Christmas Schkatalata in Italian Brooklyn

From Regina Magazine, which is well done and free, comes this beautiful article by Camille Loccisano. 

"There’s no getting around it. As an Italian-American, my holidays have always included great food, especially at Christmas.

I grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn — a middle-class neighborhood which nestles like a small jewel under the Verrazano Bridge. In the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, it was home to many Italian and Irish immigrant families, and offered a harmonious life for one and all in our Catholic community.

At St. Patrick’s Grammar School, I can still recall the month-long Advent season, with the frigid December days leading up to the breathless excitement of Christmas Eve. In every comforting classroom at St. Patrick’s, the polished oak floors were warm beneath our feet as Sister Muriel Agnes taught us about the Advent wreath. My family attended 9 a.m. Mass every Sunday morning, and I sang in the choir – ancient Catholic carols about the birth of our Savior.

At home, there was a whirl of tremendous energy as we prepared for Christmas, centering on the person of Grandma Sue. When I was growing up, she lived in the ground-floor apartment of my parents’ home. Though she was the perfect picture of an old-fashioned Italian grandmother, Grandma Sue was not actually my grandmother. Nonetheless, she was like a grandma to me in every sense of the word."

To find out what Schkatalata is, click here to read the whole article.

Catholic renovation of Crystal Cathedral to begin

From the Sun Herald:


"LOS ANGELES — The former Crystal Cathedral will close to the public as it undergoes a transformation from a space built as a television studio as much as a sanctuary into the spiritual home for the Orange County Catholic community of more than 1.2 million people.

Beginning Sunday, the newly named Christ Cathedral will be closed for construction as crews launch a $29 million effort to restore the more than 75,000-square-foot space.

The Diocese of Orange has been working with liturgical consultants and architects to modify the church built in the vision of the Rev. Robert Schuller into one that meets the requirements of a Catholic cathedral.

"The beauty and inspiration evoked by the cathedral grounds and its architecture are only surpassed by the extraordinary communities of faith that now call this campus home," Bishop Kevin Vann said in a statement. "The cathedral will be an international center of faith and evangelization, a vessel for the love of God, a beacon of faith, a home for neighbor and traveler, and a sanctuary for the human spirit."

The bishop announced in September that two architectural firms, Johnson Fain and Rios Clementi Hale Studios, had been selected to lead the design process.

The architects said they want to create a sense of cohesion among a cluster of buildings on the campus, created by different designers with varying ideas. Their intent is to make it clear the campus is a spiritual place, welcoming to a diverse Catholic community as well as people of other faiths.

"You need to start those kind of experiences as you're pulling into the parking lot," architect Mark Rios said at the time of the announcement. "It shouldn't feel like you're at the mall. You're on a journey to a sacred cathedral."

Catholic scholars said the church has converted the temples of other faiths, and even secular spaces, into cathedrals. But in more modern times, the project stands as a rarity, as it is believed to be the first Protestant megachurch to become a Catholic cathedral, the primary church within a diocese."

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/11/27/5151126/catholic-renovation-of-crystal.html#storylink=cpy

Happy Thanksgiving

From Fr. Rutler:

"Looking toward Thanksgiving Day, there are countless causes for thanks, not the least of which is that our nation got off to a good start with so many honest people trying to establish a society respectful of God and his blessings."

"George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving Day in 1789.  He had not planned on being president, though he knew that many wanted him.  In 1783 after resigning his command of the army at a farewell in Annapolis, he mounted his horse and rode back to Mount Vernon.  When the American-born painter, Benjamin West, told King George III that Washington had given up his power, the general's old foe said, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world." 



And from Brad Miner:

"Every fourth Thursday in November, We the People gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. Of course, there are in this New Colossus some for whom the day is an affront: a few of “your tired, your poor,/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,/The wretched refuse” from wherever – but not like earlier immigrants. Now some are huddled off in the proverbial corner: folks for whom liberty is just a Statue. For multiculturalists it must be a sour day, because Thanksgiving is all about e pluribus unum; about one free people unified despite their grievances.

Even the people who would strike “under God” from the Pledge or remove “in God we trust” from our currency pretty much leave Turkey Day alone, because it’s our great secular holiday.

To be sure, prayers are often a big part of the Big Meal. My Presbyterian grandfather’s unvarying prayer was, “For that which we are about to receive, may we be truly grateful,” to which my thoroughly irreligious parents would give a hearty “Amen!”

Bishop Murphy is calling for days of Eucharistic Adoration across the Diocese continually from Sunday,
November 24th through Wednesday, November 27th.  Each Deanery has been asked to have at least one parish available for Eucharistic Adoration from 12:00 noon through 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

Listed below are the Parishes where Eucharistic Adoration will be taking place:

SCHEDULE OF ADORATION
November 24 - 27, 2013
* ‐ Exposition
** ‐ Benediction
Day Town Parish Time
Sunday Bay Shore St. Patrick 12:30 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
November 24, 2013 Bellport Mary Immaculate 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Cedarhurst St. Joachim 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
East Rockaway St. Raymond 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Farmingdale St. Kilian 4:00 pm ‐6:00 pm
Freeport Our Holy Redeemer 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Garden City St. Anne 1:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Glen Head St. Hyacinth 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm *
Greenport St. Agnes 11:00 am ‐ 3:00 pm
Hempstead St. Ladislaus 12:30 pm ‐ 3:30 pm
Hicksville Holy Family 2:00 pm‐ 4:00 pm
Long Beach St. Mary of the Isle 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Manorhaven Our Lady of Fatima 12:30 pm ‐ 3:00 pm
New Hyde Park Holy Spirit 1:00 pm ‐ 4:00 pm
Plainview St. Pius X 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Port Washington St. Peter of Alcantara 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Rockville Centre St. Agnes Cathedral 3:00 pm ‐ 4:45 pm *
Seaford St. James 12 noon ‐ 2:00 pm
Seaford St. William the Abbot 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Shelter Island Our Lady of the Isle 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Shoreham St. Mark 12 noon ‐ 4:00 pm
Southampton Our Lady of Poland 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
West Hempstead St. Thomas the Apostle 2:30 pm ‐ 5:30 pm
Westhampton Beach Immaculate Conception 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Wiiliston Park St. Aidan 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Monday Bellmore St.Barnabas the Apostle 12 noon ‐ 2:00 pm **
November 25, 2013 Bethpage St. Martin of Tours 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Bridgehampton Queen of the Most Holy Rosary 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Carle Place Our Lady of Hope 2:00 pm ‐ 4:00 pm
Center Moriches St. John the Evangelist 7:30 pm ‐ 8:30 pm
Deer Park Sts. Cyril & Methodius 1:00 pm ‐ 4:00 pm
East Islip St. Mary 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Elmont St. Boniface 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Floral Park Our Lady of Victory 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Freeport Our Holy Redeemer 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Garden City St. Joseph 5:00 pm ‐8:00 pm
Great Neck St. Aloysius 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Hempstead Our Lady of Loretto 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Hicksville St. Ignatius Loyola 4:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Inwood Our Lady of Good Counsel 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Levittown St. Bernard 12 noon ‐ 2:00 pm
Long Beach St. Ignatius 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Page 1
SCHEDULE OF ADORATION
November 24 - 27, 2013
Long Beach St. Mary of the Isle 9:30 am ‐ 9:30 pm
Massapequa St. Rose of Lima 2:00pm ‐ 4:00 pm
Massapequa St. Rose of Lima after 7:30 pm Mass
Mattituck Our Lady of Good Counsel 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Mineola Corpus Christi 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
New Hyde Park Notre Dame 12:30 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
North Merrick Sacred Heart 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Oyster Bay St. Dominic 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm *
Point Lookout Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 8:00 am ‐ 12 noon
Point Lookout Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Port Jefferson Infant Jesus 12 noon ‐ 4:00 pm
Riverhead St. Isidore 12 noon ‐ 6:00 pm
Riverhead St. John 3:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Roosevelt Queen of the Most Holy Rosary 8:30 am ‐ 7:30 pm
Sag Harbor St. Andrew 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Seaford Maria Regina 4:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Southampton Basilica of Sacred Hearts 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Uniondale St. Martha 9:00 am ‐ 9:00 pm
Valley Stream Holy Name of Mary 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Wantagh St. Frances de Chantal 1:00 pm ‐ 4:00 pm
West Babylon Our Lady of Grace 12 noon ‐ 9:00 pm
West Hempstead St. Thomas the Apostle 8:00 am ‐ 8:00 pm
Williston Park St. Aidan 12:30 pm ‐ 5:30 pm
Tuesday Babylon St. Joseph 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
November 26, 2013 Bayville St. Gertrude 8:00 pm **
Blue Point Our Lady of the Snow 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Brookville St. Paul 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
East Meadow St. Raphael 12 noon ‐ 2:00 pm
East Northport St. Anthony of Padua 12 noon ‐ 4:00 pm
Farmingville Resurrection 12noon ‐ 1:00 pm
Farmingville Resurrection 7:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Franklin Square St. Catherine of Sienna 3:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Freeport Our Holy Redeemer 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Glen Cove St. Patrick 8:00 pm **
Glen Cove St. Rocco 8:00 pm **
Glen Head St. Hyacinth 8:00 pm **
Hampton Bays St. Rosalie 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Hicksville Our Lady of Mercy 4:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Holbrook Good Shepherd 1:30 pm ‐ 2:30 pm
Holbrook Good Shepherd 7:30 pm ‐ 8:30 pm
Island Park Sacred Heart 3:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Lynbrook Our Lady of Peace 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Malverne Our Lady of Lourdes 3:00 pm ‐ 6:00 pm
Manhasset St. Mary 12:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Mattituck Our Lady of Good Counsel 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Merrick Cure of Ars 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Page 2
SCHEDULE OF ADORATION
November 24 - 27, 2013
Oceanside St. Anthony 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Oyster Bay St. Dominic 8:00 pm **
Patchogue St. Francis de Sales 7:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Point Lookout Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 8:00 am ‐ Noon
Rockville Centre St. Agnes Cathedral 12:10 ‐ 3:00 pm *
Roslyn St. Mary 8:00 pm **
Sayville St. Lawrence the Martyr 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Sea Cliff St. Boniface Martyr 8:00 pm **
Seaford St. James 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Seaford St. James 7:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
‐ Holy Hour‐ Rev. Msgr. James McNamara
Southold St. Patrick 12 noon ‐ 3:00 pm
Syosset St. Edward 8:00 pm **
Valley Stream Blessed Sacrament 12 noon ‐ 8:00 pm
Wantagh St. Frances de Chantal 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Westbury St. Brigid 2:00 pm ‐ 4:00 pm
West Islip Our Lady of Lourdes 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Williston Park St. Aidan 12:30 pm ‐ 5:30 pm
Woodbury Holy Name of Jesus 8:00 pm **
Wednesday Bayville St. Gertrude 12 noon
November 27, 2013 Bellmore St. Barnabas the Apostle 12 noon ‐ 2:00 pm **
Brookville St. Paul the Apostle 12 noon
Cedarhurst St. Joachim after 8:30 am Mass
East Patchogue St. Joseph the Worker 12 noon ‐ 7:00 pm
East Rockaway St. Raymond at the 8:45 am Mass
Farmingville Resurrection 12noon ‐ 1:00 pm
Farmingville Resurrection 7:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Garden City St. Joseph 9:00 am ‐ 11:00 am *
Glen Cove St. Patrick 12 noon
Glen Cove St. Rocco 12 noon
Glen Head St. Hyacinth 12 noon
Hewlett St. Joseph 9:00 am ‐ 8:00 pm
Inwood Our Lady of Good Counsel 6:15 pm ‐ 7:15 pm
Island Park Sacred Heart after 8:00 am Mass
Lindenhurst Our Lady of Perpetual Help 12 noon ‐ 2:00 pm
Long Beach St. Ignatius at the 8:00 am Mass
Long Beach St. Mary of the Isle at the 9:00 am Mass
Manhasset St. Mary 9:25 am ‐ 10:00 am
Massapequa St. Rose of Lima 6:30 pm Holy Hour
Mastic Beach St. Jude 12 noon ‐ 1:00 pm
New Hyde Park Notre Dame 11:00 am ‐ 11:45 am
Oceanside St. Anthony after the 11:30 am Mass
Oyster Bay St. Dominic 12 noon
Point Lookout Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 8:00 am ‐ 12 noon
Port Washington St. Peter of Alcantara 11:30 am ‐ 3:30 pm
Page 3
SCHEDULE OF ADORATION
November 24 - 27, 2013
Rockville Centre St. Agnes Cathedral after 9:00 am Mass **
Roosevelt Queen of the Most Holy Rosary 8:00 am ‐ 12 noon
Roslyn St. Mary 12 noon
Sea Cliff St. Boniface Martyr 12 noon
Seaford Maria Regina 8:30 am ‐ 9:00 am **
Seaford St. William the Abbot 9:30 am **
Syosset St. Edward 12 noon
Wantagh St. Frances de Chantal 7:30 am ‐ 8:30 am **
West Babylon Our Lady of Lourdes 6:00 pm ‐ 8:00 pm
Williston Park St. Aidan 7:00 am ‐ 9:00 am
Woodbury Holy Name of Jesus 12 noon
Page 4