My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Last week, we celebrated the World Day of the Sick. This remembrance of the sick coincides with the February 11th Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In his message for this day, “Entrusting Oneself to the Merciful Jesus like Mary: ‘Do whatever He tells you’ (Jn 2:5),” our Holy Father, Pope Francis, uses the Gospel scene of the Wedding at Cana to remind us of the intercessory power of Mary.
Put Out into the Deep
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the seventh Bishop of Brooklyn, has led the Diocese since 2003. He is a forceful voice on behalf of migrants and immigrants, whose causes he has worked for through most of his priestly ministry. Complete Bio
Love and the Joy of Forgiveness
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, February is the month for those in love. The Feast of St. Valentine has become a day that focuses on cards, candy, flowers and even diamond rings. However, the history of St. Valentine’s Day is not founded on material tokens of affection, but rather on St. Valentine, an early martyr of the Church, who gave his life as a witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
Now Is the Time for Conversion
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, As we prepare to begin Lent in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we must be attentive to the “Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2016.” Our Holy Father has chosen the theme, “The works of mercy on the road of the Jubilee,” citing the words that Jesus repeats in the Gospel of Matthew, the words of the Psalm, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” (Mt 9:13).
The Joy of Religious life
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, As we prepare to celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life on Feb. 2, we remember that the Year of Consecrated Life called by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, will come to an end. However, the celebration of Consecrated Life in the Church, since its specific designation in 1997 by Saint John Paul II, must continue.
We Can Help Alleviate Pain of Poverty
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, January has been designated as Poverty Awareness Month by many organizations. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops joins with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in calling attention to the issue of poverty, especially in our own country. We are following the example of our Holy […]
DC March Is a Big Step for Life
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Each year on the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision, a march on Washington, D.C., has occurred since Jan. 22, 1973. The purpose of this annual March for Life is to bring attention to an erroneous decision of the Supreme Court of the United States […]
The Heart of a Safe Haven
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, For almost 20 years, the first week of January, which includes the Feast of the Epiphany, has been designated by the Bishops of the United States as National Migration Week. The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us of the visit of the Magi to the newborn child, Jesus. Almost immediately following, the flight into Egypt made the Holy Family the first Christian refugee family. Unfortunately, in the world today there are many more refugees than we have seen in many years.
The Gift of Peace
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, The concluding lines of the Canticle of Zechariah found in the Gospel of Luke are a fitting reminder of the true meaning of Christmas: “To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” […]
We Live in a Violent Society
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Christmas came early this year in Queens when a desperate mother left her newborn infant in the just erected Nativity scene at Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill where Bishop Octavio Cisneros is pastor. Certainly, it was a much better ending for that child than the two newborn infants who have been discovered thrown from buildings in the past month.
Filling in the Potholes of Life
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, One of the most annoying, and I might say dangerous, obstacles in driving on the streets of the City of New York are the potholes. It seems that no one can keep up with repairing them, as they pop up unexpectedly here and there all the time.