29 May 2008

Media Advisory

WHAT:             His Eminience Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for                             Catholic Education is visiting the United States and will visit St. Agnes                         Cathedral Elementary School in Rockville Centre. 

The Most Reverend William Murphy, bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre will welcome Cardinal Grocholewski to the diocese and school.  This will be the only elementary school he will visit during his time in the U.S.

                        The media are invited to capture the welcome of Cardinal Grocholewski and                          join him for a portion of his tour of the school.  He will visit the computer lab                         and library.  He will sit in on a fourth grade religion class and witness students                         “Skyping” the religion class of St. Anne’s Elementary School in Garden City.

WHY:               Fordham University has invited Cardinal Grocholewski to receive an Honorary                        Doctorate of Humane Letters, the Catholic Leadership Award and to be present                        at a symposium on Catholic schools. He will be in New York from May 28-30,                        2008.  Cardinal Grocholewski is coming to Long Island to witness a typical day                        at a diocesan elementary school in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.    

WHEN:            Friday, May 30, 2008 at 11:45 a.m.
                                               

 
WHERE:           St. Agnes Cathedral Elementary School
                        70 Clinton Ave.
                        Rockville Centre, NY 11571

CONTACT:        Contact, Diocese of Rockville Centre
                         Sean P. Dolan, 516-678-5800, ext. 625
                         rvcinfo@drvc.org

About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
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)