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Every year on December 31, Italians rush to get the last missing ingredients to prepare the “Cenone di San Silvestro,” the dinner of St. Sylvester. Sylvester was pope from 314 to 335, marking the beginning of the Christian Roman Empire, and he passed away on December 31, 335. Among the many delicacies served for the occasion, one dish can’t be miss...

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The 2025 Jubilee marks a significant spiritual event for the Catholic Church, centered around the symbolic opening of the Holy Doors in Rome's four major papal basilicas. Each door represents a passage to divine grace and renewal, drawing millions of pilgrims worldwide. Rome's four papal basilicas, with their rich history and spiritual importance,...

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Over the weekend of December 13, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan led a parish’s 125th anniversary celebration: Our Lady of Peace Church in Gowanus marked the milestone with a Mass and dinner. The now Franciscan parish was founded by the Vincentians in 1899, but the Diocese of Brooklyn brought in the Franciscan province of the Immaculate Conception b...

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Long Island Bishop Lawrence Provenzano, whose New York diocese includes the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens and the two suburban counties to the east, announced Dec. 10 he plans to step down in 2026 after 17 years as bishop. Provenzano was consecrated bishop in September 2009. He previously had served as a priest in the dioceses of Western Massachu...

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John Campitelli started searching for his birth mother when he was only 11 years old. Born in 1963 in Turin, Italy, he was adopted two years later by an American Catholic couple in New York. For years, he believed his birth parents were dead, although no one had ever given him any explanation about why he was given up for adoption. In 1991, after y...

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During the latter stages of World War II, thousands of Italian soldiers were captured by the Allies in North Africa and Sicily. They were sent as prisoners of war to various locations such as England, India, South Africa and the United States. A total of 52,000 Italian POWs were distributed around 21 camps in 18 states of the United States. In thes...

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The Jubilee, also known as the Holy Year, will soon take place with visitors flocking to Rome, the Vatican City and across Italy. It is a sacred event for the Catholic Church typically held every 25 years for patrons to ask forgiveness for their sins. The event begins on Dec. 24 when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the V...

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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, better known as Mother Cabrini, was a woman who defied the odds, broke barriers, and dedicated her life to serving those most in need. Her legacy continues to shine as she returns to her homeland of Italy as a “pilgrim of hope” in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee. On the anniversary of her beatification, a statue honorin...

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Pope Francis said he will canonize Carlo Acutis next April, setting the eagerly awaited date for the late teenager to become the Catholic Church’s first millennial and digital-era saint. Francis made the announcement at the end of his weekly general audience on Wednesday, saying he would proclaim the church’s youngest contemporary saint during the...

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The statue of Mother Cabrini is going home. A celebration is planned for the statue's return to Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in the Ironbound Section of Newark on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. The statue of Mother Cabrini, who is also known as St. Frances Xavier and who is the first American saint, will be on the grounds of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chu...

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