RALLIES FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: Nationwide rallies against the HHS mandate will take place on June 8 at noon. Locally, rallies are scheduled in front of Rochester’s Federal Bldg. and in Canandaigua near the County Courthouse. 

Fortnight for Freedom

Local Festival for Freedom

Festival Flyer

Insert: “Why Conscience is Important”

Bulletin Announcements

USCCB Conscience Protection website       

Religious Liberty Prayer

Take action now!

Statement by the Bishops of the United States

Six more things everyone should know about the HHS mandate

Frequently Asked Questions

(Click here for Spanish Language Version)

Previous News Releases

• Bishops Decry HHS Rule, Urge Catholics to Stand Up for Religious Liberty and Conscience Rights in Homilies at Vigil for Life – January 23, 2012
• Cardinal-Designate Dolan Speaks Out Against HHS Rule, Calls For Action In New Web Video – January 20, 2012
• U.S. Bishops Vow to Fight HHS Edict – Jan. 23, 2012

For more information, visit the USSCB’s Conscience Protections page:

New Mass times for parishes in Brockport, Hilton, Spencerport

Beginning June 30, new Mass times for parishes
in Brockport, Hamlin, Hilton and Spencerport

The Catholic parishes of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hamlin, St. Leo in Hilton, and St. John the Evangelist in Spencerport—along with the SUNY Brockport Newman Center and the Hispanic migrant ministry—announce a new weekend Mass schedule to begin the weekend of June 30/July 1, 2012:

Nativity, Brockport:  4:30 pm Saturday; 9:00 am Sunday; 1:00 pm Sunday (Spanish)

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Hamlin:  5:00 pm Saturday; 9:30 am Sunday

St. John, Spencerport:  5:00 pm Saturday; 7:45 am, 9:30 am and 11:15 am Sunday

St. Leo, Hilton:  5:00 pm Saturday; 9:30 am and 6:00 pm Sunday

Newman Center, Brockport:  11:30 am Sunday

For more information please contact the local church:

Nativity:  637-4500
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton:  964-8627
St. John:  352-5481
St. Leo:  392-2710
Newman Center:  637-5036
Hispanic Migrant Ministry:  509-0423

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/index.cfm

School Survey – Beginning March 28

Dear Friends,

As part of the continuing efforts to ensure the high quality of Catholic education in our community, the four Rochester area Catholic high schools are conducting a confidential parent survey in conjunction with the Diocese of Rochester. The information collected will help us greatly, and so I encourage you to take part.

The survey is intended to help us gain greater insight into how families choose a junior high/high school option for their child, as well as their perceptions of the options that are available to them. We would be most grateful for your input.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important study. It provides you with an opportunity to add your voice to the planning process as our Catholic schools look to meet the needs of the Rochester community now and in the future.

Sincerely,

†Matthew H. Clark

Bishop of Rochester

Click here to take survey

ABOUT THE SURVEY

The easy-to-follow online survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete, depending on the length of your responses.  As an added incentive, an Apple iPad 2™ will be given to an individual whose name will be drawn from participants who choose to provide contact information.

Data will be analyzed by Insight Solutions, a Rochester-based market research firm. Your individual responses and information will remain confidential and will not be shared with any outside organization.

The survey will be available until April 20, 2012, at midnight.

Join the fun and Run for the Young at the 16th annual Run for the Young 5K road race and 1-mile fun run sponsored by the Diocese of Rochester.

Rev. Paul J. Tomasso appointed Director of Seminarians

Bishop of Rochester Matthew H. Clark has appointed Rev. Paul J. Tomasso as the Diocese of Rochester’s Director of Seminarians, effective July 1, 2012. He succeeds Rev. James Schwartz, who is stepping down as Director of Seminarians after long service in that role.

Rev. Tomasso will serve in his new role concurrent with his pastorate at Our Lady of Peace in Geneva.

He will be part of a team of three priests in the Diocese who have responsibility for priestly vocations, while carrying on parish work. The others are: Fr. Tim Horan, pastor of Holy Trinity in Webster, who serves as Director of Priestly Vocation Awareness and is responsible for recruiting; and Rev. William Coffas, who serves as Director of Becket Hall, the diocesan discernment house in Brighton.

Rev. Tomasso will be responsible for monitoring and coordinating the education and formation of 21 seminarians in three seminaries in the United States and one in Europe.

Rev. Tomasso, who was ordained a priest by Bishop Clark in 1981 and served as Secretary to the Bishop from 1986-1996, also has served in a variety of leadership positions in the Diocese: as associate pastor of St. Stephen’s, Geneva; associate pastor of St. John of Rochester, Fairport; pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, Ss. Peter and Paul, Holy Apostles, St. Anthony of Padua  and Holy Family in the City of Rochester; and as pastor of Our Lady of Peace since December 2008.

He also serves as chair of Bishop Clark’s Presbyteral Council, a board of priests who advise the Bishop on diocesan matters.

Prayer Labyrinth at Sacred Heart Cathedral

• $10 General Admission for Spelling Bee only/$5 seniors or students
• $10 dinner only (take-out available) /$5 seniors or students
• $15 Spelling Bee and Spaghetti Dinner / $10 seniors or students

http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20111103_lent-2012.html

Cook appointed new principal at
Seton Catholic School in Brighton

Anne Willkens Leach, superintendent of schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, recently announced the appointment of Anthony Cook as principal of Seton Catholic School in Brighton. Cook will start his new position on January 2.

Cook, who lives in Rochester, has been the Dean of Students for the junior high at Aquinas Institute since 2008. In addition to his current role at Aquinas Institute, he has taught a variety of subjects at the school over the past eight years, including American History, Criminal Justice and Global Studies. This past summer, he also served as an adjunct professor within the Educational Administrative Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame.

“I am excited and blessed to join the community at Seton Catholic School,” said Cook. “As a practicing Catholic and Catholic school administrator, I am whole-heartedly committed to Catholic education. With this commitment, it is my responsibility to support the development of each child’s spiritual faith and collective growth as a school community.””

Cook received his Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Secondary Education from SUNY Geneseo. He also received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame.

For more information on Catholic schools in the Diocese of Rochester, visit www.dorschools.org.

Getting Comfortable with the Bible