Lord

The heart of the Christian community is our Triune Lord: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Geography, history, and numbers are not the heart, but probably I will type mostly on these topics. As the internet already provides many encouraging spiritual guides and discouraging contentious forums, I intend to offer neither.
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To find a parish, enter a keyword in the search box at the top left, or look through the labels and links down the right-hand column. The posts themselves follow the Blogger format of newest items on top.
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Friday, November 17, 2017

New text for the baptism of children

The bishops of the United States at their November, 2017, conference in Baltimore approved a revised translation of the baptismal rite for children, with a vote of 200 in favor, 23 against, and 3 abstentions. Please note that this is not the final step in the process of approval and implementation.
You might take a look at the Catholic News Service report, linked HERE.
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You might also look at the discussion on Pray Tell, linked HERE.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Appointments

The diocesan website has announced three new official appointments.  Please see LINK HERE.

Msgr. James Pareda relinquishes one job, stays as pastor in Brookville.
Msgr. Robert Morrissey becomes Judicial Vicar.
Father Eric Fasano becomes Co-Chancellor (with Sister Maryanne Fitzgerald?) and Secretary to the Bishop.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Murder most tragic

Terrible news, that Deacon Patrick Logsdon was murdered November 3, 2017, at Anthony House, where for many years (decades?) he cared for and supervised men who needed help to return to the ordinary world. Newsday has the beginnings of a report. 
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For years, we have helped and lauded this particular work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul here in Nassau County. I think others founded the work, staffed it, and he continued in their footsteps.
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This is a grievous loss.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Catholic HS Entrance Exam October 28, 2017

Regarding entrance to a Catholic high school in Nassau or Suffolk County, New York, the deadlines are fast approaching.  Please see the website linked HERE for a list of deadlines and other information about taking the test.  The website includes applications for the exam with or without a request for exceptional treatment "with accommodation."
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There are seven Catholic high schools in Nassau County and three in Suffolk County. One entrance exam counts for all. An eighth-grader may apply to three schools.  
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I wonder about the ratio between the number of test-takers and seats available in the ten high schools. 

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Assumption

Today, the Feast of the Assumption, reminds me of an expression from my youth in an Irish neighborhood in northern Manhattan: namely, that there was a "cure in the waters" on Assumption Day, so some families would be sure to visit Rockaway Beach. I note that this year, one Suffolk parish continues this idea. Please use this link to today's morning prayers at Ocean Beach, Fire Island.

Friday, July 14, 2017

Pastors & assignments, July, 2017

A list of priestly appointments appeared briefly at drvc.org in late July, then disappeared and reappeared. The link is HERE. It contained new pastors, new curates, reassignments of priests of religious congregations, and the incardination of five or six priests. 
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A new pastor, age 32, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Malverne. Link to liherald.com HERE.
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Msgr. Steve Camp, after 12 years as pastor at St. Christopher, Baldwin, to St. Patrick, Huntington.
Link to good-bye letter in parish bulletin HERE. Rev. Nicholas Zientarski replaces Msgr. Camp at St. Christopher.
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Our Lady of Mercy parish, Hicksville, has received a new pastor, Rev. John McCarthy.
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Sacred Heart, North Merrick, has received a new pastor.
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Deacon Anthony Cedrone from St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Wantagh, to St. William the Abbot, Seaford. Notice on page 8 of bulletin HERE.
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As Msgr. McNamara is joining the staff of the North American College on the Janiculum Hill, Rev. Joseph Nixon will become administrator of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Point Lookout.
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There appear to be eleven new associate pastor appointments in Nassau County.
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Five monsignors have retired.
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In Nassau County, four pastors have been reappointed for a second term.
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Sunday, July 2, 2017

AdvancedED accreditation network for elementary schools

Maria Regina elementary school of Seaford has posted an important letter from the diocesan superintendent of schools, explaining that the elementary schools of the diocese will drop Middle States accreditation in favor of a different organization, AdvancED.
Links: Announcement of switch to become effective July 1,2017. Please scroll down in the link.
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Background of AdvancED. It is a merger of three other regional accreditation organizations.
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Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools  Even sixty years ago when I was in high school, the three-day visit of a Middle States evaluation team was a big deal. Later, I learned that preparation for these visits involved many meetings, much paperwork, many questions. The important thing for Catholic schools was that the Middle States first asked the goals of the institution, then inspected it as meeting these goals, then offered suggestions for improvement. It was and is possible to have accreditation suspended. Please note that accreditation on the K-12 level is probably very different from the accreditation of colleges and universities.