The Wonderful Stith Brothers
Dear Editor: A wonderful article (“Trailblazing Brothers Broke Barriers at St. Francis Prep,” Feb. 28) by Paula Katinas about St. Francis Prep’s basketball legends Tom and Sam Stith.
My cousins Dick and Tom Joyce were their friends and classmates at St. Bonaventure and drove them home during vacations.
The Stith brothers lived above a bar in Harlem. Sam and Tom became college All-Americans, played for the New York Knicks and, more importantly, after four years with the Franciscan Brothers at St. Francis Prep and four years with the friars at St. Bonaventure, they converted to Catholicism.
Brother Ed Kent, OSF
Fresh Meadows
Well Deserved, Father Kevin Abels
Dear Editor: I recently had the opportunity to join Father Abels and a number of other priests at the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade dinner celebration.
Father Abels, nominated as this year’s grand marshal, is a great selection! Father Abels has taken on the responsibilities of three unique parish communities comprising most of the Bay Ridge area.
Our Lady of Angels Parish has consistently supported the Saint Brigid feast day celebration, of which, as the Diocese of Brooklyn’s director of the Irish Apostolate, I am most grateful.
Have a great celebration and a blessed Saint Patrick’s Day to all!
Father Christopher Heanue
Jackson Heights
Editor’s note: Father Heanue is pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jackson Heights.
The Knights of Columbus Seek New Members
Dear Editor: As Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911 in Douglaston, I am appealing to Catholic men over the age of 18 to join the Knights of Columbus. Let me explain who we are.
We have a worldwide membership of over 2 million members and are a charitable organization that has donated $187 million and committed 77 million man-hours to charity.
Please ask your parish priest about how to join the organization.
Frederick Robert Bedell Jr.
Bellerose