Two countries rejoice as one at Christmastime

Dec 5, 2019 | Local

In its 17th year,  Project Smiles brings toys and clothes and rosaries too By Tom Maguire | Associate editor His soccer team’s post-game performance prompted a letter to the athletic director. After Bishop Ludden Coach Oscar Vergara’s Gaelic Knights...

Carrying the light of Christ, December 5: Advent of Accompaniment

Dec 4, 2019 | Bishop Lucia

I have just returned from baking pies with the students at Blessed Sacrament School here in Syracuse. [See page 7 of this issue for more on this annual service event.] I was so impressed by the diligence and care with which the students not only made pies, but also...

Pope asks Catholics to set up, be enchanted by a Nativity scene

Dec 4, 2019 | Pope Francis & Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Nativity scene is a simple reminder of something astonishing: God became human to reveal the greatness of his love “by smiling and opening his arms to all,” Pope Francis said in a letter on the meaning and importance of setting...

Pope returns part of relic of Jesus’ crib to Holy Land

Dec 4, 2019 | Pope Francis & Vatican

By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Advent approached, Pope Francis gave a small fragment of Jesus’ crib back to Catholics in the Holy Land. In Bethelehem, West Bank, Franciscan Father Rami Asakrieh of St. Catherine Church...

Blessed Sacrament bakes up sweet donation for those in need

Dec 4, 2019 | Local

Some 20 years ago, Blessed Sacrament first grade teacher Lisa Coppola had the idea to bake pies with her students and donate them to the Rescue Mission for its Thanksgiving meals. That first year, they made 25 pies and an annual tradition was born, she recalled...