New Pastor Appointed to St. Patrick Parish, Bay Shore

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, June 25, 2007—The Most Reverend William Murphy, Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, appointed Father Thomas M. Coogan pastor of St. Patrick parish, Bay Shore, N.Y., effective May 14, 2007.

Born in Queens, N.Y. and raised in Garden City, N.Y., Father Coogan graduated from Chaminade High School, Mineola, N.Y., in 1987. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola College, Md., followed by a master’s degree in theology and a Master of Divinity in theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, N.Y.

Ordained June 14, 1997, Father Coogan’s first assignment was St. Patrick parish, Bay Shore, N.Y. In 2002, he was appointed diocesan director of vocations, a position that involved visiting Catholic schools, religious education programs and parishes to raise awareness about vocations and assessing applications to the seminary.

Father Coogan is excited to be back in the parish where he started.

“It’s really a wonderful way to become a pastor,” he said. “It helps you to make good decisions when you know the history of where you are.”

Father Coogan is one of 14 children. He said he learned a lot from this experience when he was growing up.

“It’s a way to learn tolerance and appreciation of diversity and how to get along with others.”

He said his large family taught him to “do the most good to the most people.”

Father Coogan’s eldest brother, Robert F. Coogan, is a priest for the Diocese of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.




Editor’s Note: Photo Courtesy of The Long Island Catholic/Greg Shemitz



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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. (4/20/07)
 

For more information Contact:
Sean P. Dolan
Director of Communications
516-678-5800, ext. 625
sdolan@drvc.org
 

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