Mass marks opening of diocese’s 50th anniversary

By Lena Pennino
Staff Reporter

Rockville Centre — People packed the pews, lined the walls and sat on steps along the confessionals at St. Agnes Cathedral here Jan. 21. The sound of three choirs, two cantors, a pipe organ, trumpets and trombone also filled the church as the yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the diocese began with Mass on the feast of our patroness, St. Agnes.
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The special logo for the diocese’s 50th anniversary explores the theme “Faith lived, Faith prayed, Faith professed, Faith celebrated” and was taken from the headings for each of the parts of the new U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults.
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To honor the dedication of Long Island Catholics and the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Bishop William Murphy announced the creation of the St. Agnes medal on January 21 at St Agnes Cathedral during a special anniversary Mass.
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Catholic schools in the Rockville Centre diocese will join in the national celebration of Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 28 through Feb. 3.

“Catholic Schools Week offers an opportunity to invite people to see the wonderful academic and spiritual programs offered in our Catholic schools,” said Ursuline Sister Joanne Callahan, diocesan superintendent of schools. “As Pope John Paul II said in 1987 speaking to Catholic educators in New Orleans, Catholic schools have been a gift to the church and to the nation. On Long Island we can say the same.”
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Washington, D.C. — With teens, young adults, and veterans all making the long trip here, more than 1,000 Long Islanders participated this week in the 34th annual March for Life.
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For this special event, 34th March For Life, it is our pleasure to offer a PDF file which contains a Slide Show of additional photos taken by The Long Island Catholic's staff photographer, Gregory A. Shemitz.

To view this file you must have the following program Adobe Reader 8.
Which can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.
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MarchForLife1

Dear Friends,
With a heart filled with joy and gratitude I write to you today as we approach the beginning of the Golden Jubilee Year of the Diocese of Rockville Centre! What a privilege it is for me to serve as your bishop during this momentous time in the history and life of this great diocese, and for this I offer praise and thanksgiving to almighty God.
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EDUCATION

Atlanta (CNS) — Starting this January, students at Emory University in Atlanta have the chance to learn about famous Catholics as part of a new Catholic studies minor at the liberal arts university.
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Wantagh — Catherine Carilli, 82, leaned over her bingo card, sliding red translucent squares across her board as letters and numbers were announced: “N-39, I-17, G-52.”
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Catholics of Central American ancestry packed the pews of St. Agnes Church, Greenport, Jan. 20 for a special Mass celebrating the feast of Christ of Esquipulas. The day, also referred to as the feast of the Black Christ, traces its origins to Esquipulas, Guatemala, where a three-foot tall image of the crucified Christ carved in balsa wood has resided for more than 400 years.
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Washington (CNS) — Faced with rising costs and shifting populations, several dioceses in the Northeast United States announced reorganization plans in mid-January that involve closing or merging many of their parishes and schools.
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St. Louis (CNS) — People in the St. Louis suburb of Richwoods reacted with “stunned joy” to the news that two local boys who had been reported abducted, one more than four years ago, were found alive and safe Jan. 12, said Father Robert C. Liss, pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Richwoods.
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