LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Reverend Monsignor James C. Vlaun upon
the occasion of receiving the Jack Lessing Meritorious Service Award
from St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School on June 16, 2009

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to recognize and pay tribute to
those individuals of firm belief and commitment who have devoted their
purposeful lives to the service of faith and community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Reverend Monsignor James C. Vlaun upon the occasion of receiving the
Jack Lessing Meritorious Service Award from St. John the Baptist Dioce-
san High School at its Annual Gentlemen's Dinner to be held on Tuesday,
June 16, 2009, at the Riverview Restaurant in Oakdale, New York; and
WHEREAS, The greatest asset of any society is its children and the
hope and promise they represent for the future; St. John the Baptist
Diocesan High School in West Islip has a proud and rich history of
providing the young men and women of Long Island with an educational and
religious foundation which is strong and enduring; and
WHEREAS, The St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School
Development/Scholarship Fund, dedicated to helping to ensure this
continues to be so, each year proudly honors individuals, such as
Monsignor Vlaun, who enthusiastically work on behalf of the school; and
WHEREAS, A member of the class of 1979, Monsignor Vlaun served as
Chaplain at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School from 1992 until
2005; today, he continues to be actively involved with the school as a
member of the Board; and
WHEREAS, In these capacities, Monsignor Vlaun has been called upon to
contribute his time and talents to countless endeavors and has always
given of himself unstintingly; in recognition of his service, he was
inducted into the Saint John the Baptist Hall of Fame in April 2006; and
WHEREAS, Ordained a priest in 1988, Monsignor Vlaun has focused his
ministry in the area of media and communication, earning a Master's
degree in Broadcasting in 1995; additionally, he has worked tirelessly
reaching out to the young people of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and
beyond; and
WHEREAS, In May of 2007, Monsignor Vlaun received Papal Honors as
Chaplain to His Holiness and thus received the title of Monsignor; and
WHEREAS, In January 2006, Monsignor Vlaun was named President and CEO
of Telecare, the Diocesan television station; Telecare can be viewed on
Channel 29 in Nassau and Suffolk and is syndicated in Boston, Detroit,
and Los Angeles; in addition, Telecare can be seen on the Verizon Tele-
vision Platform, Channel 296 which is in the homes of millions of view-
ers; and
WHEREAS, For the past 19 years, Monsignor Vlaun has hosted "Religion
and Rock," a nationally syndicated radio show which can be heard Sundays
on WBAB 102.3 or 95.3 on the East End of Long Island; starting in 2007,
it also became available on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 159 and XM
Satellite Radio Channel 117; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Vlaun has also authored two books, LIFE, LOVE, AND
LAUGHTER: THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS EXAMEN and FEASTS OF
LIFE: RECIPES FROM NANA'S WOODEN SPOON; all the proceeds from his books
go to the Life, Love and Laughter Foundation, which helps provide
Catholic educations for young people; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Monsignor Vlaun hosts three shows on Telecare:
"Good News", which talks about the good things that are happening all
around the Diocese and in the Church, "Real Food", a cooking show that

focuses on the Holiness of the meal and all who prepare it, and Tele-
care's live news show called "Everyday Faith Live"; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Vlaun is part of a team of four priest-classmates
who have done missions in over 27 parishes in the Diocese; he is
currently working on a new book for college students called "Going
Forward with God"; moreover, for the past nine NFL seasons, he has
worked in the Chaplaincy of the New York Jets; and
WHEREAS, A noted speaker and an author of numerous articles, Monsignor
Vlaun has taught communications and broadcasting for St. John's Univer-
sity and New York Institute of Technology; he also teaches for the Ph.D.
program at the Seminary of Immaculate Conception as well as for the M.A.
and M.Div. programs at the Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Vlaun serves on numerous boards and committees; he
has served as Special Counsel to Bishop Murphy for Community Relations
and is a Board of Trustees member for Good Samaritan Hospital, St.
Catherine of Sienna Hospital, and St. Charles Hospital; in addition, he
serves on the Board of Our Lady of Consolation Residence and Telecare;
and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Vlaun's unwavering commitment and service to St.
John the Baptist Diocesan High School and its students has greatly
enhanced the academic and extracurricular environments of the school,
thereby allowing each child the opportunity to reach their fullest
potential; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Reverend Monsignor James C. Vlaun upon the occasion of receiving
the Jack Lessing Meritorious Service Award from St. John the Baptist
Diocesan High School on June 16, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Monsignor James C. Vlaun.