50 Years as a Diocese

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from this special edition of our newspaper.

Pope appeals for peace in Iraq and release of kidnapped Mosul archbishop
(CNS)

Vatican City (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI appealed for peace and security in Iraq after kidnappers abducted Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, Iraq, and killed the three people who were traveling with him.
Full Story

Bishop urges faithful to join Advocacy Network
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Bishop William Murphy is encouraging Catholics throughout the diocese to sign up for the Catholic Advocacy Network, a statewide effort to inform voters on issues of interest to Catholics and make their voices heard by their elected officials. Full Story

Bishop Murphy's Column from Nov. 7, 07 on Catholic Advocacy Network: Click Here
Pete Sheehan's article from Jan. 2, 08 on DVD of Kathy Gallager: Click Here

Celebrating with disabled ‘our worth as children of God’
By mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

West Islip — To mark the beginning of Disabilities Awareness Month, adults with developmental and physical disabilities gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Church here for a morning of reflection March 1.

Almost 200 people registered for the event which included Mass, brunch, and a talk by Father James Bradley, coordinator of disabilities services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Brooklyn, who has used a wheelchair since suffering a stroke in the 1980s. Full Story

Tommy Lasorda shares baseball tips and tales at St. Dominic’s
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Woodbury — The room resounded with laughter as Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda spoke to boosters of St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay about his baseball career and Italian Catholic upbringing.
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Friends of the Seminary provide financial, spiritual support
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Huntington — For years Judy Healy often drove by the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception here but never went on to the property.
Full Story

Junior-senior prom a night to remember for Kellenberg students
By Christine Sweeney

Let’s hear from public school students!

Golden Occasion

Joseph and Jacqueline Kmiotek of North Massapequa marked their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends recently by renewing their vows at Maria Regina Church in Seaford. The Mass was celebrated by their son, Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Michael Kmiotek .

Washington youth to pope: ‘See you soon!’

Washington, D.C. (Zenit) — Youth from the Catholic University of America here participated in a satellite linkup with Benedict XVI last Saturday, holding a banner that read “See You Soon!”
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Tennis events serve as vehicle to feed hungry on L.I. and globally
By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

Tennis players interested in adding a new serve to their game can help feed the hungry while they play. The organization Stop World Hunger is sponsoring a variety of tennis events on Long Island; participation fees, which include nonperishable food items, are donated to feed the hungry both locally and globally.
Full Story

Martin Sheen named recipient of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal
(CNS)

Notre Dame, Ind. (CNS) — Actor Martin Sheen, whose human rights activism may be as well known these days as his acting credits, has been named the 2008 recipient of the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, the school’s oldest and most prestigious honor.
Full Listing

Music to raise the roof
TLIC photos/Gregory A. Shemitz

As Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Wyandanch, continues its recovery from a fire that destroyed its outreach center trailers and severely damaged the rectory in late December, scores of parishes, schools, businesses and individual donors have rallied to offer their financial support to the faith community that serves one of the poorest areas in Long Island. Full Story

Blessing the ‘holy ground’ of the Domestic Church
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Merrick — For Curé of Ars Parish here, Church and evangelization can begin at home.

For the past year, parishioners, through the parish bulletin, have been invited to call the parish to ask for a priest to bless their home.
Full Story

Priesthood: ‘Incredibly fun, incredibly exciting, incredibly important’
By Mary Gorry Staff Reporter

“I love being a priest. I love my life. The priesthood is incredibly fun, incredibly exciting, and incredibly important,” proclaims Father Brian Barr, director of the diocesan vocations office.
He doesn’t mince words when he speaks about the priesthood, vocations, and the need for all priests to communicate to young men “that joy, that love of priesthood.
Full Story

Pope offers encouragement to religious orders
(CNS)

Vatican City (CNS) — When Pope Benedict XVI met with the superiors of religious orders recently, most media coverage focused on the pope’s description of the “difficult crisis” religious life is facing.
Full Story

Pope: Vocations thrive in parishes with ‘spiritual soil’
(CNS)

Vatican City (CNS) — Parish communities with a real sense of obligation to spread the Gospel are places where vocations to be missionary priests and religious thrive, said Pope Benedict XVI.
Full Story

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.