Catholic Schools Week Reflection
Dear Editor: This past week, as we have done for the past 50 years, our diocese celebrated Catholic Schools Week. The annual celebration typically includes special Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, faculty members, parishioners, and community members.
Through these events, Catholic Schools focus on the value that Catholic education provides to young people and its contribution to our Church, their communities, and our nation.
Here in the Diocese of Brooklyn, we have a long-standing tradition of sending out bishops, other diocesan officials, and other representatives from our Catholic Education Office to be present for some of the activities that each school prepares for this special week.
As I visit the schools and the classrooms, it has always been a tremendous honor and a great privilege for me to witness firsthand the commitment, dedication, and creativity of our principals and teachers. They are to be commended for the way they prepare these celebrations.
This past week, I visited Sacred Heart Academy, Bayside, for their 100th anniversary Mass, St. Kevin Catholic Academy, Flushing, for a multi-lingual assembly, and St. Ephrem Catholic Academy for a service project and lively classroom tours.
All three visits were exceptionally well prepared and showed how the young people enjoy their schools, and how well they are learning the Catholic faith. We especially thank the parents, who sacrifice a great deal to ensure that their children receive a quality Catholic education. May they recognize, especially this Catholic Schools Week, that their sacrifices now will reap great benefits for years to come.
I just wanted to express my gratitude to these three principals and pastors for all the efforts they extend to make their academies special places of faith-filled learning.
Our compliments to all the principals, pastors, and faculties, staff and board members of our diocesan academies and schools, for their hard work and untiring devotion to the children entrusted to their care.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto (ret.)
Whitestone
In Regard to George Weigel’s Column
Dear Editor: The latest thunderbolts thrown by George Weigel (“Claudine Gay and the Truth of Things,” Jan. 27) seem to come more from Mt. Olympus than from Mt. Sinai.
With his usual directness, Weigel almost misses the original offense, Gay’s Congressional testimony, and proceeds to conviction and condemnation, all because his target’s later apology dared to use the words, “my truth.”
Gay’s objective “my” was far more self-aware and humble than Weigel’s use of the absolutist, peremptory “the” in his multi-paragraph defense of the word “truth,” which, of course, only Weigel is qualified to explain to us all.
Such is hardly in the spirit of fraternal correction prescribed by Jesus (Matthew 18:1-2), or the prophetic description of God’s mercy in the Old Testament (Judith 8:27).
Like the views of MSNBC and Fox News, Weigel mistakes opinions for facts. However heartfelt, even however “true,” conflicting opinions are only educable, not an excuse to confuse one’s own opinions for Holy Writ.
Like most practitioners of projection, Weigel seems guilty of the very offense he charges his newest victim, sole possession of “truth.”
Edward R. Dorney
Park Slope
Pro-Life Coverage
Dear Editor: Thank you for the excellent articles about the March for Life and other pro-life topics that appeared in the Jan. 27 issue of The Tablet, “The Pro-Life Newspaper.”
They highlight that the pro-life movement is alive in our diocese, however difficult and dire the circumstances are. Keeping people informed on the pro-life issues is so important and I commend The Tablet for doing just that.
Being informed is the first step that leads to taking action.
Readers may also be interested in other upcoming pro-life events posted on the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee website at jprlc.org.
Of particular importance is the annual International Gift of Life Walk (New York City’s own “March for Life”) which will be held on Saturday, March 23, in downtown Manhattan.
Boris Musich
East Elmhurst
Remembering St. Patrick’s
Dear Editor: Last week a friend of mine from St. Patrick’s on Kent Avenue wrote and commented about the demolition of St. Patrick’s Church.
Like him, I grew up in the same parish and attended the same school too. I have wonderful memories of St. Patrick’s Church and school.
One of the priests who served there was Father John Cullinane (Father Jack). He was a “living saint” and so kind to everyone. I’ll miss the church where I was married 53 years ago and received all my sacraments.
God bless all who were faithful parishioners. God bless Father Jack and Father William Rodgers.
Joan Bisciello
Howard Beach