A woman prays next to relics of St. Therese of Lisieux Oct. 3 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. The beloved saint's small wooden writing case, along with her pen and inkwell, were in America for the first time in a tour organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States. St. Therese is patron of missionaries and missions. (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

St. Therese’s Writing Desk on First US Tour

by Mark Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) – The Mission Month of October has been an eventful one for St. Therese of Lisieux, the patroness of the missions and missionaries, as the small wooden writing case she used to compose her spiritual masterpiece, Story of a Soul, is on a 20-diocese tour in the U.S. For the […]

Opera Star Urges Students to Dream Big

by Jill Ragar Esfeld PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (CNS) – Imagine a place filled with more than 400 children yet so quiet you can hear someone breathe. That was the scene at St. Ann School in Prairie Village – and the person doing the “breathing” was world-renowned opera star and Grammy Award winner Joyce DiDonato. “The […]

Blessing of the Animals in Windsor Terrace

Msgr. Michael Curran, a member of the faculty at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, N.Y., who resides at Holy Name Rectory, Windsor Terrace, presided at the parish’s blessing of animals.

Blessing of the Animals in Woodside

Father Frank Mann blessed more than 700 pets and their owners with a relic of St. Francis of Assisi, a piece of the saint’s tunic, at St. Sebastian’s parish, Woodside. The pastor, Msgr. Michael Hardiman, blessed a new statue of the patron of pets, donated by Tricia Healy in memory of John and Cecillia Healy.

Blessing of the Animals in Sunset Park

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunset Park, marked the feast of St. Francis with the blessing of the animals. Students brought cats, dogs, parakeets, turtles and fish to honor St. Francis. Father John McKenna, C.Ss.R., offered the blessing on both real and plush animals, much to the joy and excitement of all who attended.

Good Leaders, Good Shepherds

Graduation was held at the Sacred Heart Institute, Huntington, L.I., for 19 priests who completed the two-year pastoral leadership program: Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. Pictured with the graduates are Auxiliary Bishop Ray Chappetto, who presided, and Father Joseph Fonti, director of the Office of Priestly Life and Ministry. The graduates include Msgrs. Robert Pawson and […]

Preparing for Priesthood

Juan Luxama, a fourth-year seminarian at the North American College, Rome, whose home parish is Holy Innocents, Flatbush, was ordained a deacon Oct. 4 at the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, by Cardinal James Harvey. Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros and several Brooklyn priests concelebrated the Mass. Deacon Luxama assisted at […]

The Lord of Miracles

A Mass and procession in honor of Señor de los Milagros de Nazarenas (Lord of Miracles) was celebrated Oct. 6 at St. Sebastian parish, Woodside.   Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros presided. Lord of Miracles is a painting of Jesus Christ from the 17th century that is venerated in Lima, Peru. It was done by an […]

Virginia Diocese Copes with ‘Shutdown’ of Government

by Maria-Pia Negro ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) – Catholic charities and churches across the Arlington Diocese in northern Virginia have been looking at how to lessen the impact of the government shutdown on the community. In response to the government freeze, Arlington diocesan Catholic Charities was giving non-perishable food to families affected by the shutdown through […]

New Leadership at Bishop Ford

Bishop Ford Central Catholic H.S., Park Slope, has welcomed its new principal, Thomas P. Arria Jr., and new board chair, Bishop Ford alumnus and former teacher Myles Davis. Principal Arria officially welcomed the school’s 51st freshman class – the class of 2017 – on Sept. 9. He takes over as the school’s permanent leader replacing […]