The Catholic Sun Digital Update for
April 18 – April 24
Preview edition
ABOVE: Volunteers take a break from loading the donated items in their parish drive for Ukraine relief. At far left is Tony Catalfino, pastor Fr. Zachary Miller is third from left, and Maryna Bagovska is far right.
Liverpool parishes’ Lenten project keeps the aid drive alive
By Dc. Tom Cuskey
It was a chance meeting at Catholic Charities in Syracuse that sparked a very successful parish project to support the people of Ukraine. Laura Ryder, a parishioner of the Linked Communities of Christ the King and Pope John XXIII in Liverpool, also volunteers for Birthright of Onondaga County. She was on a mission to the Catholic Charities of Onondaga County (CCOC) office.
“I was bringing down a donation from Birthright actually, and she was there,” Ryder shared. The “she” was Maryna Bagovska, a Ukrainian native who brought her family to central New York in 2020. “She asked if I had a minute, if I could talk to her,” Ryder added. “ It was the Holy Spirit definitely at work!”
Divine Mercy: ‘It’s available to all of us’
By Tami S. Scott, associate editor
The sweet smell of incense began to permeate the Parish of Divine Mercy & the Mission of St. Bernadette in Central Square at the start of the 3 o’ clock Holy Hour of Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday – a feast day that is each year held on the second Sunday of Easter.
Its origins date back to the 1930s, when in a vision to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed a powerful prayer that He wanted everyone to say: the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. He promised extraordinary graces to those who recite it.
“It’s really the Lord’s invitation to us to come and experience the feast of His mercy. The Lord wants us to know God’s infinite love and mercy for each one of us,” said Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, who presided over the hour of Adoration.
Jesus said “let the little children come to me*”
Oneida parish welcomes five elementary students to the faith
By Dc. Tom Cuskey, editor
It was a quiet Easter at the Spirit of Hope at St. Patrick in Oneida. One of six worship sites making up the merged Madison County parish, St Patrick’s had no one joining the church during the Easter Vigil service, the traditional time when new members to the faith are welcomed.
The following Tuesday morning was a completely different story, though.
The church was full of noise, full of grace, full of the Spirit as five new members were welcomed to the faith and parish family during a morning Mass. It was squeezed into the school day where all five are students at the parish elementary school.
Building a Brighter Future
Funding Helps Students Succeed
By Eileen Jevis, staff writer
When a child goes to school hungry, suffers with physical or mental health issues, family turmoil or housing insecurity, concentrating on academics is a challenge. The lack of adequate nutrition, medical care, clothing and other basic needs disrupts learning and social development which can lead to students feeling overwhelmed and disengaged. It may contribute to high anxiety, misbehavior, or chronic absenteeism.
In the Syracuse Diocese, a significant number of Catholic school students are eligible for free and reduced-cost lunches based on economic need. This was a qualifying factor in the diocese receiving funding from the Mother
CBA’s McMahon and Marshall Selected As Finalists In National Merit Scholarship Program
Dewitt- Christian Brothers Academy seniors Joseph McMahon and Razi Marshall were selected as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
McMahon and Marshall were among 16,000 students-a select group that represents less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide who qualified for the scholarship program by scoring amongst the highest in their respective states on the preliminary Standard Achievement Test (SAT).
A look back: Easter Vigil 2024 at the Cathedral
Sun Photos By Chuck Wainwright
While we are still in the Easter season, it’s not too late to catch a glimpse of the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. Msgr. Neal Quartier, rector of the diocesan mother church, concelebrated with Father Peter Murray, SJ, visiting from LeMoyne College. Deacon Robert Burke assisted. The Easter Vigil Mass begins after sunset in a darkened church, and the flame of the new fire lights the Paschal Candle, the symbol of Christ brining light to the world. The liturgy is the high point of the church year
Rome Catholic School to Close at the End of the School Year
Syracuse, NY— The Diocese of Syracuse announced the difficult decision to close Rome Catholic School at the end of the 2024 academic year. Rome Catholic School is Pre-K- 6th grade.
In a letter to parents, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia and Dr. Amy Sansone, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, stated that, “This decision was not made lightly. Over the past few years, we have been faced with ongoing challenges, primarily stemming from declining enrollment and financial constraints. Despite our best efforts to
A statement from Bishop Douglas J. Lucia
Statement of Bishop Douglas J. Lucia
Bishop of Syracuse
April 15, 2024
Today, our diocesan family is in mourning for the senseless violence that has taken the lives of two public servants who sought to serve and protect our community by simply going to work. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, and co-workers, especially those police officers who served with them in the line of duty in the Syracuse Police Department and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
Welcome to SunSpeak…
Each Digital Update from the Catholic Sun features…
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Bishop Douglas J. Lucia’s column from the previous print edition of The Catholic Sun
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Column from Lucia A. Silecchia (the “Lucia” theme is purely coincidental). She is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research at the Catholic University of America. Her column is nationally syndicated.
From time to time we will feature other columns of note. Let us know if you like the service we are providing; email us at [email protected].
“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 “wow” from those in the path of totality to the “meh” from those who saw a partial eclipse through a cloud shrouded sky.
I was in the latter camp since my cloudy neighborhood seemed merely and anticlimactically overcast. Yet, it was still a “wow” day. For me, the excitement was not
Events in our Diocese week of 4/18 – 4/24
Here is a listing of a few events of interest happening in our Diocese.
Visit here for a complete list.
The Third Option Program-Utica
PAL Parents of Addicted Loved Ones Support Group
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