Catholic New York

A Bold Catholic Investment in Inner-City Education

It’s a safe bet that “Mother Mary Lange” is not a household name in most U.S. Catholic circles. That unhappy state of affairs may change, though, thanks to a courageous initiative … more

By GEORGE WEIGEL | 9/17/21

Bishop Praises House Members for Proposing Citizenship Path for Immigrants

The U.S. bishops’ migration committee chairman Sept. 15 welcomed a move by House members to include language in the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill to provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and other immigrants. more

9/16/21

A woman holds the Mass program as she waits for Pope Francis’ arrival to celebrate Mass on the plains of the Basilica of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in &Scaron;a&scaron;tin, Slovakia, Sept. 15.

Faith Must Identify With Those Who Suffer, Pope Says at Slovakia Mass

The world needs Christians who are “signs of contradiction,” who demonstrate the beauty of the Gospel rather than hostility toward others, Pope Francis said. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/15/21

Pope Francis and Richard Duda, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Slovakia, light candles during a meeting with the Jewish community in Rybné námestie Square in Bratislava, Slovakia, Sept. 13.

Horrors of Holocaust Must Not Be Forgotten, Pope Tells Slovak Jews

The violence of the Holocaust and the atrocities committed against the Jewish people are tantamount to blasphemy, Pope Francis said. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/14/21

Pope Francis Says Benedict Rightly Warned Against Not Respecting Life

Pope Francis praised his predecessor’s courage in denouncing the danger of people no longer respecting or understanding the sacredness of human life. more

By CAROL GLATZ | 9/14/21

Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress at Heroes’ Square in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 12.

Eucharist Heals From Idolatry of ‘Self,’ Pope Says at Mass in Budapest

Spending time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament can heal Christians from a self-absorbed religiosity that is ostentatious and triumphalist, Pope Francis said. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/14/21

Pope Francis leads a meeting with young people at Lokomotiva Stadium in Ko&scaron;ice, Slovakia, Sept. 14.

Pope Reminds Roma Community, Young People That Church Is Their Home

Pope Francis made sure that while the world often disregards the young and the marginalized, in the Catholic Church, “no one ought ever to feel out of place or set aside.” more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/14/21

Christianity Without the Cross Is ‘Sterile,’ Pope Says in Slovakia

Falling into the temptation of rejecting the cross and choosing a triumphalist form of Christianity leads to a faith that is superficial and sterile, Pope Francis said. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/14/21

First Day of School

Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese opened on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Marking the occasion at the Academy of St. Paul and St. Ann in East Harlem was Michael Deegan, superintendent of schools … more

9/10/21

Forever Changed, We Remember 9/11

Our world has changed in many ways in the 20 years since 9/11. The terrorist attacks by hijacked planes that destroyed the Twin Towers and took nearly 3,000 lives shook us to the core. All of us … more

9/9/21

Father Charles F. Smarsh

Father Charles F. Smarsh, who served at two parishes in the archdiocese, died Aug. 25 at Ridgewood Village in Silver Spring, Md. He was 83.Father Smarsh was assigned to St. Catharine’s, Pelham, … more

9/9/21

Sister Marie Bernadette Wyman

Sister Marie Bernadette Wyman, who served at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto on Staten Island, died Aug. 31. She was 92. Sister Bernadette served at Mount Loretto as a … more

9/9/21

Sister Laureen Haben, S.S.S.F.

Sister Laureen Haben, S.S.S.F., who taught for 15 years in the archdiocese, died Aug. 28 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wis. She was 95. Sister Laureen taught at St. Mary the … more

9/9/21

Diaspora and Disease: Pope Will Face Pressing Issues on Trip

Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Hungary and Slovakia, while seemingly standard as papal visits go, could prove to be among his most challenging visits at a time when distrust in government authorities and the looming threat of the delta variant are leading the headlines. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 9/8/21

This is the cover of the English edition of Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship.” The social encyclical Pope Francis released in October 2020 extends a formidable challenge to us all, the challenge to create “a different culture.”

USCCB Launches Initiative to Address Polarization in U.S. Society

Polarization across society has prompted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to launch an initiative that looks to bring people together to serve the common good. more

By DENNIS SADOWSKI | 9/8/21

A Promising Sign for Fall

As far as signs of progress go, the Out and About listings in this issue of Catholic New York might not be on many people’s Top Ten list, but they are on mine. There are about a dozen listings for … more

By JOHN WOODS | 9/8/21

Old Wounds, New Fears, Endless Faith

This month’s column marks 20 years of Life Lines in Catholic New York. I remember well my first column, about my then-4-year-old son, Noah, and his nature camp experiences. Except, when that first … more

By MARY DeTURRIS POUST | 9/8/21

Misa de Nuestra Señora de Coromoto el 12 de Septiembre en la Catedral

La misa anual en honor de Nuestra Señora de Coromoto, patrona de Venezuela, está programada para domingo, 12 de septiembre a las 4 p.m. en la catedral de San Patricio. El arzobispo Emérito … more

9/8/21

The Hidden Power of Play: How to Be Young at Heart

Every fall the push to do more intensifies. Sharpen your pencil and dig in. Produce more, study more, socialize more, exercise more, volunteer more. The calendar becomes the battlefield, its … more

By CHRISTINA CAPECCHI | 9/8/21

‘PROPHET OF HOPE’—An oil on panel entitled “Allegorical Portrait of Dante, late 16th century” is seen in this undated photo. Dante’s "Divine Comedy" is perhaps the most powerful depiction of the transcendent in Western literature.

Dante in Exile

Dante Alighieri died 700 years ago, on Sept. 14, 1321, just one year after completing the Divine Comedy. The years leading up to his death were tumultuous, marked by a long exile from his home city … more

By GARAN SANTICOLA | 9/8/21