ARTICLES

New Hampton Roads correspondent for CV

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

With the next issue of The Catholic Virginian, dated July 14, 2008, Sandy Grecco will be joining the staff as the new Hampton Roads correspondent, succeeding Barbara Hughes.

Mrs. Hughes, who began as correspondent in the summer of 2003, is resigning because she needs more time to pursue other areas of interest. Chief among them is her continuing role as the Bishop’s liaison to the Jewish and Muslim communities of the diocese, but she also has other irons in the fire she wishes to pursue.

It is with gratitude that I announce that Barbara has agreed to continue writing her column “In Light of Faith” which has sparked much interest among readers. Truly, she is not “leaving” The Catholic Virginian, but just relinquishing a larger role which increasingly took more time from her busy schedule.

“I have truly enjoyed my role as a correspondent with The Catholic Virginian,” Mrs. Hughes said.

“Along the way, I have met many inspiring people who are living their faith and for that I will always be grateful. But I also realize it’s time for me to utilize my education and concentrate my energy and experience in ways that it seems God is leading me.

“My commitment to interreligious dialogue remains strong and I will continue as the Bishop’s liaison to the Jewish and Muslim communities. But I am also being called upon more and more to give retreats within the diocese and on a national level.

“Recently, I have been invited to be part of a retreat effort for the National Catholic Education Association and to help develop spiritual deepening programs through distance learning for ministers serving the Church in parishes and teachers in Catholic schools.

“I feel humbled and privileged to serve the Church in this way. I ask for your prayers and look forward to seeing many of you in my travels around the diocese.”

Barbara certainly was a goodwill ambassador for The Catholic Virginian as she covered many events and interviewed people. We are grateful to her for all that she did.

Since no one can truly “replace” another, I am pleased to say that Sandy Grecco will succeed Barbara Hughes as Hampton Roads correspondent.

Mrs. Grecco, who moved to Virginia Beach while in high school and now lives in Norfolk, has long worked in the communications field. Much of her career has been in advertising, and she served as account executive with WAVY.com in Portsmouth and was creative services director of WVEC-TV in Norfolk.

In meeting with Mrs. Grecco and reading samples of her writing, I have found that she has the ability to communicate through the written word effectively and with impact.

She has a bachelor of science degree in communication arts from James Madison University. She is married and she and her husband, Jim, live with sons, Anthony and Matthew, both students at St. Pius X School in Norfolk. They are members of St. Pius X parish in Norfolk.

“As of July 1, I will be attempting to fill the incredible shoes of Barbara Hughes as the new Hampton Roads correspondent for The Catholic Virginian,” Mrs. Grecco said.

Over the next several weeks she will be contacting parishes in the Diocese’s Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 12 to introduce herself. Her first feature will be an article on the various Vacation Bible School programs at the local parishes.

She can be reached by email at ssgrecco@cox.net or by phone at 757–215–8965.

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