by Patricia Zapor WASHINGTON (CNS) – Despite weeks of testimony and evidence and 17 months of national debate about what factors led to the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., at the end of the trial July 13, it became apparent that broader issues would not go away with the verdict of […]
Lumen Fidei 1. The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (Jn 12:46). St. Paul uses the same image: “God […]
For 12 days and nights, the streets surrounding Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Williamsburg, were alive with the traditions and spirituality of the ancestors of immigrants from Nola, Italy. The 126th annual festival in honor of the parish patroness and St. Paulinus, a fourth century Bishop of Nola, was held to the delight of […]
In the final week before departing for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio called together all the diocesan pilgrims to gather in prayer and preparation. He reminded them that even though the pilgrimage should be fun, it is not meant to be a vacation. “We are going because we are pilgrims,” […]
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Before saying a word publicly, Pope Francis made the sign of the cross and tossed a wreath of white and yellow flowers into the Mediterranean Sea in memory of the estimated 20,000 African immigrants who have died in the past 25 years trying to reach a new life […]
Parishioners from St. Athanasius parish, Bensonhurst, joined their pastor, Msgr. David Cassato, and newly-ordained Father Paul Kim on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Athanasius in Venice to commemorate the parish’s 100th anniversary. Above, they are shown at the tomb following Mass at St. Zachariah Church. At left, Father Kim and Msgr. Cassato concelebrate […]
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis’ first encyclical, “Lumen Fidei” (“The Light of Faith”), is a celebration of Christian faith as the guiding light of a “successful and fruitful life,” inspiring social action as well as devotion to God, and illuminating “every aspect of human existence,” including philosophy and the natural […]
by Father James H. Sweeney This April, I celebrated my 32nd year as a priest. I’ve spent the vast majority of that time in inner-city or poor neighborhoods – South Brooklyn, pre-hipster Williamsburg and Brownsville-East New York. The description “poor” has to do with the economic reality of those neighborhoods. It is not a reflection […]
The newly named Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Prospect Heights, held a parish evangelization mission, June 11-23. Thirty nuns, seminarians, deacons and priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) spent two weeks knocking on doors, inviting people back to Church. It was the first mission directed by Father Brian Dinkel, IVE, who was ordained […]
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Be joyous, authentic and loving while resisting fly-by-night commitments, catty gossip and sleek cars, Pope Francis told future priests, brothers and nuns. Vocations don’t come from catchy campaigns or pursuing personal goals; the consecrated life is the result of prayer and answering an “unsettling” yet loving invitation from […]
