Recently The Tablet featured stories on what some diocesan priests in Brooklyn and Queens did before they entered the seminary and were ordained to the priesthood. From the fascinating life of Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello as a chef in some of the most exclusive restaurants in the New York City area to Father Bryan Carney’s career in the military, our priests in Brooklyn and Queens have had all sorts of jobs. 

More concerning news was released last week out of Washington, D.C., and Springfield, Massachusetts, that affects Catholics and their relationship with our federal and local governments.

The Church celebrated the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 23, as decreed by Pope Francis in 2021 to be marked on the Sunday closest to the July 26 feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. 

In 1993, Saint John Paul II came to Denver, Colorado, for World Youth Day. It was covered by the media, both Catholic and secular, and by all accounts, it was a peaceful, joyful, inspirational experience. 

In this week’s edition, The Tablet looks at nature’s beauty and bounty as the summer harvests from many backyard gardens begin to flourish. 

Over the last two weeks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new transgender guidance programs on how biological men can “chestfeed” infant babies. 

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s founding, we know the hazy, lazy days of summer cannot be far behind. This time of the year is known for relaxation, vacation, and enjoying the good life. 

On June 16, the Church celebrated the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a day in which, liturgically and spiritually, we as a Church give thanks and praise to the God who is Love Incarnate, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. 

Fatherhood. It’s a pillar on which the Catholic faith has rested since the very beginning. We call God our Father. Our bedrock prayer begins with the invocation, “Our Father.” Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we begin with the words: “In the name of the Father.” The title we give our ordained priests is…Father. 

The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is one of the most important teachings of the Church. In fact, when Christ instituted the Church at the Last Supper, he gave his disciples bread and said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” And then he gave them wine and said, “This is my blood of the covenant.”