Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio

The People of Advent

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, We have begun the new Liturgical Year with the beginning of Advent. It is a time when not only do we look forward to the birth of Christ at Christmas but also to His final coming at the end of time. It is a time of anticipation, […]

Advent Events

Make your Advent more meaningful by taking part in one or more of these events at our local parishes: Join the good people of St. Ephrem, Dyker Heights, for Advent Vespers, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. Speaker: Sister Helene Jakubowski, R.S.M. All welcome. Call 921-9518. Our Lady of the Snows, N. Floral Park, is having an […]

It’s Beginning Too Early To Look Like Christmas

By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Already. Even before Halloween jack-o-lanterns were carved, retailers were advertising the joys of Christmas gift-giving – and getting – on television. And no sooner will the Thanksgiving turkey be carved before radio stations start playing Christmas music, some of them nonstop, […]

CavanaghCSJ

Readying Our Hearts and Spirits

by Sister Karen M. Cavanagh, C.S.J. “IT’S A BROOKLYN thing!” In my day (that’s a giveaway), children dressed as ragamuffins on Thanksgiving morn. We visited neighbors, knocking on doors and begging: “Anything for Thanksgiving?” We received an apple, an orange, walnuts in their shell or maybe some pennies. We imagined the experience of those who […]

A Family of Faith

We have just completed a worldwide observance of the Year of Faith and are about to enter the Advent season of a new liturgical cycle. Now seems an opportune time to count our blessings, especially during a week in which we gather with family for Thanksgiving. In keeping with the theme of faith, it makes […]

Faith’s Rallying Cry

How soon the End Times may be coming not even Jesus would disclose. No one knows the day or the hour. Yet the possibility of a sudden disruption of our comfort zone and even chaotic upheaval is always upon us, whether wrought by global forces, natural or anthropogenic, or through the simple course of each […]

Holy Cross H.S., Flushing, has begun an anti-bullying campaign, featuring orange "Stop Bullying" bracelets. (Photo courtesy Andrew D'Angelo)

Bullying: Incident in NFL Raises Awareness in Local High Schools

Turn on any television news program, read any newspaper, or follow any online blog, and you’ll surely find some sort of commentary on one of the lead stories in America right now: the Miami Dolphins’ bullying scandal. Though various reports have surfaced, the main premise involves the incessant harassment and hazing of Dolphins’ offensive tackle […]

A Comedy of Errors Greets Cardinal in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) – A miscommunication between the Vatican and New Zealand church officials resulted in an adventurous arrival for the prelate who coordinates a key commission of cardinals that advises Pope Francis. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga arrived in Wellington Oct. 9. But New Zealand Catholic Church officials were expecting him to arrive […]

Illuminating Who We Are and Who God Is

by Father Robert Lauder I suppose that on any given Sunday, the readings from the Mass stress the evil of sin and the graciousness of God. The power of the Word of God to touch us and move us probably depends to some extent on our attention, sincerity and willingness to be touched or even […]

Media Notebook: Not Even Big Names Can Save Fall Season

by Joseph McAleer There’s both good news and bad for viewers with the advent of the fall television season. The upside mainly concerns hourlong dramas: Some networks have bucked the occult-happy trend of recent years that seemed to fill the small screen with dark tales of demons and goblins. They’ve also gotten away from the […]