Seaford Pastor Named Monsignor

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, June 13, 2007—Pope Benedict XVI conferred the papal honor of monsignor on Father William E. Koenig, pastor at St. William the Abbot parish, Seaford, N.Y.

Msgr. Koenig said he was grateful to receive the honor.

“In the past they’ve had a monsignor as a pastor,” he said of St. William’s parishioners. “I felt that it was a great statement to the parish.”

Born in Queens, N.Y., and raised in East Meadow, N.Y., Msgr. Koenig attended St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary, then in Uniondale, N.Y., Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, Douglaston, N.Y. and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, N.Y.

Ordained into the priesthood on May 14, 1983, Msgr. Koenig served at St. Edward the Confessor parish, Syosset, N.Y., followed by St. James parish, Setauket, N.Y. He was appointed director of diocesan vocations in 1989 and director of the Office of Ministry to Priests in 1990. He served at St. Agnes Cathedral parish, Rockville Centre, N.Y., from 1996 until 2000, when he was assigned to St. William the Abbot.

Msgr. Koenig said he is grateful to Bishop William Murphy for assigning him to St. William the Abbot.

“When one is ordained, one commits oneself to being of service to the people of God,” he said. “To me, what I’m most grateful for is the assignments I’ve been given.”


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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