by Lise Alves RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) – The dream of trying to see Pope Francis up close ended at a police barricade for 74-year-old Odaleia Bastos. “I don’t understand why we can’t get closer,” she said as she argued with police officers. “The population will protect the pope,” she kept telling them. Bastos, like […]
Month: July 2013
Pope Francis Says Young People Should Have Jobs
by Cindy Wooden ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO BRAZIL (CNS) – With economic hard times as an excuse not to hire young people, the world risks tossing them aside and endangers its own future, Pope Francis said. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal flight to Rio de Janeiro July 22, the pope declined to answer […]
Brooklyn Deacon Is a Pro Soccer Agent
A deacon is known for the role of assisting and providing aide to a priest celebrating a Mass, along with many other responsibilities. In turn, a sports agent assists an athlete or coach in negotiating a contract. Manuel Quintana’s role of “assisting” as a professional soccer agent has thoroughly helped his transition of “assisting” as […]
Terriers Excel in Classroom
The St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, women’s basketball team tied DePaul University, Chicago, for the second highest cumulative team GPA (3.625) in the country among 345 Division I women’s basketball programs. The Terriers, led by head coach John Thurston, are the only N.Y. metropolitan area team to earn the honor. “This honor, along with being […]
NYC On Point Rens Win National AAU Title
The fifth grade team of N.Y.C. On Point Rens, a youth AAU basketball team based out of Divine Mercy-St. Cecilia, Williamsburg, won the Division II National AAU Championship in Cocoa Beach, Fla., on July 21. The team defeated the Alabama Steel, a sharp-shooting quintet from Birmingham, 46-38, in the championship game. Wins over the Louisiana […]
The Light of Faith – The First Encyclical by Pope Francis June 29, 2013
Lumen Fidei 1. The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (Jn 12:46). St. Paul uses the same image: “God […]
A Feast in Williamsburg (with slideshow)
For 12 days and nights, the streets surrounding Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Williamsburg, were alive with the traditions and spirituality of the ancestors of immigrants from Nola, Italy. The 126th annual festival in honor of the parish patroness and St. Paulinus, a fourth century Bishop of Nola, was held to the delight of […]
Local Youth Ready to Meet Pope in Rio – Local Pilgrims Ready For Youth Day in Rio (with slideshow)
In the final week before departing for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio called together all the diocesan pilgrims to gather in prayer and preparation. He reminded them that even though the pilgrimage should be fun, it is not meant to be a vacation. “We are going because we are pilgrims,” […]
Pope: Immigration Reform Begins with Repentance
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Before saying a word publicly, Pope Francis made the sign of the cross and tossed a wreath of white and yellow flowers into the Mediterranean Sea in memory of the estimated 20,000 African immigrants who have died in the past 25 years trying to reach a new life […]
St. Athanasius Pilgrims Visit Their Patron’s Tomb
Parishioners from St. Athanasius parish, Bensonhurst, joined their pastor, Msgr. David Cassato, and newly-ordained Father Paul Kim on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Athanasius in Venice to commemorate the parish’s 100th anniversary. Above, they are shown at the tomb following Mass at St. Zachariah Church. At left, Father Kim and Msgr. Cassato concelebrate […]