Msgr. Sivillo Already Missed

Dear Editor: We have lost one of the jewels in the Brooklyn-Queens diocesan crown. The death of Msgr. Nicholas W. Sivillo is a devastating loss for all who knew and loved him. As a parishioner at Our Lady of Hope from 1993 to 2009, I had the privilege of witnessing his pastorship and benefiting from his ministry. His experience, wisdom and spiritual guidance were invaluable. He was a kind, gentle, caring man, who always supported and encouraged his flock.

Two More Favorite Homilists

Dear Editor: I have enjoyed reading about the true impressions and affection that Massgoers have for the varied priests and deacons who give homilies in our diocese.

Bridge to Life Around the World

Dear Editor: Recently at Bridge to Life, we received a first time visit from Pakistani refugees. They are Catholic and left their country because the Christians there are being persecuted. They lost their first baby boy at 12 hours after he was born because of lack of good health care. Their baby daughter is only one week old. What a tremendous story they have to tell.

Today’s Mission Territory

Dear Editor: Victor Enemuo wrote a profound response (April 4) to George Weigel’s column on the decline of European Christianity. He might have added that the European Enlightenment ended at Auschwitz together with Christendom.

Environmental Priorities

Dear Editor: The past month’s onslaught of I’m-a-Republican-so-I-despise-environmentalism letters have been as embarrassing to Catholic morality as they are ironic that these people use the term “conservative.” Recent ones have used logic so twisted that Keystone development is a solution to save “society’s soul” and cure our “love of greed, lust and power”.

Symphony Space in Queens

Dear Editor: What a treat! It was Lincoln Center without the travel. I am talking about the recent (March 22) debut performance of the Queensboro Symphony Orchestra in the sanctuary of historic Mary’s Nativity Church in Flushing. It was a wonderful evening for music lovers and especially meaningful for me since I served on the […]

More Wonderful Homilists

Dear Editor: We are blessed at St. Patrick’s, Bay Ridge. All of our priests are great, but Msgr. Michael Hardiman and the newly ordained young priest Father Greg McIlhenney give wonderful sermons. A joy to listen to them.

Mislabelling Republicans

Dear Editor: Richard D’Orta’s letter (March 7) bases itself off of crudely drawn and purely stereotypical notions regarding the Republican Party, such as the “let’s make war not peace” party and the “let the poor and less fortunate fend for themselves because I want to keep my money” party. In response, I will not provide stereotypes of the Democrat Party, for stereotypes won’t suffice — the stances of both parties on most issues are complex and intricately intertwining.

Cultural Practice

Dear Editor: It is always sad to encounter the solutions to human problems proposed by confused Catholics, short-sighted about lasting damage. Arguing for tolerance of polygamy, Frances Schafer (Jan. 24) diminished the Gospel of Our Lord by claiming that it has an “understanding” that affirms her misunderstanding that the admonition that the law is made for man, not man for the law, means that moral truth is not binding.

Benefit of Earth’s Riches

Dear Editor: The completion of the Keystone Pipeline is necessary not only for economics but national security as well. Jobs will be created not only on the construction side, but as the price of fuel is kept lower, middle-class citizens can keep, spend and invest savings in other fields boosting the economy as a whole which will put people to work.