’Tis The Season For Giving
Catholic schoolchildren around the diocese proved that they know the real meaning of the Christmas season when they donated toys, clothing and even spare change to their neediest neighbors in time for Christ’s birth.
Gathered ’round the school creche, eighth grade Student Council officers from St. Joseph School, Long Island City, and their first-grade buddies, at left, show a handful of the 250 board games and dolls donated during the school’s toy drive to benefit children in St. Margaret Mary parish, Long Island City.
Across the borough, St. Kevin School, Flushing, held its annual Providence House Toy and Clothing Drive during December. Through the generosity of students’ families and faculty, the school gave 15 bags of clothing and toys to this Sisters of St. Joseph-sponsored ministry serving women and children. At right, second graders display some of the gifts.
Looking for a fun way to meet new people in the new year? Check out Theology on Tap, Jan. 12, at Tavern 18 in New Hyde Park. Guest speaker, Amanda Cardone, will speak about John Paul II and the Sanctity of Work. Arrive by 7:30 p.m. to enjoy good food and drinks along with a great discussion. Event is sponsored by the Brooklyn Diocese and Our Lady of the Snows parish, N. Floral Park. For more details, call Paul Morisi, 718-965-7300.
By now, you’ve seen this funky little code popping up everywhere — advertisements, signs, even business cards — on almost any object about which people might want more information. And now, you may start finding them in your church.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Astoria, is among the early adopter parishes in our area to add these QR (Quick Response) codes to its weekly bulletin. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct application can scan the QR code to learn more about the parish.
Parish website manager, Stephanie Larkin of RedPenguin Web Solutions, proposed this tool as a way to promote traffic to the parish website.
Msgr Sean G. Ogle, pastor, is excited about the new venture and hopes it will help with evangelization efforts, especially among younger adults.
The parish is also on Facebook and YouTube.
Paul Morisi, diocesan coordinator of adolescent and young adult faith formation, is directing a production of Plaza Suite, presented by the OLM First String Players Theater Group at Our Lady of Mercy, Forest Hills, next weekend.
Show dates and times: Jan. 13 and 14, 8 p.m., and Jan. 15, 4 p.m. Christine Breviaro is producing the show. Tickets are just $10. To reserve your seats, call 718-268-6143.
Did you know: The remains of the Three Magi are contained in a golden reliquary inside the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), Germany. Pilgrims who attended the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne had the opportunity to visit the relics.
A note of thanks from the Bay Ridge-based Life Center of New York to their neighbors at Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge, for the parish’s generous contribution of $5,842 to help save babies and families.
This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to the students of Corpus Christi School, Woodside. Principal Robert DiNardo proudly reports that the Student Council conducted a Loose Change Campaign and netted $300 from their peers. All proceeds went to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Way to start the year!
Hark! Bay Ridge Angels Sing
These third-grade girls from St. Patrick’s School, Bay Ridge, brought an angelic air to the school’s annual Christmas Show. In mid-December, they joined with their schoolmates to celebrate the impending birth of Christ and usher in the Christmas season.