The Catholic Sun Digital Update for
March 7 – March 20
Preview edition
Students Grow in Faith and Learn Leadership Skills
Sun photos l Chuck Wainwright
By Eileen Jevis
Staff writer
Oftentimes, when we think of young leaders, we imagine them leading sports teams, extracurricular events at school, shifts at their jobs or volunteer activities. But nurturing and preparing them to become leaders in the Universal Church is more important than ever as lay people are increasingly called upon to teach, promote and engage in the teachings of Christ.
On March 2, young men and women from across the diocese spent the day in fellowship and prayer while learning the skills needed to become faith-based leaders. The day-long event, held at Immaculate Conception in Fayetteville, included interactive dialogue between priests and students, group activities and instruction and strategies given by keynote speaker Matt Davidson, Ph.D., president of the Excellence with Integrity Institute.
Laetare Sunday: ‘the love of our heavenly Father should give us great consolation.’
Reflection on the 4th Sunday of Lent
By Jackie Adams, contributing writer
Our readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent speak volumes to our world situations, our faith struggles and last but certainly not least, the love our God has for us. The reading from 2 Chronicles paints a picture of corruption and infidelities. The author tells of the varying levels of evil that ensued around Jerusalem and ends with a mocking of God. Telling us “May their God be with them”. Watching the world news could sound quite the same and yet if we follow the readings to the Gospel, we know that indeed our God is with us.
Why wait? St. Patrick gets an early start in Binghamton
Photos submitted by Maria Klawiter
The calendar may have read March 2, but it felt like the 17th as the Irish community of Binghamton and Broome County celebrated their heritage in style. Binghamton’s 56th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade stepped off in front of St. Mary of the Assumption Church. The faithful first gathered for Mass concelebrated by Fr. Arthur Krawczenko, pastor, Fr. James Serowik and Fr. Corey Van Kuren. Several hundred people were on hand for the Mass and a reception that followed.
Syracuse parish to host Black Catholic convocation
Contributed by Toni Giudice
ABOVE: Father Kareem Smith addresses the congregation during the Archdiocese of New York’s annual Black History Month Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City Feb. 4, 2024. The liturgy also marked the National Day of Prayer for the African American and African Family. At the front of the altar are images of four of six U.S. Black Catholics up for sainthood: Julia Greeley, left, Pierre Toussaint, Sister Thea Bowman and Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange. (OSV News photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
Black Americans have endured years of bigotry and racial intolerance in our country, in our social institutions and, at times, even our churches. Ruby Randall, Lauren-Hardee Chase and Lillie Fields will attest to that. All
‘We need Mary the Queen of Peace to help us’
Vigil for Peace is a multilingual petition for peace through Scripture, prayer and music
By Dc. Tom Cuskey, editor
Thanks to St. Valentine Day, February has the connotation as a month to celebrate love. Nowhere was that more evident than on Sunday, February 11 at St. Charles-St. Ann Church where love and hope for those living in war-torn countries was shared through prayer, Scripture and song.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast comes to Bishop Grimes
The magic of Disney and the bright lights of Broadway come together this month at Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School in East Syracuse where “Beauty and the Beast” will be presented Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16. The school’s spring musical offering features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. The original Broadway production ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony
‘We just don’t have a soul, we are a soul’
Homily provokes thought on AI and its faith impact
By Dc. Tom Cuskey, editor
One hears and reads a lot these days about AI,as in ‘artificial intelligence’, and the impact it is having — or may have in the future — on how we live. This is especially true for communications at all levels. Is it a human or a digital commodity that has authored the book, email, ad or social media post you’re taking in? Or in a video or phone call you’ve received.
Imitators of God
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia The Catholic Sun bi-weekly column
I think many in this congregation, if not most, would agree that every marriage has its moments of joy and moments of anguish. These moments are found readily in the Book of Tobit in the stories of Tobit and Anna and that of Sarah and Tobiah. Closer in history to the present day, the marriage between Winston Churchill and his beloved Clementine was very difficult – especially just before World War II, when Churchill’s warning about Germany isolated him from his fellow members of the British Parliament and government; and the Stock Market crash nearly ruined him financially.
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].
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 the unique place of March in the cycle of the year.
Some say March goes “in like a lion and out like a lamb.” However, seeing March as the season of salt and soil captures its essence as well.
Events in our Diocese week of 3/7 – 3/20
Here is a listing of a few events of interest happening in our Diocese.
Visit here for a complete list.
Family Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross & Lectio: Prayer Finding Intimacy with God
Ceili Rain Trio Benefit Concert for the Spiritual Renewal Center
Saint Patrick Day Winning o’ the Green
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