by Marie Elena Giossi Local devotees of St. Anthony of Padua received a special gift this Advent – the opportunity to see and venerate relics of their beloved saint. As part of a world tour marking the 750th anniversary of the discovery of St. Anthony’s remains by St. Bonaventure, the relics have visited England, Ireland, […]
Author: settinger
Bensonhurst Show Goes On! (with slideshow)
Despite a winter storm, St. Athanasius Church, Bensonhurst, went ahead with its Winter Wonderland extravaganza Dec. 14. The Choir from St. A’s performed prior to Mass and afterward outside the church.
NY Dioceses Get Injunction Relief Against ObamaCare
(CNS) – A spokesman for the New York Archdiocese said the archdiocese “welcomes and applauds” a Dec. 13 ruling by a federal judge granting Catholic organizations in the archdiocese and the neighboring Diocese of Rockville Centre a permanent injunction on having to comply with the federal contraceptive mandate in the health care law. The 41-page […]
Pope Blesses Creche Figures
A girl in St. Peter’s Square holds Baby Jesus figurines for Pope Francis to bless during his Angelus at the Vatican, Dec. 15. Children observed an annual tradition by bringing their Nativity figurines for the pope to bless.
Vatican Christmas Tree Arrives Ahead of Time
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – If Germans are known for being punctual, it turns out even their trees show up early. This year’s Christmas tree from Bavaria’s Bohemian Forest was scheduled to arrive on the feast of St. Nicholas, Dec. 6. Instead, cameramen and photographers had to scramble Dec. 5, when images starting showing up on […]
Christmas Lights – They Remind Us That Jesus Is The Light of the World
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The lights glowing on the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square, like Christmas lights everywhere, are reminders that Jesus is the light of the world, Pope Francis said. While he did not attend the Vatican’s tree-lighting ceremony Dec. 13, the pope personally thanked the German donors and their […]
Pope Rejects Marxist Label; Says ‘No’ to Women Cardinals
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In another wide-ranging interview with an Italian journalist, Pope Francis denied he was a Marxist but said he took no offense at the label; dismissed the notion of women cardinals; and reflected on Christmas as an occasion of joy, tenderness and hope. The pope made his remarks […]
Dyker Heights School Spreads Christmas Spirit – Our Lady of Guadalupe Continues Tradition of Gift-Giving
Joined together in prayer and song, the school community of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dyker Heights, recently celebrated its decades-old Christmas Gift-Giving Day tradition. Sponsored by the Student Council, the annual program encourages students and faculty to provide gifts of toys and clothing to children ranging from newborns to teenagers at two Brooklyn parishes: Our […]
St. Nick in Long Island City
Members of the Ravenswood Lions Club hosted a Christmas party for the young people of St. Mary’s religious education program, Long Island City. The party included gifts, treats and a visit from Santa Claus. One child, after watching a movie about St. Nicholas and seeing Santa, joyfully said, “I do believe in Santa, he is a […]
Homeless Men Join Pope For a Birthday Breakfast
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As part of a low-key celebration of his 77th birthday, Pope Francis had breakfast with three people who live on the streets near the Vatican. A small dog, belonging to one of the homeless men, was also on the guest list. The pope started the day with his […]