Dec 20, 2025 | Local
Second election held this year
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities (SOSF), headquartered in Syracuse, announced the election of a new leadership team:
Sister Ann Bremmer was elected general minister. She most recently served as the pastoral associate at Holy Spirit Parish in Lawrence County, Penn.
Sister Ann Kenyon was elected assistant general minister. Before joining leadership, she served on the spiritual care team and Franciscan education at Francis House, a home for the terminally ill and an SOSF-sponsored ministry in Syracuse.
Dec 19, 2025 | Local
Relationships aren’t always smooth sailing, especially in marriage. Couples must navigate difficult times and face challenges that sometimes feel so daunting they either consider divorce or accept an unhealthy partnership as their only choices.
But those don’t have to be their only two options.
Dec 19, 2025 | Local
For 57 years, Sister Laura Bufano, CSJ, has served God as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. If you ask her friends, she said, they will tell you that she is compassionate, creative, and fun to be with. Relationships are very important to her. She is a faithful friend and an attentive listener.
“Everything speaks to me of God’s presence,” said Sr. Laura, who will return to St. Louis as a member of the leadership team for Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in early January.
Dec 18, 2025 | Local
For the fourth consecutive year, Sacred Heart Parish in Cicero hosted the Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference, also known as DCYC. Growing in popularity, more than 500 middle and high school kids from across the diocese attended the Nov. 22 day-long event.
“[The conference] has grown each year,” said Bob Walters, director of Adolescent Catechesis and Discipleship. “Catholic youth don’t get to connect with others from across the diocese, let alone parishes, so it’s a real opportunity,” for the teens to discover and experience a much larger church and the important fact that they’re not alone.
Dec 18, 2025 | Local
On Monday, Nov. 24, Blessed Sacrament School in Syracuse continued its long-standing annual tradition (26 years!) of making pumpkin pies to donate to the Rescue Mission for Thanksgiving meals. With over 200 pies donated this year, Blessed Sacrament is the number one outsource of pies received by the Rescue Mission for the Thanksgiving holiday. Students in pre-K through sixth grade participated in pie making in the school’s cafeteria, with fifth-grade students helping …
Dec 17, 2025 | Local
This Advent, Catholic Conversations is exploring the rich tapestry of faith traditions found within our diocesan family. Each week, it welcomes guests from different cultural backgrounds to share how their communities prepare for and celebrate the coming of Christ. From cherished family costumes to unique spiritual practices, these conversations highlight the beauty of the universal Church expressed in many cultures, stories, and traditions.
Dec 17, 2025 | Local
By Eileen Jevis
Staff writer
For more than 20 years, St. Lucy’s Church on the near westside of Syracuse has provided families in need with gifts and essential items at Christmas time. Each year, over 300 families, representing more than 2,000 individuals, are invited to the Christmas Giveaway. The families invited are those who utilize the CNY Food Bank and live within a 30-block radius of the parish. Each family is invited to shop for Christmas gifts at the giveaway based on the number of people in their household.
Dec 16, 2025 | Local
Deacon George C. Phillips Jr. passed away on November 5, 2025. He was born on May 20, 1937, in Hornell, New York, where he met Mary Lou, his future wife and high school sweetheart, in the third grade.
George graduated from Hornell High School in 1955 and worked on the Erie Railroad before earning a Master’s Degree in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University. He moved his young family to Endicott to work at IBM in 1964, where he would remain for 29 years.
Dec 16, 2025 | Local
Catholic Charities Oneida/Madison County recently announced the appointment of Victoria Paolozzi as its next executive director, succeeding longtime leader Jack Callaghan, who will retire at the end of December. This transition follows the agency’s milestone celebration of 100 years of service to the community.
Throughout his career, Jack has embodied the Catholic Charities’ mission, guiding the organization with quiet strength and an enduring belief in the dignity of every person.
Dec 11, 2025 | Local
On Nov. 22, 9-year-old Laurael and her 10-year-old brother Armond received an early Christmas present. Their mom, Curtrice, told them that something special was being delivered to their home that day. With anticipation, the children waited — they had no idea what to expect. Early that Saturday morning, a truck pulled up, and volunteers from Sleep in Heavenly Peace unloaded gifts that were previously unobtainable — beds.
Dec 11, 2025 | Local
By Jennifer Menneci Never having been interested in all things related to science, I failed to appreciate the importance of a geomagnetic storm. But the beautiful northern lights produced by the most recent geomagnetic storm drew me to investigate what exactly this...
Dec 11, 2025 | Local
2025 Immaculata Award honorees represent 90 parishes By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer On the afternoon of Dec. 7, at the crowded Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, the annual Immaculata Awards were presented to lay men and women from 90 parishes in...
Dec 11, 2025 | Local
Lots of laughs as Liverpool parishes take a lighter look at ministry By Charlie Young Contributing writer The mood at the parish center at Pope John XXIII Church in Liverpool was more “night club” than “night prayer” on a recent Friday evening. Nearly 70 people turned...
Dec 9, 2025 | Local
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (OSV News) — With Advent having begun just six days prior — a spiritual season marked by themes of hope, peace, love and joy — more than 30 people braved the bitter cold in Syracuse Dec. 4 to speak out against a controversial bill that, should it pass, would allow physicians to assist terminally ill adults as young as age 18 to die by suicide.
Described by proponents as a compassionate end-of-life option with legal protections in place, the New York Legislature passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S. 138/A. 136), or MAiD, on June 9.
Dec 1, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
Face-to-face interactions reflect humanity at its best By Connie McKinney Contributing writer Michael was shocked to see homeless people living on the street not far from his high school, Seton Catholic Central in Binghamton. “There’s so much in the world you just...
Nov 30, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
By Jan DeAngelo On September 8, 2019, our lives changed as a family. Our son, Giordano, went out to mow his lawn and collapsed. The EMT workers tried to revive him for over 30 minutes. He died on the way to the emergency room. He was 27. The doctors told us he died...
Nov 29, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Oswego takes care of those in need By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer Throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season, many organizations provide charitable support to individuals and families in need within our...
Nov 27, 2025 | Local
Father Jude Thaddeus DeAngelo, OFM Conv., a Franciscan Friar of the Our Lady of the Angels Province, died on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 in Syracuse. Born in Binghamton on January 10, 1957, he was the son of the late Anthony and Nancy (nee Guerriero) DeAngelo. He is...
Nov 26, 2025 | Local
The Rev. G. David Sears, 90, of Utica, passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the MVHS Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. Until his recent admission, he proudly maintained his home and lived independently. Rev. Sears was born in Utica, New York, on June 23,...
Nov 26, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
By Nick Calaprico If you’ve never found yourself alone in a foreign country—I highly recommend it. This past February, I traveled to Rome by myself. It wasn’t my original plan, but one that God apparently had planned for me. On my first evening, I explored the...
Nov 26, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
Dear Diocesan Family, As we come to the final Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year and prepare for our national feast of Thanksgiving on Thursday, I am aware of an event that is not so well known that will occur this week as well. On Wednesday, November 26, the...
Nov 26, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer Data indicates — and our own eyes register the truth if we step outside in local urban areas — that homelessness is on the rise. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2024 Annual Homelessness...
Nov 26, 2025 | Last week in the sun, Local
By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer The United States government has shut down several times in recent decades. But when another shutdown began on October 1, 2025, lasting 44 days and becoming the most significant shutdown in U.S. history, many Americans were...
Nov 26, 2025 | Local
There was a woman who believed she had a hearing problem. Her friends kept telling her she had a problem. She was always asking them to repeat what had been said in conversation. The woman made an appointment with an audiologist to check out her hearing problem. The...
Nov 26, 2025 | Local
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia has made the following pastoral appointments: Rev. Nader Ata, OFM Conv., previously Parochial Vicar at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Syracuse, New York, has been appointed Pastor, effective immediately. Fr. Nader was ordained to...
Nov 25, 2025 | Local
Rev. Msgr. M. James Lutz, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Masonic Care Community. Father Jim was born in Utica on November 17, 1931, to Martin and Mary Agnes (Crave) Lutz. He attended John T. Hughes Elementary School and graduated from...
Nov 25, 2025 | Local
As the organization did for Thanksgiving, Brady Faith Center will take the lead to produce and distribute hearty and healthy Christmas and Easter dinners for 660 families through a partnership with 18 neighborhood organizations. Brady Faith Center also recently partnered with Miss Prissy’s to distribute over 300 Heat and Eat Thanksgiving meals to individuals living in our Syracuse communities.
Nov 24, 2025 | Local
Sister Katherine O’Neil, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. St. Germaine) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Penn. Born on May 28, 1941, in Harrisburg, Penn., and...
Nov 24, 2025 | Local
Father John Manno gives overview at Nov. 1 DPC meeting By Tami S. Scott Editor Syracuse Diocese vicar for clergy, Father John Manno, spoke at last month’s Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) to provide an overview of the diocesan results from the Catholic Leadership...
Nov 22, 2025 | Local, Uncategorized
Preparing our hearts and homes for the coming of Christ By Valerie Vespe Note: The first Sunday of Advent this year is November 30. In our December 4 issue, we will provide reflections for the second and third Sundays of Advent (December 7 and 14, respectively). Our...
