Response to St. Joseph’s Hall
Dear Editor: Reading Maria Mastromarino’s Upfront and Personal (“Two Years of Teaching at St. Joseph’s Hall,” June 24), I was immediately drawn into the piece.
I felt her dedication and concern for these young girls whose parents couldn’t take care of them and were being sheltered and educated by the Sisters of Charity.
How fortunate for Maria that the Sisters of Charity recognized her teaching and unique gifts for loving and nurturing these children.
The piece was enjoyable, and I hope to read more of Maria Mastromarino’s writings in the future. I loved the article!!
Theresa Pinto
Carroll Gardens
Thank God the USA Got the Bomb First
Dear Editor: Reading Kimberley Heatherington’s article (“Oppenheimer and the Injustice of Nuclear Weapons,” Aug. 26) stating that America lost its nobility for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan almost made me choke.
If the Axis powers, Japan and Germany, got the bomb first, the world today would be a dark and horrible planet.
Most likely 90% of the earth’s population would have been killed or enslaved.
I suggest readers visit the Holocaust Museum or read the book “Gulag” (Soviet concentration camps), by Anne Applebaum. Then you can see which country is noble.
Martin Ayala
South Ozone Park
‘On the Block’ Broadcast Time
Dear Editor: I note with thanks that the time for the NET-TV program “On the Block’’ was moved to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3.
I am sure that many of my contemporaries would appreciate that you keep to a daytime broadcast slot, as most don’t watch TV after 9 p.m., and we are likely those who most appreciate joining host Ed Wilkinson with that great series of church visitations and interviews.
Peter Purpura
Breezy Point
Thank you Bishop Emeritus DiMarzio
Dear Editor: The “Walking With Migrants” column is what is needed during these times when our migrant brothers and sisters are being treated like pawns on achess board.
We Catholics are people who are charitable, welcoming, and compassionate.
To hear professed Catholics speak so negatively about the migrants is so disheartening. The bishop’s column is inspiring.
I hope that everyone has a chance to read this column.
Joanne Murray
Far Rockaway
Editor’s note: Bishop DiMarzio’s column, “Walking with Migrants,” appears in The Tablet monthly.
Salesian Sisters in the Family
Dear Editor: Upon reading the recent article (“Brooklyn Native Starts Journey to Answer Salesian Sister Calling,” Aug. 26) about Sister Jessica Castillo making her first profession of vows as a Salesian sister, my thoughts went back 40 years ago this summer to a very memorable visit to Rome.
That year had been declared a special Holy Year for being 1,950 years commemorating the death and resurrection of our Lord.
I traveled with a priest friend to tour the Eternal City. On our last day of the journey, we took a tour of the catacombs.
Also on the tour was a group of nuns in the Salesian habit. One of the sisters, with a British accent, remarked to me about my shirt. I informed her that Ferrari is my surname.
She revealed that it was hers as well. It is the third most common last name in Italy — coming from the Latin for ‘iron,’ it usually means a blacksmith, hence the common English name ‘Smith.’
We discovered to our amazement that she was my father’s second cousin.
Her grandfather and my great-grandfather were brothers. And another Ferrari first cousin of hers was also a Salesian sister back in England.
Needless to say, Sister Celia Ferrari and I afterwards became close friends, as well as cousins, visiting each other, traveling back and forth “across the pond,” as she would refer to the Atlantic Ocean.
Sister Celia and Sister Lucetta are long gone now, but the Salesian Sisters will always hold a special place in my heart. Boy, am I glad I wore that particular T-shirt that day 40 years ago!
Msgr. Steven A. Ferrari
Southbury, CT
Please Never Forget 9/11
Dear Editor: I would like to thank The Tablet in last week’s issue for not forgetting the events of 9/11 and all the lives that were lost and the pain it created on that day of evil.
I’m greatly troubled by the belief of some who think we must move on … that there is too much talk of 9/11 many years later.
We have lost thousands of good people, including 343 firefighters who gave their lives, along with the many first responders who have died and many who are suffering from the effects of the attacks. Evil thrives when good people do nothing.
Frederick Robert Bedell Jr.
Bellerose