St. John of God Pastor Named Monsignor Central Islip Pastor Also Serves as Suffolk County Police Department Chaplain

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, June 8, 2007—Pope Benedict XVI conferred the papal honor of monsignor on Father James M. Kissane, pastor of St. John of God parish, Central Islip, N.Y., and chaplain of Suffolk County Police Department.

“I’m honored,” Msgr. Kissane said of the papal honor. “I think it’s also an honor to the people of the parish for their good work.”

Msgr. Kissane was born in Bronx, N.Y., and attended SS Cyril and Methodius School, Deer Park, N.Y. He graduated from St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, West Islip, N.Y. He attended Cathedral College, Douglaston, N.Y., from 1983-1987, and graduated from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, N.Y., in 1992.

Msgr. Kissane graduated from the U.S. Army Chaplain School and ministered in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1988 to 1994. He described this experience as “challenging” and “exciting.”

Ordained May 30, 1992, he was first assigned to Our Lady of Loretto parish, Hempstead, N.Y., in 1992, followed by St. Anthony of Padua parish, East Northport, N.Y., in 1997. He was appointed pastor of St. John of God parish in 2003.

He said the best part about being pastor is “being invited into people’s lives in times of joy and sorrows.”

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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