by Father John P. Cush ONE OF THE MORE brilliant reformations of the liturgy since the Second Vatican Council was the reinstitution of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The final preparations for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) come during the season of Lent during the Scrutinies. […]
by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk IN MARCH, 2013, the British paper The Independent ran an article entitled, “Children in gay adoptions at no disadvantage: Research confirms same-sex couples are just as good at parenting as heterosexuals.” The article, based on a study at Cambridge University, concluded there was “no evidence” to support the claim that children’s […]
by Father Robert Lauder IN THE FEB. 4 issue of the Jesuit magazine America, there was a provocative essay titled The Searcher, which was written by Patrick J. McNamara about the great American film director, John Ford. In the essay, McNamara points out a number of themes that appear in John Ford’s films that seem […]
by Dr. Steven Garner, MD Dear Dr. Garner, I have been diagnosed with heart disease. I am 58 years old, and aside from being a little overweight, I’m in good condition. Each time I would run in the park, I noticed that I would have a little chest pain after going about 100 yards. I […]
Lent summons all of us to give everything over to Jesus, making Him the very center of our lives. It means letting go of whatever “idols” usurp his role by occupying the thrones of our hearts. The usual suspects, so to speak, are the three eternal temptations – sex or sensuosity, preoccupation with material possessions, […]
As we go to press, no one knows what all may now know: the identity of the our next pope. Yet even to have seen the white smoke, to have learned which cardinal has been elected and what name he will take is not yet to know him. We will shortly learn the details of […]
This column was supposed to be about the qualities we are looking for in the new pope. And then we received the news that Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius A. Catanello had died. When the news came, it was not unexpected. Bishop Catanello had retired early in 2010 because he was stricken with a brain tumor. […]
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, As we continue our series on reflections on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, this week we will concentrate on “The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church,” or “Lumen Gentium.” The Council’s explanation of the nature of the Church has become second nature to us. Perhaps in […]
When he looks back on his football coaching career, Dom Laurendi only vaguely remembers the scores of his games or which players scored the game-winning touchdowns. However, he can vividly recall the memories of the players themselves and their families. By focusing on molding great men rather than great athletes, Laurendi’s legacy earned him an […]
by Sister Constance Carolyn Veit, l.s.p As Ash Wednesday approached, I was thinking that this was going to be a Lent like most others. And then came the news on Feb. 11! Even as I pondered what a papal resignation signified, my thoughts drifted back to another season of high emotion – Lent 2005. A […]
