The Tablet Art Contest’s First Special Honoree

For the first time since The Tablet joined with the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council No. 481 to create the Christmas art contest 12 years ago, one student will receive special recognition as an honoree for his artwork at the award ceremony: eighth-grader and special needs student Diego Tecpanecatl, a parishioner at St. Helen’s Church in Howard Beach.

Catholic Charities Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing

The future eight-story, 135-unit building on the corner of Sackman Street will be called the Catholic Charities Loreto Apartments, built on the former site of Brownsville’s Our Lady of Loreto Church. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day Tradition Continues in Diocese

The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Prospect Heights, is six miles from St. Mary’s Winfield, Woodside, or more than a two-hour walk — a pilgrimage that Janelli Nunez and her parents, Cira and Antonio, make every year on Dec. 12 for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Creative Mind Behind the Christmas Magic

Months before the calendars read “December” and pink and purple Advent candles were placed on altars in preparation for Jesus’ birth, one man was tasked with configuring how many tiny red fluorescent lights would complement hundreds of yards of red ribbon on a Christmas tree to bring awareness to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. Enter the world of Mark Steele.

‘Arcángel’ in Brooklyn

Cándido Arcángel opens the basement of his shop to homeless men so that they will have a warm and safe place to sleep at night. He is a Catholic from the Dominican Republic who attends Mass at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Borough Park.

Catholic Charities Makes Thanksgiving Dinner Possible

The turkey giveaway, held every year in one parish in Brooklyn and one in Queens, is sponsored by CCBQ and some local businesses. This year, 700 turkeys, canned goods and Thanksgiving meal fixings were distributed to families in need.