Season of Lent begins
Father Gerard Gordon, chaplain of St. Anthony's High School, South Huntington, presided at a palm-burning rite Monday during which ashes were created for use at the school's Ash Wednesday services. The palms were burned inside the frame of St. Anthony's new chapel, which is under construction and scheduled to be dedicated in September.
TLIC photo/Gregory A. Shemitz

The burning of palms creates ashes to be used in Ash Wednesday services, as the season of Lent begins. Bishop Murphy, in his Lenten letter, invites us all to turn humbly to the God of love in this Lenten season. The bishop’s Faith and New Works column, and a TLIC editorial, reflect on the opportunities for sacrificial giving that the Catholic Ministries Appeal affords us during this Lenten season. And columnist Alice O’Brien Gunther offers “A Lenten Tea” as a joyfully teaching opportunity in the home.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The ancient Jewish Prayer of Manasseh expresses so well our attitude as we enter into this beautiful and grace-filled season of Lent: “Lord, I am who am sinner … bend the knees of my heart before You and I am beseeching your kindness. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned … Forgive me, O Lord, forgive me!”
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SPECIAL SECTION HIGHLIGHTING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Catholic Schools Week begins Sunday, January 27 — and there is much to celebrate about Catholic schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The Long Island Catholic is pleased to present this special page section highlighting the benefits — spiritual, academic, social — of a Catholic education.
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50 Years as a Diocese

Please click here for articles
from this special edition of our newspaper.

Maria Regina sends ‘Helping Hands’ to New Orleans

By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

Seaford — Parishioners of Maria Regina here started the new year off by sending their help and hope to the people of New Orleans still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which struck the area in August 2005.
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Annulment: Clearing up the myths, misunderstandings

By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

Kings Park — “The whole idea of an annulment is misunderstood. There are many myths about it,” according to Msgr. James Pereda, the judicial vicar for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Because there is so much misinformation surrounding the Church’s marriage annulment process, the diocesan office of faith formation recently presented two information sessions on the topic.
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Steps of annulment process lead to peace

By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

The annulment process begins with a call to the tribunal office at 516-678-5800 ext. 571. A staff member will get information to see if the case is in the right jurisdiction. Either the marriage had to have occurred in the diocese or one of the parties must live in the diocese where the annulment is sought.
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For special needs children, it’s more about the heart than the mind

By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Wantagh – As their twin sons, Tommy and Nick, grew ready for school, Mary and Tom Cusack of St. Aidan’s Church in Williston Park wondered whether Nick, who has autism, could learn their Catholic faith.
“Our faith is very important to us, and we wanted to pass it on to our sons,” who are now five, commented Mary.
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New chaplains appointed to lawyers guild

Rockville Centre — Bishop William Murphy has appointed three new chaplains to the Catholic Lawyers Guild: Msgr. James Pereda, judicial vicar, has been named chaplain of the Catholic Lawyers Guild.
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Life and work go on despite devastating fire at parish

By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Wyandanch — With all the work of recovering from a Dec. 30 fire, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church here was scheduled to hold a blood drive Jan. 20, pastor Father William Brisotti noted.
Rather than canceling, “we decided to go ahead with it,” Father Brisotti said, knowing that there was great need for blood donations.
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New on DVD ...

CNS

Mineola – Supportive, diverse, community, family – these are the words faculty, parents, and students all use to describe Corpus Christi School here.
It’s not uncommon to see older students holding the hands of their pre-K or nursery buddies while attending first Friday Mass as a school.
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I walk into the auditorium of St. Anne’s in Garden City to see smiling faces of children and adults. Some are playing basketball, while others draw or watch movies. Children are laughing, adults are conversing, and everyone is sharing special moments. This may look like an ordinary program in which kids can hang out and have fun, but in reality it is so much more. 
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Centering prayer ‘fills the body with spiritual nourishment’

By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

West Islip — Nearly 100 people put their busy lives on hold recently to turn their attention to God as they participated in a day of prayer and reflection presented by Contemplative Outreach of Long Island/ Queens at Our Lady of Lourdes parish here.
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Beginning after the new year, Msgr. Francis Maniscalco will offer a monthly Question and Answer column in TLIC designed to respond to inquiries from readers about Church teachings, practices and various aspects of the Catholic faith. Currently director of the diocesan Respect Life Office, Msgr. Maniscalco is a former editor of The Long Island Catholic and former director of communications for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

We invite readers to submit your questions to Msgr. Maniscalco c/o The Long Island Catholic, P.O. Box 9000, Roosevelt, NY 11575. You may also fax them to us at 516-594-1092. Or you may e-mail your questions to editor@licatholic.org.