Emerald Ball Continues Tradition at New Site

by Brendan Cahalan I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to what is the oldest, continuously operating Catholic charity event of its kind in the United States. It is also one that may be new to many of you. It’s the Emerald Ball of the Emerald Association of Long Island which will […]

A Radical Saturday Night With the Eucharist

by Joseph Amodeo On a recent Saturday, I joined nearly 25 other young adults in Astoria for what many may consider to be an “out of the ordinary” night.  Gathered at a local parish, we came together for Eucharistic adoration and benediction.  It was sitting in the pew that evening that I realized the radical […]

How Polish Children Prepare for Christmas

Continuing an 800-year-old Polish tradition, parishioners at St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Greenpoint gather in church Monday to Saturday at 6:30 in the morning during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Messiah by celebrating the Roraty Mass. This celebration of thanksgiving to Mary is done before dawn so the church can be in complete […]

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 […]