


Celebrating life at Seton Catholic
Respect Life Month was celebrated throughout the Diocese of Syracuse through the efforts of the diocesan Office of Family/Respect Life. Masses for Life are an important part of the awareness-raising efforts. Bishop Douglas J. Lucia celebrated the special liturgy at...
HOPE Appeal funding supports critical services
ABOVE: Diocesan Deaf Ministry director Michele Murphy (left) and Hope Appeal executive director Beth Hoey meet with a deaf parishioner from the area. Ministering to the sick and dying By Eileen Jevis Staff writer “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the...
Collaboration fuels Utica-area faith formation efforts
Above: Students work on an assignment in Mary Beth Harrod’s class at St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Parish in Utica. Harrod is Faith Formation leader for grades 7 through 10 at Historic Old St. John’s Parish in Utica. By Fran Perritano Contributing...
Four CBA students named to National Merit honors list
Above: Pictured (l-r): CBA Principal Paul Gasparini, Emily Tymkiw, Cooper Marko, Max Lachut and Ryan Storie. DeWitt — Four Christian Brothers Academy students have been named Commended Students in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. The students are Max...
Diocese announces two pastoral appointments
October 28, 2023 6PM The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has announced two pastoral appointments: Rev. Malachi Clark: Currently Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Church, Syracuse, and sacramental minister at St. Ann Church, Manlius, has been appointed Parochial...
Praising God through song (Part 3)
Editor’s note: This is the third of a four-part series on some of the liturgical music shared in our diocese. By Eileen Jevis Staff writer Tom Andino is the former director of Campus Ministry, Liturgy, & Music at Le Moyne College. For over 20 years, he encouraged...
In memoriam: Father David James; pastor and hospital chaplain
Father David John James of the Diocese of Syracuse passed away on Oct. 13 at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. He was 71 years old. Father James was a Syracuse native, the son of Lawrence and Katherine Meagher James. He attended Split Rock Elementary and West...
HFS Norwich is down on the farm!
Students from Holy Family School in Norwich loved their visit to Peila View Farm in Oxford, Chenango County. Thanks to the staff for the amazing autumn day in the corn maze, on the cow train, bouncing on the jump pillows and with all the animals. It was a glorious...
DeWitt — Christian Brothers Academy seniors Razi Marshall and Joseph McMahon were named Semifinalists in the 69th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Marshall and McMahon are among 16,000 students — a select group that represents less than 1% of high school...

Masses for Life highlight Respect Life Month at diocesan schools
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor There is no better way to celebrate October as Respect Life Month than with the Eucharist. Getting young people actively involved in the movement is a highlight of Masses held at each of the four diocesan junior/senior high schools. At press...
Centennial Rosary Garden blessed at St. Patrick’s School
By Bobbie Testa Powers Contributing writer and photographer On Oct. 18, Oneida’s St. Patrick’s Elementary School’s new Centennial Rosary Garden was officially blessed by the Spirit of Hope Parish Pastor, Father Christopher Ballard, and the Parochial Vicar, Father...
‘It was wonderful’; Baldwinsville parish mission spreads joy and faith
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor I pulled into the parking lot at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (SEAS) in Baldwinsville at 6 p.m., hoping to catch those involved in presenting the evening’s segment of their mission, “We Walk by Faith,” for a quiet, pre-event interview. But...
Eucharistic Congress: 40 hours of true love for the True Presence
ABOVE: Clergy processes into Mass at the Coliseum of the Auriesville shrine. By Dc. Tom Cuskey, editor A conversation these days about “congress” likely would focus on closed door leadership battles, divisiveness and a stalemate to progress. A congress of...
Holy Cross Academy’s Baskets Galore slated for Oct. 28
Holy Cross Academy in Oneida is happy to announce its annual Baskets Galore event will be back this year on Saturday, Oct. 28. The event will take place at the Verona Fire Hall, 5555 Volunteer Ave., Verona. Doors open at 4 p.m., drawing begins at 7 p.m. Admission is...
Register for Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference by Nov. 1
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor (UPDATED 10/19/2023 11:35AM) Registrations continue to flow in for the 13th Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Oncenter Convention Center. This year’s theme is “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done; Preparing for...
Meals on Wheels gets a new director
Home-delivered meal service for senior citizens By Dc. Gary DiLallo Contributing writer and photographer Mary Strojny, formerly the Youth Ministry director at the Church of the Holy Family in Endwell, has been named the new director of Meals on Wheels of Western...
St. Joe’s centennial accents Endicott church’s Slavic heritage
By Tom Maguire Associate editor The centennial Mass offered a Slavic surprise. “Linguistic continuity” with the church’s founders prompted Father Ken Kirkman to speak Slovak for the opening prayer, the prayer of the gifts, the preface and the closing prayer Oct. 1 at...
Three individuals, two teams to be inducted into CBA’s Lasallian Athletic Hall of Fame
Three individuals and two teams will be inducted into the Lasallian Athletic Hall of Fame Nov. 4 during festivities at the Sheraton University Inn in Syracuse. Christian Brothers Academy has announced this year’s inductees: Marissa Romeo ’13 (lacrosse and basketball);...
Liverpool deacon offers an ‘iconic’ presentation
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor This month, Steve Manzene marks 32 years of ordained service as a permanent deacon. He serves the people of Epiphany Parish in Liverpool, proclaims and preaches the Gospel and gives countless hours of service at local nursing homes,...
Annual Red Mass calls for blessings on the courts, legal profession
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception sits across Montgomery Street from the Onondaga County Courthouse in downtown Syracuse. The county Justice Center is another short block away. On Monday, Oct. 16, any physical distance between them...
Horseless blessing of pets heads indoors in Oneida County
By Joe Stanton Contributing writer and photographer The weather barked, so they got them all under one woof. Father Sean O’Brien, pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Rome, Oneida County, held a Blessing of Animals on Oct. 7. Parishioners brought their cats, dogs, rabbits...
Synod looks at ways to increase participation of all in mission
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A “synodal church” where all the baptized participate and take responsibility for mission will need structures and processes to help church members listen to the Holy Spirit and to one another, members of the...
Syracuse 40 Days for Life kicks off fall campaign
By James Mostrom Contributing writer and photographer Syracuse 40 Days for Life kicked off its 30th semiannual campaign with prayer on Sept. 27 at Planned Parenthood on East Genesee Street in Syracuse. Over two dozen men, women and children came to rally and pray for...
Father Hage to DPC: You too can make vocations happen
By Tom Maguire Associate editor Vocation promotion can add to the power of a Catholic education, Father Jason Hage believes. Father Hage cited statistics showing that 43% of the priests ordained this year attended a Catholic elementary school, 34% a Catholic high...
IHM building closes but ‘the parishioners are the church’
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor “We remember, we celebrate, we believe.” The Epiphany Parish bulletin headline borrows lyrics from a hymn to capture the emotions experienced by the parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The last Mass was celebrated at the 4 p.m....
Gene Fisch is featured for two speaking engagements
Gene Fisch, a 1961 graduate and sports star at Sacred Heart Academy and a parishioner and usher at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, will be a featured speaker in two upcoming events. Fisch is the author of two books, “All Love Comes Home” and the most...
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to Host 3-Night Parish Mission
“We walk by faith” is the theme of an upcoming Parish Mission at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Baldwinsville By Nicole Ossevoort, contributor Renewing the Catholic faith. Transforming and healing hearts. Inspiring a deeper and more meaningful connection...
Celebrating 150 years of an even bigger history
By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor St. Patrick Church in Binghamton just celebrated the 150th anniversary of the dedication of their church building. A milestone, yes, but it’s part of an even longer story of service to the Southern Tier. St. Patrick’s is the elder member of a...