Sixty – that was the number of donations received when the Little Docs at St. Athanasius School, Bensonhurst, hosted a blood drive during Catholic Schools Week. As part of the Little Doctors program, fourth and fifth grades host the annual event – now in its seventh year – under the direction of their dedicated teachers, Maria MacCormack and Karen Hayes, above. Students welcome, assist and provide aftercare for all faculty, staff, parents, alumni and community residents who roll up their sleeves for this cause.
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Last weekend, parishioners at Our Lady of the Snows Church, North Floral Park, were invited to take home a Lenten nail as a tangible reminder of their Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and to encourage them not to become indifferent to the sufferings of Jesus and those in need.
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Spanish organist Loreto Aramendi will perform in concert on Sunday, March 15, 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Refuge (OLR), Ditmas Park. She will perform works by Bach, Brahms, Liszt and Tournemire.
Aramendi is the organist of Santa Maria del Coro Church in San Sebastian, Spain. She is the first female to perform in OLR’s organ recital series, a fundraising endeavor to benefit OLR’s pipe organ maintenance fund.
For advance tickets and further details, visit www.olrbrooklyn.org and click on “Pipe Organ.”
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Are you or someone you know suffering from the grief of a past abortion?
The Sisters of Life will be hosting a Day of Prayer and Healing on March 21.
For confidential registration, call 1-866-575-0075 (toll free) or email hopeandhealing@sistersoflife.org.
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Tickets are now available for Mercy Home’s 2015 Partners in Mercy Luncheon, April 19, 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach.
This year’s honorees are Jessica and Louis Mantia, James Halpin and Magee Hickey.
To reserve your seat, or for more details, call 718- 832-1075 or email srcaroline@mercyhomeny.org.
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Regina Opera Company is offering a free-admission performance of its upcoming production, Rossini’s comedy “The Barber of Seville,” on March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
The opera will be fully- staged with piano accompaniment and English super-titles, and feature “covers” (under- studies). The performance will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunset Park.
If you miss the free show, you can pay to see the production on March 7 and 8, 14 and 15 at 3 p.m. Admission is $25. Discounts available for seniors and students.
Call 718-259-2772 or visit www.reginaopera.org.
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Save the date for a dinner dance marking the 25th anniversary of the diocesan Kujenga Leadership Program on July 26, 2:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.
Call 718-774-3806 for tickets and details.
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SMGH Celebrates Diverse Cultures
An appreciation for diverse cultures and their expressions of faith, knowledge and service was the focus of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) at St. Mary Gate of Heaven School, Ozone Park. One section of the school focused on the Philippines and even featured a life-size cutout of Pope Francis. Above, students stand in front of CSW artwork and wear their uniforms with pride.