PENTECOST ON LONG ISLAND

About 60 members of the Long Island Voice of the Faithful all clad in red gathered outside St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Center for the “Bishop’s Mass” on Pentecost Sunday. The group has been “vigiling” regularly at this Mass about once a month for three years and usually sits as a group. On this Sunday they spread out throughout the congregation “to show that we were one of the faithful and not exclusive, as we are sometime characterized,” wrote VOTF member Lisa Braglia. “Two of our members, Fran and Kevin Connors, were chosen by an usher to bring up the gifts to the altar – Bishop Murphy noticed their red clothing and VOTF buttons.”

Following the Mass the group gathered outside the Cathedral for prayer and fellowship, and to distribute a handout which stated, “Those of us from Long Island Voice of the Faithful who are gathered here today, dressed in red, are doing so in unity with members of VOTF from all over the United States. The Church has done so much good in the world – spreading the Gospel of our Lord, helping the poor, ministering to those in need, working for social justice. But when we hear about problems within our Church, we are deeply troubled. We believe it is the baptismal responsibility of all the faithful to do what we can to make the Church better and stronger than it is today so that it can continue to do good work in the world. Today we stand in unity to express this commitment to the Church that we love.” It went on to detail the story of the priest abuse scandal especially as it pertained to their diocese and Bishop Murphy (formerly from the Archdiocese of Boston, serving under Cardinal Law). It also discussed the recent problems in Chicago under Cardinal George.

The flyer concluded, “We need your help, too. In the months ahead, LIVOTF will continue to work for establishment of an elected, representative Diocesan Finance Council to work alongside the current diocesan council chosen by the bishop, for justice for the abused, and for truth and transparency from the diocesan hierarchy. If you would like more information on what you can do to help make our goals a reality, please visit our website at www.votf-li.org. Please come to our next regional meeting, on June 8 (more information is available on the website). Please sign our petition, available on our website, for establishment of a lay, elected Finance Council. Please pray for us. Please join us.”

Visit votf.org for more information about Voice of the Faithful.

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