A case study in Dramatic Missionary Growth on : Full participation of Diocese of Rockville Centre Catholic high schools in the January 19, 2018 March For Life in Washington, D.C. YOUR COMMUNITY HOLINESS AND MISSION

The Catholic Church’s call on Long square about those beliefs. Island to Dramatic Missionary As our students pray the Mass on the day of the March for Life, they make a beautiful connection between a Growth is something we pray and deep reverence for the Body and Blood of Christ with a discern individually and communally. deep reverence for every human life at every stage of life. The Church by its very nature is They see the Gospel of Life in a holistic way dramatically missionary. that connects the sanctity of human life with every dimension of our Catholic social justice teaching Pope Francis expresses it this way in BISHOP — from a preferential option for the poor, to a firm JOHN O. BARRES The Joy of the Gospel: is the fifth bishop rejection of all forms of racism and an embrace of the of the Catholic Divine Mercy mission of promoting racial harmony, “Jesus can break through the dull categories with Diocese of Rockville to a critical emphasis on comprehensive immigration which we would enclose him and he constantly Centre. Follow reform in this nation. amazes us by his divine creativity. Whenever we him on Twitter, @ These memories will strengthen their conviction BishopBarres make the effort to return to the source and to recover and Gospel of Life witness to society — not only in the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues their high school years, but during the entire course of arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different their lives as they pursue a wide variety of educational, forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words career and vocational paths in the public square. with new meaning for today’s world. Every form of The March for Life is devoted to the fundamental authentic evangelization is always ‘new.’” Christian belief — a belief that is expressed in the Didache, one of the most ancient of all In a special way, we discern together Christian writings — that every single the impact of the Catholic education human life is precious to God and that experience on Dramatic Missionary no human being, no matter how tiny or Growth on Long Island. Every single unseen, is insignificant or disposable. I was informed that 2018 was the A strong participation in the March first year that all the Catholic high human life is for Life by our Catholic high schools is a schools on Long Island brought student living expression of Pope Francis’ powerful delegations to the annual March for insight and is one index of a vital and strong Life in Washington, D.C. Together, we precious to God. Catholic identity and sense of mission in congratulate the students and faculty our Catholic high schools. It is a sign of of Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Dramatic Missionary Growth. St. John the Baptist Diocesan High In regard to the actual number of School, Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan students who attended, two of our High School, Chaminade High School, Kellenberg Catholic high schools brought more than 100 Memorial High School, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, students, three schools brought close to 50 students, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Anthony’s High School, St. three schools brought close to 30 students and two Dominic High School and St. Mary’s High School for schools brought fewer than 20 students. this prophetic and unified witness to the Gospel of We look forward to a continued increase in Life. This exciting news is a concrete sign of Dramatic participation by our Catholic high school students in Missionary Growth in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. the March for Life in the years to come as a sign of the The March for Life is a spiritual pilgrimage and a young Church helping to lead Dramatic Missionary day of intense Catholic formation for our Catholic Growth on Long Island. high school students. It also provides our Catholic Thanks to all our Catholic high school students, high school students with visual evidence and our Catholic public high school students and to experience that there are vast numbers of other all of you for your love for the Gospel of Life and young people from every part of the country on the the way you bring that love, prayer and conviction March who have the same beliefs that they do and courageously and creatively to every dimension of are willing to be vocal and courageous in the public our global public square.

3 p.12 6 Local News 8 Respect Life FOLLOW Church and state ... Working together The Long Island 10 Photo Essay Catholic 11 Your community Five men to be ordained Deacons FACEBOOK 12 Cover story Deacon Leo Song to be ordained

201 8 in June LICATHOLIC.ORG 14 Bishop Coyle photo essay 22 Camp Quo Vadis Empowering diocesan youth FOR ADVERTISING

May to encounter our Lord CALL: 516.678.5800, x301 24 Parish Life Dramatic Missionary Growth at Holy Family Parish, Hicksville FOR p.15 26 The Catholic Home SUBSCRIPTIONS The nine-o’clockers CALL: 1.800.443.2155 27 Telecare TV Listing

www.licatholic.org www.drvc.org 28 Catholic Youth Organization April 2018 Volunteers are at the heart of CYO

From left — Sister Justyna, Culture adminIstrator of St. Joseph’s 29 Home and Sister Bonaventure Balicka. INSIDE A dessert fit for a May crowning

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: A

Beyond the game Trent Bea ie’s new book explores vocations and athletics p.16 joyous They’re cooking in Bay Shore Ingredients of Dramatic Missionary Growth at St. Patrick Parish p.18 31 Dr. O’s Health Care Tips adventureSISTER BONAVENTURE BALICKA Caring for the prisoners OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF ST. BENEDICT Battling gastroesophageal reflux disease Prison ministry on Long Island p.20 FINDS FULFILLMENT IN HER VOCATION p.22

4 The Long Island Catholic | May 2018 | www.licatholic.org