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Our Parish History - Part 5 - 1997
- to the Present |
| 1997
Monsignor James P. Kelly pastor of St. Aidan's
Williston Park, is named as Rector of the Cathedral succeeding Monsignor Mulligan.
St. Agnes Parish now serves over 5,000 families. |
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| 1998
Bishop McGann announces his intention to resign as Diocesan
Bishop on his 75th Birthday in 1999. Pope John Paul II names Bishop James T. McHugh, Diocesan Bishop of
Camden as coadjutor Bishop of Rockville Centre. The Parish
Technology Committee launches the Parish Website. |
1999
Monsignor Kelly announces plans for a major building project which includes renovation of the Convent, building
a new Parish Center and
installation of a pipe organ in the Cathedral.
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2000
The Holy See accepts Bishop McGann's resignation and on January 4th
Bishop McHugh is installed as the third Bishop of Rockville Centre.
The Parish Website is expanded to include a section for St. Agnes
Cathedral School.
Bishop McHugh dies after a brief illness in December. |
| 2001
The Wicks Organ Company of Highland Illinois completes the
installation of the Cathedral's new Pipe Organ. |
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The Vatican announces that Bishop William F. Murphy Vicar General
of the Archdiocese of Boston is to become the fourth Bishop of Rockville
Centre. Bishop Murphy is installed on September 5th. Within a week,
the Village of Rockville Centre and St. Agnes Parish are devastated by the
events of September 11th. The Cathedral becomes the site of numerous
funeral and memorial services in the months that follow.
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| 2002
Bishop John McGann, the second bishop of Rockville Centre
(retired)
dies at the age of 77.
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The renovation plans for the convent are modified, after consultation with
the Sisters of the parish, to convert the third floor into the Diocesan
Bishop's residence. In September, the offices for Parish Outreach,
Social Ministry, Religious Education, Music, Youth, Hispanic, Adult Faith Formation,
and Senior Ministries move into their new quarters on the first two floors
of the renovated building now called the Parish Ministry Building.
The first floor chapel is renamed the Chapel of the Holy Cross in honor of
the Amityville Sisters of St. Dominic, Congregation of the Holy Cross. Demolition of the old high school
building is completed to make way for the new Parish Center. |
| 2003
Construction begins on the much needed Parish
Activity Center on the site of the former High School.
Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated for the first time at St. Agnes.
Over 100 Parishioners attend the service held in the Chapel of the Holy
Cross. |
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2004
Following the 12:30 Mass on June 6, Bishop
Murphy along with Msgr. Kelly, the priests and staff of the parish and
several hundred parishioners celebrate the blessing and grand opening of
the new Parish Activity Center built on the site of the former St. Agnes
High School. This magnificent new building will be used by both
the Parish and the Diocese. Bishop Murphy states that it is the
"Grandest family room in all of Rockville Centre!" The
new center will provide a large meeting space for St. Agnes. The
center is expected to host gatherings for diocesan related events, the
parish school, religious education program, seniors, youth groups and
all members of the St. Agnes parish family. Pope John Paul II names Msgr. James Kelly, rector of St. Agnes
Cathedral since 1997, Protonotary Apostolic, a title given to only a
small number of prelates.
Fr. German Villabon celebrates his 50th anniversary as a
priest. For 20 years Fr. Villabon has served at St. Agnes with a
particular ministry to Spanish speaking Catholics
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| 2005
After years of joining the CYO Swim teams of
neighboring parishes, St. Agnes parishioners organize their own team for
both boys and girls. During the team's first year of competition,
two members go on to establish new records in the 14 & under girls
50 yard backstroke and the 12 & under girls 50 yard breaststroke. |
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2006 On the 5th Anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy the
parish installs a plaque containing the names of those St. Agnes parishioners
who lost their lives that day. The plaque was installed on the
outside west side of the cathedral facing in the direction of New York
City.
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2007
The Diocese of Rockville Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary. This
same year the 72 year old St. Agnes constructed in 1935 as a parish
church, celebrates its 50th anniversary as a Cathedral and Seat of the
Diocese of Rockville Centre.
After 10 years of serving as Cathedral
Rector, Msgr. Kelly announces that he will be retiring at the end of
June. Bishop Murphy names Msgr. Robert Guglielmone, Director of
Priest Personnel as the new rector.
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Previous | Start
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Sources:
- "From a Blacksmith Shop To A Majestic Gothic
Edifice", 1935
- Leonard, CSJ, Sr. Joan de Lourdes, "Richly Blessed, The Diocese
of Rockville Centre 1957-1990", (Walsworth Publishing, 1991)
- O'Neill, James "To Believe In A Vision" (Delmar, 1983)
- "Rededication Journal", 1982 |
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