Congratulations to diamond jubilarian Sister Mary Francis Madaio, O.S.F., a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Pa., who is celebrating 70 years of religious life. She spent her anniversary with fellow sisters also marking significant anniversaries of religious life.
Born in Brooklyn, she ministered for many years in the Diocese of Brooklyn, both in education and in parish ministry.
She worked in St. Blaise parish, Crown Heights, where she taught religious education and was also engaged in social work. She taught at both St. Francis Paola School, Williamsburg, and at Holy Family School.
Currently, Sister Mary Francis serves in prayer ministry at Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, Pa. Congratulatory messages may be sent to Sister Mary Francis through the Sisters of St. Francis’ communications office via email at communications@osfphila.org.
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Prepare your palates Tablet TALK readers. The San Damiano Mission is presenting the Williamsburg Food Festival, next Sunday, Aug. 23, at 83 North 15th Street, off Nassau Avenue. Enjoy carefully curated purveyors and provisions, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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The Society of Old Brooklynites will host its 107th annual memorial tribute to the Prison Ship Martyrs on the 239th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. in Fort Greene Park. The prison ship martyrs included 11,500 American Revolutionary patriots who were jailed and died aboard British prison ships for refusing to swear allegiance to the British Crown. Their remains are buried in a crypt beneath a 149-foot tall monument in the park.
The program includes a wreath laying, maritime piping ceremony, operatic selections, interpretative dance and a keynote address from the society’s new president, George Broadhead, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Silver Star recipient. For more information, call 718-833-4928, or email Generally@hotmail.com.
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Blood donations are urgently needed during these summer months – and this Sunday, Aug. 16, there are opportunities to donate in both boroughs.
A Bloodmobile will be parked outside St. Camillus Church in Rockaway Park starting at 8:15 a.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
In Midwood, Our Lady Help of Christians Church will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lower basement. Every donor gets two tickets to a Mets game. Call 718-338-5242.
And two thumbs up for the people of St. Teresa’s parish, Woodside, who held a blood drive on July 19 and collected 28 pints.
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Deacon Kevin McCormack, principal of Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, will be the keynote speaker at the fall convocation of diocesan youth and young adult ministers, set for Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Faith Formation – School of Evangelization, the event theme is “Catholic Identity for Young People in the Third Millennium,” and will include prayer, dinner and the keynote. Registration must be completed online. Contact Paul Morisi at 718-965-7300, ext. 5556, or Christine Georgi at cgeorgi@diobrook.org.
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Corpus Christi parish in Woodside is having a birthday celebration Mass for the Nativity of the Blessed Mother on Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. For more details, call Estelle at 718-406-9967 or 718-605-8625.
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In preparation for Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. for the World Meeting of Families, the priests of St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus in Greenpoint, are preaching about family life at Masses this month. The schedule is as follows: “Parents and Children,” Aug. 22-23 and “Family Values,” Aug. 29-30. For details, call 718-383-3339.
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Save the date! the Catholic Alumni Club of the Archdiocese of New York will host a brunch on end-of-life issues on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12:30 p.m. The guest speaker, Father Charles Caccavale, a priest of the Brooklyn Diocese, will discuss important ethical questions and review the moral principals that can help guide Catholics in their healthcare decisions.
The cost is $23 for non-members and the menu includes a full Irish breakfast at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Manhattan. To reserve your seat, call Peggy at 914-636-6093, or Anne at 212-715-0945.