JOHN PAUL II called the Extraordinary Synod of 1985 to assess what had gone right and what had gone wrong in two decades of implementing the Second Vatican Council. In Vaticanese, it was styled “extraordinary” because it fell outside the normal sequence of synods. But Synod-1985 was extraordinary in the ordinary sense of the word, too.
by Lisa Mills
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION parish of Astoria has been a blessing to my family. As a mother of three children, I believe all children should have love, guidance and nurturing from the parents and their parish community. From birth, children learn kindness, compassion and morality through their parents. I also believe in the importance for spiritual guidance to be introduced shortly after.
by Father Sean Suckiel
When one hears the word “discernment”, one automatically thinks it is for those who only want to be priests or religious or, that discernment is about decision making about one’s vocation. That’s wrong.
by John Fitzgerald
IN 1492, a young 40-year-old mariner set sail on an uncharted course to find a new route to India. Christopher Columbus and his brave crew left Spain with three ships and an incredible amount of faith. Man plans and God changes the course. There was to be no India but the New World of America would be opened to the explorers of Europe.
by Antonina Zielinska
In the days leading up to marriage, I tried to ready myself for how my relationships would change. Who would I be now as a daughter or a professional?
by David H. Powell
THIS PAST SUMMER, my wife Carol and I were fortunate to discover, in the “Around the Diocese” section of The Tablet, some marvelous dramatic musicals, specifically, ”Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at St. Margaret’s, Middle Village and ”Beauty and the Beast” at Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill.
by AnnaMarie Prono
I NEVER EXPECTED shingles to hijack the last few weeks of summer, but it did. The good news is that it typically only strikes one side of the body. In my case, it was the right side. I could draw a line over the center of my scalp and down my face, and the blistering sores never crossed over to the left side. The bad news is, shingles is ugly, extremely painful and it doesn’t leave soon after the medication starts.
DURING THE LONG Lent of 2002, Sister Betsy Conway, who lived in the Bostonian epicenter of the clerical sexual abuse crisis, spoke for many self-identified progressive Catholics when she told syndicated columnist Michael Kelly, “This is our Church, all of us, and we need to take it back.”
by Christian Rada
SINCE I ENTERED marriage ministry two years ago as coordinator of marriage, family life, and respect life education for the Diocese of Brooklyn, I have met with countless couples that are preparing for matrimony.
“Be thou my vision.” The ancient Irish words capture what I want for myself and my children: to keep the vision of God at the center of our lives. But how? Some days it feels helpless and hard enough to cling to my own faith, let alone foster theirs.
