Six New Priests

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio ordained six men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn, on Saturday, June 23. The new priests are Fathers Sergiy Emanuel, Giancarlo T. Pattugalan, Lawrence D. Ryan, Stephen A. Saffron, Sean M. Suckiel and Joseph M. Zwosta. The newly-ordained received summer parish assignments as follows: […]

Brooklyn Vigil Begins Fortnight

by Antonina Zielinska St. Joseph’s Church, Prospect Heights, hosted a Mass and overnight vigil June 22 to kick off the diocesan observance of the Fortnight for Freedom. The vigil in Brooklyn was held on the feast day of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, who were both beheaded by King Henry VIII for refusing […]

Vatican Keeps an Eye on the Heavens

By Carol Glatz CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) – It looked like a mini-United Nations, but the attendees were wearing shorts and t-shirts and, over coffee, they talked about the birth of star clusters rather than a ban on cluster bombs. Also, the location wasn’t Manhattan or Geneva, but a refurbished monastery immersed in the papal […]

Mixed Reactions to Immigration Ruling

 by Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – In what one observer called “the judicial equivalent of white smoke,” immigration advocates were largely happy with the June 25 Supreme Court ruling that struck down three key provisions of Arizona’s own immigration law. However, they voiced distress over the one part of the law the high court kept […]

Father Catania Is the Best

The Tablet’s Sunday’s Scriptures column written by Father Thomas Catania was awarded first place in the category of Best Regular Scripture Column at the Catholic Media Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., last week. The competition was conducted by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. Judges said “Clever introductions using contemporary examples tease […]

Polish Cardinal in Douglaston

The Diocese’s Polish Apostolate will sponsor a Mass and Dinner with Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, former personal secretary to the Blessed John Paul II, at Immaculate Conception Pastoral Center, Douglaston, Saturday, July 7. The liturgy in the main chapel will begin at 3 p.m. Tickets for the dinner that will follow may be purchased for $100 […]

Vatican Issues Guidelines to Help Recruit Good Vocations

by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In an effort to respond to a “clear and pressing” need for priests, the Vatican released a set of guidelines to help bishops and church communities promote, recruit and educate a new generation of men for the priesthood. The church needs “suitable” candidates and must avoid men who […]

First Mass in Ridgewood

Father Stephen A. Saffron, who served as a transitional deacon at St. Matthias parish, Ridgewood, celebrated his First Mass of thanksgiving as a priest at the church on Sunday, June 24.  Here he accepts the offertory gifts from members of the congregation.  Father Saffron has been assigned as a parochial vicar to St. Mark’s, Sheepshead […]

Three Weddings in Woodside

Msgr. Michael Hardiman, pastor, officiated at St. Sebastian’s Church, Woodside, when three couples, who had been married in civil courts, were married at St. Sebastian’s.  The couples included, from left, Alfonsa Pacene and John Coppola; Margarita Rebutty and Wilson Mendez; and Rocio and Adrian Tochimani.

Diamond in South Ozone Park

St. Anthony of Padua Church, South Ozone Park, a worship site of St. Teresa of Avila – St. Anthony of Padua parish, marked its 75th anniversary with Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano and a street procession on the Feast of St. Anthony, June 13.  Native son, Father James Kuroly, preached the homily.