Your Bishop is a Gift
Dear Editor: I think that Bishop Robert Brennan is a wonderful gift to the Diocese of Brooklyn. You cannot open The Tablet and not see him at a parish or participating in an event.
I was especially moved by his Mass for the victims of sexual abuse (“Mass of Hope and Healing Returns After 2-Year Hiatus With a Message of Contrition, Promise to Help Survivors,” Oct. 22).
The sincerity of his apology and his words of healing were beautiful. I was not a victim, but they helped me as the scandal touched us all.
Bishop Brennan seems warm and friendly, always smiling. I’m so happy for Brooklyn. Yes, my address is New Jersey, but my heart lives in Brooklyn.
Maria F. Mastromarino
Manalapan, N.J.
Organ Reverb
Dear Editor: As a music minister who is lucky enough to be in a parish with three worship sites that have three working organs, I think the American Guild of Organists would do itself a favor if it could strengthen its networking efforts/ personnel to encourage or inspire diocesan organists to be in better communication with them (“Group Looks to Help Reverse Decline in Number of Organists,” Nov. 12).
I have been working at my parish, St. Martin de Porres, since 2017, and it has been at least three years since I have heard anything or been contacted by the guild with regard to their work or potential collaborative endeavors.
Obviously, this is a two-way street, but considering just how busy most organists are doing parish music ministry work, some added outreach on their part couldn’t hurt.
Joseph P. Murray
Breezy Point
My Condolences
Dear Editor: My deepest condolences (“We’ll Never Forget Our Daughter,” Nov. 12) to Cristian Ortiz and his wife on the loss of their beautiful little girl, Valentina.
I thank you for sharing your painful story. Surely, it took much courage to share it.
Your experience highlights the reality that so many women face during pregnancy.
I am aware of some women who were not afforded proper prenatal care or who were encouraged to seek an abortion. Thank God these women were faithful Catholics who, with the support of their parish priests and community, were able to demand proper care for themselves and for their yet-to-be-born children.
In reply to Catherine Donohoe’s letter (Readers’ Forum, Nov. 19): Cathy, thank you for all the hard work you and The Bridge to Life do in advocating for the right to life of the preborn. God bless.
Nelsa Elias
Forest Hills
Let’s Be Thankful For All That We Have
Dear Editor: As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we, as Americans, should be very thankful for all of the things in our lives that are positive.
Yes, our country has been through a lot in recent years, but America has been able to overcome any type of crisis during its 246-year history. Now is no different.
As people gather with family and friends, we should be thankful for being able to do so and have hope that things will be getting better.
We should also be thankful for all of our servicemen and women in various branches of the military who are stationed all over the country and the world, as well as first responders, police, firefighters, EMTs, and medical professionals who sacrifice and give of themselves every single day.
Let us also be thankful for our educators, who work tirelessly to help instill confidence in our students in classrooms across the country.
May God Bless America and the American people during this Thanksgiving holiday.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows