Cathedral Alumni Reunion

Cathedral Prep, Elmhurst, will honor its alumni at the 15th annual Immaculata Award Dinner, May 10 at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston. This year’s Immaculata Award recipients include Auxiliary Bishops Raymond Chappetto, ’65, and Paul Sanchez, ’66. Also to be honored is John Casey, ’57.

Pope’s Election Is a Sign of Church’s Shift from Europe

by Jonathan Luxmoore OXFORD, England (CNS) – The election of Pope Francis, an Argentine, to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics confirms what observers have long known: Vast demographic shifts in the Catholic population are reconfiguring the face of the Church and shifting the institution’s center from its historic European heartland. What that means for […]

Pope Picks Panel of Reformers

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Amid rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the central administration of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis named an international panel of cardinals to advise him on the latest reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. The Vatican Secretariat of State announced April 13 that the pope had established the group – which […]

Pope Says Reform of LCWR Will Continue

 by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis reaffirmed the Vatican’s call for reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Archbishop Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the U.S.-based nuns’ group that he had “recently discussed the doctrinal assessment with Pope Francis, who reaffirmed […]

Argentine Pope Expected To Boost WYD Numbers

by Lisa Alves SAO PAULO (CNS) – Members of the local organizing committee for World Youth Day say that, with the recent election of an Argentine pope, they expect up to 2.5 million young people at the international event in Rio de Janeiro. “We currently have 200,000 pilgrims already registered, but registrations go on until […]

In Brooklyn, Prayers For Syria Unite Faiths

by Antonina Zielinska As violence and intolerance wreak havoc in Syria, faithful Christians, Muslims and Jews came together in Brooklyn, with their religious leaders, to pray for peace in the Middle Eastern country. Among those gathered in the Maronite Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon, Brooklyn Heights, was Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros. “We are men […]

Pope Meets UN Secretary General

by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Recognizing the important role each other plays on the global stage, Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met at the Vatican April 9, discussing common efforts to promote peace and protect human dignity. “The United Nations and the Holy See share common goals and ideals,” the U.N. […]

Mexican Outreach: Newest Apostolate Seeks to Help Integrate Mexicans into the Community

by Marie Elena Giossi Clergy and lay people are celebrating the launch of a new diocesan apostolate dedicated to nurturing and preserving the faith, culture and traditions of Mexican Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens. Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros bestowed his blessing upon the newly formed Mexican Apostolate during the 10:30 a.m. Spanish Mass at St. […]

Good Friday in Brooklyn and Queens

East New York   On Good Friday, the Way of the Cross was reenacted with a street procession in East New York, ending with a dramatic presentation at St. Rita’s Church. The event was part of the parish’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding.   Sunset Park   Parishioners of St. Michael’s parish, […]

Easter Sunday in Bensonhurst

Msgr. David Cassato, pastor of St. Athanasius parish, Bensonhurst, joined Father Gabriel Toro and members of the Hispanic community for Easter Sunday Mass and a procession celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus.