The Catholic Sun Digital Update for
Dec. 11 – Dec. 24
Preview edition
Candlelight vigils urge New York governor to veto physician-assisted suicide bill
By Tami S. Scott, Editor, The Catholic Sun
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.
The measure currently sits with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has mentioned possible safeguard amendments. She has the option to sign it into law or veto it and has until Dec. 31 to act.
The candlelight vigil took place outside the Sen. John H. Hughes Office Building in downtown Syracuse.
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 the diocese. The awards were established in 2011 by Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham to recognize the many laypeople around the diocese who devote their energy and time to volunteering in their parishes and beyond, honoring their service and fidelity to Christ and His Church. The awards’ namesake comes from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, as the conferral of the awards always takes place on the Sunday closest to the Holy Day.
Sweet dreams, child
A non-profit makes strives to ensure no child sleeps on the floor
By Eileen Jevis
Staff writer
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.
What’s so funny about Respect Life?
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 out for a Couples Therapy Comedy Night hosted by the Respect Life Ministry of the linked parishes of Pope John XXIII and Christ the King.
Reflections from the first and second Sundays of Advent
Note: The reflections for the third (Dec. 14) and fourth (Dec. 21) Sundays of Advent were written by Jan D’Angelo, who is in his final year of diaconate formation, scheduled to be ordained in 2026; and Jennifer Menneci, associate director for the office of Child and Family Catechesis in the Diocese of Syracuse.
Deacon aspirant Jan DeAngelo reflects on tragedy, God’s presence in his life
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 from the “widow maker”: an undetected clot in his left ventricle. He left behind a young wife and our beautiful granddaughter, who was barely 8 months old. I had just finished the prerequisites for the diaconate program. My professors suggested I take a year off to deal with it. So I did.
Associate catechesis director draws closer to God through new healthy habit
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 type of storm is all about. Briefly, it’s a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere, the magnetosphere, of course, being the space around the earth. A local weatherman described it as a bolt of energy transferred from the sun to the earth.
Welcome to SunSpeak…
Each Digital Update from the Catholic Sun features…
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A timely column from Bishop Douglas J. Lucia.
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Ordinary Time” with Lucia Silechia, (the “Lucia” theme is purely concidental).
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].
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