Veterans Day Remembered
Dear Editor: November 11 is Veterans Day — a day to honor all who have served this country and sacrificed their lives for the greater good.
Americans really should take a pause on that day to honor our brave men and women. For more than 245 years, many have fought and died for all those freedoms we all hold most dear. I myself have served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam era and was proud to have done so.
We should salute our brave men and women who are now serving this great nation, who are now serving in the most dangerous parts of the world.
Those who served have done so at a great personal sacrifice, many having to leave family, friends, and jobs behind for the greater good.
I hope and pray this Veterans Day that anyone who is able to will fly the American Flag of this great nation in their honor. Also, if you can, call a veteran you might know and thank them for a job well done.
May God bless these brave Americans and may God Bless America this Veterans Day.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
‘A Shanksville Meditation’
Dear Editor: George Weigel’s column is one that I look forward to reading every week.
And I admit, although I sometimes don’t quite understand it all, it’s too deep or I get confused, and sometimes I have to look up a word or two, nevertheless, I always come away with a great message!
The October 30 column (“A Shanksville Meditation: On 9/11, Dignity Soared”) told me things I didn’t know and a description of the actual event and area on that fateful day, that brought tears to my eyes, again.
Thank you Mr. Weigel for the recollection and for mentioning Baby Catuzzi Grandcolas.
Geraldine Gazzara
Flushing
I Never Refused Communion
Dear Editor: There have been so many words given to the issue of who is worthy to come forward for communion. Like Pope Francis, in my 50-plus years as a priest in a variety of ministries, I have never refused Communion to anyone. (And, like the Pope, I’ve also unknowingly given communion to a few Jewish people in nursing homes).
When someone comes forward for Communion, the presumption that I always make is that they are worthy. That’s what Cardinal Turkson pointed to when he commented that you never know what’s in someone’s heart and what their relationship with God is at that moment. The Gospel tells us to “judge not.” That’s the attitude that I bring to the altar.
Rev. Thomas D’Albro
Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Editor’s note: Father D’Albro ministered in the Diocese of Brooklyn until his retirement on June 30, 2016.
Age is Just a Number
Dear Editor: Reading the obituary for Sister Theresa Torsone, SSND (October 30) brought back many fond memories of my being assigned at St. Matthias Parish as parochial vicar for more than nine years, beginning in June 1985.
At that time the convent was filled with wonderful religious nuns who loved teaching and loved life. Sadly, the convent has been closed for a number of years. Sister Theresa was, as the obit states, “a master teacher specializing in math.” All the more reason I laughed out loud while reading it, as it was stated that she died “at the age of 80,” while the next sentence reads “She was born on April 1, 1940.”
Clearly whoever wrote the death notice was not one of her better students! And knowing Sister, she is also probably smiling about that.
Msgr. Steven A. Ferrari
Woodside
The Great Irish Fair
Dear Editor: The Great Irish Fair is grateful to Msgr. Paul Jarvis (“Honoring an Irish Priest’s Love for an African American Flock,” Oct. 23) for his enthusiastic support of the fair and Msgr. Bernard Quinn. Be assured we will be acknowledging Msgr. Quinn’s invaluable contributions to our Diocese.
The Great Irish Fair Committee