Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, joined by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, unveiled the sculpture, “Angels Unawares,” at the Soldiers and Sailors Arch in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza. The annual lighting of the plaza’s Christmas tree followed the unveiling.
Author: Bill Miller
‘Angels Unawares’ Called a Fitting Nativity for Brooklyn’s Immigrant Heritage
A duplicate rendering of “Angels Unawares” is touring the U.S., with a stop in Brooklyn to serve as the Nativity scene for the Diocese of Brooklyn in Grand Army Plaza of Prospect Park. Its unveiling is set for early Tuesday evening, Dec. 8, along with the annual Christmas tree lighting, also in the plaza.
Immigrant Workers Exploited During Pandemic, Group Says
Wage theft has increased since March when the COVID-19 took hold of the U.S. economy, the Worker’s Justice Project reports. Before then, WJP saw about four instances of wage theft per week. In recent weeks, however, the weekly average has grown to 11.
Bishop: Pandemic Has ‘Providential Opportunity’ for U.S. Catholic Education
Bishop Thomas A. Daly of Spokane says the COVID-19 pandemic “has given us a providential opportunity to really examine why we have our Catholic schools in the midst of so much illness.” Bishop Daly chairs the Committee on Education for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Only in Print: Virtual Hugs Keep Seminarian Connected with Doting Mom, Deacon Dad
COVID-19 travel restrictions prevent a seminarian studying in Rome from enjoying Thanksgiving with his parents back in Jackson Heights, Queens, where his dad is a deacon at St. Joan of Arc Parish. But they’ll push through with digital technology and an unshakable family bond.
Basilica’s Catacombs Tour Called Historic, Sacred, Inspiring
Since 2017, New York residents and tourists have hired Tommy’s New York to show them around the catacombs at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan. This underground area is the resting place for many legendary characters of New York City’s earliest history.
Local Armenians Fear More Fighting Over Disputed Region
Members of the Armenian community in Brooklyn criticize a recent ceasefire agreement between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan in a decades-old dispute over the mountainous region called Nagorno-Karabakh. They said the deal brokered by Russia lets Azeris keep control over land they seized when fighting resumed n late September. They also worry that unresolved issues might cause warfare to start up again.
Local Catholic Leaders Advocate Church’s Role in Post-Election Healing
Two weeks after Election Day, President Donald Trump had not eased up on challenging the voting results. Reconciliation of the citizenry seemed elusive. But leaders of the Catholic clergy in Brooklyn and across the nation reminded the Church of its unique role in helping the nation heal.
Local Nigerian Catholics Decry Violence in Homeland, Call for Independent Biafra
Members of the Nigerian Igbo community at St. Fortunata parish in East New York, Brooklyn, cry out against persecutions of Catholics and other Christian denominations in their homeland.
Social Media Censorship Leads To the Rise of Free-Speech App
Disgruntled conservatives, claiming they were targeted while liberals could tweet freely, are flocking to “Parler” — that’s French for “talk.” This new platform claims to be an unbiased home for social networking that honors free speech. Conservative politicians, pundits, and other users tout it as a powerful alternative to longtime platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.