Dyker Heights School Spreads Christmas Spirit – Our Lady of Guadalupe Continues Tradition of Gift-Giving

Joined together in prayer and song, the school community of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dyker Heights, recently celebrated its decades-old Christmas Gift-Giving Day tradition. Sponsored by the Student Council, the annual program encourages students and faculty to provide gifts of toys and clothing to children ranging from newborns to teenagers at two Brooklyn parishes: Our […]

St. Nick in Long Island City

Members of the Ravenswood Lions Club hosted a Christmas party for the young people of St. Mary’s religious education program, Long Island City. The party included gifts, treats and a visit from Santa Claus. One child, after watching a movie about St. Nicholas and seeing Santa, joyfully said, “I do believe in Santa, he is a […]

Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon (with slideshow)

The annual Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon, that raises scholarship money for children who attend Catholic schools and the Office of Faith Formation’s Youth Ministry in the diocese, was held Dec. 11 at Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach. Top photo shows Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and the honorees: from left, Msgr. Austin Bennett, Pope John Paul II […]

Simple Joys of the Season in Bayside

Bayside families took time to enjoy the simple pleasures of the season at Sacred Heart School’s annual Breakfast with Santa, last Saturday, Dec. 7. Parishioners chatted and reconnected with each other over hot coffee and a hearty breakfast, while children created gingerbread men, mixed reindeer snacks and played holiday games with friends. Model Train Exhibit Young […]

Pope’s Exhortation Draws Reactions from All Sides

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”) has prompted plenty of commentary – and not exclusively from Catholic circles. “Pope Francis is a living model of the new evangelization,” said Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. The […]

Queens Parishioners Go On Mission to Nicaragua

Father Robert Whelan, pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside, recently led a group of 12 missioners to Mustard Seed Communities in Managua and Diriamba, Nicaragua, for a weeklong mission of work, prayer and support. Tasks for the group consisted of clearing land of weeds, debris and stones; scraping and painting window grills […]

Ridgewood Fiesta Honors Our Lady of Guadalupe (with slideshow)

By Marie Elena Giossi Shouts of “Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!” could be heard through the streets of Ridgewood on Saturday evening, Dec. 7. Parishioners of St. Matthias Church celebrated their beloved Our Lady of Guadalupe with a street procession, solemn Mass celebrated in Spanish by Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez and cultural festivities in anticipation […]

New Christmas Tradition At Forest Hills Parish

Hundreds of parishioners huddled together, on Dec. 7, in front of Our Lady Mercy Church, Flushing, to witness their Christmas tree light up the cold night. Msgr. John McGuirl, pastor, blessed the tree during the parish’s first official lighting ceremony. Parishioners warmed the air with Christmas carols, and Santa Claus presented Candy Canes to giddy […]

Pope: Sense of the Faithful Does Not Mean Majority Vote

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis said the Church must pay attention to the “sense of the faithful” (“sensus fidelium”) when exercising its teaching authority but never confuse that sense with popular opinion on matters of faith. The pope made his comments in an address to members of the International Theological Commission, a Vatican advisory […]

Spirit of Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas concert sponsored by Futures in Education at Carnegie Hall, Manhattan, drew almost 3,000 attendees. The concert featured The New York Tenors – Danny Rodriguez, Michael Amanti and Andy Cooney, with an opening act by violinist Gregory Harrington. Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, vicar for development, presented Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio with a check for […]