The 214th Celebration of Freedom took place Jan. 1 at SS. Joachim and Anne Church in Queens Village, with an afternoon Mass marking Haitian Independence Day. The Mass was said in Creole and followed by a festive luncheon featuring the pumpkin-based soup, Joumou.
THIS WEEK’S Feast of the Epiphany is a continuation of the Christmas story in the prologue of Matthew’s Gospel. The beginning narrative reflects major historical events that give an explanation to the profound significance of the birth of our Savior, Jesus. There is, however, a subtle detail in this familiar story that many of us often overlook. It describes people that are on the move.
A PRIEST FRIEND recommended Father Louis J. Cameli’s new book “Church, Faith, Future: What We Face, What We Can Do” (Liturgical Press: Collegeville, Minnesota, 2017, pp. 104). Out of respect for my friend’s judgment, I almost immediately ordered the book. But when I received the thin paperback, I didn’t expect much, probably because of the book’s small size and the fact that I had never heard of the author. I was in for a wonderful surprise. “Church, Faith, Future” is a gem.
Pope Francis began the New Year praying the world would demonstrate a marked increase in solidarity and welcome for migrants and refugees.
IN OUR FAMILY, we leave the Christmas tree and decorations up until the Epiphany, the feast day celebrating the visitation of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. The irony isn’t wasted on me, that on the day Christ received gifts from the Magi, I decide to close up shop and end Christmas.
When Isaiah speaks of a bear and cow being neighbors and a baby sitting aside a viper (Is 11:1-9), what message is he sending for us in 2018?
At first look, his examples symbolize peaceful coexistence. That which seems unlikely is now likely; direct opposites uniting as one.
IN THE 1920S, when the United States had a quasi-Stalinist regime on its southern border, “Viva Cristo Rey!” was the defiant battle cry of Cristeros who fought the radically secular Mexican government’s persecution of the Church. “Viva Cristo Rey!” were likely the last words spoken by Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J., whose martyrdom in 1927 may have been the first in history in which the martyr was photographed at the moment of death. Today, in the U.S., “Cristo Rey” has a different, although not wholly unrelated, meaning – for it’s the name of an important experiment in Catholic education for poor children.
I ENTERED SEMINARY at age 36, quite honestly so that I could save myself from the misery of not being a priest.
Our mom is an incredible woman who turns 103 years old on Jan. 7. She is an example of a life well-lived and a good Christian.
Traditional Bengali Christmas hymns and carols were sung when the local Bengali Catholic community gathered for Christmas Mass at Queen of Angels Church, Sunnyside.
