Thanking Father Lauder For His Book Reviews
Dear Editor: Thank you, Father Lauder, for your thought-provoking columns each week.
I eagerly await The Tablet to read your latest thoughts, and I often follow up by obtaining the book you review to help me continue my spiritual journey.
I am now listening to Father Ronald Rolheiser’s book “Insane for the Light: A Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years.”
Bill Kearns
Downtown Brooklyn
Queen of Peace Church Youth Group a Success
Dear Editor: I’m so happy to share some wonderful news from our Queen of Peace Parish in Kew Gardens Hills.
Last month, we held our first Youth Group meeting in over 10 years, and it was an incredible success! We had a joyful turnout of 25 people from our and neighboring parishes.
You could truly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit that evening. The time together was filled with reverence, laughter, and a real sense of community. The teens learned more about the joy of being Catholic while enjoying great conversation, fun games, and a delicious dinner. The two hours flew by so quickly that no one wanted it to end!
It was beautiful to see the excitement and faith of our young people, and we’re thrilled to announce that this will now be a monthly event open to everyone ages 13-19.
God is truly at work in our parish, and we can’t wait to see how this ministry continues to grow.
Please join us for the next Youth Group gathering on Feb. 24 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the convent basement at Queen of Peace Parish. For more information, please call 917-488-5277.
Asha Mampilly
Kew Gardens
Immigration Debate Continues
Dear Editor: In the Jan. 17 edition of The Tablet (“Walking With Migrants”), Dominic Preziosi complains in a letter to the editor that “reticence or reluctance to mention these figures does the publication’s readers a disservice.”
I believe he is referring to the “reluctance” of Bishop DiMarzio in this column on immigration (“Critical Points in Immigration History,” Dec. 20, 2025) to mention President Trump by name. But the truth is clear to anyone paying attention: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas opened the border rather than fulfilling their sworn duty to protect it. Their lust for voters overtook the safety of the American people.
They let millions of illegal aliens invade our country. Our children and grandchildren will be forced to face this irreparable damage to our country, which will linger for years.
President Trump is fulfilling his central campaign promise. There would be no deportations if Biden and Harris had done their duty.
Robert Polito
Woodhaven
Dear Editor: I am responding to Father Edward Mason’s letter to the editor (“Needed: A Prophetic Voice for Immigrants,” Jan. 24) in which he cites Dominic Preziosi’s letter to the editor from Jan. 17, noting that it is important to name the government officials who are enforcing current immigration policy.
I am sure that everyone already knows their names because they are public figures.
However, Father Mason says to take it one step further and to name “many Catholics, who have and some of whom even continue to support the current administration” and this policy.
What is the purpose of naming Catholics who have a different perspective? Is Father Mason telling them that they are wrong and that he is right? If so, that is not the way to dialogue with people.
As Catholics, we don’t always agree on everything, and that is OK. We can be brothers and sisters in Christ and have different perspectives on civil issues.
Hildy Bachman
Oakton, Virginia