Tablet Forum on C.S. Lewis

The writings of C.S. Lewis will be the topic of the next Tablet Forum to be held at Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village, on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. A film on the writings and life of the noted Christian convert will be explored in a film, followed by a talk by James […]

Pope Francis greets the crowd after celebrating a Mass for catechists in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sept. 29.

Polls Say The Pope Is Popular

WASHINGTON (CNS) – A new poll shows that nearly 70 percent of U.S. Catholics agree with comments made by Pope Francis in his recent extensive interview with a Jesuit Italian journal where he stressed that Catholics cannot “insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods.” According to the […]

October Is a Special Time to Respect Life

by Carol Glatz WASHINGTON (CNS) – Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley urged Catholics to “share the truth about human life” with the world in his Respect Life Month message. The cardinal, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said any work on behalf of life must be grounded in “love that seeks to […]

The Bishop’s Dinner For Scouting

The Diocese’s Catholic Committee on Scouting held its annual Bishop’s Dinner Sept. 19 at El Caribe Country Club, Mill Basin. The following honorees were awarded: Bishop’s Good Scout Award Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan (Posthumous) Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn   Chairman’s Award For Lifetime of Service to Catholic Scouting Msgr. […]

The Sept. 19 issue of the Italian journal La Civilta Cattolica, which contains a 12,000-word interview with Pope Francis in which he mentions the works of Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Merisi da Carvaggio and Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Pope as Film Critic: Mention of a Fellini Favorite Makes Headlines Too

by Kurt Jensen Never has passing praise of a Federico Fellini film drawn so much attention. The bulk of the recent interview with Pope Francis by Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Italian journal La Civilta Cattolica, concerned how the Holy Father’s experience as a member of the Society of Jesus informs his papacy. […]

Postulant Iliana Maldonado, 21, sits near a statue of St. Francis outside the Monastery of St. Veronica Giuliani in Wilmington, Del. The Guatemalan native is living in the community of cloistered Poor Clare nuns to see if she is called to become a nun and follow the order’s life of poverty and service.

Franciscan Charism Still Attracts Vocations

by Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) – Up until a few weeks ago, Iliana Maldonado was a typical 20-something in the U.S. She had a steady job and income. On her days off, she went out with friends her age, regularly posting and commenting on Facebook from a Samsung Galaxy smartphone that she rarely left behind. […]

British Bishop Considers Sainthood for Chesterton

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) – The bishop of Northampton, England, has appointed a priest to investigate the possibility of opening the cause for sainthood of G.K. Chesterton, a British journalist and author of the early 20th century. The decision to investigate the cause followed numerous approaches from devotees of Chesterton, including many from the U.S. Chesterton […]

‘Dead Man Walking’ Author Will Speak in Brooklyn

Death penalty abolitionist and author of Dead Man Walking, Sister of St. Joseph Helen Prejean and New York State’s last capital defender Kevin Doyle will help celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Cherish Life Circle on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m. at the Convent of Mercy, on Willoughby Avenue in Fort Greene. Free-will offering […]

Pope Francis meets with cardinals at the Vatican Sept. 30 during the consistory in which he announced April 27, 2014 as the date for the canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II. The Polish pontiff, who led the Catholic Church for 27 years and witnessed the fall of communism, and Pope John XXIII, who called the Second Vatican Council, will be declared saints in a single ceremony on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Pope Creates Permanent Council of Cardinals

by  Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis made his international advisory panel on Church governance a permanent council of cardinals, thereby emphasizing the importance and open-endedness of its work among his pontificate’s various efforts at reform. The Vatican made the announcement Sept. 30, a day before Pope Francis was scheduled to meet […]

Ozone Park Parish Begins Music Series

“Music at the Gate,” a new concert series has been launched by St. Mary Gate of Heaven, the Montfort Missionary parish in Ozone Park. Its inaugural concert took place on Sunday, Sept. 15. Phil Skabeikis, the series’ artistic director quoted Pope Benedict XVI saying, “Music has the power to lead us back…to the Creator of […]