Belle Harbor Parish Honors Four Chaplains, Parishioner, Lost on the Dorchester

Each year, St. Francis de Sales Parish in Belle Harbor honors Pvt. Daniel O’Connor, an honor student from the parish’s Catholic academy. He died with more than 600 servicemen, including the famed “Four Chaplains,” in the sinking of the troop ship Dorchester during World War II. The parish will honor Pvt. O’Connor again at noon, Sunday, Feb. 5, during the parish’s annual Mass for the Dorchester’s dead.

Bishop Brennan Learns, Teaches During Catholic Schools Week Visits

During the second day of Catholic Schools Week, students ages 4 to 14 pressed Bishop Robert Brennan to reveal the mysteries of the man who leads the Diocese of Brooklyn, such as what it’s like to talk to Pope Francis, his thoughts about Major League Baseball, and even Italian cuisine.

St. James Beams New Tower Lights, Adds Exclamation to Bicentennial Celebration

A few days after becoming pastor and rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in June 2019, Father Bryan Patterson noticed something odd about the historic church. He had been in DUMBO running errands; his evening stroll back to the parish came after sundown. But as he approached the campus at Jay Street and Cathedral Place, the basilica itself was anything but glorious. 

Human Composting Is Now Legal in New York State

Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), also called “human composting,” is now legal New York State. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Dec. 30 which lets NOR facilities operate as cemetery corporations in the state.