Thirty-two students in the religious education program at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Astoria, received the sacrament of Confirmation from Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros, April 22. The newly confirmed are pictured with, from left, Father Ed Brady, pastor emeritus, St. Margaret Mary; Deacon Ruben Mendez, Father Joseph Pham; parochial vicar; Msgr. Sean G. Ogle, pastor; Father Peter Nguyen, parochial vicar; and Father Wlad Kubrak, parochial vicar. Pictured on the right, Nelly Gutierrez, religious education director, with religious education teachers: Louise Walton, Charmaine Spadavecchia and Len DiVittorio. (Photo: Reyna Cortes)
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Soloists from the Modern Dance Ensemble at St. John’s Prep, Astoria, accompanied by freshman singing sensation Angelina Christophorou, will perform at LIC Springs! on Saturday, May 6 at 4 p.m.
Now in its fourth year, LIC Springs! is a community block festival, featuring live music, dance, theatre performances, outdoor dining and more along Vernon Blvd. between 50th and 46th avenues. For more details, visit longislandcityqueens.com and click on “Events,” or click here.
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On Wednesday afternoon, May 3, students at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy, Jamaica, will have the opportunity to venerate a relic of St. Nicholas of Tolentine.
Last fall, Father John Francis, pastor, visited the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Tolentino, Italy, where he was able to obtain a first-class relic of his parish’s patron from the Augustinian Friars there.
St. Nicholas of Tolentine is an Augustinian saint and the patron for the souls in purgatory. The Augustinians founded the Jamaica parish in 1917 and staffed it until 1997.
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If you’re celebrating a special wedding anniversary this year, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio would like to honor you at the diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, May 20.
Husbands and wives celebrating 25, 40, 50 or more years of marriage are invited to attend the 11 a.m. Mass, where they will renew their vows, take pictures with the bishop and receive a signed scroll. Couples should contact their parish rectory to register.
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As a prelude to the Easter Triduum, Holy Innocents Church in Flatbush parish observed the ancient rite of Tenebrae, which means “darkness” in Latin.
Similar to the Liturgy of the Hours, there are readings and psalms, the singing of “The Magnificat” and the chanting of the Lord’s Prayer. Unique to this service, a series of candles is lit beforehand and extinguished after each reading and response. At Holy Innocents, this was interspersed with music provided by Dr. Alfred E. Cresci, music director, along with choir.
If you missed the service, view it on YouTube by searching for “Tenebrae at Holy Innocents” or click here.
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St. Augustine Church is hosting its ninth annual pot-luck parish social to raise funds for its sister parish in Haiti, April 30.
St. Augustine’s Haiti Support Group formed in 2007 in response to two devastating hurricanes that hit Haiti. Grants were given to small projects and in 2012, St. Augustine decided to “twin” with St. Andre Church, Dufort. A delegation from Park Slope travelled there in February.
Sunday’s social begins at 3 p.m. in St. Francis Xavier parish auditorium. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for children. For more details, call 718-783-3132.
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SJU Students Fight Back Against Cancer
St. John’s University raised $137,214 when the university held its 12th annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life walkathon to honor the lives of those affected by cancer. The student-driven event began on Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m., and ended at 6 a.m. the following morning. To date, the St. John’s community has raised over $1 million for the American Cancer Society through this annual event. (Photo courtesy St. John’s University)
