Rockville Centre — Msgr. James F. Coffey, pastor emeritus, philosophy professor, former seminary rector, and a priest for 76 years, died Monday, Oct. 8, at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood. The oldest living priest of the diocese, he was 99 in August.

Msgr. Coffey loved being a priest. “Saying Mass gave me a sense of belonging to a mystery that is unimaginably rich,” he said six years ago, in an interview with The Long Island Catholic marking his 70th jubilee. Full Story

Massapequa — Challenges to religion can be transformed into “opportunities to sow knowledge,” Bishop William Murphy said as he addressed an “evening of dialogue” held at Congregation Beth-El here October 8.
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Sunday, Oct. 7, the Long Island Coalition for Life sponsored a Stand Up for Life vigil at the intersection of Route 110 and Route 25 in Huntington. Approximately 750 supporters participated in the vigil, which stretched for about a mile and a quarter. Full Story

We have received overwhelmingly positive responses to our recent invitation to Catholic young people to “tell us your stories,” with a number of articles already submitted and many more promised. This week we begin our new Youth Voice feature with two young writers who reflect on how their own faith has been strengthened by their opportunities to teach and guide those even younger than themselves. Full Story

Bayville — The more than 600 people who filled the parish center at St. Gertrude’s Church here to overflowing received, at the very least, a message of hope and comfort at a diocesan healing Mass for cancer and other serious illnesses on Oct. 4. Full Story

Syosset — “This building is filled with life and precious spirit,” auxiliary Bishop Peter Libasci told students and faculty members, parents and relatives, alumnae and friends of Our Lady of Mercy Academy who gathered here to celebrate the Liturgy that opened a yearlong celebration of the school’s 80th anniversary.
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Huntington — The stewardship and development that takes place on the parish and the diocesan level are vital ministries for a thriving Catholic Church, participants learned at an all-day conference at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception here on Oct. 3. Full Story

Rockville Centre — The Diocese of Rockville Centre is urging students in grades four to 12 to participate in a creative contest to celebrate the diocese’s 50th anniversary. Entries can be essays, art, poetry, music, video or multimedia presentations.
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Father Christopher Nowak was installed Sept. 30 as the new pastor of St. Mary of the Isle Church, Long Beach. St. Mary’s is in the Five Towns Deanery and is part of the Western Vicariate of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
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Sister Breige Lavery of the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of Mercy professed her final vows September 30 at Immaculate Conception Chapel at Mount Saint Mary’s in Watchung, New Jersey. A resident of Water Mill, Sister Breige works as an immigrant counselor at the Hispanic Apostolate of South Fork located in Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Southampton.
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Father Robert Lauder and businessman Jack Radgowski will be honored at “The Joy of Music,” a concert and buffet reception on Oct. 21 to benefit the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington. Full Story

In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of animals, Msgr. James McNamara, pastor of Holy Cross Church, Nesconset, blessed pets of various species and sizes during a special service at the parish on the saint’s feast day, Oct. 4.
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New York — More than a half century after Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen used radio to introduce the concept of a World Mission Rosary, the Pontifical Mission Societies launched an online version of that rosary for adult Catholics on the weekend of World Mission Sunday in October 2006. Full Story