St. Mary's Cemetery, Rye Brook, NY

12/30/2025

The Feast of Saint Thomas Becket

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Saint Thomas Beckett, who we honor on December 29, stands before us as a brave bishop and martyr who loved Christ above all else.

Once a close friend and chancellor of King Henry II of England, Thomas underwent a deep conversion of heart when he became Archbishop of Canterbury, and he chose to defend the freedom of the Church against unjust interference by the crown, even at the greatest personal cost. His witness moved all of Europe to see anew that no earthly ruler stands above Christ the King. Saint Thomas is a loving reminder that fidelity to the Gospel sometimes demands great courage, and that when we put God first, even in the face of opposition, our lives become a powerful testimony that can strengthen the faith of countless others across borders and time itself.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, may we carry forward Saint Thomas' conviction that nothing in this world is worth more than fidelity to Christ.

May peace be with you...

12/30/2025

The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Let us begin by saying that we hope that you had a warm and loving Christmas!

In this Christmas season, this feast invites every Catholic heart to gaze with love upon the home of Nazareth and to see in it both a mystery and a mirror. In this quiet, hidden life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Church recognizes the model and source of grace for every Christian family, however imperfect or wounded it may feel. On this feast, the Holy Family is not placed before us as an unreachable ideal, but as a tender reminder that holiness is lived in daily fidelity: in prayer, work, forgiveness, and mutual care, in trusting God when life is confusing, and in staying united even through trials like exile, fear, and uncertainty. The Church celebrates this day so that parents, children, grandparents, and all who long for a place to belong may remember that God dwells in the home that welcomes Him, and that every family, with God’s help, can become a “domestic church,” a sanctuary of love, mercy, and faith in the midst of our troubled world.

May peace be with you, and may the New Year bring all that your heart hopes for.

12/25/2025

Cardinal Dolan's Final Christmas Day Mass, 2025

Dear Beloved in Christ,

You may watch the Holy Mass here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe4OiQEg268

Good Christmas morning, and welcome to this most sacred celebration—a day of profound joy, peace, and heartfelt gratitude.
Today we gather to honor the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and to give thanks for 16 years of faithful, joyful, and steadfast service by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan as Archbishop of New York.

Since his appointment in 2009, Cardinal Dolan has shepherded nearly 3 million Catholics across the five boroughs and far beyond, offering not only pastoral care but a spirit of genuine warmth, welcome, and pastoral love that has earned him the heartfelt admiration of the faithful across our diverse Archdiocese.

A Leader in Christian Action
In a city as vibrant and demanding as New York, Cardinal Dolan's leadership has exemplified Christianity in action—from blessing food for thousands of families so they could celebrate Thanksgiving with dignity, to joining community partners in serving those on the margins of our city. His commitment to works of mercy and charity exemplify the Church's sacred mission to serve the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

He has been an unwavering voice for the sanctity of all human life—from its beginning in the womb to its natural end—while simultaneously extending the Church's embrace in love and respect to all people: to immigrants seeking refuge in our City, to those of different faiths, reminding us that Christ Himself was once a migrant who knew the vulnerabilities of displacement.

National and International Leadership
His visionary leadership extended far beyond New York's borders. From 2010 to 2013, Cardinal Dolan served as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, during which he strengthened the bishops' prophetic voice on vital moral and social issues. In this role and beyond, he has been the nation's most respected and courageous advocate for religious freedom—the first and most cherished of liberties. His decades-long commitment to this foundational right earned him the 2025 Canterbury Medal, religious liberty's highest honor.

Cardinal Dolan also served as Chairman of Catholic Relief Services, deepening the Church's global humanitarian mission, and has been a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America, helping to form generations of faithful Catholic leaders.

Stewardship and Vision
Through strategic planning processes like "Pathways to Excellence" and "Making All Things New," Cardinal Dolan thoughtfully reorganized the Archdiocese's schools and parishes to meet the needs of a changing New York while preserving the faith communities that sustain our neighborhoods. His leadership has guided our Archdiocese through historic challenges while maintaining the spiritual vitality that defines our mission.

Most recently, Cardinal Dolan spearheaded one of the greatest artistic commissions in St. Patrick's Cathedral's 176-year history: the monumental mural, "What's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding?"—a powerful artistic interpretation of the Apparition at Knock that tells the story of New York's immigrants. This project, unveiled in September 2025, stands as a testament to Cardinal Dolan's commitment to seeing the sacred in the stories of our people.

A Shepherd in Times of Crisis
Cardinal Dolan has walked with us through profound trials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he guided the Archdiocese with pastoral wisdom—complying with public health measures while pioneering the livestreaming of Holy Week Masses at St. Patrick's Cathedral, ensuring that no member of our flock would be spiritually abandoned during the global crisis. He oversaw the upgrading of ventilation systems that allowed our schools to reopen safely ahead of public institutions, demonstrating that faithful stewardship includes care for both body and soul.

He has given invocations at presidential inaugurations, welcomed Pope Francis during his historic 2015 visit to New York, and participated in two papal conclaves—in 2013 and again in 2025—where he helped elect the successors of Peter and helped shepherd the global Church through sacred transitions.

A Life of Service, A Legacy of Hope
Throughout his distinguished career—as Rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, as Archbishop of Milwaukee, and now as Archbishop of New York—Cardinal Dolan has earned numerous honors including the Isaiah Award for Exemplary Interreligious Leadership, the Visionary Leadership Award, the Spirit of Francis Award, and honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Fordham University, and St. John's University—each recognition a testament to the respect and affection he commands across different faiths and cultures.

Yet the truest measure of his ministry is not in honors received but in the myriad hearts touched, families strengthened, and faith deepened.

A Christmas Prayer of Gratitude
We thank Cardinal Dolan for being present with us in times of both celebration and sorrow. He has inspired us with homilies of depth and heart, demonstrated the transformative power of faith lived with sincerity and warmth, and shown us daily what it means to be a shepherd after the heart of Christ.

As he enters this next chapter of his noble ministry, we celebrate his extraordinary accomplishments, his steadfast faith, and his unwavering hope—gifts that will continue to influence and inspire the Catholic community in New York, across our nation, and throughout the world.

May this Christmas Mass honor Christ's birth with reverence, joy, and love. May our hearts overflow with gratitude for a shepherd who has served us with uncommon compassion, prophetic courage, pastoral warmth, and deep, abiding faith.

Merry Christmas, Your Eminence—and thank you so very much for your selfless service to the flock entrusted to your care.

Support St. Patrick's with a gift: https://qrs.ly/5cg79y0Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1St. Patrick’s Cathed...

12/25/2025

Pope Leo XIV’s First Midnight Mass, Christmas Eve 2025

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Welcome to this celebration of faith, hope, peace, and love.

You may watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX7yi7pTg7k

Before the sacred moment begins, we invite you to breathe deeply and open your heart to wonder.

Tonight’s celebration is a living testament to centuries of faith, hope, and joy — as the Church celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in the hushed beauty of Christmas Midnight Mass.

On this holy night, in the heart of the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV — in his first Christmas as pontiff — leads the faithful in prayer and praise at St. Peter’s Basilica, where generations have gathered to honor the mystery of the Incarnation.

This Mass — known as Missa in Nocte — draws its grace from ancient tradition and the Gospel’s revelation: that in the stillness of night, a Savior is born, bringing light into our darkness and hope to every heart longing for peace.

As you watch, let the gentle sacred music, the whispered prayers, and the profound silence of this solemn liturgy draw you inward. Let your spirit be lifted by the timeless truth that God is with us — and that in every human heart lies a place made ready for love.

May peace be with you...

Video Credit: EWTN News

Follow LIVE with us from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican the Christmas Mass during the Night, also known as the “Midnight Mass”, presided over by Pope Le...

12/25/2025

King's College Choir, Cambridge, Nine Lessons and Carols 1992

Dear Beloved in Christ,

You may watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNg6Nv1Ey8Y&t=274s

Hailed worldwide for their luminous tone, spiritual depth, and peerless tradition, the voices of the King's College Choir have become synonymous with the spirit of Christmas

This tapestry of carols and choral masterpieces — each one is offered with reverence, grace, and the profound sense of celebration that this season inspires.

As these voices rise and fall, may you feel transported — connected to a lineage of listeners who, across centuries and lands, have heard these same strains with awe and joy.

As we approach the midnight hour, we invite you rest in beauty, to remember wonder, and to celebrate the gift of hope this season holds.

We wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas.

The Choir of King's College Cambridge, broadcast Christmas eve 1992. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Order of Service:1. Once in Royal David's City ...

12/19/2025

Cardinal Dolan's Mass on the First Sunday of Advent 2025

Dear Beloved in Christ,

You may watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q38km7LYxKE

Thie Cardinal's mass is not simply a broadcast of a beautiful church service from Saint Patrick's Cathedral; it is, in essence, an invitation into the heart of Advent itself — a time the Church sets aside each year to watch, to wait, and to prepare for the coming of our Savior.

Advent, from the Latin adventus, means “coming” or “arrival.” In this season we remember with joyful longing Jesus’ humble birth in Bethlehem, we look forward with hopeful expectation to His return at the end of time, and we open our hearts to His presence with us now in our daily lives.

This Mass, celebrated in one of the most beloved cathedrals in our nation, beautifully embodies these threefold dimensions of Advent. In the prayers, the Scripture proclaimed, and the sacred silence between them, we are drawn beyond mere sentiment into an encounter with the living Christ, who continues to come to us in Word and Sacrament. When we watch and pray with the Cathedral community, we are reminded that the Church universal — here in New York and throughout the world — is united in this joyful longing for God with us.

As Christmas draws nearer, the celebration of this Mass helps root our anticipation in the mystery of God’s love made flesh. We are invited to prepare not merely decorations or gifts, but our hearts — to receive Jesus with reverence, wonder, and peace. May watching this sacred liturgy deepen your hope, steady your faith, and draw you ever closer to the One whose birth we prepare to celebrate with joy next week.

May peace be with you...

Support St. Patrick's with a gift: https://qrs.ly/5cg79y0Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1St. Patrick’s Cathed...

12/18/2025

In this Season of Hope and Love, Faith Communities Unite to Help Manhattan's Homeless

In the holy season of Advent and Christmas, the Gospel compels Catholics to recognize Christ in the vulnerable. The Child Jesus was born without shelter and soon became a refugee, reminding us that God chose to enter the world among the poor and those without homes. More than 103,000 people now sleep in New York City shelters each night, including more than 35,000 children.

Several Christian faith communities have come together in a remarkable response to this escalating homeless crisis. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas Church, and City Relief—a faith-based mobile outreach nonprofit—have united to aid hundreds of homeless men, women, and children. Together, the four organizations provide nourishing meals, essential supplies, and direct access to vital social services.

Beyond meeting immediate needs, the coalition offers pathways to lasting stability by connecting the homeless to housing assistance, income support, and healthcare—addressing not only material deprivation but the deeper causes of homelessness.

This joint initiative carries particular spiritual meaning during the holy season of Advent, as it is a time of watchful waiting, repentance, and active charity—a season that calls us to prepare room for Christ not only in our hearts, but in the world around us. The Works of Mercy, central to Catholic social teaching, invite us to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the poor. This collaboration embodies those sacred duties in a concrete and compassionate way, standing as a powerful witness to this truth: when Christian communities act together in love, dignity is restored and hope is made visible. In serving those without homes, the Church and her partners proclaim the heart of Advent—Christ coming to meet those most in need.

Thank you to all who help in this noble effort, wherever you may live, as during the 2024–25 school year, more than 154,000 New York City public school students experienced homelessness--a record high; and the number of elderly homeless in New York is expected to nearly triple by 2030.

Read the Good Newsroom article here: https://thegoodnewsroom.org/new-york-city-faith.../

12/11/2025

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As we approach December 12th, we prepare to celebrate one of the most tender and transformative moments in the history of our faith—the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Though it certainly holds a cherished place in the cultural life of Mexico and Latin America, this feast is far more than a cultural remembrance. It is a living proclamation of God’s compassion, His preferential love for the poor and forgotten, and Mary’s unfailing maternal care for every one of her children.

In 1531, on the quiet slopes of Tepeyac Hill near what is now Mexico City, our Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Juan Diego, a humble indigenous convert whose simplicity of heart made him beautifully receptive to grace. Speaking to him in his native Nahuatl, she addressed him with exquisite gentleness, calling him “Nican Mopohua”—“my little one, my beloved son.” In those tender words, Mary revealed not only her identity as the Mother of the True God, but also her desire to draw near to her children in their own language, culture, and daily struggles.

As a sign meant for the whole world, she imprinted her miraculous image upon Juan Diego’s tilma—a simple cloak made of rough cactus fiber. This same tilma, which by every natural measure should have decayed within decades, has been preserved intact for nearly five centuries. In the image, Mary appears as a mestiza—neither fully Spanish nor fully indigenous—standing as a living bridge between peoples, cultures, and hearts. She is clothed with the sun, crowned with stars, and yet her gaze is downcast in humility, reminding us that she comes not to be served, but to serve.

What makes Our Lady of Guadalupe so profoundly important is the message her presence proclaims: God comes to meet us exactly where we are. Mary appeared not in a cathedral, but on a hill once associated with pagan worship. She entrusted her mission not to a scholar or nobleman, but to a quiet, unassuming layman. Through her, the Gospel took root in the Americas not by coercion, but through beauty, tenderness, and love. Within a decade of her apparition, millions of indigenous peoples embraced the Catholic faith—drawn by the Mother of God's gentle maternal presence.

Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe is venerated as the Patroness of the Americas, the Protectress of the Unborn, and the Star of the New Evangelization. She continues to stand beside all who suffer, feel unseen, unvalued, and all who long for God’s mercy. Her message endures: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”

As we honor her feast, may we renew our trust that we are never alone. Heaven draws near to us with tenderness, and Mary—our Mother—still watches over us with the same loving care she once offered to her little son Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac. May her presence lead us ever closer to our Lord and Savior.

May peace be with you...

12/10/2025

Multiple New York Gatherings Planned Ahead of Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Read the Good Newsroom article here: https://thegoodnewsroom.org/multiple-new-york-gatherings.../

Dear friends,

These New York gatherings represent something truly inspiring—the coming together of our universal Church to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe in one of the world's most diverse cities. These events demonstrate how the faith transcends cultural boundaries while honoring the rich traditions that give it expression.​

The celebration begins with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, connecting Mary's own preservation from sin to her later appearance at Guadalupe. This theological link reminds us that the Lady who appeared to Juan Diego is the same Mother whom God prepared from the beginning to be our advocate and protector.​

On December 9th, the Feast of St. Juan Diego is honored—celebrating the humble messenger whom Mary chose as her instrument. Juan Diego's canonization by Pope John Paul II affirmed that "in accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God". This feast reminds us that holiness is accessible to everyone, regardless of social standing.​

The Traditional Mañanitas on December 11th, with mariachi and traditional Mexican dance at St. Patrick's Cathedral in midtown Manhattan brings the joyful devotion of Mexican culture into the heart of New York. This is not merely folklore—it is an authentic expression of how different cultures bring their unique gifts to Catholic worship, enriching the whole Church.​

Perhaps most moving is the early morning procession on December 12th, where hundreds of faithful accompany the statue of Our Lady through the streets of Manhattan to St. Patrick's Cathedral. This public witness transforms the city into sacred space, much as Tepeyac Hill became holy ground through Mary's presence. It declares to a bustling, secular city that the faith is alive, that devotion still matters, and that Our Lady continues to draw her children together.​

The archdiocese notes this is their "largest and one of our most joy-filled occasions," celebrating with "all the parishioners and visitors". The emphasis on "everyone is welcome" echoes Our Lady's own message at Guadalupe—she comes for all people, especially those who feel forgotten or marginalized.​

These gatherings keep alive the memory of God's tender mercy, they unite diverse communities in common devotion, and they offer hope to anyone seeking the Mother's intercession. In a city as diverse and complex as New York, these celebrations become a living icon of what the Church is meant to be—one family, many cultures, all beloved children of God and Mary.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe bless all who participate in these sacred days.

The annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates the 1531 Marian apparition to the peasant Juan Diego on Mexico’s Tepeyac Hill.

12/10/2025

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear Beloved in Christ,

This month, our hearts turn with deep reverence to one of the most tender and profound mysteries of our faith—the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This sacred celebration holds a cherished place within the Catholic soul. for when we speak of the Immaculate Conception, we are not referring to the conception of Jesus, but to that wondrous moment when

Mary herself was conceived in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne.
In this mystery, we honor the extraordinary grace by which God preserved Mary from original sin from the very first instant of her existence. It is a breathtaking expression of God’s boundless love—an early glimmer of the redemption Christ would one day accomplish for all humanity.

Mary’s Immaculate Conception speaks to us of God’s perfect and loving design. The Mother of our Lord was prepared with exquisite care, adorned with holiness so that she might become the dwelling place of the Divine Word made flesh—the living tabernacle of Jesus Christ. Her purity and freedom from sin made her the most fitting vessel for this sacred mission. In honoring her Immaculate Conception, we praise God’s wisdom, tenderness, and unfailing love in preparing a sanctuary for the Savior of the world.

This glorious mystery also offers us profound consolation and hope. In Mary, we see what God’s grace can accomplish in a human life: a soul open to God’s will, untouched by sin, and entirely devoted to love. In a world often shadowed by struggle and sorrow,

Mary stands as a radiant beacon of purity, compassion, and steadfast hope. With a mother’s heart, she intercedes for us, reminding us that God desires to sanctify each one of us and lead us toward the fullness of life in Him. In Mary Immaculate, we behold both the triumph of grace and the promise of redemption extended to all.

And so, as we honor the patroness of the United States this December, let us approach Mary with grateful and trusting hearts. May we seek her intercession, rest in her gentle maternal care, and allow her example of holiness and surrender to guide our own journey toward a deeper love of Christ.

May the peace of Christ rest upon you and all whom you love...

12/09/2025

Changing the Trajectory of Vulnerable Lives: Inner-City Scholarship Fund Honors Langones at Awards Dinner

The Inner-City Scholarship Fund raised more than $5.4 million at its 48th Annual Awards Dinner, held at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, where philanthropists Ken and Elaine Langone were honored for their decades of support for Catholic education in New York.

The Inner-City Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance to economically disadvantaged students attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York, serving thousands of students across the five boroughs.

The evening began with Christmas carols sung by the choir from Good Shepherd School in Manhattan, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year.

Philanthropic events like this dinner are critical because they quite literally keep the doors of Catholic schools open to low-income students, who could not otherwise afford them, while preserving a powerful evangelizing and stabilizing presence in vulnerable neighborhoods. Such dinners transform a one-night event into opportunity and hope for thousands of children and their families, while benefitting our city and nation as a whole.

Most don't realize that Catholic schools in the inner city disproportionately serve children living near the federal poverty line, many from non-Catholic families who still seek the safety, discipline, and moral vision of a Catholic education. Without scholarship funds, tuition becomes an insurmountable barrier, and the very children who most need a stable, values-based environment are the first to be shut out.

Research consistently shows a “Catholic school effect”: poor and marginalized students in Catholic schools are more likely to graduate high school and attend college than similar peers in other settings. For low-income students especially, Catholic schools often place them one to two grade levels ahead of their counterparts in comparable public schools, which can alter their entire life trajectory.

Read the Good Newsroom article here: https://thegoodnewsroom.org/inner-city-scholarship-fund.../

12/05/2025

The Feast Day of Saint Barbara on December 4

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Within this holy season, the Church also celebrates the feast days of remarkable saints whose lives illuminate our path toward Christ.

Saint Barbara is one such saint for she is a woman of courage, purity, and unshakeable faith. Honored as a virgin and martyr of the early Church, she chose Christ above family pressure, worldly security, and even her own life. Though the details of her life come to us through tradition, the heart of her story is timeless: Barbara refused to betray her love for Christ, even when faced with suffering and death. According to ancient accounts, when her father locked her in a tower, she had three windows built as a quiet confession of her faith in the Most Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — letting the light of God shine into the very place meant to imprison her.

The Church has long venerated her as a powerful intercessor, especially in times of danger and sudden death. She is often invoked by soldiers, miners, and those who work with explosives or in risky conditions, as well as by all who fear dying unprepared, asking through her prayers for the grace of a holy death and the strength to remain faithful to Christ to the very end. In many Christian cultures, especially in Europe, it is a beloved Advent custom to cut a “Barbara branch” from a fruit tree on her feast day and place it in water, hoping it will blossom by Christmas — a living sign that God can bring new life, beauty, and hope out of what seems barren or lifeless.

Her feast in Advent speaks powerfully to the human heart. Saint Barbara reminds us that Christian hope is stronger than any fear, and that the light of Christ shines brightest in times of darkness. She is often invoked for protection — not because God shields us from every trial, but because He gives us strength, grace, and courage to remain faithful during all trials.

In this season when we reflect on Christ as the Light who comes into the world, Saint Barbara stands as a radiant witness to the transforming power of faith. Her life urges us to hold fast to the hope that God is always with us, especially in our moments of fear or uncertainty, and to let the light of the Trinity shine into every hidden corner of our lives, just as it once shone through the windows of her tower.

May peace be with you...