Trading Ordinary Times for Advent
By Lucia A. Silecchia Several years ago, I was standing in a checkout line behind two women deep in conversation. I couldn’t help overhearing that one was recently widowed and struggling to adjust to this new season of her life. Most of their conversation, however,...
Are you prepared?
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...
From Italy to America, ‘Mothers of Lu’ continue to pray for vocations
Before becoming a priest, Father John Brusa III was intent on becoming a meteorologist.
“Growing up, it was my childhood dream right up through high school,” he told The Catholic Sun in an interview leading up to his Ordination this past June. Then one day, while enrolled at SUNY Oswego, he was scrolling through social media and came across a quote by Fulton Sheen. “Something struck me about it,” he said. He researched the 20th-century bishop online and kept thinking how awesome it would be to save as many souls as Sheen did.
From Italy to America, ‘Mothers of Lu’ continue to pray for vocations
Above: Bishop Douglas J. Lucia joined the Mothers of Lu (and the fathers) for dinner at the Cathedral earlier this year, on May 12, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. By Tami S. Scott Editor Before becoming a priest, Father John Brusa III was intent on becoming a...
Giving thanks in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia If most people were asked to describe a “typical” or aspirational Thanksgiving celebration, they would likely describe a scene like that portrayed in Norman Rockwell’s iconic 1943 painting, “Freedom From Want.” This painting is frequently...
A home for the holidays
Above: One year after moving to his new home, Gerry Scholtz, Sr., enjoys greeting his neighbors. From living in abandoned buildings or on the street, tenants of A Tiny Home for Good are grateful for a place to call home By Eileen Jevis, staff writer Surviving...
K of C golf tournament continues to support local food pantries
Story and photos submitted by Richard Strauss Each year, the Monsignor Meaney Knights of Columbus Council 9042, Elbridge, conducts a Golf Tournament at the Pearl Lakes Golf Course in Skaneateles to benefit the Jordan-Elbridge and Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantries....
Give thanks for God’s presence
By Sister Constance Veit, lsp As we look toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, I realize that 2025 is quickly coming to an end, and so is the Jubilee Year of Hope. What will be our takeaways from this special time of grace? Hope has become more real for me this year...
Bishop Lucia celebrates two special annual Masses
The Mass for World Missions and the Red Mass took place on Oct. 1 and 2 By Elizabeth Landry Staff writer Sun photos The first two days in October were the occasion for two annual Masses held in the Diocese of Syracuse: the Mass for World Missions was held on Oct. 1...
“Dilexi te”: Encouragement in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia Pope Leo XIV recently released the first extensive document of his papacy, Dilexi te, an Apostolic Exhortation on love for the poor. Almost immediately, pundits responded, some thoughtfully and others with partisan “hot takes” that pulled a mere...
A thousand times I fall
By Mike Langlois Contributing writer My wife is an eternal optimist. I am not. No matter financial concerns, work-related stress, physical illness, or simply navigating major life changes, she seeks a positive path forward. When she senses I am growing discouraged,...
A treasury for Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia After many years spent in Catholic higher education, I have been pleasantly surprised to learn more each year about beautiful traditions and celebrations previously unknown to me. Thus, I was recently delighted to receive an invitation to a...
143-year-old brotherhood with a renewed calling: The Knights plan to spread the gospel
By Mike Langlois Contributing writer Recently, I wrote a column on the importance of Cor, a Knights of Columbus men’s faith-based initiative that is steadily growing worldwide. Now, I want to explain the history of the organization and its strategy to infuse...
A ‘fruitful heritage’ in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia As September dawned, eyes turned to Rome with joy to celebrate the canonizations of two young men — Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. In a particular way, many hoped that the holy lives of these two new saints would have a special...
Known by name in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia The start of every new semester is packed with activities that always manage to take me by surprise, even though they happen every term. These are the days to fine-tune my syllabus, adjust to a new class schedule, study new editions of my...
A woman ahead of her time
‘Never forget that the Poor are Our Lord.’ By Sister Constance Veit, lsp For many years, our religious community was best known in the United States as half of a college sports parody comparing the worst teams to the Little Sisters of the Poor. Since 2013, we have...
Students’ safety is top priority
Above: In this 2024 photo, Father Cliff Auth, pastor of Immaculate Conception in Fayetteville and St. Ann’s in Manlius, stopped into the Kindergarten classroom at IC School to share a story about dogs with the students. By Amy Sansone Superintendent of Catholic...
Archbishop Hebda prays for community’s peace, fortitude, consolation after school shooting
Above: Molly Stoesz, right, hugs Blanche Dennis before a prayer vigil Aug. 27, 2025, at the Academy of Holy Angels in Minneapolis following a shooting earlier in the day at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. A shooter opened fire with a rifle through the windows of...
The Rest of Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia Happy Labor Day! Whenever someone asks how I am, one of my most frequent replies is “Good, but busy.” That is rarely more true than it is in September. Autumn always seems to burst into our lives with a rapid increase in the events, activities,...
Sister Celine Courtney, CSJ
Sister Celine Courtney died at Teresian House, Albany, on Thursday, July 31, 2025. She was born in Rome, NY, the daughter of Daniel P. and Mary Blake Courtney. Celine graduated from Rome Free Academy. In September 1953, Sister Celine and her sister, Janet, entered the...
‘How can we pray for you?’
Diocese’s prayer companions provide spiritual support through collective prayer By Tami S. Scott Editor ‘How can we pray for you? Who would you like us to pray for?’ When the Syracuse Diocese, through its social media pages and emails, offers intercessory prayer,...
The filters of Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia It happened again. An important email never made its way to me because, en route to my cluttered inbox, it took an unexpected detour to my spam folder. This likely happened because the sender was not someone with whom I am usually in contact, and...
Letter to parishioners, decree: Parishes of Saint Peter and Saint Mark, Utica
The links below include a letter to parishioners, written by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, about the parishes of Saint Peter and Saint Mark, Utica, as well as the accompanying decree signed by Bishop Lucia and Vice Chancellor Rev. Christopher Seibt. Saint Peter, Saint Mark...
To bloom in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia The petals were dusty yellow and flecked with white. They emerged with timid strength from a nearly invisible crack in the blacktop of a nondescript driveway. In the midst of the dark pavement, a spunky petunia bloomed. The contrast between the...
Scouting out her faith
ABOVE: From left, Father Stephen Wirkes, pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption in Minoa, Amelia Broedel, and her parents, Lorie Broedel and Jeffrey Broedel. Sun photo Local Scout earns Parvuli Dei religious emblem By Elizabeth Landry, staff writer A special occasion...
Father Joseph O’Connor appointed Vice Rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia recently announced the appointment of Fr. Joseph O’Connor as Vice Rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., for a 5-year term. Having considered the matter carefully and despite the privation his absence will be to the...
How can we walk together?
ABOVE: Denise Utter (left) and Andrea Slaven, director of Child & Family Catechesis, discuss ideas with catechetical leaders at the workshop held at St. Paul’s in Rome early last month. Photo Credit | Jennifer Menneci Catechesis workshops help to strengthen...Letter to parishioners, decree: Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, New Hartford
The links below include a letter to parishioners, written by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, about the parish of Saint John, North Bay, as well as the accompanying decree signed by Bishop Lucia and Vice Chancellor Rev. Christopher Seibt. St. Thomas – Letter from Bishop...Letter to parishioners, decree: Church of St. John, North Bay
The links below include a letter to parishioners, written by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, about the parish of Saint John, North Bay, as well as the accompanying decree signed by Bishop Lucia and Vice Chancellor Rev. Christopher Seibt. St. John – Letter from Bishop...
