Setting a table for St. Joseph’s Day
By Scott Noto OSV News (OSV News) — On March 19 each year Catholics celebrate the solemnity of St. Joseph, protector of the family and patron of the universal Church and of workers. The importance of this day in Catholic tradition extends throughout the world,...
Saint Marianne Cope Shrine & Museum names interim director
Sister Cheryl Wint, OSF to oversee operations Sister Cheryl Wint, OSF, has been named interim executive director of the Saint Marianne Cope Shrine & Museum in Syracuse, effective Feb. 27. Sister Cheryl assumes the position following the announcement that Kristin...
Catholic Sisters Week recognizes the contributions of religious women
By Sister Katie Eiffe, CSJ Vicar for Religious, Diocese of Syracuse When you read this, we will be in the midst of National Catholic Sisters Week, sponsored by Communicators for Women Religious, a collaboration of those who serve religious communities as...
Two by two: Genesis Mission at work
Pictured from left to right: Renée Romance, Allison Bracht, Mary Thayer (on the laptop), Tara Nolan, Elizabeth Garn, and Christine Loadwick. By Renée Romance, Contributing writer “Jesus traveled through the villages teaching. Calling the Twelve together, he began to...
Do you really believe God loves you?
By Sister Constance Veit, lsp If you’re like me, you were impressed by the athletes of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. In them, we witnessed both the rewards of hard work and the traumatizing effects of extreme expectation. It’s hard to believe that most of these athletes...
The baggage of Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia Anyone who has ever had the misfortune to drive me to an airport, meet me at a train station, or share the trunk of a car with me on a road trip can tell you one thing: I do not travel lightly. Whether a journey is two days, two weeks, or two...
Young and … Catholic?
Experiments in Catholicism By Emily E. Long Contributing writer Last week at Dinosaur Barbeque in Syracuse, 100 people gathered to hear Bishop Lucia deliver a talk about prayer. As you read that sentence, who were you picturing as the audience? Priests and...
For the first time, HOPE Appeal exceeds $5 million
By Beth Hoey Executive director, Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse It is a humbling number — $5 million. For the first time since it began in 1978, the HOPE Appeal has surpassed $5 million in donations. This milestone is a powerful testament to the...
Giving back to the school that gave them ‘the world’
Above: From left to right, Donald Mills, deputy superintendent for the Diocese of Syracuse Catholic Schools office, Karen Reynolds, president of Trinity Catholic School Board, Frances Lanigan, Mary Sagneri (née Lanigan), Charlie Lanigan, and Trinity Catholic School...
‘Our God accompanies us’
Above: A catechumen signs his name in the Book of the Elect. Sun photo | Chuck Wainwright 135 Catechumens take the next step at Rite of Election By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer When Shane Hawks-Andrews was growing up, he was raised by his grandparents — one Christian...
‘Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.’
By Cathy Mackey St. Mary’s Academy principal Life can be so hard sometimes, can’t it? At times, we can be shaken to the core by what we see in the media, what we experience in our personal lives, and by the injustices, big and small, that occur daily. It can get...
‘The right thing to do’
Joys of Religious Life: Part II Deacon Bernie Feldman finds new purpose in second vocation By Eileen Jevis Staff writer Deacon Bernie Feldman said his faith has been the foundation of his life since childhood. His love of God and Church prompted him to become a...
Msgr. Charles Brady: ‘An irresistible force in the struggle for civil rights’
Remembering the legacy of Father Brady during Black History Month By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer By many accounts, the late Monsignor Charles J. Brady was an amazing man of many qualities: a leader, a stalwart for justice, a tireless servant, but also an unassuming,...
Pope Leo’s visit to Spain could spark a much-needed ‘spiritual revival’
By Junno Arocho Esteves and Paulina Guzik OSV News (OSV News) — With the Vatican confirming Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Spain in June, plans for the upcoming visit are full steam ahead, the organizer of the visit said. Speaking to OSV News Feb. 25, Yago de La...
Letter from Bishop Lucia on the emergence from Chapter 11
Dear Diocesan Family, On June 19, 2020, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse began a journey of reparation, seeking to provide compensation for the pain and mistreatment experienced by survivors/victims of sexual abuse at the hands of those entrusted with their...
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Approves Final Decree for Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse to Emerge from Chapter 11
SYRACUSE, NY (February 25, 2026) – The Honorable Wendy Kinsella, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of New York, has approved the Final Decree closing the Chapter 11 reorganization case for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. This ruling marks...
Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation now accepting college scholarship applications
The Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation is now accepting applications for its college scholarship program that supports high school graduates pursuing an undergraduate degree in Catholic higher education. Rooted in the life and legacy of Sister Thea...
Pope Leo XIV says he considered a vocation with the Salesians as a boy
By Courtney Mares OSV News ROME (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV has revealed that he considered joining the Salesians as a boy before ultimately discerning a vocation with the Augustinian order, joking that the congregation of Don Bosco “came in second...
St. John’s in Camden holds annual bake sale
The entrance of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Camden was especially busy one recent weekend following regular Masses. Tables were abundant with homemade specialties made and donated by the parish’s good bakers. The Altar Rosary Society works hard each...
‘Finding the One’ is coming to Vestal
Registration is open for second workshop focused on reaching those who’ve left the Church By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer In March of last year, the diocesan Offices of Adult and Ministerial Formation hosted a successful workshop at Holy Cross in DeWitt called...
Holy Cross Academy wraps up CSW with joy, community, NFL’s Riley Dixon
Catholic Schools Week (January 25–31, 2026) at Holy Cross Academy (HCA) in Oneida was a day short due to weather challenges — but there was no shortage of excitement, fun, caring, and reverence. Catholic Schools Week coordinator and HCA parent Tara Dixon described how...
One faith. One voice. Connected.
February is Catholic Press Month By Tami S. Scott Editor We in the Diocese of Syracuse are spoiled … in all the best ways, I promise! Aside from being blessed with a devoted and joyful bishop and dedicated priests and religious throughout all seven counties, we are...
Lean on the Lord during Lent
Experiments in Catholicism By Emily E. Long Last summer, I had the opportunity to attend the Jubilee of Youth in Rome, a gathering of 1 million young Catholics to celebrate Mass with Pope Leo. The jubilee was an optional outing on our pilgrimage, and I wasn’t quite...
Msgr. Charles Brady: ‘An irresistible force in the struggle for civil rights’
Above: Lillie Belle Boyd shows Father Brady her winning entry in the annual Brotherhood Week poster contest. Photo | Chancery Archives Remembering the legacy of Father Brady during Black History Month By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer By many accounts, the late...
Finding her true self
Above: Sr. Amy Williams OSF, (far left) reconnects with a group of sisters during a trip to Honolulu in November 2025 Sr. Amy Williams, OSF, talks about her life of leadership Joys of religious life: Part 1 By Eileen Jevis Staff writer Sister Amy Williams, OSF, had a...
Sacramental marriage: ‘A window into the life and love of the Trinity’
Bishop Lucia congratulates William and Jean Noroski at the World Marriage Day Mass on Feb. 15. The Noroskis have been married 73 years. Photo credit | Chuck Wainwright Syracuse Diocese celebrates World Marriage Day Mass on Feb. 15 By Tami S. Scott, Editor Though...
Compassion in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia Two days in early February, one beautiful and one tragic, forced me to think deeply on the meaning and nature of compassion. First, the beautiful. February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, was also the 34th World Day of the Sick. For the...
Hold on to God’s Word
Lenten Reflections By Meg Castellini, director Spiritual Renewal Center Looks can be deceiving. The trees are bare, yet the calendar insists it’s almost spring. We’ve been through this season time and time again, yet there seems to be a new depth to the dormancy that...
A pastoral message from Bishop Lucia
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Recently, I read a new work of Bishop Erik Varden, a Trappist monk and Bishop-Prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Trondheim, Norway, entitled, Towards Dawn: Essays in Hopefulness (Elk Grove Village, IL: Word on Fire,...
