Thousands thronged Williamsburg Sunday for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel & San Paolino Di Nola. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish had faithfully hosted the feast since the early 1900s. This year, however, was especially thrilling for the feasters whose cherished event was canceled last year because of the pandemic.
Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish’s annual summertime feast returns this year July 7-18. Now, as most restrictions have eased, preparations for the famed event — an annual Brooklyn tradition since at least 1903 — have moved forward.
Doing what you love in the comfort of your home is one thing, but doing it in a national talent show competition elevates that passion to a whole new level. The Northwell Health Nurse Choir, made up of 18 local frontline nurses, knows that feeling extremely well after singing a mash-up of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” and Ben King’s “Stand by Me” and receiving the highly desired Golden Buzzer on this season of America’s Got Talent.
Across the diocese this spring, youth have donned bright red robes or gleaming white dresses or suits to receive either Communion or Confirmation.
The robotics team at St. Edmund Preparatory High School (SEP) is anxiously waiting to hear if it will be moving on to the final round of an international competition.
The Catholic electorate gives mixed reviews on President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office. Issues of concern include his COVID-19 response, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and religious freedom.
Under the gaze of a seventh-century icon of Mary, Pope Francis launched a monthlong, global recitation of the rosary, pleading for Mary’s intercession for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. And he prayed May 1 that Mary would move people’s consciences “so that the enormous amounts spent to increase and perfect weapons are instead used to promote research to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.”
Catholic hospital directors in India told Catholic News Service they did not have enough facilities to treat patients as India set records for the number of COVID-19 deaths — numbers many people believe were underreported.
The 9 a.m. Spanish Mass has outgrown the Basilica of Regina Pacis, so a second Mass will be at 7:30 a.m. Sundays, starting April 11. Msgr. Ronald T. Marino, the pastor, said word is getting out that people can finally return safely to Sunday Mass, especially in the Spanish community, which is packing the basilica each week.
Parishioners flocked to St. Brigid Church on Saturday for a Mass for the repose of the soul of Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, their beloved late pastor, on the first anniversary of his death from complications of COVID-19.
