Rosary Rally

Bishop Prays with Catholic School Children at St. James Cathedral by Marie Elena Giossi Sixth grader Ranvir Sidhu thought it was “pretty exciting” to pray the Rosary with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and his peers at the ninth annual Rosary Rally for Catholic school children at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn, Wednesday morning, Oct. 24. Students […]

Poles Display Pride in Their Faith

by Antonina Zielinska Continuing their month-long celebration of Polish heritage, the priests and faithful of the Polish Apostolate came together at St. Matthias Church, Ridgewood, for their annual Mass with a guest bishop from their homeland. This year, it was Bishop Artur Mizinski, auxiliary of Lublin, who came to meet the Polish flock residing in […]

Christmas Stamp Has A Timely Theme

by Carol Zimmerman WASHINGTON (CNS) – When the U.S. Postal Service unveiled its new Christmas stamp Oct. 10 featuring an image of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt, there was no uproar about religion in the public square, or in this case, rectangle. “We didn’t get a single phone call or e-mail from anyone who […]

Aftermath of Vatican II Misinterpreted Missions

by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – On the subject of the Second Vatican Council, Ralph Martin is nothing if not an enthusiast. The theologian, who teaches at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and served as an official expert at the October, 2012, world Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization, said the “wonderful […]

Sites Offer Alternative To Diocesan Pilgrimage

On the same day as the Brooklyn diocesan pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., the diocese hosted two pilgrimages for Catholics who could not travel to the nation’s capital. In Brooklyn, the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace, Coney Island, opened its doors Oct. 27 to nearly 250 local pilgrims. The day of prayer and reflection […]

American Among Four New Cardinals

Pope Benedict XVI surprised pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 24 by announcing he would create six new cardinals, including 63-year-old U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, prefect of the papal household, in late November. It will be the smallest group of cardinals created since the 1977 consistory when Pope Benedict, the then-Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger, received […]

Life Trumps Party Loyalty

by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Church teaching against abortion “requires absolute adherence” on the part of Catholic voters, who must “stand united” in opposition to the practice regardless of party affiliation, said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia. “(Abortion) really is a big issue today, and I think what it requires of […]

Rosary for Life Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Rosary for Life recently marked its 20th anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano at Good Shepherd Church, Marine Park, and a gala dinner at Gargiulo’s Restaurant, Coney Island. Among the honorees at the dinner were Msgr. Philip Reilly, founder and executive director of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, and Mike […]

Growth Through Self-Revelation

by Father Robert Lauder As I have mentioned frequently in past columns, I have come in recent years to appreciate in a new way the importance of friendships. For many years, I thought of friendships, and indeed all interpersonal relationships among human beings, as more or less extrinsic to religion and to spiritual growth. Though […]

Obituary — Sister Therese Schnurr, S.C.

Sister Therese Schnurr, S.C., a Sister of Charity, Halifax, for 63 years, died Oct. 23 at Mt. St. Vincent, Wellesley Hills, Mass. She was 85. She entered the congregation from Our Lady Help of Christians parish, Midwood. Formerly known as Sister Cecilia Therese, she taught first, second and third grade at Resurrection-Ascension, Rego Park, 1950-54; […]