Rockville Centre, N.Y., May 29, 2008 / 19:47 pm
New York will receive a prestigious visitor on Friday, the Diocese of Rockville Centre has announced. Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, who is in charge of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education, will visit St. Agnes Elementary School to witness an average day in Catholic education.
According to a press release from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, on his visit to the elementary school, the Polish prelate will be treated to a student-taught lesson on baseball, a reading of the classic poem, ‘Casey at the Bat’ and a group of students singing, ‘Take me out to the ballgame.’
Most Rev. William Murphy, the bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Center expressed his joy in welcoming the cardinal to the diocese. He explained that Cardinal Grocholewski is the head of the congregation for education “where he oversees the Church’s commitment to education from schools to universities to seminaries.” The bishop also spoke of the privilege it was to host Cardinal Grocholewski. “It is an honor to receive such a distinguished Cardinal of the Church who wishes to visit St. Agnes Cathedral School, one of the many excellent Catholic schools that serve our families and our diocese and indeed the whole community.”
The superintendent of schools in the diocese also conveyed her excitement for the cardinal’s visit. “The Catholic school community is delighted to welcome Cardinal Grocholewski to the Diocese of Rockville Centre,” said Sr. Joanne Callahan, O.S.U.
“As Prefect of Catholic Education, the Cardinal is aware of what is happening around the world in Catholic education. We will have the opportunity to show him one of our elementary schools. Our only regret is that he will not have the opportunity to see all of the wonderful educational and religious formation activities going on in all of the Catholic elementary and secondary schools in our diocese. Perhaps he will come again for a longer visit,” Sr. Callahan said.
During his trip to the U.S., the prelate will visit two additional schools: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Manhattan and Xaverian High School in Brooklyn.