FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New General Counsel Named for Diocese of Rockville Centre

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, December 10, 2007 — Thomas G. Renker has been named General Counsel for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.  In this position, Renker will oversee the newly established Office of the General Counsel.  “With my background in the legal issues that face not-for-profit institutions, the opportunity to work for the Diocese and help parishes, schools and other Catholic institutions fulfill their missions was perfect,” said Renker.  “I was thrilled to come aboard.”

Renker joined the Diocese of Rockville Centre as General Counsel on October 22, 2007.  For almost 20 years, Renker has provided legal counsel to New York not-for-profit organizations, primarily in the areas of corporate operations, compliance, risk management and insurance, and business transactions.  Renker formerly served as General Counsel of FOJP Service Corporation, Inc., a risk and insurance management company operated exclusively for not-for-profits, and as Staff Counsel at UJA-Federation of New York, Inc., one of the largest faith-based philanthropies in the United States.

A native Long Islander and alumnus of Chaminade High School, Renker is a 1986 graduate of New York University School of Law and a 1982 graduate of Columbia College, Columbia University.  He is a parishioner of Corpus Christi parish in Mineola, where he lives with his wife, Mary, and their three children.

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About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
Celebrating its Golden Jubilee, the Diocese of Rockville Centre (www.drvc.org) was formed in 1957 and covers 1,198 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million Catholics (total population in both counties is approximately 2.8 million). There are 134 parishes in 115 towns. Last year over 18,000 baptisms, 18,000 confirmations, 19,000 first communions and 4,000 marriages took place in the diocese. There are approximately 22,000 students in Catholic elementary schools; 13,000 in secondary schools and 3,300 in higher institutions. There are 69 Catholic elementary and high schools and one Catholic college in the diocese. There are also 120,189 total students in religious education. Catholic Health Services of Long Island consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, a community-based home for those with special needs and a hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than 59,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged on Long Island.