Bishop Barres has been bishop of Rockville Center in New York for a bit more than two and a half years. In that time he has already made a decision that has negatively affected the youth population of Rockville Center. Although this petition has no objection to the authority or integrity of the Bishop, we as the Catholic youth of Long Island have an issue with this decision. This decision was to remove the brief intermissions given to us from the school year during certain holidays, specifically All Saints Day and the Ascension celebratory sequences. In doing so, not only has the Bishop gone directly against the previous activity of John Paul II to bring the youth to the Catholic faith, he has also gone against the essential doctrine of Catholicism, that being that the right choice should be made in the presence of a choice between right and wrong.

The reason that we believe this goes against this essential doctrine is that through both common sense and the teaching and actions of the saints we can conclude that our actions only matter when we make the choice. We should have the ability to attend mass willingly during these breaks, and forcing us to by keeping us in school to attend these masses means that there is NO virtue in our attendance.

We also firmly believe that by reversing our ability to break from the academic rigors of the school environment, this decision has prolonged the already grueling school year into yet another normal rest period, incongruent and unfortunate for everybody involved.

If we are to have spiritual refreshment in our attendance at mass, would the work of college preparatory institutions not mentally separate us from the religious celebration? Would we not be quite literally separated from our families in a series of celebrations that revolve around the community and familial connection of the saints?

From every standpoint the logic of this decision does not add up and the obvious solution would be to undo this inconvenience and show the public that the perceived rigidity of the Diocese is nonexistent.

We, the youth of Long Island, present this petition to allot us time off on the Ascension and All Saints Day holidays to Bishop John Barres and the Diocese of Rockville Center, as well as the Marianists and the Province of Meribah.

Written by Paolo Montelbano