Elderly Woman, 92, Become Nun
"Greek-born Chrystalla Petropoulou, of Long Island, NY has fulfilled a lifelong dream. At the age of 92, the Mattituck resident has become a nun in the Greek Orthodox Church.
The April 18, 2010 edition of Newsday reports that Petropoulou, seated in her wheelchair, officially became a nun on April 17, 2010 at the new All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery in Calverton, Long Island. Along with Elizabeth Brandenburg, aged 28, and Maria Kallis, aged 27, Petropoulou received a new religious name and a new black habit.The three women each had hair in the shape of a cross ceremonially snipped from their heads."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 09, 2010
ABC News Investigation: USA Swimming Coaches Molested, Secretly Taped Dozens of Teen Swimmers
"In a sex abuse scandal that some victims compare to what happened in the Catholic Church, at least 36 swimming coaches have been banned for life by the USA Swimming organization over the last 10 years because of sexual misconduct with teenagers they coached. "
Keep in mind this abuse occurred over the past 10 years while the majority of the abuse in the Church occurred decades ago. The leaders of the Church have apologized over and over again, while the USA Swimming executive director says:
"Asked if he had apologized to any of the young teen victims, Wielgus responded, "You feel I need to apologize to them?"
He added, "I think it's unfair for you to ask me whether individually or me as the representative of an organization to apologize for something when all we are trying to do is everything we possibly can to create a safe and healthy environment for kids who are participating in our particular activity."
"In a sex abuse scandal that some victims compare to what happened in the Catholic Church, at least 36 swimming coaches have been banned for life by the USA Swimming organization over the last 10 years because of sexual misconduct with teenagers they coached. "
Keep in mind this abuse occurred over the past 10 years while the majority of the abuse in the Church occurred decades ago. The leaders of the Church have apologized over and over again, while the USA Swimming executive director says:
"Asked if he had apologized to any of the young teen victims, Wielgus responded, "You feel I need to apologize to them?"
He added, "I think it's unfair for you to ask me whether individually or me as the representative of an organization to apologize for something when all we are trying to do is everything we possibly can to create a safe and healthy environment for kids who are participating in our particular activity."
Monday, April 05, 2010
Holiday Cheer
"For reasons that require no elucidation, anti-Christian animus rises to its peak at two times of year: Christmas and Holy Week. The world's evangelical atheists, most of whom are insincere about their real target -- they rarely say a word against Islam -- begin to froth at the mouth around December 18 and Palm Sunday, and don't subside until a couple of weeks later. From their tirades, you'd think that millions of Christians had taken to the streets with whips, flogging everyone who wouldn't fall to his knees at the sight of a Nativity scene or a crucifix. To be maximally gentle about it, that isn't so. "
That is the beginning of an excellent Rumination by Francis Porretto at Eternity Road. Go read the entire thing. The Sunday Ruminations are my favorite part of this blog.
"For reasons that require no elucidation, anti-Christian animus rises to its peak at two times of year: Christmas and Holy Week. The world's evangelical atheists, most of whom are insincere about their real target -- they rarely say a word against Islam -- begin to froth at the mouth around December 18 and Palm Sunday, and don't subside until a couple of weeks later. From their tirades, you'd think that millions of Christians had taken to the streets with whips, flogging everyone who wouldn't fall to his knees at the sight of a Nativity scene or a crucifix. To be maximally gentle about it, that isn't so. "
That is the beginning of an excellent Rumination by Francis Porretto at Eternity Road. Go read the entire thing. The Sunday Ruminations are my favorite part of this blog.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Empty Tabernacle on Holy Thursday
When I attended Mass on Holy Thursday at St. Joseph's in Babylon, I was very surprised to see the tabernacle was empty, doors wide open, and the sanctuary lamp out. This was apparently correct. I believe this is the first time I have ever seen the tabernacle empty before Holy Thursday Mass - I have always seen it done after the Mass. Speaking of Liturgical stuff, I have yet to see veiled statues, does anyone know of any parish on Long Island that veils its statues for Holy Week?
When I attended Mass on Holy Thursday at St. Joseph's in Babylon, I was very surprised to see the tabernacle was empty, doors wide open, and the sanctuary lamp out. This was apparently correct. I believe this is the first time I have ever seen the tabernacle empty before Holy Thursday Mass - I have always seen it done after the Mass. Speaking of Liturgical stuff, I have yet to see veiled statues, does anyone know of any parish on Long Island that veils its statues for Holy Week?
Friday, April 02, 2010
2010 Men's Conference - April 24th, 2010
at Holy Trinity High School, Hicksville, NY
The 2nd Men's Conference will be held with "Catholic Guy" Host Lino Rulli as the emcee. This year the cost of the ticket does not include lunch, which is a shame because the lunch last year was delicious.
at Holy Trinity High School, Hicksville, NY
The 2nd Men's Conference will be held with "Catholic Guy" Host Lino Rulli as the emcee. This year the cost of the ticket does not include lunch, which is a shame because the lunch last year was delicious.
Triduum
Holy Thursday - I attended the Holy Thursday Mass at St. Joseph's in Babylon last night. Overall it would a good Liturgy in both Spanish and English. I like the way they alternated the two languages, first reading read in English but printed in Spanish in the booklet, second reading was the opposite. The priest gave his homily in both languages and the opening and post communion prayers were read in both. Their Good Friday service will also be bilingual, but I think it is unfortunate that they will have two separate Easter Vigils - 1 in the Church in English and 1 in a parish hall in Spanish. I think the Vigil should be the 1 Liturgy for all parishioners, however they can work that out.
Good Friday - Today I was unable to attend Good Friday service but I just tuned into it on Telecare. This is about the third time recently that I have turned on Telecare and heard beautiful chant from St. Agnes .
Easter Vigil - I am unsure what parish to attend this year, I would like to go to a parish I have not been to yet.
Holy Thursday - I attended the Holy Thursday Mass at St. Joseph's in Babylon last night. Overall it would a good Liturgy in both Spanish and English. I like the way they alternated the two languages, first reading read in English but printed in Spanish in the booklet, second reading was the opposite. The priest gave his homily in both languages and the opening and post communion prayers were read in both. Their Good Friday service will also be bilingual, but I think it is unfortunate that they will have two separate Easter Vigils - 1 in the Church in English and 1 in a parish hall in Spanish. I think the Vigil should be the 1 Liturgy for all parishioners, however they can work that out.
Good Friday - Today I was unable to attend Good Friday service but I just tuned into it on Telecare. This is about the third time recently that I have turned on Telecare and heard beautiful chant from St. Agnes .
Easter Vigil - I am unsure what parish to attend this year, I would like to go to a parish I have not been to yet.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Why Do We Bother?
RosemarieDRE writes about complaints:
"In the last month, I have had complaints about catechists teaching that abortion is murder; complaints that we expect the children AND their families to actually attend mass; complaints that we are rigid (WHAT does that even mean?)...."
Click here to read the rest, and please pray for all DRE's and CCD teachers on Long Island.
RosemarieDRE writes about complaints:
"In the last month, I have had complaints about catechists teaching that abortion is murder; complaints that we expect the children AND their families to actually attend mass; complaints that we are rigid (WHAT does that even mean?)...."
Click here to read the rest, and please pray for all DRE's and CCD teachers on Long Island.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Our Lady of Lourdes School in Massapequa Park is closing in June due to very low enrollment.
This follows the closing of Corpus Christi school in Mineola. I am a big fan of Catholic schools, but it is simply too expensive to run as many schools as the Diocese currently has. The remaining schools need to be financially secure and thoroughly Catholic, or they should be closed as well. I do not like the idea of Catholic schools existing only for the wealthy but that has been the case for awhile now. If the schools are financially secure, then the schools can be available for all Catholics, especially with the Tommorrow's Hope Foundation helping out. There are three ways Catholics can focus on Catholic education:
1) Educating their children in the faith at home - obviously parents are the primary teachers of the faith.
2) Concentrating on Religious Education in the parishes. The overwhelming majority of young Catholics are educated in CCD programs - not Catholic schools. CCD needs to be more professional, more orthodox and more widely used especially at the high school level.
3) The remaining schools need to focus on passing on the faith to the young, rather than just providing an option for private schooling to wealthy Long Islanders. Lay Catholics on Long Island might start an orthodox Catholic school, perhaps using the Montessori model, in order to foster a truly Catholic environment.
This follows the closing of Corpus Christi school in Mineola. I am a big fan of Catholic schools, but it is simply too expensive to run as many schools as the Diocese currently has. The remaining schools need to be financially secure and thoroughly Catholic, or they should be closed as well. I do not like the idea of Catholic schools existing only for the wealthy but that has been the case for awhile now. If the schools are financially secure, then the schools can be available for all Catholics, especially with the Tommorrow's Hope Foundation helping out. There are three ways Catholics can focus on Catholic education:
1) Educating their children in the faith at home - obviously parents are the primary teachers of the faith.
2) Concentrating on Religious Education in the parishes. The overwhelming majority of young Catholics are educated in CCD programs - not Catholic schools. CCD needs to be more professional, more orthodox and more widely used especially at the high school level.
3) The remaining schools need to focus on passing on the faith to the young, rather than just providing an option for private schooling to wealthy Long Islanders. Lay Catholics on Long Island might start an orthodox Catholic school, perhaps using the Montessori model, in order to foster a truly Catholic environment.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Ten Year Celebration of the N.C.C. Center for Catholic Studies
Saturday, March 27th, 2010
12:15 PM Luncheon
1:30 PM Introductions, Commentaries and Awards (Msgr. Robert Batule, Immaculate Conception Seminary)
2:00 PM "Sports in Contemporary American Civilization: A Catholic Critique" (William Thierfelder, Ph.D. President, Belmont Abbey College
3:00 PM "The Importance of a Center for Catholic Studies at a Public Institution of Higher Education" (William Donohue, Ph.D., President, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights)
3:45 PM Concluding Remarks
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I added blogs to the "Long Island Blogs" section:
Into The Deep - this is the vocation blog for the Marianist Province of Meribah
Burning the Candle At Both Ends - blog by a local Catholic
The Seminarian Sent Forth - a blog by a DRVC seminarian who describes various aspects of seminary life
Into The Deep - this is the vocation blog for the Marianist Province of Meribah
Burning the Candle At Both Ends - blog by a local Catholic
The Seminarian Sent Forth - a blog by a DRVC seminarian who describes various aspects of seminary life
Monday, February 08, 2010
Nuns on Oprah
"Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb 8, 2010 / 02:52 am (CNA).- The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have made waves across the nation for their rapid growth and their devout orthodoxy. Now, they are once again in the national spotlight, being featured on the popular Oprah Winfrey Show.
“They phoned us and asked if they could do a program on us with Oprah. That's all we know!” Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP, vocations director for the community, told CNA in an email.
The show featuring the sisters will air on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The same day happens to be the congregation’s 13th anniversary. The coincidence is “amazing, as they did not know this when they chose the date -- but God did!” exclaimed the vocations director. "
"Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb 8, 2010 / 02:52 am (CNA).- The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have made waves across the nation for their rapid growth and their devout orthodoxy. Now, they are once again in the national spotlight, being featured on the popular Oprah Winfrey Show.
“They phoned us and asked if they could do a program on us with Oprah. That's all we know!” Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP, vocations director for the community, told CNA in an email.
The show featuring the sisters will air on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The same day happens to be the congregation’s 13th anniversary. The coincidence is “amazing, as they did not know this when they chose the date -- but God did!” exclaimed the vocations director. "
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Grant Desme, Body and Soul
The above link takes you to a Diocese of Rockville Centre 'blog' by Fr. Robert Ketcham who writes of the minor league baseball player who recently entered a seminary. In this post, Fr. Ketcham mentions how important EWTN was to his vocation. It is good to see that while those priests who bashed Mother Angelica and EWTN fade away, they are replaced by those priests who appreciate the nun and her network.
The above link takes you to a Diocese of Rockville Centre 'blog' by Fr. Robert Ketcham who writes of the minor league baseball player who recently entered a seminary. In this post, Fr. Ketcham mentions how important EWTN was to his vocation. It is good to see that while those priests who bashed Mother Angelica and EWTN fade away, they are replaced by those priests who appreciate the nun and her network.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Sacramental Gatekeeping
There is an excellent post and discussion on Sacramental Gatekeeping over at Creative Minority Report by a guest blogger - Erin of And Sometimes Tea. Basic summary - The hoops that Catholics need to jump through before they or their children receive the sacraments keep multiplying and it can be silly and challenging for good, solid Catholics. For example, parents of 6 children should not have to attend Baptism classes 6 times. These hoops are a result of the failure of Catholics to preserve, protect and pass on the faith over these past 40 years so it is understandable that parishes and dioceses are requiring something from Catholics instead of simply dispensing the sacraments like a divine pez dispenser. The post and comments are good and it is a worthy discussion - there really are many angles to this - so go read the whole thing.
There is an excellent post and discussion on Sacramental Gatekeeping over at Creative Minority Report by a guest blogger - Erin of And Sometimes Tea. Basic summary - The hoops that Catholics need to jump through before they or their children receive the sacraments keep multiplying and it can be silly and challenging for good, solid Catholics. For example, parents of 6 children should not have to attend Baptism classes 6 times. These hoops are a result of the failure of Catholics to preserve, protect and pass on the faith over these past 40 years so it is understandable that parishes and dioceses are requiring something from Catholics instead of simply dispensing the sacraments like a divine pez dispenser. The post and comments are good and it is a worthy discussion - there really are many angles to this - so go read the whole thing.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Stony Brook tests stem cells on heart patient
"Doctors at Stony Brook University Medical Center are testing a notion that only a few years ago was nothing more than a tantalizing question: Can stem cells zero in on cardiac muscle damaged in a heart attack and force it to regenerate?
"These cells have the ability to protect the tissues and to regenerate tissue, and that's what is needed after a heart attack," said Dr. Luis Gruberg, director of Stony Brook's catheterization laboratories, and principal investigator of the project."
It will be interesting to see if anything comes from this experiment - the story is from Newsday and the money quote is:
"Stem cells are blank slates capable of morphing into specialized cells.
Kenney was infused with a type of stem cell known as mesenchymal cells, those drawn from an adult donor, and capable of transforming into muscle. Once infused through an intravenous line, the cells, Gruberg said, seek out inflammation and home in. Inflammation is abundant at the site of blockage."
"Doctors at Stony Brook University Medical Center are testing a notion that only a few years ago was nothing more than a tantalizing question: Can stem cells zero in on cardiac muscle damaged in a heart attack and force it to regenerate?
"These cells have the ability to protect the tissues and to regenerate tissue, and that's what is needed after a heart attack," said Dr. Luis Gruberg, director of Stony Brook's catheterization laboratories, and principal investigator of the project."
It will be interesting to see if anything comes from this experiment - the story is from Newsday and the money quote is:
"Stem cells are blank slates capable of morphing into specialized cells.
Kenney was infused with a type of stem cell known as mesenchymal cells, those drawn from an adult donor, and capable of transforming into muscle. Once infused through an intravenous line, the cells, Gruberg said, seek out inflammation and home in. Inflammation is abundant at the site of blockage."
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
1,500 Workers in L.I. Diocese Will Receive Buyout Offers
"The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre plans to offer buyouts to 1,500 of its 6,000 employees next month as part of a cost-cutting plan to save its schools and parishes amid stagnant revenue and rising demand for charitable services, church officials said Tuesday."
This is a sad thing for all involved, especially given the job market today. I hope that those who will lose their job will recover.
"The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre plans to offer buyouts to 1,500 of its 6,000 employees next month as part of a cost-cutting plan to save its schools and parishes amid stagnant revenue and rising demand for charitable services, church officials said Tuesday."
This is a sad thing for all involved, especially given the job market today. I hope that those who will lose their job will recover.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Haiti
The Long Island Catholic has some stories on how help is getting to Haiti during this horrible tragedy.
The Long Island Catholic has some stories on how help is getting to Haiti during this horrible tragedy.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Blogging DRVC Seminarians
The Seminarian Sent Forth - this blog is by a first year seminarian from the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Seminarians in the Holy Land - this blog is by two seminarians who are going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
The Seminarian Sent Forth - this blog is by a first year seminarian from the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Seminarians in the Holy Land - this blog is by two seminarians who are going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Chesterton and Christmas: A Serious Affair
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Time: 7pm
Location: Fordham University, Pope Auditorium113 West 60th Street at Columbus Ave., New York
This looks interesting!
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Time: 7pm
Location: Fordham University, Pope Auditorium113 West 60th Street at Columbus Ave., New York
This looks interesting!
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