Several families of Coptic Catholics from Egypt have settled in Staten Island where they continue their pursuit of the Focolare movement, sharing the Gospel in Arabic and English, urging unity, and welcoming all.
Month: December 2020
Catholic Athletes for Christ Celebrates St. Joseph
Msgr. Thomas Machalski led a spiritual journey to honor St. Joseph.
Jewish Ritual Bath Dating to Time of Jesus Found in Garden of Gethseman
A ritual bath dating to the time of Jesus has been uncovered on the Mount of Olives at the site tradition says is the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus experienced the Agony in the Garden before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
A Grounded Pope Spent 2020 Trying to Clean House on Vatican Finances
Known as a globe-trotting pope who conducts the bulk of his diplomacy through words and gestures during trips, Pope Francis found himself with extra time on his hands this past year with international travel brought to a halt by the coronavirus pandemic.
Focolare Catholics, Friends Strive to Ease COVID Suffering
By learning the scriptures, local followers of the Focolare movement find ways to be like Jesus, which opens doors to serious exchanges between Catholics and other religions. Service to people in need is also key, so some members volunteered to assemble respirators soon after the COVID-19 pandemic reached New York City.
Promises Fulfilled
I used to visit my grandmother when I was a child during school vacations. Grandma Dorothy suffered from undiagnosed diabetes for many years. They thought she had a bad case of eczema that caused her left shin area to break into a really big horrific-looking sore. We would often help her clean the open wound morning and late afternoon to prevent further infection and hopefully help it to heal.
This Too Shall Pass
Although the Church began our new year on the First Sunday of Advent, many are looking forward anxiously to the end of the calendar year 2020.
Vaccine a Light of Hope At the End of a Rough Year
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been a difficult year. Expectations are high for a better year in 2021, with the reality that, in some ways, even a little bit of improvement is better than this annus horribilis.
Death of a Priest-Educator
During this pandemic I have had an interesting but strange experience of walking down memory lane. Some of the strolls have been completely voluntary, some have intruded time and time again uninvited and I have not been able to figure out why.
Letters to the Editor, Week of Dec. 26, 2020
Who Believes in Santa Anymore?; The Martyrdom of Four Women Doing God’s Work; We Need to Be More Like My Neighbor Henry Herte; The Love and Kindness Shown by the Readers of The Tablet; Donald Trump Has Kept His Promises.