Here we are at Advent’s door and we hear a clear call, an imminent command to turn to God and away from injustices.
Month: November 2016
The Communion of Interpersonal Love
Seventh in a series, IN DEVELOPING THE idea of God as a gift-giver, and our vocation to imitate God as gift-giver in our own interpersonal relationships, Michael Downey writes beautifully about both God and us in his book, “Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality” (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000, pp. 143, $12). Noting that it is not just the human person who is made in the image of God as relational, but also that all of creation bears vestiges of God, Who is a profoundly relational mystery, Downey writes the following:
Queens Knights Feed Neighbors In Need
For a second year, the Msgr. Dillon Knights of Columbus Council No. 5872 in Whitestone teamed with the St. Ambrose Council No. 1463 in College Point to hold a drive to benefit local food pantries. Members collected 750 pounds of food, $300 in monetary donations and an additional $350 to purchase turkeys for the needy.
The Real Thomas More’s Final Act of Thanksgiving
Sir Thomas More bore witness and ultimately “grasped his death,” not to vindicate his sense of self, but as the final and ultimate act of thanks for his having been grasped – and saved – by Truth itself, the Thrice-Holy God.
Saying ‘Dayenu’ for All of Life’s Blessings
by Maria-Pia Negro Chin, IT IS ALWAYS A good time to stop and notice the hand of God in different aspects of our lives. But – given the stressful election cycle we have just been through – thanking God for His blessings during this Thanksgiving could be a tonic for the soul.
Abuse Victims’ Spouses Will Share Their Struggles
by Tara Franco, A few years back, as I was sitting on the couch watching television and snuggling with my Weimaraner, Lucy, I recall viewing the Cymbalta commercial for the very first time. On the surface, this commercial struck me because the depicted family also owned a large Weimaraner.
Yes, There Is a Purgatory
Dear Editor: Many parishes within New Jersey have been able to share in the pilgrimage of the Our Lady of Fatima statue. While at a local church during a visitation, I noticed a table displaying rosaries and inspirational material. Among the items was a card that presented a prayer for the souls in Purgatory. This was a sad reminder that Catholics seem to have drifted away from devotions directed toward the poor souls, and many even question whether Purgatory even exists.
Liturgies Close Holy Year Around the Diocese
“In this church, thousands have passed through the door that celebrates the love of God,” said Bishop Tiedemann. “We gather in prayer and thanksgiving for the many blessings you and I have experienced as we passed through these doors.”
Unwarranted Fears
Dear Editor: One article in The Tablet (Nov. 19) mentions that “many in the African-American community fear a rollback of the many advances made in recent years.”
Is It Politics as Usual?
Dear Editor: I’m writing in response to some of the letters that have appeared in The Tablet advocating that we support President-elect Trump. I understand that when an individual is elected and may not be the person of our choice we need to come together as much as possible to support that person as the duly elected president. In most elections we need to rely on our representatives to communicate, compromise, and negotiate on behalf of the citizens who have elected him.