Bishop Cisneros Recalls Epiphany Joy in His Native Homeland Cuba

As a little boy, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Octavio Cisneros loved going to his grandmother’s house for Christmas, just like the popular holiday song “Over the River and Through the Woods.” But there was no “drifted snow,” because his grandmother lived on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba.

Farewell to a Beloved Post-9/11 Champion of the FDNY 

Msgr. John Delendick, the FDNY Catholic chaplain who passed away from 9/11-related pancreatic cancer on Nov. 23, was remembered at his funeral Mass on Friday, Dec. 1 as a brother to firefighters and as a good and faithful shepherd. 

Advocate Calls for Additional Accessibilty for Churches

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December is for persons with disabilities, and he has called for the Catholic Church to be inclusive and welcoming, to ensure that each person “feels encouraged to do his or her part for the good of the entire ecclesial body and for the good of society as a whole.” 

Israel-Hamas Truce Has Been Extended by Two Days; More Hostages Scheduled to be Released

Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry said Nov. 27 that an agreement has been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce for another two days. The announcement was made by a ministry’s spokesperson on X on the final day of a four-day cease-fire in which hostages abducted by Hamas in October have been released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.