Memories of Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Dear Editor: I had the opportunity of meeting and speaking with Archbishop Fulton Sheen three times when he was our bishop in the Diocese of Rochester in 1967 and later (“Prime Time Once Again,” Feb. 21).
In February of 1967, our church was destroyed in a tragic fire, which claimed the lives of our pastor and a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Archbishop Sheen said Mass a few weeks after the fire for the students and parents, and I had the opportunity to speak with him, as I was one of the altar boys who served that Mass.
I have fond memories of meeting Archbishop Sheen from the times I attended Mass with my father’s yearly Holy Name Societies Father and Son’s Communion Breakfasts.
In each conversation I had with Archbishop Sheen, I found him to be a great listener and speaker, which always led us to a greater love of Jesus and our Church.
Even though he was our bishop for only four years, he left us with many wonderful memories.
I know in my heart that he might be canonized a saint, and I hope that day comes soon.
James Thompson
Whitestone
Brooklyn’s Own Neil Sedaka Ahead of His Time
Dear Editor: Following the Feb. 27 passing of Brooklyn-born hitmaker Neil Sedaka, I realized that he was ahead of his time in more ways than one.
While we remember his songs “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Laughter in the Rain,” one of his records slipped through the cracks: “The Immigrant” from his 1974 album “Sedaka’s Back.”
Immigration wasn’t the hotbed issue in 1974 that it is today, but “The Immigrant” reached #22 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
It wasn’t Sedaka’s biggest seller, but it was prophetic.
Lines like, “To find they’ve closed the door, they don’t want him anymore,” and “It was a time when strangers were welcome here” refraining over a lilting piano made “The Immigrant” an easy listening favorite.
It was very 1970s. And for the wrong reasons, very 2026.
Jim Newton
Itasca, Illinois
I Appreciate Msgr. Calise’s Column
Dear Editor: Kudos to Msgr. Joseph Calise, pastor of Transfiguration-St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Maspeth on his recent column, (“Seen by God: From Hidden Potential to New Vision,” Mar. 14).
I was always a true believer that we are all endowed by God with our own specific talent to be used every day to touch the lives of our fellow man for the better.
When I was younger, I sang in the church choir, having been blessed with a pretty good voice, which unfortunately is gone now.
When I married and had children of my own, I would volunteer at the local elementary school to help a child struggling with his reading.
All my life, I was a letter writer, believing strongly that I was blessed to be born free in the U.S.A.
I had an obligation to use my freedom of speech to speak up both pro and con on many issues and to urge others to do the same.
In today’s world, which has become so secular, we have a tendency to whine and become depressed at times, losing sight of our many blessings and the talents we possess to make a difference by being positive and getting involved.
Msgr. Calise certainly has made a difference with his column, and I hope all readers truly appreciate him and follow suit.
God bless you, Msgr. Calise.
Constance Dowd
Oakland Gardens