VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Leaders and members of the Catholic Church do not have the authority to determine its teaching and structure but are called to ensure its fidelity to Jesus and to the faith passed on by the apostles, Pope Benedict XVI told the 22 new cardinals he created. “The church is not self-regulating, […]
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Philadelphia Revamps Schools
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) – Forty-nine Catholic schools in the Philadelphia Archdiocese will form 23 regional schools and 10 schools will close outright, according to a Feb. 17 announcement by Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees the Secretariat for Catholic Education. At a press briefing, the bishop released the final decision on closings or consolidations […]
Black History Liturgy Celebrates Church Unity (slide show)
by Marie Elena Giossi Representing various backgrounds, dialects, parishes and ministries, local black Catholics converged on Our Lady of Light parish, St. Albans, for the 32nd annual diocesan Black History Month Mass of thanksgiving last Sunday, Feb. 19. Sponsored by the diocesan Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns (VBCC), this year’s celebration focused upon the history, […]
Presidents and Religion: Tiny Christian Sect Produced Three U.S. Presidents
by Paul Sanchez When there were events to commemorate the 100th birthday of the late President Ronald Reagan on Feb. 6, 2011, the media ignored the fact that Reagan was a lifelong member of the Disciples of Christ, a small denomination also known as “The Christian Church.” Incredibly, the Disciples of Christ, whose […]
Father Machalski Installed as St. Mary’s Chancellor
ORCHARD LAKE, Mich. – Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, of Detroit, in the presence of Cardinal Edmund Szoka, celebrated the installation of Brooklyn priest, Father Canon Thomas C. Machalski, Jr., as the 11th successor to Father Joseph Dabrowski, founder of Orchard Lake Schools, and the third chancellor of these institutions. Archbishop Vigneron was joined by Msgr. […]
Holiness and Popularity
Our warmest congratulations and heartfelt sentiments of esteem go out to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. This tremendous honor, added to the dignity of his important office, is both fitting and well-merited. But Cardinal Dolan, with his familiar serio-comic humor, was quick to put his elevation in perspective, saying that he would sooner be […]
Pope Creates 22 New Cardinals
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI created 22 new cardinals from 13 countries — including three from the United States and Canada — placing red hats on their heads and calling them to lives of even greater love and service to the church. The churchmen who joined the College of Cardinals Feb. 18 included […]
Who Cares About Women?
It’s one thing to believe in the “sexual revolution,” take a little pill and profess your convictions to your heart’s content. It’s another thing to force those of other creeds to pay for it. In America, we do not have an established religion. But wait. Enter the “Affordable Care Act,” radically re-defining health “care,” where […]
Bishop Pays Visit to Cypress Hills School
by Marie Elena Giossi Blessed Sacrament School, Cypress Hills, was abuzz with excitement last week as they welcomed a special guest – Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio. As he does annually, Bishop DiMarzio celebrated Catholic Schools Week with visits to local elementary schools. This year, he made stops at Blessed Sacrament and Salve Regina Academy, East New […]
Jesus’ African Roots
by Antonina Zielinska, To celebrate the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, a largely Nigerian congregation joined Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Feb. 5 at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn, for a bilingual Mass. During his homily, the bishop stressed the importance of accepting the fact that God allows suffering in the world. He asked the […]