I am filled with the spirit of this beautiful message from St. John Paul II. It is this message that encourages me when I join with the hundreds of thousands of marchers who are giving their sincere gift to the millions of helpless unborn babies who will never live to see the light of day.
In 2019, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio asked me to be the rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited New York in 2008, it was the job of Brooklyn and Queens Catholics to both welcome the pontiff when he arrived and then to see him off as he returned to the Eternal City after his Journey of Hope to America.
This past year, several couples near and dear to me welcomed new infants to their delighted families. Each time, I wrote a note to welcome the child, congratulate the parents, and wish the happy family much joy and love in their lives together. I always end these notes with a wish that the family enjoys this very special time in their lives as they get to know each other.
I wish I could sit here and tell you how it all began but, honestly, I feel like it’s a trait that us Garcias are born with. We have always been a family of service, whether it be serving in the military like my father and brothers did or going out into the community to find those in need like my mother has done and has continued to do since before I was born.
Our parish of Corpus Christi in Woodside just made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On my part, it was very special, as it was to fulfill my mother’s dream. Being a Catholic, to be able to step on the land where Jesus lived has been the lifelong desire of my 86-year-old Cuban mother, Orinda. After having resolved apparent hurdles of the trip, and counting on the blessing of God, the trip was truly a success.
Over the course of a decade being a Scout, I’ve met many people, earned close to 40 merit badges, and accumulated hundreds of hours of community service.
This Sunday, Nov. 27, marks the beginning of Advent, a time of anticipation for the coming of Christ. Many wonderful traditions practiced throughout the world offer a glimpse of the varied ways we can awaken this spirit of anticipation within ourselves, our families, and our communities.
Recently, my neighbor approached my husband Arthur and I, very concerned. In his front yard, between the stoop and the trash cans, a pigeon sojourned for three days and nights. My neighbor fed it seeds, provided a little shoebox shelter, and hoped no rats would attack it.
Back in April, as my partner Crystal was researching and educating herself on stillbirths, she came across this non-profit organization called Push for Empowered Pregnancy. Before our daughter, Valentina, was born still on Dec. 8, 2021, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Crystal had never heard of “stillbirth.”
