“The Wonder of Ordinary Time”
By Lucia A. Silecchia By now, the eclipse glasses have been put away. The photos of the April 8 nature show have all been posted to Facebook and Instagram to prove that it really happened. The stories from the day have, likewise, also been told – ranging from the...
The Empty Tomb
Editor’s note: This was Bishop Lucia’s homily for Easter Sunday “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mk 16:3) When I heard this question in the Easter gospel, it translated in my head to: “Who is going to be there for them now?” It is...
Walking Together in Ordinary Time
By Lucia A. Silecchia In the candle-lit glory of the Easter Vigil Mass, I watched with joy as new sisters and brothers were welcomed to the Church through the waters of Baptism. There just may have been water of a different kind that welled up in my eyes as I watched...
Love is in the details.
By Mark Ranieri, contributing writer In our readings for Palm Sunday, we see that details matter to Jesus. Jesus is precise when arranging both his entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and preparations for the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. He attends to the...“A March Through Ordinary Time”
By Lucia A. Silecchia This past weekend, side by side in the grocery store, lay both bags of salt to pour on icy sidewalks for winter’s last hurrahs and bags of topsoil to spread in flower beds to welcome spring’s first blooms. This juxtaposition perfectly represents...
Baldwinsville parish presentation helps connect mind, body, spirit
By Dc. Tom Cuskey, Editor The topic seemed rather heady: the intersection of neuroscience, spirituality and positive psychology. But as Anne Kertz Kernion explained, it’s an important intersection all of us should traverse on the road to full health. Kernion, an...
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...
Schedule released for the Eucharistic Congress, Oct 20-22
Catholics from across New York State are getting ready to converge on the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs this October 20-22 for the New York State Eucharistic Congress. Up to ten thousand are expected to come for 40 hours of Eucharistic adoration, inspiring talks,...
Pope brings apology to Arctic Indigenous communities
By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service IQALUIT, Nunavut (CNS) — On a stage designed to evoke a qammaq — a traditional Inuit summer home built of whale ribs, sod and stone — Pope Francis again apologized to the Indigenous communities of Canada for...
Meet our Jubilarians!
Editor’s note: Over the next few weeks we will be publishing brief profiles on each of the participating jubilarians. Sister Katie Eiffe, the diocesan Vicar for Religious, shares that “it was inspiring to read their reflections on their religious life!” She adds that...
Our Brothers are sent forth; ten men ordained to permanent diaconate
By Dc. Tom Cuskey | Editor “Through this ancient rite,” as Bishop Douglas J. Lucia described it, 10 men of the diocese were ordained to the Order of Deacon on Saturday, May 21, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. “As members of the body of Christ,” the...
‘We ask you to strengthen us … as followers of the way’
Bishop joins other religious leaders for National Day of Prayer By Tom Maguire | Associate editor He bicycled 16 miles before arriving at the ceremony, so he believes in exercise. He also believes in prayer. Wearing his chartreuse biking jacket and leaning back on his...
Pre-Cana (and Post!): A good marriage takes ample preparation and constant maintenance
By Dc. Tom Cuskey | Editor As World Marriage Day approaches, this Sunday, Feb. 13th, and we prepare for St. Valentine’s Day on Monday the 14th, we take a moment to reflect on the current state of matrimony in our nation. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics,...
Diocesan Schools are i-Ready for What’s Next
It’s been almost two years since the term ‘covid-19’ entered our vocabulary, our society, and our lifestyles, and nowhere has that been more evident than in the education systems we trust to provide our children with needed skills and support tools. In the Diocese of...
Bishop appoints Vicars Forane, reshapes Diocesan regions
Dear Diocesan Family, As I continue to traverse across our diocese to its various corners, I am becoming more familiar with the territory and the faith communities that make up the Roman Catholic Church in Central New York. Upon study and discussions both with the...
Schools in Oneida hold procession to celebrate feast day
Holy Cross Academy in Oneida celebrated its feast day on Sept. 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, with a procession from St. Patrick Church and School to Holy Cross Academy. Father Chris Ballard and Father Nathan Brooks led the procession, and third-...
Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Our Lady of the Rosary Church unify
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia has accepted the recommendation to unify Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Utica, and Our Lady of the Rosary Church, New Hartford, as one parish with a new name: Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish. Bishop Lucia believes the name is representative of...
New vicar general appointed
Father John Kurgan will become vicar general of the Diocese of Syracuse July 1, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia announced May 17. Father Kurgan is the pastor of Holy Cross Church in DeWitt, where he has served since 2017; he will continue this ministry in addition to his...
First Communion in Oneida
Seven children from the Oneida churches of St. Joseph and St. Patrick received their First Communion May 2 at the 10:45 Mass at St. Patrick’s. They are (L-R front row) Emily Wright, Kendyl Sheedy, and Noah Mariano; (L-R back row) Alexandra Sanderson, Maryrose Dygert,...
An invitation to dream and better care for God’s Earth
Submitted by Dave Babcock As we gradually climb out of this coronavirus pandemic during this Easter season of renewal, our diocesan Care for our Common Home (Laudato Si’) Task Force is offering opportunities for all of us to better care for God’s Earth. Each of us is...
St. Rose nets 2021 Holy Mackerel Award!
After a spirited season, St. Rose of Lima Church and School in North Syracuse has again netted the Holy Mackerel Lenten Fish Fry Award!
Galaxy of great spellers includes six Catholic school stars
Bishop Grimes, CBA, IC represented at regional-final bee By Tom Maguire | Associate editor The answer erupted from the young speller. Asked to name two of the trickiest words he has learned, Matthias Patyi said: “‘Betwixt’ — meaning between — and...
Missionary: ‘We become the hands of God’s compassion’
Father Michael Bassano, a Binghamton native, offers aid to refugees By Tom Maguire | Associate editor In central Africa, the days sizzle and the needs boil over. As South Sudan endures its second national coronavirus lockdown and victims of flooding in prior months...
Learning about the faith is a family affair
Catherine Mackey, Director of Faith Formation at St. Mary’s Church in Baldwinsville, gives a virtual lesson on bread to students preparing to receive their First Communion. Each week, Mackey offered students a video class called “Mondays with Mrs. Mackey.”...
Tech proves vital in catechesis programs
Over the last 10 months, many catechesis programs in the diocese built on — or built anew — digital offerings to continue serving students and their families. Above, a First Communion student from Immaculate Conception Church in Greene crowns a statue of Mary. The...Carrying the light of Christ, December 10: Shining ‘Christ’s light into a waiting world’
“Waiting in Joyful Hope” is the theme chosen for our Advent journey in the Diocese of Syracuse this year. However, I must confess that I have never been one for waiting, and this year the joyfulness of the season seems to be eluding me. I want to be joyful, but I feel...
1-2-3-4, how to play without a flaw: Gaelic Knight Gaughan scores all the goals as Ludden grabs trophy
Bishop Ludden’s Blake Sheen, left, and Colden Sheen hold the Battle of the Bishops Trophy after their triumph. (Sun photo | Tom Maguire) By Tom Maguire | Associate editor The Battle of the Bishops offered explosive action around the goal, with the Gaelic...
‘Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship’ examined
By Amy Uelmen | Catholic News Service When facing a tough decision, it can be tempting to look for the comfort of having someone else tell us what to do. Turning to “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in...
Two added to diocese’s list of clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor
By Katherine Long | Editor Two priests have been added to the diocese’s list of clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. G. Edward Knight, who is deceased, and Thomas Joyce, who is no longer in active ministry in the diocese, have been...
