Catholic New York

One morning in late September 1981, I entered the newsroom of Catholic New York in Manhattan and walked to my desk. On top of it, and on top of every other desk, fresh from the press, lay the first … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 11/16/22

Solid Gold

I read something long ago that always comes back to me at this time of year. It was a comment by an author; I don’t recall which one, but it might have been the English novelist and poet Thomas … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 10/19/22

Living Long, Living Well

A few days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II at age 96, I visited another nonagenarian, one whom I know very … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 9/21/22

My Parish, My Home

Gathering newspapers one evening for recycling, I came upon an article I had saved to read when I had … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 8/24/22

A Painting and a Prayer

Like many other Catholics, I subscribe to a monthly prayer book that contains the Order of… more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 7/27/22

Walking With Christ

It started with the discovery last summer of an ornate, embroidered canopy in a closet in my parish … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 6/29/22

Jesus and the Children, and Everyone Else

It’s springtime, and for many Catholics that means it’s the season for sacraments, especially first Communion. It’s a time of preparation and prayer, of observing beloved traditions and … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 5/18/22

Easter in a Time of War

A shadow lies over Easter this year, dimming, in a way, the light … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 4/20/22

Twice Blessed

This year’s Mardi Gras was a special day of celebration for me and for everyone at the two parishes in Larchmont. The pastor whom we share at my parish, St. Augustine’s, and SS. John and … more

By Claudia McDonnell | 3/23/22

Twice Blessed

This year’s Mardi Gras, just weeks ago, was a special day of celebration for me and for everyone at the two parishes in Larchmont. The pastor whom we share at my parish, St. Augustine’s, and SS. … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 3/9/22

Unexpected Advice

I was listening to the radio one morning recently—it was a New York station—when I heard an announcement that caught my ear. It was directed toward persons who are addicted to gambling, but I saw … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 2/23/22

Anything But Ordinary

With the end of the Christmas season a few weeks ago, we returned, liturgically speaking, to Ordinary Time. I know that some Catholics are puzzled by the term, so I asked a faithful and faith-filled … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 1/26/22

No Place Like Home

Recently I happened to drive past the house where one of my closest childhood friends had lived. I spent many hours at that house, and the people I met there not only offered me kindness and … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 12/15/21

Is Hindsight Always 20/20?

In another instance of judging the past by the standards of the present, the statue of Thomas Jefferson is to be removed from the City Council chamber in New York City because Jefferson was a slave … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 11/17/21

Faith and the Rights of Parents

I have been watching with concern the news about parents protesting what their children are being taught in school. The parents say that their kids are being indoctrinated with leftist political … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 10/20/21

Living Words

Being part of something new is a great adventure. Catholic New York was something new, and it has been one of the great adventures of my life. It has shaped and directed my life more than I could … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 9/22/21

Scandal, Sex and the Truth

When I heard that there was some kind of political trouble in our state capital, my first thought was, “Oh, the Albany follies.” I did not realize right away what kind of folly it was, and how … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 8/25/21

It Started With an Oil Change...

It was a beautiful summer day, but it began with a few glitches and it only got worse. For one thing, it was hot. I don’t like hot weather, and when it’s really hot all I want to do is … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 7/28/21

How Not to Declutter

With extra time on their hands because of the Covid-19 pandemic, some people have decided to declutter their homes and discard what they no longer need. This often means tossing items that have … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 6/16/21

Making Time for Azaleas

The phone rang as I was getting ready to go to Mass. It was a weekday, not a Sunday, but I didn’t have much time to spare. The call was from my friend Vicki. “I want you to come over and see … more

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL | 5/19/21