At Pentecost Mass, June 12, 2011, Bishop Murphy celebrated diocesan efforts to “Belong More Deeply,” the title of his 2010 pastoral letter, with more than 3,000 members of the diocese at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington.

At the dedication of Mercy Medical Center’s North Pavilion and cardiac catheterization suite in Rockville Centre in 2006, the bishop is assisted by Father Francis Oranefo as he blesses the new orthopedic floor. Mercy is part of Catholic Health Services of Long Island, which includes six hospitals, three nursing homes, a community-based home for those with special needs and a hospice.

Nora Trujillo of St. Christopher’s, Baldwin, receives a certificate for religious studies with the Pastoral Formation Institute from Bishop Murphy, assisted by Sister Mary Alice Piil, on June 24, 2010.

The bishop visits St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School in Westbury Nov. 30, 2004.

Bishop Murphy presents the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (“For the Church and the Pontiff”) Medal to, from left, Sister of St. Joseph Mary Alice Piil, Ursuline Sister Joanne Callahan, and Sister of Charity Maryanne Fitzgerald, at St. Agnes Cathedral Dec. 3, 2006. The medals convey Pope Benedict XVI’s recognition of their distinguished service to the Church. Sister Mary Alice is diocesan director of faith formation, Sister Joanne is diocesan superintendent of schools, and Sister Maryanne is the former diocesan chancellor.

Bishop Murphy welcomed Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington to give a lecture on St. Paul in 2008.
Pope Benedict designated June 2008-June 2009 as the Year of St. Paul.

In 2009, Bishop Murphy and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception hosted the annual joint meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. At right is Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., then-USCCB vice president.

At St. Agnes Cathedral parish in Rockville Centre in 2009.

At St. Isidore in Riverhead in 2003.

Ordained ministry
During his ten years as bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Bishop Murphy has ordained 37 men to the priesthood, including Father Robert Ketcham (pictured, 2008) and 127 men to the permanent diaconate. Bishop Murphy has also ordained two auxiliary bishops for the diocese, Bishops Paul Walsh and Peter Libasci. And in 2009 Msgr. Robert Guglielmone, rector of St. Agnes Cathedral, was made bishop of Charleston, South Carolina.

After 9/11: ‘God will prevail’
Just six days after his installation, Bishop Murphy confronted the horror of the 9/11 terrorist attack, and its devastating consequences for so many Long Island families and communities. In his efforts to help lead Catholics and all Long Islanders in healing, the bishop celebrated a Memorial Mass one month later, on October 10, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. In his homily, Bishop Murphy, while lamenting the “searing pain of the tragedy,” pointed to the “truth of hope and of courage, of determination and of solidarity, of care for one another, and indeed, of love.”
“God never abandons his people,” Bishop Murphy told the thousands gathered. “God will prevail.”

After 9/11: ‘God will prevail’
Just six days after his installation, Bishop Murphy confronted the horror of the 9/11 terrorist attack, and its devastating consequences for so many Long Island families and communities. In his efforts to help lead Catholics and all Long Islanders in healing, the bishop celebrated a Memorial Mass one month later, on October 10, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Bishop Murphy baptizes a young man during the Easter Vigil in 2006.

Bishop Murphy leads the procession at the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress at St. Agnes Cathedral in 2006.

Bishop Murphy confirms members of the Korean Apostolate at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Woodbury, Oct. 2010.

Bishop Murphy prays the rosary with Bishop John Dunne during a 2006 diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Murphy visits parishes around Long Island: St. Agnes, Greenport in 2009.

Bishop Murphy visits parishes around Long Island: Our Lady of Lourdes, Massapequa Park in 2005.

Bishop Murphy visits parishes around Long Island: Sacred Heart in Island Park in 2006.

Our first 50 years
In 2007, Bishop Murphy led the faithful on Long Island in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Among many special events held to commemorate this milestone were the 50th anniversary Mass offered at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 3, and a closing Mass on January 20, 2008; a diocesan pilgrimage to Rome in November 2007 (above); and the introduction of the annual St. Agnes Medal of Service, honoring people from every parish — like 2008 honoree Frank Cava of the Church of the Resurrection in Farmingville, with the bishop in photo — who have become, in Bishop Murphy’s words, “the hands and heart of Jesus” through their service to others and to the Church.

Our first 50 years
In 2007, Bishop Murphy led the faithful on Long Island in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Among many special events held to commemorate this milestone were the 50th anniversary Mass offered at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 3, and a closing Mass on January 20, 2008; a diocesan pilgrimage to Rome in November 2007; and the introduction of the annual St. Agnes Medal of Service, honoring people from every parish — like 2008 honoree Frank Cava of the Church of the Resurrection in Farmingville, with the bishop in photo above — who have become, in Bishop Murphy’s words, “the hands and heart of Jesus” through their service to others and to the Church.

Our first 50 years
In 2007, Bishop Murphy led the faithful on Long Island in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Among many special events held to commemorate this milestone were the 50th anniversary Mass offered at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 3, and a closing Mass (above) on January 20, 2008; a diocesan pilgrimage to Rome in November 2007; and the introduction of the annual St. Agnes Medal of Service, honoring people from every parish — like 2008 honoree Frank Cava of the Church of the Resurrection in Farmingville, with the bishop in photo — who have become, in Bishop Murphy’s words, “the hands and heart of Jesus” through their service to others and to the Church.

Bishop Murphy joins students from Chaminade High School, Mineola at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Jan. 22, 2004
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Bishop Murphy, shown here with Long Island pilgrims, led catechesis sessions at World Youth Day in Madrid last month (Aug. 2011).

More than 500 young people belonging to16 Hispanic youth groups shared a day with Bishop Murphy at their annual gathering at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in 2009.

Bishop Murphy greets people following a prayer service for persons with special needs at St. Frances de Chantal, Wantagh, in 2002.

Bishop Murphy and Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta process toward the sanctuary of St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre at the beginning of the 25th anniversary Mass for the diocesan Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry Feb. 26, 2006.

Bishop Murphy chats with, from left, students Cristina Bighi, Alexandra Mink, Elizabeth O’Donnell, Elizabeth Flood (partially hidden) and Stephanie Ruane at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset in 2006, on one of his regular visits to local Catholic high schools.

The bishop greets Anthony Tarantino of Sacred Heart Parish, Island Park, at the Faith on Tap meeting of young adults Feb. 27, 2006 at the Wantagh Inn.

On April 7, 2005, the bishop applauds a video tribute to Pope John Paul II during a youth rally in the parish center before Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre.
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