Brother Beckett Ryan, O.S.F., celebrated his 90th birthday with friends and former students from St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, at SS. Joachim and Anne Nursing Home in Coney Island, Sept. 16. Brother Beckett, who is very proud to be the oldest member of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, relished his birthday cake, which was decorated with giant number 90 candles.
Celebrating with Brother Beckett, from left, are Brother Campion Lally, O.S.F, and Susan and Tom Laquercia, St. Francis Prep ’62. (Photo courtesy Tom Laquercia)
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September is a busy month for Stella Zacharias of St. Clare’s Church in Rosedale. She is making 100 rosaries by hand that she hopes to give attendees at a rosary rally outside her church on Oct. 14. The noontime event will honor the 100th anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s apparitions in Fatima, and Zacharias hopes for a big crowd. For details on the rally, call 718-527-6213.
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Homecoming Week at Holy Innocents parish, Flatbush, is just three weeks away. The weekend gets underway on Friday, Oct. 13 with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service and choral concert dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. The concert will include nine different settings of the “Ave Maria,” played on the historic E.M. Skinner Pipe Organ.
On Saturday, Oct. 14, alumni, parishioners, family and friends are invited to the 5 p.m. Alumni Mass. During the Mass, the parish will also dedicate a plaque marking the church’s membership in the National Register of Historic Places. A dinner will follow at Sirico’s Caterers. Tickets are available by calling Larry Waldorf at 718-351-5496.
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Devoted to the Divine Mercy? Sister Ave Clark, O.P., will be conducting a Divine Mercy Retreat on Oct. 25 at St. Joseph parish, Astoria. To attend, RSVP by Oct. 20. Call 718-278-1611.
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The Council of Religious is hosting an afternoon for religious brothers in the Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses at St. Thomas More Church on the campus of St. John’s University, Jamaica, Sept. 30.
The presenter will be Brother Peter O’Loughlin, C.F.C., and a couple of brothers will also offer reflections. The event begins at 1 p.m. and closes with the 4 p.m. Mass.
For more details, contact Sister Maryann Seton Lopiccolo, S.C., the diocesan delegate for religious, at 718-399-5951.
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Calvary Hospital will host its 11th annual Spiritual Care Day on Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus, Oct. 18. The day runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and this year’s theme is: “Sacred Encounters: Bringing Light to the Darkness.” Father Edward L. Beck, C.P., a faith and religion commentator for CNN, will give the keynote talk.
Workshops will be offered on various topics, including end-of-life issues and empathetic listening at the end of life, depression and spiritual suffering. Doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and pastoral care providers in all settings, and other health care professionals are welcome.
There is no fee to attend, but registration is recommended by Oct. 11. To register online, go to calvaryhospital.org/scd2017.
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Vendors are wanted for the annual Christmas Fair at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village. Call 718-479-0924 or 718-479-5111 for further information and registration.
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The Green Team at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside, has been busy studying “Laudato Si’,” and putting what they’ve learned into practice. One of the group’s recent projects has been giving out free recyclable bags on Earth Day and on Meet the Teacher Day.
This coming weekend, the members will be sponsoring a Season of Creation Art and Photo Show. The purpose is bring greater awareness to “Laudato Si’” and help others develop an appreciation of God’s creation. Parishioners will bring in photos, art work and poems that illustrate the wonder of the natural world.
The show opens in the parish center on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. Visitors are also welcome on Sunday, Sept. 24. Call 718-229-5929 to learn more about the show, or inquire about joining the Green Team.