NEW YORK
LI Herald
By Rossana Weitekamp
The Rev. Frank Parisi, the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne for the past 11 years ago, announced in an open letter to parishioners last weekend that he had been accused of “inappropriate behavior with a minor” in an incident that occurred just over 20 years ago.
Parisi wrote that the allegations were presented to the diocese during the previous week, and that in accordance with diocesan policy, he had left his position at Our Lady of Lourdes. “I have voluntarily stepped away from active ministry until such time that these allegations have been investigated and I have been cleared of them,” he wrote. “I would ask you to pray for me during this difficult time.”
The letter, which was printed in the church’s weekly bulletin and read at each mass over the weekend, was met with audible gasps from those in attendance. Our Lady of Lourdes has a congregation of over 2,400 families from Malverne and the surrounding areas.
Bishop Andrzej Zglejszewski told the Herald on Monday that Monsignor Paul Rahilly, who retired in September, would be the church’s interim pastor. Rahilly led the congregation at St. Joachim Church in Cedarhurst for 20 years.
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