Catholic campus houses Suffolk's first Islamic school

Newsday ^ | 9/28/2013

[markomalley]

In classrooms where Catholic girls once studied the Bible and prayed the Our Father, young Muslims now study the Quran and pray in Arabic. The girls no longer wear uniforms of skirts and blazers, but traditional Muslim floor-length dresses called jilbabs, with hijabs covering their heads. Boys are neatly attired in light blue dress shirts and navy blue pants.

They are the 265 students of MDQ Academy, Suffolk County's first and only Islamic school, which for the third year is calling the majestic Academy of St. Joseph its home. The former all-girls Catholic high school in Brentwood closed five years ago because of declining enrollment.

The number of students in the Islamic school is growing as it continues the cross-faith coexistence. Their classrooms are on two floors of the structure, part of a complex on the grassy 211-acre property that also includes the headquarters of Long Island's largest order of nuns.

The arrangement is working out wonderfully, leaders of the groups said.

"It's been very positive for both of us," said Sister Helen Kearney, head of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood. "It's a very positive message for our world that, in a sense, tends to kind of divide groups."

The partnership underscores Long Island's growing ethnic and religious diversity. While Catholics still predominate -- two of every three Long Islanders are Catholic -- Nassau and Suffolk counties are home to at least 75,000 Muslims, according to Muslim community leaders. Two other full-time Islamic schools are located in Valley Stream and Hempstead, and the Island has about two dozen mosques.

[jmacusa]

I agree. Islam is an evil creation created by an evil and wicked man. There is nothing in Islam that pays homage to a loving God, to the sanctity of life nor makes any provision for the life of the immortal soul. For a man who called himself a prophet of God, Mohammed did nothing that could be considered sanctimonious, charitable , holy or good. In his lifetime he organized sixty-seven military campaigns, twenty-seven of them he led personally. He was a murderer, a thief and a pedophile. What miracles did Mohammed preform? Who's sins did he die for? I do not nor will I EVER see this unGodly, unholy abomination called Islam as anything other then what it is-- pure, calculating, malevolent and murderous EVIL!!

[VermiciousKnid]

I hear you, Toasted. We plan to escape ASAP, and have already begun scouting possible places to go.

As for LaSalle, yeah, it closed awhile back. They too had declining enrollment, and tried to fix it by admitting girls. Bad move. Enrollment declined even faster and they finally had to close shop.

Long Island’s not too bad for raising a family. It is relatively safe, but soooo crowded and expensive. Plus, while Long Island used to be pretty safe GOP territory, it no longer is; now it’s split down the middle with the Libs usually coming out on top. Bleech.

No we’ll be leaving here one day, for sure.

Regards,

[Travis McGee]

File it under “Suicide of the West.”

[Iscool]

This is what happens when Catholic embrace birth control and secular education.

It sounds more like, 'this is what happens when Catholics embrace their Izlum brothers'...

[Lurker]

Fools...

[AliVeritas]

Read the statement, says it all. (To me, anyway)

http://brentwoodcsj.org/about-us/

[NYer]

h/t to freeper Roccus for the ping.

My HS alma mater is Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, NY which is run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood. These sisters were once strict disciplinarians. Post VCII, they emerged as ultra progressives. That they turned St. Joseph's Academy over to Muslims comes as no surprise.

The (former) Academy of Saint Joseph, founded in 1856 and operational through 2009, was a private Catholic school conducted by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood, New York. Situated on a beautiful 200 acre campus, it was accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Catholic Educational Association . For over 150 years, it offered quality education to students throughout Long Island.

Here are the sisters before VCII

And here they are today ...

And .. yes ... their community is part of the LCWR.

[Roccus]

I figured you would be interested. It’s really sad....what both the Order and Brentwood have become.

[NYer]

I was in HS when VCII ended. When we returned from summer vacation, the sisters had doffed their habits and were dressed in street clothes. One of my former classmates joined the Sisters of St. Joseph (Brentwood) and is now principal of our former HS.

Shaker Pointe at Carondelet - Senior Housing

Here in upstate NY, there is another community of Sisters of St. Joseph (Carondelet). With shrinking enrollment, they have resorted to financial investing. They have constructed a large complex of senior retirement homes, townhouses, apartments and garages. A mini shopping mall is projected to be included.

This group is all about social justice. It seems they're still living in the 60s.

[Morgana]

I figured. They have only themselves to blame.

[Salvation]

This whole thing could have been avoided if the sisters had continue to wear their habits and teach orthodox Catholicism.

No wonder things shut down for them. They weren’t being obedient to their vows.

[NYer]

No wonder things shut down for them.

Judging by their reaction:

"It's been very positive for both of us," said Sister Helen Kearney, head of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood

.... they seem very happy with the outcome.

Now, when I attended catholic school, each classroom had a crucifix hanging front and center, just above the blackboard. The same would be true for this school. If the school is now being used to instruct muslim students, I strongly doubt any of those classrooms or hallways, still have crucifixes in place. Hence, someone had to climb a ladder to take down those crucifixes. How can these sisters sleep at night after giving that order. How could they do this to our Lord?!!

[piusv]

I’m not sure why anyone is gasping or in shock over this. Vatican II teaches they worship the same God as Catholics.

Never in a million years would you see this pre-Vatican II.

But hey, we all sing kumbaya now in the “Catholic” Church! /sarcasm

[VermiciousKnid]

NYer, my kids used to go to a Catholic elementary school formerly staffed entirely with Sisters of St. Joseph. Now, the only ones left there are very old indeed, and IMO, in serious need of catechesis. They no longer teach any classes, thank heavens.

I remember once, one of the sisters was asked to lead the Parents Guild in prayer before our monthly meeting. This sister, instead of saying a nice Memorare or something similar, launched into a long, convoluted “prayer” to Sister Wind and Mother Moon.

I got up and left, in an absolute fury. (Some of the other moms got up, too.)

It is no surprise to me that this order is dying, and that they’ve chosen to rent out their beautiful school to (bleeech!) Muslims.

What a crying shame.

Regards,