Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, NY

10/16/2025

Saint Luke the Evangelist: Healer of Body and Soul

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Saint Luke, whose feast we celebrate on October 18th, holds a uniquely tender place in the heart of our Catholic faith. Here was a scholar of wisdom and compassion—a physician by training, a Greek from Antioch, and a Gentile who became one of Christianity's most eloquent witnesses.​

What makes Luke so precious to us is the extraordinary gift he gave the Church: not only the Third Gospel but also the Acts of the Apostles—together comprising more than a quarter of the entire New Testament. No single author contributed more to Sacred Scripture than this humble physician who never met Jesus in the flesh yet captured His life and mission with breathtaking beauty and historical precision.​

Luke's Gospel is often called the "Gospel of Mercy" because it reveals Christ's infinite compassion for sinners, the poor, and the marginalized. Only Luke gives us the Prodigal Son welcomed home by his rejoicing father, the Good Samaritan who shows mercy to a stranger, and the repentant thief promised paradise from the cross. Only Luke shows us Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and praying for His ex*****oners: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."​

Perhaps most beautifully, Luke gives us the intimate story of Mary, our Blessed Mother. It is through Luke alone that we hear the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced that Mary would bear the Savior. Only Luke records Mary's journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and only he preserves for us the Magnificat—Mary's sublime canticle of praise: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." These tender details could only have come from the Blessed Mother herself, and tradition tells us that Luke knew her personally and learned these sacred mysteries from her own lips.​

Luke's Gospel also gives special attention to women and prayer. He alone tells us of Anna the prophetess, the widow of Nain whose son Jesus raised from death, the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and Martha and Mary, who welcomed Christ into their home. His Gospel breathes with prayer—showing us Jesus praying at His baptism, before choosing the apostles, at the Transfiguration, and in Gethsemane (one of the most sacred places in all of Christian history—the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed in agony on the night before His crucifixion).​

As a physician, Luke brought his healer's eye to the Gospel, noting medical details others missed and emphasizing Christ as the divine physician who came to heal humanity's deepest wounds. His Acts of the Apostles gives us the thrilling story of the early Church—Pentecost's fire, the courage of the martyrs, and Paul's missionary journeys, which Luke witnessed firsthand as Paul's faithful companion.​

Tradition tells us that Luke was also a gifted artist who painted the first icons of Our Lady. Whether this is historically certain or not, it captures a profound truth: Luke painted the most beautiful portrait of Mary we possess—not with brush and pigment, but with words inspired by the Holy Spirit.​

Saint Luke shows us a Christ whose mercy knows no bounds, whose love embraces all humanity, and whose mother treasured all these things in her heart. Through this beloved physician's words, the Great Physician continues to heal souls today.​

May peace be with you...

10/16/2025

The Witness of St. Ignatius of Antioch

Dear Beloved in Christ,

What a treasure the Church possesses in Saint Ignatius of Antioch, a magnificent martyr-bishop whose feast we celebrate on October 17th! Saint Ignatius stood at the very threshold of the apostolic age, a direct link between the Apostles themselves and the generations that followed.

He was born in Syria and, according to sacred tradition, was personally instructed by Saint John the Apostle. At 70 years of age, he became the third Bishop of Antioch, succeeding that very see where Saint Peter had once presided, and where followers of Jesus were first called "Christians."​ The word "see" is a beautiful ecclesiastical term that refers to the seat or throne of a bishop's authority—his diocese or the jurisdiction where he exercises his pastoral office.

What makes Ignatius so profoundly important is the extraordinary testimony he left behind. When Emperor Trajan condemned him to death at around age 107, Ignatius was escorted under armed guard from Syria to Rome to face martyrdom in the Colosseum. During this final journey, he composed seven precious letters to various Christian communities—letters that are among our earliest and most important windows into the faith of the apostolic Church.​
In these writings, Ignatius gives us the first recorded use of the term "Catholic Church."

He passionately defended the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, writing that "the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in his goodness, raised up again." He called it "the medicine of immortality, the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Jesus Christ."​

Ignatius also emphasized the hierarchical structure of the Church—the authority of bishops, presbyters, and deacons—teaching that unity with the bishop meant unity with Christ Himself. Perhaps most striking is his ardent embrace of martyrdom. In his letter to the Romans, he wrote: "I am God's wheat, and I am being ground by the teeth of wild beasts, so that I may prove to be pure bread."​
When Ignatius finally reached Rome and faced the lions, he declared: "I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast vouchsafed thus to honor me." This holy bishop-martyr shows us that authentic Christianity is about unity—unity with Christ, with one another, in faith, and in the Eucharist. Saint Ignatius of Antioch truly was Theophorous—the God-bearer—and he invites us to carry Christ within our own hearts just as courageously.​

May peace be with you...

10/08/2025

The Memorial of Saint Teresa of Avila: A Doctor of Prayer and Divine Love

Dear Beloved in Christ,

On October 15th we honor one of the Church's most profound treasures: a saint who shows us that the deepest intimacy with God is not reserved for a select few but rather it is the calling of every Christian soul. A 16th-century Spanish Carmelite nun, Saint Teresa's writings encourage us to find peace by focusing on God's unchanging nature, recognizing that all earthly things are temporary.

Saint Teresa holds a place of extraordinary honor in our Catholic tradition as the first woman to be declared a Doctor of the Church. This title, doctrix mystica - "doctor of mystical theology" - recognizes that her spiritual writings have guided countless souls to deeper union with God for over four centuries. When the Church names someone a Doctor, it means their teachings are so profound and universally beneficial that they serve as a light for all believers throughout time.

The Interior Castle: A Map for the Soul
Saint Teresa's greatest gift to the Church is her masterwork, The Interior Castle, written after receiving a mystical vision of the soul as a crystal castle with seven mansions. In this spiritual classic, she provides a practical guide showing how every person can journey through prayer from the outer courtyard of spiritual life to the innermost sanctum where God dwells. Her teachings spring not from academic theology but from her own lived experience of prayer.

A Teacher of Prayer for Our Time
What makes Teresa's memorial so significant is her profound understanding that prayer is not merely an activity we do, but a way of living in constant communication with God. She championed mental prayer -- thinking about what we're saying to God rather than merely reciting words -- at a time when this was considered dangerous. Her famous prayer, "Let nothing disturb you... God alone suffices," remains one of the most beloved expressions of trust in Divine Providence.

"Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices"
May Saint Teresa's example inspire us to pray with both dedication and joy, knowing that our souls truly are castles where the King of Heaven longs to make His home.

May peace be with you...

10/08/2025

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary: A Celebration of Divine Victory and Maternal Protection

Dear Beloved in Christ,

October 7th brings us a celebration that speaks to the very heart of our faith and the profound power of prayer united with our Blessed Mother's intercession. The origins of this feast are both stirring and deeply spiritual, rooted in one of history's most remarkable demonstrations of divine providence through the faithful prayers of God's people.

The beautiful commemoration of Our Lady of the Rosary begins on October 7, 1571, when the Christian fleet met the vastly superior Ottoman navy at Lepanto. By all calculations, the Christians should have been defeated as they were outnumbered in every way! Yet as the battle raged, Pope Pius V suddenly declared with inspired certainty: "Let us cease speaking of business matters and think only of rendering thanks to God for the victory He has just given us!"
The victory was so complete that the Senate of Venice declared: "It was not Generals, nor battalions, nor arms that brought us victory; but it was our Lady of the Rosary". The Ottoman advance was permanently halted.

The Spiritual Significance Today
In gratitude, Pope Pius V instituted this feast to commemorate Our Lady's miraculous intervention. This triumph against all odds demonstrates that when the faithful unite in rosary prayer, no force can prevail against God's will. The rosary becomes a spiritual weapon against evil, bringing victory to our souls in our battles against sin and darkness.

May this beautiful feast day inspire you, as it has inspired countless Catholics before us, to embrace the rosary not merely as a routine prayer, but as a lifeline to Heaven, a source of grace, and a participation in the very victory of Christ through His Mother's loving intercession.

May peace be with you...

10/02/2025

Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As we gather our hearts in reflection this October 4th, we celebrate one of the Church's most beloved saints—St. Francis of Assisi—whose life continues to illuminate the path of Gospel joy nearly eight centuries after his death.

Francis, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in 1182, experienced a profound conversion that transformed him from a wealthy merchant's son into Christianity's most perfect imitator of Christ. When our Lord spoke to him from the cross at San Damiano, saying "Francis, repair my house," this young man embraced radical poverty and humility with such completeness that he became, as Pope Pius XI declared, "the most perfect image of Christ that ever lived."

What makes Francis eternally precious to the Church is not merely his extraordinary sanctity, but the universality of his appeal. Through his founding of the Franciscan Order—now one of our largest religious families—his spirit of joyful service reaches every corner of the world. Francis showed us that holiness isn't reserved for the learned or the powerful, but flourishes most beautifully in those who embrace the simplicity of the Gospel.

His love for "Lady Poverty," his tender care for lepers, his mystical reception of the stigmata, and his authorship of the sublime Canticle of the Creatures reveal a saint whose heart beat in perfect rhythm with Christ's own Sacred Heart. When our Holy Father Pope Francis chose this saint's name, he reminded us all that Francis of Assisi remains our Church's most compelling witness to Gospel authenticity—showing us that true joy comes not from worldly success, but from surrendering everything to follow Jesus with complete trust.

May St. Francis intercede for us all, so that we may discover in our own lives the same transforming love that made him "God's perfect knight."

May peace be with you...

10/02/2025

St. Patrick's Cathedral Unveils Historic Mural

At Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New Yor City, Cardinal Timothy Dolan joyfully unveiled a remarkable new mural celebrating faith, peace, and the loving guidance of Our Lady of Knock. This magnificent work, created by Brooklyn artist Adam Cvijanovic, honors first responders, saints and the countless immigrants who helped shape New York and America. The mural now graces the Cathedral as its largest commissioned artwork (almost 2,000 square feet), touching the hearts of all who enter and inviting every soul to reflect on the enduring beauty of faith.

Honoring Faith and Heritage
The mural, “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding,” serves as a tribute to generations of immigrants whose devotion shaped New York City’s Catholic spirit over the years. Cardinal Dolan’s words at the unveiling gently reminded all present that Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands as “America’s Parish Church,” a sacred home welcoming everyone with open arms.

Spirit of Community
The Cathedral continues its mission of spiritual outreach, preparing for pro-life witness events and embracing all who seek comfort and connection in the heart of the city. May this treasured mural inspire peace, love, and understanding in every visitor’s journey and offer a gentle reminder of Our Lady’s compassionate presence watching over each one of us.

Read more about the mural here: https://saintpatrickscathedral.org/mural

Watch the video of the unveiling ceremony and see a slide show of the mural below: https://thegoodnewsroom.org/cardinal-timothy-dolan-unveils-historic-mural-at-saint-patricks-cathedral/

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has unveiled a mural by Brooklyn artist Adam Cvijanovic, the largest artwork ever commissioned for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

09/26/2025

Mass and Honor to Our Lady of El Cisne

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As we gather in faith, let us reflect with warmth and reverence on why Nuestra Señora del Cisne—Our Lady of El Cisne—is so precious to us as Catholics, especially among our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters. Through her loving intercession, Mary has been a gentle mother and protector to countless faithful for centuries, drawing hearts to her Son, Jesus, through deep devotion, beautiful tradition, and acts of mercy.

The story of Nuestra Señora del Cisne is one of hope and providence: in a time of great drought, the people of El Cisne turned to Mary in humble prayer. She answered with loving care, bringing rain, relief, and a renewal of faith. Each year, thousands embark on pilgrimages and processions, expressing trust in the Blessed Mother's miraculous help and unfailing presence. Through Nuestra Señora del Cisne, we are reminded that Mary’s love knows no boundaries, and she gathers the faithful beneath her mantle—offering hope, comfort, and inspiration on the journey to Christ.

And so today, on September 28, we share the prayer of our brothers and sisters of El Cisne: Holy Mary, Our Lady of El Cisne, loving Mother and gentle Queen, we come before you with grateful hearts. Protect our families and our parish, guard us from harm, and lead us closer to your Son, Jesus. In times of sorrow and joy, help us to walk in faith, hope, and love. O Virgin of Cisne, pray for us, guide us, and fill our hearts with your tender peace. Amen.

May peace be with you...

Image Credit: Diego de Robles

09/25/2025

9/30: The Feast Day of St. Jerome

Dear Beloved in Christ,

In days of yore, a fable tells the tale of a lion limping into the monastery where St. Jerome lived and worked. While the other monks fled in fear, Saint Jerome calmly noticed the lion was suffering—from a thorn painfully embedded in its paw. With gentle care, Saint Jerome removed the thorn and tended the lion’s wound. Grateful, the lion became tame and devoted, living peacefully among the monks and even serving as a helper in the community.

Though this tale is legendary and not a verified historical event, it endures in Catholic tradition as a symbol of Saint Jerome’s Christ-like compassion and the saintly call to see all of God’s creatures with eyes of mercy and kindness.

If you have ever seen the massive size of a lion in real life, the image invites us to pause for a moment and rejoice in the great gift that God has given us through Saint Jerome. His life was marked not only by courage, and faith and obedience to God, but devotion to the Word of God. Saint Jerome poured himself out in prayer, study, and perseverance, giving us the Latin Vulgate, the sacred translation of Scripture that shaped our Church’s theology for centuries.

Saint Jerome's life and work further remind us that “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” How beautiful it is to think that, through his tireless dedication, the living Word became accessible to all people, helping each of us come closer to Jesus every time we open the Bible.

St. Jerome’s title as a Doctor marks his feast day as theologically elevated. His memorial is observed globally in the Roman calendar and highlights his essential role in the Church’s scriptural foundation.

He teaches us the importance of loving God’s Word with our whole heart. His dedication to his life's work inspires every believer to seek, cherish, and reflect upon Scripture, trusting that the Lord speaks to us through His holy text. May Saint Jerome intercede for us, leading us deeper into the mystery of faith and the embrace of God’s love.

May peace be with you...

09/18/2025

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew Kim Taegŏn and His Companions

Dear Beloved in Christ,

What a profound joy it is to share with you the remarkable story Saint Andrew Kim Taegŏn and the blessed lives of his martyred companions, more than a hundred laymen and priests who embraced Christ.

Theirs is a story of faith triumphing over persecution, courage conquering fear, and love proving stronger than death itself.

Picture, if you will, the extraordinary providence of God at work in 18th-century Korea. Unlike so many other nations where the Gospel arrived through foreign missionaries, the Catholic faith took root in Korea through the hunger of Korean scholars themselves. These brilliant minds, studying Chinese texts that contained Christian writings from Jesuit missionaries, found themselves captivated not by academic curiosity alone, but by the profound truth of Christ calling to their hearts.

Andrew's father was one of those captivated by the Word. Andrew was born into Korea's noble class in 1821 and witnessed his father martyred for the faith in 1839, and his great-grandfather killed for Christianity in 1814. Yet rather than flee from the cross, Andrew embraced it, body and soul, with unwavering determination. At 15, he was baptized and undertook an incredible 1,300-mile journey to seminary in Macau.

After formation in Macau and the Philippines, Andrew was ordained in 1845—Korea's very first native-born priest. He understood his ministry would likely be brief, as Christianity was absolutely forbidden under the Joseon Dynasty. Father Andrew was arrested in 1846 while guiding French missionaries into Korea. At only 25, facing ex*****on on the Han River banks, his final words revealed a true martyr's heart:

"This is my last hour of life... if I have held communication with foreigners, it has been for my religion and my God. It is for Him that I die. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death."
Father Andrew was one of 10,000 Korean Christians martyred during those decades. Today, their sacrifice has borne magnificent fruit—South Korea now has more than 4 million Catholics in a thriving Church.

As we face our own challenges, Saint Andrew Kim also reminds us that age is no barrier to heroic sanctity and that true discipleship sometimes demands everything yet promises infinitely more than it costs.

On May 6, 1984, at the Yeouido square in Seoul, the celestial crown of holiness descended upon Saint Andrew Kim and his martyred companions as they were canonized by Saint John Paul II, in the first canonization ceremony outside the Vatican, among a large crowd of Korean Christians.

When Pope John Paul II canonized these 103 martyrs in Seoul on May 6, 1984, it drew the largest gathering in Korean peninsula history—a beautiful fulfillment of Tertullian's ancient words that "the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians."

Their witness teaches us that faith is worth dying for because it leads to life eternal. In our comfortable age, we may not face physical martyrdom, but we are all called to the daily martyrdom of dying to self, of choosing Christ over comfort, truth over popularity, virtue over convenience.

Let us ask these blessed martyrs—Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul and all his companions—to intercede for us, that we might have their courage, their fidelity, and their joyful confidence in Christ's victory over death.

May peace be with you...

Image Credit: oclarim.com

09/17/2025

The Feast Day of Saint Robert Bellarmine

Dear Beloved in Christ,

On September 17th, our Holy Mother Church invites us to honor Saint Robert Bellarmine - a towering intellect and a true shepherd after God's own heart. Please feel free to scroll to the end to watch Cardinal Dolan explain Saint Bellarmine's importance in our modern world.

Born in Montepulciano, Italy, in 1542, St. Bellarmine was ordained in 1570 and is renowned for combining the deepest intellectual rigor with the most tender love of Christ. Early on, young Robert saw that Church history and patristic studies had fallen into neglect - but rather than despair, he saw the opportunity to serve.

His masterpiece, "Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith," systematically addressed Protestant challenges with patient scholarship and a deep love for the truth.

Saint Robert shows us that intellectual excellence and deep holiness go hand in hand. In our time when the Church's teachings are questioned, he reminds us to respond not with anger, but with patient study, charitable dialogue, and lives that radiate Christ's love.

Despite his extraordinary intellect and eventual leadership position as a cardinal, Saint Robert never forgot the poor. He limited his expenses to bare essentials, eating only food available to the poor and giving away his vestments.

Pope Pius XI canonized St. Bellarmine in 1930 and declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1931. He is the beloved patron of catechists and catechumens: a catechist is a teacher of the Christian faith, while a catechumen is a person preparing for Christian initiation through instruction by a catechist.

If you have a moment, please feel free to watch Cardinal Dolan explain St. Bellarmine's importance for today's youth, and all of us.

May peace be with you...

https://x.com/CardinalDolan

09/12/2025

The Feast Day of Saint John Chrysostom,

Dear Beloved in Christ,

On September 13th, our Holy Church invites us into a sacred moment as we honor the feast of Saint John Chrysostom—a beloved shepherd whose eloquence and sanctity continue to illuminate our journey of faith.

Known affectionately as the “golden-mouthed,” Saint John poured out his gifts in service to God’s truth, speaking with courage, compassion, and crystalline clarity. With hearts full of gratitude, we joyfully recall his witness as a tireless teacher whose words were not only beautiful but deeply rooted in the love of Christ and in concern for the souls entrusted to his care.

St. John Chrysostom stands among the Church’s great Doctors, renowned for the splendor and depth of his sermons, his wise guidance regarding marriage, monastic discipline, and the priesthood, and his outspoken advocacy for the poor and forgotten. His message calls us to generosity, humility, and the quiet courage to speak truth gently, always reflecting Our Blessed Lord’s example—loving without measure, giving without counting the cost.

Through his fearless preaching, Saint John brought comfort to the afflicted and admonished those in power, reminding us that true discipleship is marked by mercy, conviction, and a heart open to those in need. Each year, as we celebrate his feast, the Church invites us to rekindle charity, wisdom, and reverence in our lives—drawing inspiration from this golden-mouthed saint who so tenderly loved the Lord and His flock.

May the celebration of Saint John Chrysostom’s feast day renew in every faithful heart the joyful resolve to love, serve, and proclaim Christ to the world. May his example shine before us as a beacon—gentle, strong, and ever devoted—and may every soul who walks in the light of his teaching grow deeper in holiness and peace.

May peace be with you...

09/11/2025

The Feast Day of the Holy Name of Mary

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As we journey through the gentle days of September, the Church offers us a beautiful reminder of faith and holiness that can lift our hearts. On September 12th, we celebrate the Holy Name of Mary—a feast that invites us to pause and reverently honor the sweet and sacred name of the Mother of Our Lord. This occasion reflects the Church’s deep love for Mary, whose name brings us comfort and signifies her closeness to every believer. Let us turn to her in prayer, invoking her gentle intercession and striving to imitate her humility, faith, and obedience.