said, "It's possible they're not going to need our services."