Breaking News - Kidnapped Iraqi archbishop found dead

Pope pained by news that kidnapped Iraqi archbishop was found dead

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI called the kidnapping and death of an Iraqi archbishop "an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being and seriously harms the ... coexistence among the beloved Iraqi people."

Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, 65, was kidnapped Feb. 29 in an attack that left his driver and two bodyguards dead. The pope had made several public appeals for his release.
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The body of Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, Iraq, has been recovered by church officials in Iraq. The archbishop was kidnapped Feb. 29. Archbishop Rahho is pictured at a press conference in Rome Nov. 23. (CNS/Paul Haring)

50 Years as a Diocese

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from this special edition of our newspaper.

Day of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available to all Catholics on Monday, March 17 from 3 to 9 p.m. in most parishes. Call the rectory for the hours in your parish.

Also see the following article and column:

Reconciliation: ‘You are forgivable, and you are forgiven’
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

As a young priest in the 1950s, Msgr. Robert Emmet Fagan remembers when there was a line outside the confessional every Saturday. “I was ordained in an era when, at Maria Regina in Seaford, we heard confession Saturday afternoon from four to six or a bit later with two or three priests,” said Msgr. Fagan, who is retired.
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Richly blessed, once again
By Bishop William Murphy

All of us know that the Lord has richly blessed our diocese, which explains why Sister Joan Leonard, CSJ, chose that as the title of her history of the earlier years of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The blessings of the Lord are abundant in all our parishes and in the many sacramental, pastoral and charitable initiatives of our diocese as a whole.
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Gearing up for World Youth Day 2008
By Mary Gorry Staff Reporter

Elmont — World Youth Day is a pilgrimage, not a vacation. That was the mantra of the evening as the excited voices of teens, young adults, parents, and chaperones filled the auditorium at St. Boniface Church here March 6 for a meeting to prepare for World Youth Day this July in Sydney, Australia.
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Seminary’s Msgr. Denzer Memorial Lecture offers biblical lessons for today
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Huntington — Christians in St. Paul’s time struggled to navigate the political and popular culture of their times while being true to their faith, just as Christians do now, explained Bishop Emil Wcela in a lecture Sunday.
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St. William the Abbot hosts annual Lenten Soup Supper

The Social Ministry of St William the Abbot parish, Seaford, hosted a Lenten Soup Supper March 9. Parishioners took a break from the hectic activity of their lives and spent some time with other families during this season of Lent, a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Dinner consisted of soup, which was donate
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Darfur: Responding as Christians to death, hunger
By James Pascucci

Conferral of papal honors at traditional Latin Mass

UNIONDALE — Bishop William Murphy used the occasion of the weekly traditional Latin Mass March 9 at St. Pius X Chapel here to confer papal honors, and the title of Monsignor, upon Father James Pereda, diocesan judicial vicar. Msgr. Pereda, who regularly celebrates the weekly Mass at St. Pius using the1962 Latin language liturgy promulgated by Pope John XXIII, was honored by Pope Benedict XVI with the title “Chaplain of His Holiness” in recognition of his service to the Church. Full Story

2008 CHSAA Varsity Basketball Championships

On March 4, 2008, St. John the Baptist won its fifth straight CHSAA Girls Varsity Basketball Championship, defeating Holy Trinity, 43 to 30, at Hofstra's Mack Sports Complex.
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St. Edward’s young people send prayers and care packages to soldiers
By Mary Gorry Staff Reporter

Syosset — At St. Edward the Confessor Church here, as in other local parishes, parishioners keep American soldiers in their prayers. In addition to that spiritual support, the teens at St. Edward’s are sending some items of physical comfort for the troops.
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Pro-life oratorical contest winners

Participants in the Long Island Coalition for Life’s annual pro-life oratorical contest, held March 9 at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale.
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Diocesan bereavement conference brings comfort to broken hearts
By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

Uniondale — The 300 people gathered at Bishop Kellenberg Memorial High School here on Saturday, March 8 were a diverse group — Catholics and non-Catholics, young adults and senior citizens, professional counselors and social workers and people who just wanted some support. What they all had in common was grief — and the need to give comfort to hearts that mourn.
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Anger: It’s a part of grief
By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

Uniondale — Stamping her feet and yelling from time to time, Kathy Ryan told workshop participants that “anger is a part of grief, just like it’s a part of life.” It’s what we do with that anger that’s important.
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Schedule of upcoming Virtus training sessions in March

As part of its ongoing, proactive effort to protect children from becoming victims of sexual abuse, the Diocese of Rockville Centre offers training programs throughout the year in locations throughout the diocese.
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Diocese of Rockville Centre

Office of Communications
7 March 2008

Statement Regarding 2007 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People:

According to the 2007 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (the “Charter”), which will be released publicly by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on March 7, 2008, the Diocese of Rockville Centre was found to be in compliance with all components of the Charter, with the exception of Article 12, which stipulates conditions for safe environment programs.
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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.