by Carol Glatz The “zucchetto switcheroo” is a long-held tradition for popes and pilgrims. A guest presents the pope with a brand new white skullcap, and the pope is expected to take it and swap it with the one he’s wearing on his head. While many pilgrims are familiar with the practice, a newly elected […]
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Vatican Clarifies Position on Divorce
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Amid rising expectations that the Catholic Church might make it easier for divorced and remarried members to receive Communion, the Vatican’s highest doctrinal official reaffirmed Church teaching barring such persons from the sacrament without an annulment of their first, sacramental marriage. But Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect […]
Prep’s New Leadership Model
Brother Leonard Conway, O.S.F., who has spent the last 30 years as principal of St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, has been named the first-ever president of the Queens school. Taking over as principal is Patrick J. McLaughlin, a member of the faculty for the past 30 years. The Prep’s board of trustees adopted the new […]
A Comedy of Errors Greets Cardinal in New Zealand
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) – A miscommunication between the Vatican and New Zealand church officials resulted in an adventurous arrival for the prelate who coordinates a key commission of cardinals that advises Pope Francis. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga arrived in Wellington Oct. 9. But New Zealand Catholic Church officials were expecting him to arrive […]
Laughter Reigns at Annual Alfred E. Smith Fundraiser
by Beth Griffin Laughingly describing himself as America’s most famous Catholic, who as an 11-year-old altar boy put in his time “with the uppin’ and the downin,’ the crissin’ and the crossin,’” Stephen Colbert headlined the 68th annual dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation held Oct. 17 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Manhattan. Colbert, […]
Rosary Rally: Students Pray for Increase in Vocations and Respect for All Life (with slideshow)
by Marie Elena Giossi Over 500 boys and girls from Brooklyn and Queens came together to pray the rosary with retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn, on Wednesday morning, Oct. 9. “You may be asking yourself ‘Why, why have you brought me here,’” Bishop Sansaricq said to the children. “We […]
Assuring a Future For Catholic Schools (with slideshow)
The annual Scholarship Dinner, conducted each year by the Futures in Education Foundation, took place Oct. 9 in the main ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. More than $2 million was raised to support Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio congratulated the honorees – N.Y.C. Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, seen […]
International Stars Shine in Brooklyn (with slideshow)
The second half of the Shining Stars Awards were presented to members of migrant apostolates on Oct. 11 at Gargiulo’s Restaurant, Coney Island. Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto, Msgr. Ronald Marino, vicar for migrant and ethnic apostolates, and Father Patrick J. Keating, CEO of Catholic Migration Services, presided. Honored were Betty Francis, Indian Latin Rite; Vaclav […]
Bensonhurst Columbus Day Parade (with slideshow)
The second largest Columbus Day parade in the U.S. featured marching bands, cheerleaders, classic cars and, of course, the Knights of Columbus. This year’s Grand Marshals, pictured to the right, were Josephine Sportella-Giusto, principal of the Academy of Talented Scholars; Lenny Tillman of Lenco Diagnostic Laboratories; Luigi Rosabianca of Rosabianca & Associates; and Father Michael […]
Public Rosary in Woodside
A public Rosary dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima was conducted Oct. 12 in Woodside on Roosevelt Avenue and 58th Street in front of St. Sebastian Church.