Solemn High Mass in honor of Blessed Karl of Austria

Carl Olson on Pope Francis

Pope Francis: The Good, the Baffling, and the Unclear

The above link is to Carl Olson's good commentary at Catholic World Report on the current topic ripping through the St. Blog's community - The Pope's interviews and the confusion they seem to be causing.  Some are really upset over the murky statements while others are acting like it is no big deal.  I tend to lean more towards the former.   My favorite article so far is Steve Skojec's here -

It Doesn’t Take a Rigorist: Why All Catholics Should Be Concerned About Pope Francis

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Turns 25

"In their "Declaration of Intention by the Founders," dated July 2, 1988, the former members of the SSPX stated their "profound regret over the illicit consecration of bishops" and also made clear their goal: to live as a religious society in the Catholic Church and to place themselves at its service, under the authority of the Pope.

This goal was made possible on July 18, 1988, when the former SSPX members founded the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), with the strong support of the then-president of the pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei, Cardinal Paul Mayer.

Exactly three months later, on Oct. 18, 1988, the same commission, with the explicit approval of Blessed Pope John Paul II, established the FSSP as a society of apostolic life. The group’s name was chosen to express filial devotion to the successor of Peter, the rock on whom the Church is built."

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/priestly-fraternity-of-st.-peter-turns-25#ixzz2hBfBGFVD

Restoring the Sacred

St. John Cantius, Chicago

There is a lot of disagreement in the Catholic Church today, but certain things are indisputable:

Parishes in the Northeast of the US are shrinking or closing
Church buildings, built with incredible craftstmanship and beauty, paid for by the hard working poor immigrants, are half empty, completely dormant or falling apart
Calls for reform are all over the place


The New Liturgical Movement posts a great video of the work done at St. John Cantius in Chicago, and what has been done to revitalize a parish.  A parish has been pulled from the brink of death and a new community was established:  The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius.  What is being done there can and should be done everywhere.

Here on Long Island we now have our own Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, a much older community that seems to be doing work of a similar nature.  Here are some great photos from this year's Feast of St. Rocco.

Catholic Korean immigrants celebrate new home on Staten Island

 And speaking of Church restoration:


"In a modern-day version of the Exodus, Roman Catholic Korean immigrants on Staten Island finally have a church and community center of their own after close to four decades of shuttling between Island parishes.

The Korean Catholic Apostolate of Staten Island is spending about $1 million to renovate the former St. John Baptist de La Salle church, rectory and school on Jackson Street at Beach Street in Stapleton. The complex will be the first permanent location for the apostolate, which has been on the Island for 36 years"

 Read the rest at Staten Island Advance

Catholicism in Romania

Priest-Martyr Vladimir Ghika Continues to Inspire Romania’s Catholics

"BUCHAREST, Romania — The life of a saint can be part parable, part thriller and, often, part nightmare — but always 100% inspiration.

A beloved Romanian priest, Vladimir Ghika, was beatified Aug. 31 before 10,000 people at a Mass in Bucharest celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, together with Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris, Romania’s sole cardinal, Lucian Muresan, and more than 200 other priests and bishops.  
Msgr. Ghika’s sacred story reads like a novel with a tragic ending."

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/priest-martyr-vladimir-ghika-continues-to-inspire-romanias-catholics/#ixzz2fZo23iDu

Race With the Devil

Austin Ruse writes about one of my favorite authors Joseph Pearce and his new autobiography:

Race With the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love


In Race with the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love, Pearce himself takes the reader through his journey from racist revolutionary to Christian, including:

The youthful influences that lead him to embrace the National Front and their racist platform

His dark, angry, exhilarating but ultimately empty days as a revolutionary on the front lines

His imprisonment and subsequent dark night of the soul

The role that Catholic luminaries such as G. K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, and C. S. Lewis played in his conversion from racist radical to joyful Christian

And his eventual reception in the Catholic Church

St. G.K.C.?

From the Catholic Herald in the UK:

"The Diocese of Northampton has appointed a cleric to investigate the possibility of opening the Cause of GK Chesterton.
In a statement released today, the Diocese of Northampton said: “The Bishop has appointed Canon John Udris, a priest of the Diocese and currently a spiritual director at St Mary’s College, Oscott, to undertake a fact-finding exercise on his behalf.”
In August this year, the American Chesterton Society released a statement announcing that Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton was seeking “a suitable cleric” to investigate the possibility of opening up the Cause of the prolific writer.
GK Chesterton died at his home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire in 1936. He wrote biographies of St Francis of Assisi and St Thomas Aquinas"

When parishes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre were founded

This is a list of the parishes of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in the order they were founded, starting with St. Patrick in Glen Cove (1856) and ending with St. John Chrysostom Malankara in Hempstead (1999).

The parishes that have been a part of my family's history are:

• 1856—St. Patrick, Glen Cove. At first, Brooklyn pioneer priests, Revs. Edward Maginnis and John McCarthy who traveled from Jamaica, offered Mass here. An influx of Irish Catholics fled from the Famine to work here in a starch factory. This led to formation of a parish in 1856. Rev. Patrick Kelly was the first resident pastor. A new church was dedicated in 1900. In 1915 a parish school opened with the School Sisters of Notre Dame in charge

•  1871—Our Lady of Loretto, Hempstead. There were few Catholics in this town prior to 1850, after which Irish and German immigrants began to settle in large numbers. The first Mass, celebrated in the home of Barney Powers in 1840 by Rev. John O’Donnell, was attended by only 7 persons. Bishop Loughlin sent Rev. Eugene McSherry to be pastor in 1871. A Catholic school opened under the Sisters of Charity BVM in 1927. The present church and rectory were dedicated in 1954.

• 1898—St. Martin of Tours, Amityville, was a mission of St. Kilian’s in Farmingdale until established as a parish in 1898. On Christmas Day, Rev. Benno Ferstl, OSB, the founding pastor, offered Mass in a small building. Men of the parish actively participated in the building of the first church which was completed and dedicated in 1899; a new church was dedicated May 24, 1964. The school, built in 1921 was staffed by Dominican Sisters from Amityville.

• 1901—Corpus Christi, Mineola, a mission of St. Brigid, Westbury, was canonically erected with Rev. James F. Flynn as the first pastor. A small chapel, built with funds collected by 23 Catholic families in 1895, was replaced by a church in 1908 which served the parish well until 1971 when the present church was dedicated. The school, staffed by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, began in an estate residence in 1922. The cornerstone for a regular school building was laid in 1954.

•  1928—St. William the Abbot, Seaford. A butcher shop was the site of the first Mass in Seaford in 1913. Rev. Theodore J. King of Bellmore accepted the offer of the butcher’s Catholic daughter to use it. Father Galvin of Bellmore was authorized by the bishop to build a church where the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day, 1926. In 1928, St. William became a parish with Rev. Francis X. Debold as pastor. The Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk opened the school in September 1954.

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church to be finished by 2026

Why the rush?  From the Merced Sun-Star:

"BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona's emblematic Sagrada Familia church will be finished by 2026, 144 years after its construction started, its chief architect said Tuesday.

The five-tower basilica with curvilinear forms imitating nature, designed by legendary architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926), is one of Spain's top tourist attractions.

It was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Some religious services have been held there, but about 35 percent of it still remains to be built.

"If we keep up the current construction speed, we will make it" by 2026, Jordi Fauli said.

The 54-year-old architect currently heads the project launched in 1882. Gaudi designed and supervised construction from 1883 until 1926, when he was hit by a tram and killed.

Based on a proposal by a local religious association, the Sagrada Familia is financed solely with donations and entry fees - a reason it is taking so long to build.

"My client is not in a hurry," Gaudi reportedly said, referring to God"

Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2013/09/17/3227264/barcelonas-sagrada-familia-church.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2013/09/17/3227264/barcelonas-sagrada-familia-church.html#storylink=cpy

On Saturday, October 5, 2013 in the Multipurpose Room of the College Center Building at Nassau Community College, Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre will offer a lecture, "The Diversity of Sanctity and the Unity of Holiness: Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II." The talk deals with the achievements of these two Popes leading to their eventual canonization as saints in the Catholic religious tradition.  The event is sponsored by the NCC Center for Catholic Studies.

 

    The event formally starts at 2:15 P.M., with an audience welcome and a biographical introduction of Bishop Murphy.  Bishop Murphy speaks from 2:30 P.M. to 3:15 P.M. followed by an audience question and answer session ending at 3:45 P.M.  (Note that light refreshments will be provided and available at 1:30 P.M. before the official start of the event.)

 

    All are invited,  free of any charge but registration and parking permit are required.  All attendees must register with the Nassau Community College Office of Lifelong Learning.  The registration process starts by contacting the Office of Lifelong Learning by calling 516-572-7472 between the hours of 9 A.M. and 4 P.M., Monday through Friday.  After registering, a registration receipt, a campus map, and a one-day parking pass will be mailed to you by Lifelong Learning at the address you indicate. 

 

    Attendees should be aware that failure to display a parking permit on the inside dashboard of their vehicle or otherwise parking illegally could result in a Nassau County parking ticket being issued to them.

Join us for
AN EVENING WITH G. K. CHESTERTON
at
Kellenberg Memorial High School

On Wednesday, September 25, 2013, we will have AN EVENING WITH G. K. CHESTERTON. We are privileged to have Mr. Dale Ahlquist as our guest speaker. The evening will be open to all and will begin at 7:30 PM.

Mr. Ahlquist is President of the American Chesterton Society, creator, and host of the EWTN series “G. K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense”, and Publisher of Gilbert Magazine. He is the author of three books on Chesterton, including The Complete Thinker, published in the fall of 2012.

Click here for details

Brother Pierre Toussaint professes final vows with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

A Kellenberg Memorial graduate (2004) has professed his final vows with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.  Some pictures can be seen here.

Sag Harbor grandmother: I'm LI's first female priest

From Newsday:

"A Sag Harbor grandmother says she has become the first Long Island woman to be ordained as a priest in a group that seeks equality for women in the Roman Catholic Church. Eda Lorello, a longtime church worker, said she was ordained during a service in Wellesley, Mass., on Aug. 10 organized by Roman Catholic Womenpriests, an advocacy group that says it has ordained 120 women to what it calls the priesthood in the United States in the past decade. The Vatican does not recognize the ordinations as legitimate, and has said that the women automatically "excommunicate" themselves when they take part in such services. Sean Dolan, a spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, called the effort to make Lorello a priest "absurd." "It's wrong for her to portray herself as a Roman Catholic priest," he said. "She is not."

One of the major developments over the past few decades in the Church is a huge push for lay people to be involved in 'ministries'. The negative aspect of this is that people begin to see the 'roles' they have (lector, EM, Etc..) as being the important part of their Church attendance, when in fact praying is the most important role.

"Lorello said she has served as a pastoral associate in parishes in Manorville and Bridgehampton, ran religious education programs in several Long Island parishes, and taught in the Diocese of Rockville Centre's Pastoral Formation Institute for lay people. She said she is a certified spiritual director and holds master's degrees in theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor and in pastoral counseling from Iona College in New Rochelle." 
 
Does anyone else remember the firestorm that erupted when Bishop Murphy wanted to eliminate or reform the PFI?

Pete Sheehan named editor of the Catholic Exponent

Pete Sheehan was a reporter The Long Island Catholic when it was a weekly newspaper. I am glad he found a job but am still sad to see the paper was discarded.

"Pete Sheehan, a Youngs-town native with 35 years of experience in the Catholic press, has returned to his hometown to assume the duties of editor/ general manager at the Catholic Exponent in the Diocese of Youngstown. Sheehan, 57, returns to the diocese and the newspaper where he served as a staff reporter from 1979 to 1986 before moving to New York to become senior reporter at the Long Island Catholic, where he served from 1986 to 2012."

More here.

Priests' assignments in the Diocese of Rockville Centre

Finally, the summer priest assignment changes have been posted at the The Long Island Catholic.  One thing that is new is that Msgr. Pereda, who is the Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal will also serve as a Pastor of a parish (St. Paul the Apostle in Brookville).  

DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – July 9, 2013 – The following official appointments and announcements have been made by the Most Reverend William Murphy, Bishop of Rockville Centre. All are effective June 26, 2013 unless otherwise indicated.
RETIREMENTS
Rev. Patrick Callan with residence at Corpus Christi, Mineola; and part time duties at Winthrop Hospital
Rev. Hugh Cannon with residence at St. Mary’s, East Islip
Rev. Paul Dolan to private residence
Msgr. Domenick Graziadio to private residence
Rev. Gregory Heinlein with residence at Our Lady of Lourdes, Massapequa Park
Msgr. Richard Kopinski with residence at St. Hyacinth, Glen Head
Rev. Lawrence Rafferty with residence at St. Matthew, Dix Hills
Msgr. Thomas Spadaro to private residence
Rev. Michael Torpey with residence at St. Pius X Residence, Amityville
Rev. Francis Vattakudiyil with residence at St. Joseph, Kings Park
PASTORS
Rev. Brian Barr from Administrator of Saint Mary of the Isle, Long Beach to Pastor of St. Mary of the Isle, Long Beach
Msgr. Robert Batule from Seminary Professor at St. Joseph Seminary, Dunwoodie to Pastor of Corpus Christi, Mineola
Rev. Marian Bicz from Pastor of Our Lady of Ostrabrama, Cutchogue to Pastor of St. Hyacinth, Glen Head
Msgr. Robert Clerkin from Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle, Brookville to Pastor of Ss. Cyril & Methodius, Deer Park
Rev. Frank Grieco from Associate Pastor at St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport to Pastor of Holy Spirit, New Hyde Park
Rev. Thomas Haggerty from Pastor of St. Raphael, East Meadow to Pastor of Sts. Philip and James, St. James
Rev. Robert Holz from Associate Pastor of St. Christopher, Baldwin to Pastor of St. Raphael, East Meadow
Rev. Michael Holzmann from Chaplain of St. John the Baptist High School to Pastor of Holy Cross, Nesconset
Rev. John McCartney from Administrator of St. Mary, Roslyn to Pastor of St. Mary, Roslyn
Msgr. James McNamara from Pastor of Holy Cross, Nesconset to Pastor of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Point Lookout; and Associate to the Vicars
Rev. Thomas Moriarty from Administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Inwood to Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Inwood (also Pastor of St. Joseph, Hewlett)
Msgr. James Pereda to Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle, Brookville (and remaining the Judicial Vicar of Tribunal)
Rev. Valentine Rebello from Associate Pastor of St. Barnabas, Bellmore to Pastor of St. Pius X, Plainview
Msgr. Gerald Ringenback from Pastor of St. Bernard, Levittown to Pastor of Good Shepherd, Holbrook
Msgr. Ralph Sommer from Pastor of St. Brigid, Westbury to Pastor of St. Bernard, Levittown
Rev. Anthony Stanganelli from Pastor of Ss. Philip and James, St. James to Pastor of St. Brigid, Westbury
Rev. Stanislaw Wadowski from Associate Pastor of St. Kilian, Farmingdale to Pastor of Our Lady of Ostrabrama, Cutchogue
Rev. Benet Uwasomba from Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd, Holbrook to Administrator of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Patchogue
NEWLY ORDAINED
Rev. Jason Grisafi to Associate Pastor of St. Brigid, Westbury
Rev. Brandon O’Brien to Associate Pastor of St. Christopher, Baldwin
ASSOCIATE PASTORS
Rev. Francis Agyeman to Associate Pastor of St. Barnabas, Bellmore
Rev. Moise Aime from Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lindenhurst to Associate Pastor of Maria Regina, Seaford
Rev. Raymond Akpunonu from Associate Pastor of St. Matthew, Dix Hills to Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy, Hicksville
Rev. Ethel Anarado from Hospital Chaplain of Long Beach Medical Center to Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lindenhurst
Rev. Allan Arneaud from Associate Pastor of Maria Regina, Seaford to Associate Pastor of St. Catherine of Sienna, Franklin Square
Rev. Paul Butler from Associate Pastor of St. William the Abbot, Seaford to Associate Pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland, Selden
Rev. Anthony Cardone to Associate Pastor of St. Raphael, East Meadow
Rev. Lawrence Chadwick from Associate Pastor of St. Matthew, Dix Hills to Associate Pastor of St. John Nepomucene, Bohemia
Rev. Christopher Costigan from Associate Pastor of St. Bernard, Levittown to Associate Pastor of St. Mary, Manhasset
Rev. Michael Diochi from Associate Pastor of St, Catherine of Sienna, Franklin Square to Associate Pastor of St. Mary, East Islip
Rev. John Baptist Ephraim from Associate Pastor of St. Rosalie, Hampton Bays to Associate Pastor of St. Kilian, Farmingdale (eff.8/1/13)
Rev. Ryszard Ficek from Associate Pastor of St. Hedwig, Floral Park to Associate Pastor of St. William the Abbot, Seaford
Rev. Kevin Gruber from Associate Pastor of St. John Nepomucene, Bohemia to Associate Pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr, Sayville
Rev. Richard Kammerer from Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy, Hicksville to Barnabite Community
Rev. Robert Kline from Associate Pastor of St. John Evangelist, Center Moriches to St. Anthony Padua, East Northport
Rev. Freddy Lozano from Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to Associate Pastor of St. Hugh of Lincoln, Huntington Station, and Queen of Most Holy Rosary, Freeport and St. Kilian, Farmingdale
Rev. Aloysious Melly from Associate Pastor of Ss. Philip and James, St. James to Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd, Holbrook
Rev. Janusz Mocarski from Associate Pastor of St. Mary, East Islip to Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Assumption, Copiague
Rev. Joseph Nohs from Pastor of Holy Spirit, New Hyde Park to Associate Pastor of St. Bernard, Levittown
Rev. Henry Reid from Associate Pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland to Associate Pastor of Holy Name of Mary, Valley Stream
Rev. Allan Sikorski from Associate Pastor of St. Mary, Manhasset to Associate Pastor of St. Matthew, Dix Hills
Rev. Rene Tapel to Associate Pastor of Ss. Philip and James, St. James
Rev. Thomas Tassone from Associate Pastor of St. Aidan, Williston Park to Associate Pastor of St. Joseph, Kings Park
Rev. Rolando Ticllasuca from Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, Copiague, to Infant Jesus, Port Jefferson
Rev. Nestor Watin from Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Loretto, Hempstead to Associate Pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Center Moriches
NON-PAROCHIAL MINISTRY
Rev. Joseph Fitzgerald from Chaplain of Holy Trinity High School to Director of Vocations with residence at St. Edward the Confessor, Syosset (effective 10/1/2013)
Rev. James Mannion from Associate Pastor of St. James, Setauket to Adjunct Spiritual Director of Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception, Douglaston
Rev. Gregory Rannazzisi from Associate Pastor of St Brigid, Westbury to Vice Rector of Seminary of Immaculate Conception, Huntington
HIGH SCHOOL CHAPLAINS
Rev. Robert Ketcham from Associate Pastor of Holy Name of Mary, Valley Stream to Chaplain of St. John the Baptist High School with residence at St. Mary, East Islip
Rev. John McCarthy to Chaplain of Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Hicksville with residence at Our Lady of Victory, Floral Park (effective 10/1/2013)
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS
Rev. Raphael Andoh to Hospitality Priest at St. James, Setauket and also Chaplain of Stony Brook Hospital
Rev. Anthony Osuagwu from Hospital Chaplain at South Nassau Hospital to Hospital Chaplain at Long Beach Medical Center, Long Beach
Rev. Benjamin Uzegbunam to Hospital Chaplain at North Shore LIJ Plainview, with residence at St. Ignatius Loyola, Hicksville
DIOCESAN ASSIGNMENTS
Rev. Lachlan Cameron to study in Rome
Rev. Lee Descoteaux to study in Rome
EXPIRATION OF EXTERN PRIEST ASSIGNMENTS
Rev. Vitalis Abiamiri
Rev. Patsy Amabile
Rev. Ignace Loleke
Rev. Anthony Madu
Rev. James Maltese

Communist destruction of the Our Lady of Consolation Trappist Abbey at Yangjiaping in 1947

From Catholic World Report:

The untold story of the Communist destruction of the Our Lady of Consolation Trappist Abbey at Yangjiaping in 1947


"One of the most tragic examples of how merciless the Party can be is the appalling Communist massacre of 33 holy martyrs connected to Our Lady of Consolation Trappist Abbey at Yangjiaping. Still today, Chinese Catholics only speak of this incident in hushed tones for fear of the government. In 1947, a bedraggled and terrorized group of Trappist monks arrived in Beijing, where the American Jesuit, Father Charles J. McCarthy, SJ (1911-1991), was the first person to collect the horrible stories of what had happened to their celebrated abbey, then in ruins. The stories they provided Father McCarthy had clearly stirred the young priest, for he later penned one of the most harrowing accounts of Communist atrocities in China’s early modern history. He began his narrative in vivid terms:

In the early morning hours of August 30, 1947, the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Consolation…was reduced to ruins by fire. … The burning of their monastery, effected by Communists who control this region, was but one act, and not the most pathetic, in a long tragic persecution inflicted on the brave Trappist Community. At present writing, 16 Trappists are known to have died during the ordeal. (1)

The death toll indeed rose beyond 16, and as the details of their deaths came to light the inhumane tactics of China’s Communists also became known. "

Nassau County Police Corruption, Again

Newsday and News12 are reporting on a major lawsuit filed due to yet more corrupt Nassau County Police officers.   What should happen, but probably will not is that officer  Anthony DiLeonardo should lose his extremely high paying job (over 100K of course) and be charged with attempted murder and all other appropriate charges.  Nothing has changed much in the Nassau County Police force since the days of officer Greco, the first Nassau County police officer to be charged with brutality.  We Long Islanders have to pay extemely high taxes due to the very overpaid police and school employees and then have to pay even more due to lawsuits filed by innocent civilians victimized by these same rich people.

From the News12 report:

"A Nassau County police officer unlawfully shot and attacked an unarmed man after a night of barhopping and managed to hang on to his six-figure job, Newsday reports exclusively.

Newsday obtained the Nassau County Police Department's internal report into the affair. The report found that officer Anthony DiLeonardo recklessly escalated a roadside verbal dispute when he shot at a cabdriver, Thomas Moroughan, five times, hitting him once in the arm and once in the chest in 2011.

The cabdriver was arrested for assault and reckless endangerment after DiLeonardo accused him of trying to run him down with his cab. Charges were later dropped when prosecutors said there was evidence the officer had been drinking; the report obtained by Newsday notes that he admitted to investigators that he'd had eight to 10 drinks."

Byzantine Catholic Church, Westbury, NY

St. Andrew the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church

I recently posted on St. Francis Polish National Catholic Church in East Meadow, which is not in communion with Rome.  Now I would like to point out St. Andrew which is in communion with Rome.  They have Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 9 AM.

From their website:

The first Divine Liturgy in St. Andrew the Apostle Church was celebrated on December 25, 1974. Bishop Michael Dudick established this parish to service the Byzantine Catholics who had moved to the suburbs of Long Island initiating the presence of our Eastern Catholic Church in Nassau County.


St. Andrew’s Church is truly an American Eastern Catholic Church. Our services and songs are conducted in English, the language of this country, while our Theology and Traditions go back to the foundation of the early Christian Church.

Thayer man discovers the Catholic Church while studying in Israel

From the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, a familiar conversion story of a protestant who became Catholic after studying the early Church as well as its Jewish roots.

“The more we came to know Catholicism, the more we identified commonalities with Judaism, especially in liturgy,” said Umbarger. “Getting to know actual Jews and actual Catholics exploded this myth, and gave us the uncomfortable task of determining whether or not the churches we had been brought up in actually were based on New Testament models.”


Second, Umbarger began to read the church fathers “ravenously.”

“Over and over again, I discovered that the earliest documents of the church reflected a Catholic framework,” said Umbarger. “Non-Catholics had to either force the words of the fathers to contravene their plain sense, or to find heresy in their writings, usually endorsed in an official sense in the Catholic Church.”

The Last Counter-Reformation Pope

From Catholic Exchange:

George Weigel looks at Pope Paul VI, the Charlie Brown of Popes, everything he did got all messed up.  Only Weigel puts it more scholarly like and as usual he has a great understanding of the big picture.

"Paul VI, to be sure, helped hasten that transition. He brought the Second Vatican Council to a successful close—although he did not provide keys for the authentic interpretation of the Council’s accomplishment, leaving that task to John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The lack of such keys during the 13 years between the Council’s conclusion and Pope Paul’s death was one reason why the wheels seemed to fly off the Catholic Church for two decades. Amidst the chaos, Paul VI tried to craft an exercise of the papacy adequate to the Church’s reformed self-understanding as a communion of disciples in mission. Yet virtually every one of his accomplishments in implementing the Council had its shadow-side."

Bishop Murphy to Ordain Two Men to Priesthood on 6/27/13

2013 Ordinations

The website of the Diocese of Rockville Centre has more info on the two men, both 27, who will be ordained to the priesthood this year.  I was hoping by now there would be the same short bios on the 14 men ordained to the permanent deaconate, but I do not see any on the DRVC website or at the Long Island Catholic website. That is too bad as it would be good for the people of the Diocese to know who the men are and their backgrounds.  There is a slideshow of pictures here.  The growth of the ranks of deacons has been a great untold story in the Church since the 1970's.  Even without much fanfare, or much support in some areas, the diaconate continues to grow and have contributed greatly to the Church.

Americans United for The Pope at Kellenberg

Reminder:  Thursday night there will be 2 video presentations shown at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale at 7:30 PM.  The first is on Mexican Priest Martyrs and the second is on the story of revert Judy Hehr.  For all the details see the post below, or click here.  These evenings are run by Arnold Pilsner who does a great job.

Viva Cristo Rey! The Cristeros Versus the Mexican Revolution

Catholic Culture.Org has an article by Christopher Check who gives an overview of the incredible story of The Cristeros.  These Catholic peasants were the subject of the recent film - For Greater Glory starring  Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O'Toole, Bruce McGill, Ruben Blades, and Eduardo Verastegui.

This summary of the article gives the overview-

"Less than a century ago, the devoutly Catholic population of Mexico was de-Christianized by atheistic revolutionaries who declared war on the Catholic Church. Citizens who refused to comply were captured, tortured, and violently murdered. In this article, Christopher Check provides an excellent overview of the Cristero cause and how they restored the Catholic faith to Mexico."

Mother protecting her kids runs over a convicted rapist

For those of us who love justice and hate evil, this is a great story!

"A would-be carjacker messed with the wrong mom.

A Texas mother protecting her kids from an alleged knife-wielding carjacker engaged in a terrifying hand-to-hand fight behind the wheel of her vehicle that ended with the suspect being thrown out, run over and hospitalized.

"I told him he messed with the wrong witch," Dorothy Baker told ABC of her frantic battle coursing the roads of Baytown, Texas.

Police say Ismael Martinez, 54, snuck inside the backseat of Baker's parked unlocked minivan waiting for her to return from a CVS drug store when he sprung up on her.

Allegedly holding a knife to her oldest son, she says he demanded that she drive him to the nearest ATM"

St. Genevieve Church has Fitness Ministry

I like this idea a lot:

"St. Genevieve Catholic Church parishioners recently celebrated the first anniversary of its fitness ministry with a Bayou Bash. Ministry members and their guests line danced the night away, showing off the numerous hip-hop, country, and Zydeco line dances they work out to in their Monday and Tuesday night fitness classes.


St. Genevieve Catholic Church, which is located near Slidell, was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
...

"Knowing that many church parishioners are suffering from ailments relating to aging, a fitness ministry was determined to be the best way to tackle both issues - raising money for the parish hall while improving the health and well-being of church members and others in the community.


For the past year, the St. Genevieve Fitness Ministry has offered line dancing classes every Tuesday night for a donation of $2. That weekly dance workout has been extended to Wednesday nights, for the same fee. Both sessions are from 7 to 8 p.m."

Read the rest of the article here.

2013 Priestly Ordinations Rockville Centre, Brooklyn

From St. Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie)

June 22, 2013, 11:00 AM
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Saint Agnes Cathedral

Deacon Jason Grisafi
Deacon Brandon O'Brien


June 29, 2013, 11:00 AM
Diocese of Brooklyn
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint James

Deacon Dwayne Davis
Deacon Raymond Flores
Deacon Stephen Giuletti
Deacon Paul Kim
Deacon Killick Pierrilus
Deacon Lucon Rigaud


July 6, 2013, 9:00 AM
Syro-Malankara Exarchate
Shrine of Our Lady of Czestpcjpwa
Doylestown, Pennslyvannia

Deacon Michael Edathil

Deacon Fortunatus Mugisha & Deacon Vian Ntegerej 'Imana
will be ordained in their home parishes in Uganda, then return to the Diocese of Rockville Centre
for two years of priestly service before returning permanently to their home in Uganda.

Catholic Video Presentations at Kellenberg High School

This is a very good group and I highly recommend this evening.   I was able to go to these events a long time ago and they were always interesting.  If you are in the area consider attending, it is free.  It is Thursday night, June 20th @ 7:30 PM at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale.

AMERICANS UNITED FOR THE POPE, INC 
Where the Pope is, there is the Church
 TWO EXCELLENT CATHOLIC VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

Mexican Priest Martyrs

Blessed Justino Orona

Blessed Atilano Cruz

                        

      In the 1920’s the Catholic Church was brutally persecuted in Mexico.  Churches were closed and priests were hunted down and killed.  With the help of the laity, priests went into hiding and risked their lives offering Mass and hearing confessions for the love of God and their people. 

      Among the many priest Martyrs are Father Justino Orona and Father Atilano Cruz.  In spite of the ever present danger of certain death they continued to do their priestly work.  They joined the countless others who stood up to the oppressive government under the banner of “Long live Christ the King and our Lady of Guadalupe!”  Hear the true story of how these priests died from two men who helped the priests in the last days of their earthly life.  Very inspiring!

**********************************************************

Judy Hehr

SHE MADE MILLIONS BUT COULD NOT FIND HAPPINESS WITHOUT GOD

            In her high school years Judy fell in with the wrong crowd and embraced self destructive behavior.  She was into drugs, heavy drinking and sex.  She came close to committing suicide.

            After high school Judy became a sales representative for a printing firm and was tremendously successful.  But even though she became a millionaire and had four beautiful children and a loving husband her life was still empty.  Then God stepped in and she tells her amazing conversion story.  Today she is in love with her faith and has become active in the church as an inspiring speaker.  Come and hear this extraordinary journey back to God.

COME AND BRING A FRIEND

Thursday  June 20th   7:30pm Kellenberg HS – 3rd floor meeting room Directions to the 3rd floor Emmanuel Marianist Retreat House meeting room.  Drive past the auditorium (main doors with three levels of steps on the right: the outdoor crucifix on your left.) Keep going around the building until you will see an outside elevator for the Emmanuel Marianist Retreat House.  Take the elevator to the third floor and follow the signs music room. – Thank you.)

Long Island's Only Dairy Queen

This may be hard for most Americans to believe, but up until June 10th Long Island had no Dairy Queens.  The first one opened in my hometown of Massapequa and I am sure more will follow. 

Dairy Queen Holds Grand Opening In Massapequa

Superman and Jesus

From CNN - 

"Baltimore, Maryland (CNN) - As the new Superman movie takes flight this weekend, filmmakers are hoping the Man of Steel lands not only in theaters, but also in pulpits.


Warner Bros. Studios is aggressively marketing "Man of Steel" to Christian pastors, inviting them to early screenings, creating Father’s Day discussion guides and producing special film trailers that focus on the faith-friendly angles of the movie.

The movie studio even asked a theologian to provide sermon notes for pastors who want to preach about Superman on Sunday. Titled “Jesus: The Original Superhero,” the notes run nine pages.

“How might the story of Superman awaken our passion for the greatest hero who ever lived and died and rose again?” the sermon notes ask."

Jesuit says Britain and US are ‘crazy’ for backing Islamists in Egypt

Some common sense from The Catholic Herald in the UK:

"Fr Boulad said the Muslim Brotherhood had a systematic plan to harass Christians so that they would leave Egypt and that among their tactics was the kidnapping and rape of Christian girls.


The organisation also invokes human rights to silence critics in France, Canada and elsewhere, using the courts against people who speak up, he said. The government cries “Islamophobia” and it “is politically incorrect to be an Islamophobe”, he said.

“The United States, France and Great Britain are supporting this. It’s crazy,” he added.“Intellectual and factual terrorism is being implemented not only in Egypt but all over the world. You cannot speak up. They go to court; they accuse you. “As long as Islam is not reformed, we are going to catastrophe,” Fr Boulad said.

Fortunately, he added, some people had the courage to speak up.

He said he hoped that liberal democracies would support the growing coalition opposing the Egyptian ruling party."

No 'Definitive Plans' for Sacred Heart Parish, Says Diocese

From NorthFork Patch.com

"The Sacred Heart parish continues to evaluate its future -- with no absolute plans in place, a representative for the Diocese of Rockville Centre said Wednesday.

“The Diocese is not aware of any definitive plans for any buildings on the Sacred Heart parish campus. The parish, along with the Diocese, continues to evaluate the best use of all of its resources for its parishioners,” said Sean P. Dolan, spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, after a number of requests from Patch about the future of the church, rectory, and convent."

"The Sacred Heart Church, closed since December, as well as the rectory and carriage house, is one of seven properties listed as 'endangered' by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, was built in the late 1870s.

Despite a sit-in by some parishoners to keep church services going at the Roman Catholic worship house, was ultimately considered too much of a danger to keep open."

Chinese parents left childless do battle against once-child policy

From MSNBC, a story about the dangers of a culture of death, run by a government out to keep the birth rate low.  The problems of overpopulation in China can be worked on with moral methods.  The problems caused by this immoral one child policy are much deeper and will hurt China more and more in decades to come.  

"In her grief, Zhang, 59, was forced to come to terms with the marginal life of a childless middle-aged woman of few resources in a society where children and the extension of the family line are essential to a person’s survival. She began to blame her husband, feeling he did not support her enough to have a second child. Zhang retreated from society, even living in a monastery for several years to escape the pain.

Each year 76,000 families in China lose their only child, according to an annual report by Chinese Ministry of Health in 2010. In June 2012, for the first time, over 80 parents from all over the country who had lost their only child marched to Beijing to protest the policy and the meager compensation they are given in front of the National Family Planning office.

Zhang heard about the protest and began to think about her own experience. Having one child had not been her choice. Indeed she had been pregnant twice after she gave birth to her son, thinking that, as a farmer, she would be exempt from the one-child policy.

But she says her county’s family planning department coerced her into having abortions under the threat of losing her husband’s teaching job and their house. The abortions were administered late, she said once when she was five months pregnant and once at eight months, when a gruesome procedure is required.

NBC could not confirm Zhang’s allegation, but reports of forced abortions have caused international outcry in recent years. In June 2012 city officials in China apologized to a woman who was forced to have an abortion and disciplined three people responsible for it. The apology came after gruesome photos of the mother and the fetus sparked outrage among Chinese netizens."

 

The Chinese Ministry of Health released data in March that 336 million abortions 222 million sterilizations have been performed since 1971. (The one-child policy was implemented in 1979, but other family planning policies were enforced before it)."