The creche at St. Frances de Chantal Church, Borough Park, was a sight to see this Christmastide as paved roads, street signs and small figures of Pope Francis and parish priests (click photo to enlarge and see details) made their way into the scene. (Photo courtesy of St. Frances de Chantal Church)
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Treat yourself in 2018 to a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul through Greece and the Greek Isles, Sept. 9-20. Father John O’Connor, pastor of Incarnation Church in Queens Village, will serve as the spiritual director. Call 718-465-8534 for complete details.
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The Bridge to Life, a pro-life organization that provides support and assistance to pregnant women and families, is looking for volunteers at its Flushing office. Call 718-463-1810 or email admin@thebridgetolife.org. Tell them The Tablet sent you.
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A Retreat for Teachers is being held at the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J., Feb. 16-18. Intended for educators of all levels, the retreat will provide teachers’ time to recharge and share experiences through prayer and reflection.
The weekend will be led by educators and offer opportunities to be spiritually and physically renewed for the road ahead. In addition to daily Mass, prayer services, individual and group reflection time, attendees will have time to experience the wonders of the beach in the winter.
The cost is $135 per person, double occupancy. Visit capemaymarianists.org or call 609-884-3829 to register.
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If the pain of a past abortion is keeping you from moving forward in life, help is available. Forgiven and Set Free is a diocesan-run program for women who have had an abortion and are seeking spiritual healing. The next 10-week session begins Feb. 12. For more details, call 347-702-2352. All calls are confidential.
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St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy, Flatbush, will host a Former Faculty/Staff Tea on Saturday, Jan. 20, 12 to 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas parish auditorium, Flatlands. The honorees will be Mercy Sister Mary Harvey, Audrey Williams, Betty Spearman, Lorna Blair, Hortense Golding and Rona Jack.
Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. Proceeds will be used for scholarships at the academy.
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Sacred Heart Church, Bayside, continues its Aging Well Series with a presentation on “Selecting the Right Home Care or Nursing Home Services,” Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. The presenter will be Nilda Dimiceli, who will offer information and strategies for choosing quality home care or nursing home services, what to expect and how to prepare for the application process. For further information, call Sister Kathleen at 718-224-5695.
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This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Dr. Nicole Rice, professor of English at St. John’s University, Jamaica. In December, she was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship. This grant will support her project: “Hospitals and Literary Production in England, 1350-1550,” a book-length study on late medieval English hospitals as centers of religion, literature, and civic affairs.
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Honors have also been bestowed on Calvary Hospital. Press Ganey Associates, Inc. recognized Calvary with the 2017 Pinnacle of Excellence and Beacon of Excellence awards last month. Calvary has received both awards every year since 2013, when Press Ganey debuted them.
The Pinnacle of Excellence Award recognizes clients who have maintained excellence over three years in patient experience, employee engagement, physician engagement or clinical quality performance. The Beacon of Excellence Award is given to top performing organizations who have maintained excellence over three years in patient satisfaction.
Calvary has the additional honor of being the only hospital in New York to achieve a 2017 Pinnacle Award.
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After rave reviews last year, Holy Child Jesus Teen Drama Group, Richmond Hill, will host another Broadway Revue Show, featuring current and alumni performers, on Jan. 13 at 7:45 p.m. in Msgr. Murray Hall. Admission is $5 at the door.