stceceliastgabriel

Encouragement

There’s a passage from the first chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy in which the ancient Israelites are encamped close to the border of the land promised to them by God. Moses tells them that the Lord wants them to go in and take possession of it. But the people are unsure. So, they sendContinue reading “Encouragement “

A Clearing in the Woods

St. Boniface (feast day 6/5) was an 8th century English monk who left his homeland to evangelize the region we now call Germany. There, he reformed the weak, ignorant, and immoral clergy who were notoriously disobedient to Church authority. His efforts led to the spread of Christianity before his martyrdom in 755 A.D. He isContinue reading “A Clearing in the Woods “

Curbside Sanctuary

Everybody knows that summer in Stamford officially begins with the Greek Fair at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Newfield Ave. For many years, our next-door neighbors have provided rides, games, and lots of food the first weekend of June, and the crowds are reliably large. Visitors to the fair typically use the grounds of St.Continue reading “Curbside Sanctuary “

Time to Pray

When I was in college, I heard a priest preach about the importance of daily prayer. He said that the Catholic whose interaction with God was limited to attendance at Sunday Mass and nothing more the rest of the week was living on “spiritual life support.” His point was that, while Sunday Mass is foundational,Continue reading “Time to Pray “

Get Married

These days, marriage is often dismissed or overlooked as an important institution for human flourishing. But in his new book Get Married, Brad Wilcox, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, argues that “so many of the biggest problems across America are rooted in the collapse of marriage and family life.” In fact,Continue reading “Get Married “

White Garments

My father keeps on his desk a framed photo from the day of his First Holy Communion, 74 years ago at Sacred Heart Church in West Brighton, Staten Island. He’s posing in a white suit with short pants, white knee socks and shoes, with a big white ribbon on his sleeve. Very fancy. Nowadays itContinue reading “White Garments “

Restorative Images

Interesting things are happening in France. Adult baptisms are up 30%. There is unprecedented interest in the annual pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres. The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral will be finished in time for Christmas. All this surprisingly good news was reported by The Pillar in the context of an interview of 27-year-old FrenchmanContinue reading “Restorative Images “

Our Special Guests

Before you read any further, please mark this date on your calendar: May 21, 2024. At 8pm that evening, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will arrive to the Church of St. Cecilia. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is an initiative of the bishops of the United States. Four groups of pilgrims will be journeying from different placesContinue reading “Our Special Guests “

Eclipse

If you are reading this article, it means the world didn’t end last week. This, despite the occurrence of a torrential rainstorm, an earthquake, and a solar eclipse all happening within a fortnight of each other. Personally, I found the rain depressing, the earthquake unsettling, and the eclipse fascinating. I remember my first experience ofContinue reading “Eclipse “

Compunction & Divine Mercy

A few days before Easter, Pope Francis gave a homily about compunction to the priests of the Diocese of Rome. Though not a word one often hears, he said compunction is “essential” to the spiritual life. It’s related to the word puncture, referring to “a piercing of the heart that is painful and evokes tearsContinue reading “Compunction & Divine Mercy “