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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Congregation of the Infant Jesus
Concludes
Golden Jubilee Year Celebration |
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Bishop William Murphy to Celebrate
Closing Mass |
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ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, September 30, 2005 -
The close of a year-long celebration of the 100th
anniversary of the Congregation of the Infant Jesus,
also known as the Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor, will
be marked with a Mass celebrated at 2:30 p.m. on
Saturday, October 29 at St. Agnes Cathedral here. The
Most Reverend William Murphy, Bishop of the Diocese of
Rockville Centre, will be the principal celebrant.
The founding of the congregation dates back to the
arrival in New York of Mother Marie Antoinette and two
companions on October 21, 1905. The three made their way
to Brooklyn where they stayed with the Little Sisters of
the Poor. Their plans to travel west to minister to
French children were changed when Bishop Charles E.
McDonnell asked them to stay in the Diocese of Brooklyn
to nurse the sick poor in their own homes. In 1907,
Bishop McDonnell received approval from Pope Pius X to
establish the sisters as an American Community, distinct
from their origins in the French Congregation. Their
“home nursing” ministry eventually evolved into a New
York State certified health agency known as the Nursing
Sisters Home Visiting Service.
Bishop McDonnell also identified the need for a Catholic
hospital in Nassau County. In 1913, Sister Marie Emma
who was one of the three nuns from France, assumed
charge of a 13 bed former sanitarium in Hempstead called
“Old Mercy.” Replaced by “New Mercy” in 1941, the
facility is currently known as Mercy Medical Center.
These health and hospital services established by the
sisters are now part of Catholic Health Services of Long
Island.
Members of the congregation are still engaged in various
aspects of health care throughout Brooklyn and Long
Island. They are also active in prison ministry, work at
the Interfaith Nutrition Network, and teach at the
college level. The sisters advocate “for people who
cannot speak for themselves.” They continue to follow
their motto, “To minister in Christ” and remain
“Faithful to Our Mission”, the theme for their jubilee
year.
# # #
About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was formed in 1957 and
covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk
Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million
Catholics (total population in both counties is
approximately 3.3 million). There are 134 parishes in
115 towns. Last year over 20,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 20,000 first communions and 5,000
marriages took place in the diocese. There are 2,137
students in Catholic kindergarten, 23,825 in primary or
elementary school, 12,628 in secondary school and 3,300
in higher institutions. There are 76 Catholic elementary
and high schools and one Catholic college in the
diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two
home-care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more
than 80,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and
disadvantaged on Long Island. For more information,
visit www.drvc.org
For more information:
Sean P. Dolan
sdolan@drvc.org
516-678-5800, ext. 625
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