The Day the Angel Came Down with the Tree

by Barbara Gatta For the most part, we all were in denial about our 12-foot tree a few Christmases ago. “The tree’s leaning left,” someone observed distractedly, hardly looking up from his bowl of cereal flakes. “I thought so too,” I yawned with little interest. “It’s straight from the front, though. I just think it’s […]

Moving the Silent Generation Into Church

By Antonina Zielinska Working as a Tablet reporter for the past year has been a blessing for many reasons, the most important of which is hope. A major source of my reignited hope is meeting the youth of the diocese. My travels to the parishes and schools and to World Youth Day in Spain has […]

A Kearney Girl, Now and Forever

Nineteen autumns ago, I walked through the doors of Bishop Kearney H.S. for the first time and I knew I was home. A few weekends ago, I returned to my alma mater, a place of spiritual, emotional and intellectual nourishment for me, to celebrate its 50th anniversary of providing an exceptional education to women who shape our world.

Gap Between 99%ers and 1%ers Is Growing

by Hugh F. Kelly My two sons were among those arrested on Oct. 1 for marching with the Occupy Wall Street protest. Naturally a number of my friends in the business, real estate, and investment communities have asked how I reacted.  I tell them what I told my sons: that I regard these as honorable […]

When You’re Looking for a Job…

by Ellen Mary Egerter The clock has struck a seemingly bleak hour. You have just been informed that you are being laid off.  Your reaction may be one of surprise, anger, disbelief, frustration, panic, and a variety of other emotions. You may possibly experience some physical symptoms, including headaches, an unsettled stomach, sleeplessness. In these […]

Father Jerzy Was a Modern-Day Saint

by Veronica Szczygiel “Father Jerzy Popiełuszko was a special man,” my grandmother said as she poured me tea. “He gave up his life for Poland. For our freedom.” She shook her head solemnly. “The way they murdered him was…” But she couldn’t finish her sentence. Her grief for Popiełuszko’s death is still fresh in her […]

Sisters Are Still Teaching Lessons

by Matthew Monahan Leave it to the Sisters for teaching some of their biggest lessons outside the classroom. It happened the other Saturday at Our Lady of the Angelus in Rego Park.  The pastor, Father John Mendonca, wanted to publicly thank Sister Jo Ann Schwarz, S.C., for her 37 years of devoted service to the […]

The Saints on the Streets of Brooklyn

by Frank Derosa When Bishop Thomas Daily was retiring as the leader of the Brooklyn Diocese, he told a New York Times reporter in an interview that the diocese’s “greatest treasure” was its people. “I know that in the streets you can find evil, you pick up the papers and you can see it,” he […]

New Exec Focuses on The New Evangelization

by Art Dignam Catholicism has always been important to my wife, Joan, and me. Both of us share a strong sense of the faith and it is the foundation of our 43-year marriage. Many of our first dates included me picking her up on Sundays, going to Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in her […]

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio

The Hope that Saves a Missionary Church

by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, This week, we celebrate Mission Sunday.  The Holy Father’s message for this 85th World Mission Day follows the theme of “The Hope that Saves.” This day is one Sunday for the whole world to celebrate together, as every year something special happens on […]