ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, January 23, 2007  – The Most Reverend William Murphy, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, will begin Catholic Schools Week in the Diocese of Rockville Centre by celebrating the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 28 at St. Peter of Alcantara Church, Port Washington.  The Most Reverend John Dunne, Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, will celebrate the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Franklin Square. 

During Catholic Schools Week, the Diocese of Rockville Centre encourages parents of children approaching school age to visit their parish or regional elementary school and to consider enrolling their children for the upcoming school year.  Beginning Sunday, January 28 and continuing through Saturday, February 3, Catholic elementary schools in the diocese will open their doors and welcome visitors. 

There are nearly 24,000 children enrolled in 58 Catholic elementary schools on Long Island.  A visitor to those schools will witness how they have adapted to prepare students for living and working in the 21^st century.  “The skills children need today to succeed are far different than when Catholic schools began in this country,” said Sister Joanne Callahan, OSU, superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Rockville Centre.  

“Children need to be able to think critically, problem solve, have information and media literacy skills, be globally aware and self-directed, be able to work with others, and be able to lead in an ethical and moral way.  Catholic schools are working to instill these skills while also teaching the faith and providing prayer and liturgical experiences that will help to form and transform their lives.” 

To coincide with Catholic Schools Week, the diocese has launched a marketing campaign designed to raise awareness in the excellence found in Catholic schools and to encourage parents to consider Catholic school for their child or children.  The Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation is actively raising money to help provide tuition assistance to students in need.  Last year, more than 600 needy students received financial assistance.

For more information on Catholic schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, please visit www.drvc.org or call 1-866-450-9033.  For more information on specific Catholic Schools Week events and activities, contact the Office of Public Information at 516-678-5800, ext. 633.  To contribute to the Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, visit TomorrowsHopeFoundation.org. 

About The Diocese of Rockville Centre

The Diocese of Rockville Centre (www.drvc.org) 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.    Contact:

Sean P. Dolan
Director of Communications
516-678-5800, ext. 625
sdolan@drvc.org

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