Music, religion with a lively island beat

By Mary Gorry
Staff Reporter

The Caribbean Catholic experience is one where music and religion are emphasized and entwined. The Caribbean population on Long Island enriches the Diocese of Rockville Centre by bringing that cultural practice to their local parishes.
Full Story

Shelter Island — On a scorching day on the first full week of summer vacation, 31 Long Island teens ignored the nearby Shelter Island waterfront and gathered instead in the small chapel of St. Gabriel’s Retreat Center, meditating on the problems facing their world and the gifts they have to help solve them.
Full Story

According to the Center for Ministry Development Web site, www.cmdnet.org, the YouthLeader is a team approach to Christian leadership formation for youth and adult leaders that integrates Christian spirituality and ministry skills. The purpose of YouthLeader is to empower young people for Christian leadership in Church and the wider community.
Full Story

In a continuing feature, Catholic young people who attended the diocesan youthfest on May 19 share with our readers why they are Proud 2B Catholic.

“I am proud to be a Catholic because there is only one church with a heritage as rich as the Catholic Church. Many religions can provide a method for happiness, but the Catholic religion can claim a direct link to the men who followed Christ Himself.” 
Full Story
 

Father Pereda new judicial vicar for DRVC

By Pete Sheehan
Senior Reporter

Rockville Centre — Noting the importance of the diocesan Tribunal, Bishop William Murphy last week installed Father James Pereda as the new judicial vicar.

Speaking at the installation ceremony, Bishop Murphy noted Father Pereda’s years of service to the diocese in various capacities on the diocesan Tribunal since 1991, including, most recently, adjutant judicial vicar.
Full Story

Vatican City (CNS) — In a long-awaited directive designed to foster unity, Pope Benedict XVI has relaxed restrictions on the use of the Latin-language liturgy that predates the Second Vatican Council.
Full Story

Uniondale — Pope Benedict XVI’s approval of wider use of the traditional Latin Mass was welcome news to many worshippers who regularly attend the weekly Latin-language liturgy at St. Pius X Chapel here. The Mass, based on the Roman Missal promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962, has been celebrated on Sundays on the campus of the former diocesan prep seminary since 1989, when Bishop John McGann first permitted its use at that location.
Full Story

New York’s bishops are urging Catholics throughout the state to contact their state legislators after the State Assembly, acting on a bill proposed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, voted 85-61 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.
Full Story

A key element of growing up in the Valenza family is attending Catholic school. Mathew Valenza knew this and embraced the academics, athletics, and friends to be had in both Catholic elementary and high school.
Full Story

Spreading devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus is the goal of a new education and prayer program that will begin this Saturday, July 14, at 3 p.m. in the parish center of St. Thomas the Apostle Church at 24 Westminster Road in West Hempstead. 
Full Story

Massapequa — The pastor was hearing confessions at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa last Saturday afternoon when someone came in to tell him there was a fire at the school.
Full Story

Denver (CNS) — If Jesus opened a restaurant, it might resemble Denver’s eight-month-old SAME Cafe — a priceless joint where all the food is made from scratch and anyone’s welcome to eat regardless of ability to pay.

SAME stands for “So All May Eat.” But it’s not a soup kitchen, by any stretch. With organic menu items such as “garlic and feta” or “eggplant and roasted red pepper” pizza, the menu leaves no yuppies behind. Yet neither the rich nor the poor see a price attached to anything.
Full Story

Washington (CNS) — Some girls are choosing to be mild, rejecting the wild.

And mild doesn’t mean meek and passive — these girls are standing up to pressures to be promiscuous, rejecting the “Girls Gone Wild” culture, according to author Wendy Shalit, a 1997 graduate of Williams College.
Full Story