Whenever Carmine Balsamo strolls through his neighborhood and walks by the corner of Court Street and Third Place, he is passing a piece of his family’s history. On that street corner is a shrine to St. Lucy that was erected by his late father in 1969.
Author: Paula Katinas
Christmas Toy Shop a Gift for Financially Strapped Shoppers in Diocese
An estimated 600 people visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Dec. 10, where Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens (CCBQ) set up a free “toy shop” filled with everything from dolls to trucks to books and puzzles that parents could pick out to give their children for Christmas. All for free.
Diocese of Brooklyn’s Christmas Tree a ‘Gift’ Spreading Hope, Joy in Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza looks even grander these days, thanks to the presence of a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree erected by the Diocese of Brooklyn. Bishop Robert Brennan blessed the tree and the creche with holy water on Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
St. Francis de Sales Students Help Decorate Christmas Tree at White House
New York State is represented on a Christmas tree at the White House thanks to sixth graders from St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy.
Let There Be (Christmas) Light! Maimonides Medical Center’s Donations Help Churches Decorate in Brooklyn and Queens
The twinkling lights adorning Christmas trees in dozens of churches will shine a little brighter this year, thanks to the Maimonides Medical Center Celebration of Light program. This year, Maimonides is donating $1,000 to 44 churches and the Fort Hamilton Army Base.
Five Decades Later, Holy Cross HS Remains Second Home for Teacher
It’s probably a good thing Ronald Vallar is a history buff. After all, he’s a part of the history at Holy Cross High School. It’s where he went to high school as a teenager and where he’s taught for 40 years. And at the age of 80, he has no plans to slow down.
By Any Name, the Mother of Jesus is Beloved by Catholics
She is known by various names, including the Virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Or simply Mary. But whatever name Catholics prefer to call her, there is one thread that runs through all of the titles — a deep love and devotion for her.
Retired FDNY Deputy Chief James Riches, Who Lost Son on 9/11, Laid to Rest
Twenty-four years after he lost his firefighter son in the terror attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, retired FDNY Deputy Chief James “Jim” Riches was laid to rest on Dec. 1. Riches died on Nov. 27 from a 9/11-related illness, according to the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. He was 74 years old.
St. Joseph Statue Comes Home to Most Precious Blood Church in Queens
Joseph Poloso, a parishioner of Most Precious Blood Church for more than 50 years, helped unveil a newly refurbished statue of St. Joseph ahead of a dedication ceremony.
Anchored In Prayer, Local Vocations Committee Tackles Priest Shortage
At Our Lady of Hope Church, parishioners are working to solve the Catholic Church’s shortage of priests one prayer at a time. The Vocations Committee leads a parish-wide effort to pray for vocations — an endeavor that lasts throughout the year.