‘PORTABLE VATICAN’ TO ACCOMPANY POPE TO U.S.
Papal photographer Francesco Sforza, center in background, will be among some 30 Vatican officials accompanying Pope Benedict on his visit to the U.S. next week. The ‘portable Vatican,’ made up of Roman Curia officials, liturgical advisers, doctors, media experts and security personnel, has been a regular part of papal trips since Pope Paul VI first traveled abroad in 1964. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Telecare the place to be for live, faith-based coverage of pope’s visit to D.C., New York
By Rick Hinshaw Editor

With continuous live coverage via Vatican feed, correspondents doing on-scene interviews, and faith-based studio commentary, Telecare promises papal coverage second to none when Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States April 15-20.
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Upcoming papal visit spurs students to explore history of Pope Benedict XVI and the papacy
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Farmingdale — None of them expect to see Pope Benedict XVI when he comes to New York next week, but eighth-graders at St. John Baptist de La Salle Regional School here were getting ready for the visit anyway.
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RVC schools join national effort to honor pope through service
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

As Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S. nears, students in the diocesan schools are performing hours of community service dedicated to the pontiff.
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Pope: ‘I shall come to U.S. to proclaim Christ’ as hope for all
CNS

Vatican City (CNS) — In a videotaped message, Pope Benedict XVI said he wants to bring a message of Christian hope to all Americans and to the United Nations when he visits in mid-April.
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‘The great love of God has lit the way’
By Emilee Walsh

My Catholic School Experience

I attended St. Martha’s Catholic grammar school in Uniondale and graduated in 1962. I remember I did very poorly the first semester in the fifth grade. Sister Jane Fidelis, CSJ took the time and effort to help me achieve good grades by being supportive and very kind.
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Pope-arazzi turn seminary into pre-papal media center
By Mary Iapalucci Staff Reporter

Huntington — The pope’s visit to New York later this month has thrust the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception here into the spotlight. Members of the media visited the seminary on April 1 to chronicle some of the daily activities and interview priests and seminarians about the state of vocations in the United States and, particularly, here on Long Island.
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Catholic youth pledge 500,000 service hours

Washington, D.C. — More than 500,000 community service hours have been pledged by Catholic school students and parish youth in honor of Pope Benedict XVI’s 81st birthday, which the Holy Father will observe April 16 during his U.S. visit.
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Tips on greening the environment and the bottom line
By Pete Sheehan Senior Reporter

Whether it’s as simple as changing light bulbs or thermostat settings or as ambitious as installing solar panels, a group of Long Island faith communities are urging their congregations to “save the environment and also save money.
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Welcome! Newly baptized share liturgy at St. Agnes Cathedral
TLIC photos/John Kirrane

Some of the newly baptized from throughout the diocese and their families gathered in St. Agnes Cathedral for 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 6 with Bishop Murphy.
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Mass for Pope John Paul II
TLIC photos/Gregory A. Shemitz

Marking the third anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death, St. Hyacinth Church in Glen Head hosted a special Polish-language Mass April 2 in memory of the former pontiff. Father Ryszard Ficek, the parish’s associate pastor, and Father Joseph Kozlowski, pastor emeritus, concelebrated the liturgy, with Father Ficek preaching the homily.
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Spiritual Care Companions provide a listening ear
By Mary Gorry Staff Reporter

Rockville Centre — “The greatest gift that we can give to another person is to let them be heard,” Carol Cella, coordinator of Catholic Health Services’ spiritual care companion program, told the 30 people who showed up at Mercy Medical Center here March 25 for an introduction to spiritual companionship.
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50 Years as a Diocese

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from this special edition of our newspaper.

Msgr. Francis Maniscalco is offering 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.