Father Guida to lead charismatic Mass, healing service in Endicott
By Connie McKinney Contributing writer People with cancer, back problems, and other illnesses have seen improvements and even complete cures after attending a healing Mass with Father Amedeo G. Guida. But Father, affectionately known as Padre, doesn’t take credit for...
Catholic schools build character, strengthen faith
Seton Catholic School grad finds success at Villanova By Eileen Jevis Staff writer Thomas D’Onofrio found more than academic success as a Seton Catholic Central student in Binghamton. The 2025 graduate said his years at the school also strengthened his character and...
Welcome home to a life-giving community of faith
Mary poses for a photo with her grandfather at her Confirmation. Photo courtesy of Megan Detor. On and off the field, BLG student athlete Mary Detor finds fulfillment in Catholic education. By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer This past December, Mary Detor, a junior at...
Prayers answered: Beloved All Saints longtime parishioner released on bond
Jose Criollo speaks to parishioners at All Saints Parish in Syracuse on Sunday, Feb. 1. Immigration proceedings continue By Tami S. Scott Editor Soft-spoken and unassuming, Jose Criollo stood near the back of the nave at All Saints Church in Syracuse just before the 9...
Lack of faith, especially among youth, should spur evangelization, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The increasing number of people who do not see the Gospel as a fundamental resource for their life should inspire — not discourage — Catholics in rediscovering the joy of evangelization, Pope Leo XIV said.
The transmission of the faith is “a topic of great urgency,” the pope said in remarks to members and officials of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and others participating in its plenary session at the Vatican Jan. 27-29.
Taking notes at the feet of the Father
Experiments in Catholicism By Emily E. Long Contributing writer In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is visiting the house of two sisters in Bethany. As Jesus was teaching those who had gathered in their home, one sister, Mary, sat rapt at His feet, listening to every word He...
Neighbors in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia Recently, my neighbor died. When I was at the funeral home and when I arrived at work late after his funeral, I was asked how I knew the gentleman who passed away. It was almost sheepishly, or with a note of apology, that I said he was “a...
Lectio Divina: The transformative power of holy story
A knight’s perspective By Mike Langlois Contributing writer For thousands of years, people have used storytelling to make sense of their world. When combined with prayer, this tradition forms a significant spiritual discipline called Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina —...
The power of kindness and butterflies
Notre Dame students rally around classmate to raise funds By Eileen Jevis Staff writer A lesson in the migration of the Monarch butterfly had a special meaning for the kindergarten students at Notre Dame Elementary School in Utica. The students learned that while a...
‘Share the joy that the Lord brings us with the world’
Joys of the priesthood: Part II From auditing to evangelizing, Fr. Dennis Walker shares his thoughts on priestly life By Eileen Jevis Staff writer Father Dennis Walker was ordained a priest in 2021. He said he first felt called to the priesthood when he was in his...
New York State Discernment Retreat held January 8–10
Thirteen young men from across New York State gathered for the New York State Discernment Retreat, held Jan. 8–10 at the Good News Center in Utica. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue discerning God’s call in their lives. “O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom...
March for Life guest speaker talks legal, moral concerns about MAiD
The Catholic Sun recently interviewed Jessica Rodgers, coalition director for the Patients’ Rights Action Fund (PRAF), a national organization based in New York City, about the legal and moral concerns surrounding New York state’s Medical Aid in Dying Act (MAiD),...
‘Every life is a gift’
Witnesses for life gather, walk side by side at annual Syracuse Mass, March for Life By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer One can imagine the variety of cold, wet, wintry weather those attending the annual Syracuse March for Life have experienced over the years, since the...
US cardinals call for ‘genuinely moral foreign policy for our nation’
By Gina Christian OSV News (OSV News) — Three U.S. cardinals have issued a joint statement urging the creation of a “genuinely moral foreign policy for our nation,” as the U.S. faces “the most profound and searing debate about the moral...
NYS Knights of Columbus Council shines spotlight on Father Zachary Miller
The New York State Knights of Columbus Council aims to support and recognize clergy through its monthly “Clergy Spotlight” initiative. Last fall, the nominated clergy member was from the Diocese of Syracuse: Father Zachary Miller, pastor of Christ the King and Pope...
In memoriam: Sister Michaeleen Cabral, OSF
Sister Michaeleen (Elizabeth) Cabral OSF, 90, went home to God on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at the Franciscan Villa in Syracuse. She was born in Honolulu and had been a Sister of St. Francis for 65 years. Sister was predeceased by her adoptive parents, Joseph and...
In memoriam: Deacon James M. Chappell
Deacon James M. Chappell, 77, of Oneida, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 2025, as the faithful celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. On this most holy of days, he was gently welcomed home by Christ at Oneida Health...
Hope in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia On the Feast of the Epiphany, the 2025 Jubilee Year came to a close as the Holy Doors in Rome were sealed once again. I am sorry to see the Jubilee Year come to an end. I did not visit Rome this year. I did not attend any special Jubilee events....
‘Branch Out and Grow’ in the new year
Ministry focuses on healing after separation, divorce By Tami S. Scott Editor When a marriage ends, so do the hopes and dreams that came with it. You once envisioned spending the rest of your life in love — celebrating milestones, raising children, and growing old...
‘No Nurse is Forgotten’
By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer “I believe it is often the Holy Spirit that draws nurses to the Honor Guard,” said Elaine Lostumbo, RN, a retired nurse of 61 years. She went on to share the occasion when she first encountered the Central New York Syracuse Nurses...
Experiments in Catholicism: Your way’s better
By Emily E. Long Have you ever sat in a pew on Sunday morning and all you can think about is having a donut after Mass? Or maybe you pray a Rosary every day and the prayers feel meaningless. You even question why you are a part of the Catholic Church in the first...
Hoops and hope: A vibrant night for vocations
Men in Black edge out Bishop Ludden-Grimes with three-point win By Tami S. Scott Editor On the cusp of a blustery winter night in Syracuse, the Men in Black faced off against Bishop Ludden-Grimes student-athletes Dec. 29 in a fast-paced, high-energy game played in the...
The privilege of being a priest
Father Chris Ballard is grateful for a purposeful and meaningful life By Eileen Jevis Staff writer Photos submitted by: Fr. Chris Ballard Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series that highlights the joys our diocesan priests experience as they minister...
Bishop Lucia welcomes appointment of new bishop of Rochester
I join Catholics throughout the Diocese of Syracuse in welcoming to our neighboring Diocese of Rochester, Bishop John S. Bonnici, until now Auxiliary Bishop of New York. Along with Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, our Bishop-emeritus, and the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Syracuse, I assure him of our best wishes and prayers in his new role.
As jubilee year ends, the faithful heed Pope Leo’s call to keep the church alive
VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — After a jubilee year not seen for centuries — with one pope opening the Holy Door and another closing it — Pope Leo XIV ended the Jubilee Year of Hope at St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 6 telling the world to love and seek peace, protect what is holy, and flee from modern efficiency.
But what really stayed with the faithful — not only the lucky hundreds inside the basilica but also the thousands soaked in the pouring winter rain in St. Peter’s Square — was Pope Leo’s urging to keep the church alive.
A call for peace
By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Pope Leo XIV’s new message for the Jan. 1 World Day of Peace, released Dec. 18, offers a great deal of food for thought. Building on the theme of peace that has been a main message of his pontificate since his first public words,...
Mercy House of the Southern Tier featured on EWTN’s Living Divine Mercy program
Mercy House of the Southern Tier has been selected to be featured in an upcoming episode of Living Divine Mercy, a nationally televised program produced by The Marian Group and broadcast on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) – Spectrum Channel 49. The...
A witness to Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia As the familiar strains of Christmas hymns fill the air these days, it occurs to me that, in the canon of our most popular Christmas songs, St. Joseph is inexplicably missing. As these songs describe the earliest witnesses to the Nativity, we...
New archbishop ‘committed’ to immigration issues, accountability on abuse — and staying a Cubs fan
By Simone Orendain OSV News (OSV News) — The newly named leader of the Archdiocese of New York, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks, introduced himself to the faithful of his new home Dec. 18 with a pledge to become familiar with its challenges and uphold human dignity....
