Remembering St. John Paul II’s 1979 Diocese of Brooklyn Visit

Dear Editor: I loved the article about St. John Paul II’s papal Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn (“Plaque Celebrating Pope John Paul II’s Historic Aqueduct Mass Rescued From Racetrack,” Sept. 26)!

During his first visit to the diocese, Pope John Paul II held an ecumenical prayer service at Shea Stadium on Oct. 3, 1979.
It was an honor to be one of the 60,000 people in attendance.

Just like the Aqueduct Mass, the pouring rain stopped when Pope John Paul II arrived!

Thank you again for the great article. I’m a longtime Tablet subscriber and Ed Wilkinson fan!

Barbara M. Strauch
Maspeth

Grateful For The Tablet’s 9/11 Issue, and Ed Wilkinson’s Reflection

Dear Editor: I read Ed Wilkinson’s column in which he recounts the events of 9/11 25 years ago as they occurred at the diocesan offices at 310 Prospect Park West (“ ‘A Clear Day … The Most Terrible Day’: Editor recalls what it was like working at The Tablet on that ‘day like none other,’ “ Sept. 12).

It was an excellent account of that day! Thank you, Ed!

I, too, was working at that building on that day and witnessed everything that Ed had.

We stood on the roof and watched in horror as the smoke billowed, and those iconic buildings were hit.

We went to the chapel for Mass — the only place of peace.

We lost a cousin who worked in Cantor Fitzgerald. It was a horrible day a day of grief and loss.

The losses were staggering.

Thank you to The Tablet for the reprinting.

While it was a horrible day, we were never more united as a nation.

While we never want to repeat 9/11. I wish we could repeat 9/12.

Maria Mastromarino
Manalapan, New Jersey

Thank You For Coverage

Thank you for highlighting our 2026 Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner (“Bishop’s Humanitarian Dinner Raises $1.8M for Catholic Charities, Honors Msgr. LoPinto For Decades of Service,” page 6)!

We are so grateful to all of our supporters!

Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens, via Instagram

Delighted By Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s Beatification

I remember Blessed Fulton Sheen’s great television years, when my grandmother would always repeat to us what he said.

Then my heart was lifted when he went to the Diocese of Rochester and spoke out against the Vietnam War and worked to help the city’s downtrodden.

A true Christian! I am delighted to see him beatified (“Blessed Fulton Sheen, ‘A Gift to the Whole Church,’ Celebrated at Mass,” pages 4 and 5).

David No, via Facebook

Celebrating Mother Marla Marie Lucas

Very proud to say I know (Mother Marla Marie Lucas) and she deserves this award (“National Recognition ‘a Confirmation’ of Brooklyn Maronite Sister’s Mission to Serve,” Sept. 26).

God bless her always for all that she does.

Marian Ciaccia, via Instagram