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How Pope Francis Celebrated His 86th Birthday

Pope Francis kept a busy schedule of appointments on his 86th birthday.

However, those he met with didn’t forget his special day.

Before awarding the Mother Teresa prize to three recipients, the Pope was given bouquets of sunflowers by the Missionaries of Charity.

He also met with a group of seminarians from Rome, and the president of Slovenia.

Later in the day, the Pope met with artists performing at the Vatican’s annual Christmas Concert for Peace. They played him songs with drums and bagpipes, which of course included “Happy Birthday.”

The following day the Pope invited a group of children receiving aid from the Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary to the Vatican, with their families and volunteers.

They sang him happy birthday and presented him with a cake, before he encouraged a bit of mischief.

“And now, take some frosting, take it, take it, and in the mouth. Is it good? Go ahead,” the Pope said.

A group then performed circus tricks, and even the Pope participated.

Diocese of Brooklyn’s Christmas Tree Lights Up The Sky at Grand Army Plaza

GRAND ARMY PLAZA — With the flip of a switch, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s official Christmas tree came to life on Wednesday, Dec. 14, with 16,000 twinkling lights shining brightly against the evening sky.

The 28-foot-tall Norway Spruce, covered with those glistening LED lights, stands majestically beneath the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza.

Bishop Robert Brennan, who led the countdown to the tree lighting, marveled at the sight of the tree, as well as the life-sized Nativity beneath it, sitting at the center of the busy Brooklyn traffic circle.

“And in the middle of all this busyness, we’re proclaiming the joy of Christmas,” he told The Tablet.

Before the ceremony, which was hosted by Currents News Anchor Christine Persichette, a crowd gathered at Grand Army Plaza to see how the tree would look when the lights were finally turned on.

“I just happened to be coming by, and I saw this tree. So I decided to stay and watch,” Jacqueline Lionel said. “I love anything that has to do with Jesus Christ and the day He was born. I guess you can say I’m here to honor Him.”

The theme of this year’s tree can be summed up in one word: Unity.

The multi-colored lights are meant to display the diversity in the Diocese of Brooklyn, which is known as “The Diocese of Immigrants” and where Mass is celebrated in 33 different languages. Shining brightly together, the lights also symbolize the unity in the diocese as well as among Catholics worldwide who are united in the belief that Jesus Christ came into the world to be the savior of all men and women.

“The tree, lit up in the brightly different colors, is really a sign for us of both unity and diversity,” Bishop Brennan said. “Unity means that with our differences, all the different ways that we approach life [and] cultural backgrounds, there is something that pulls us together. And that, for us as Catholic Christians, is our faith.”

The call for unity comes at a time when the nation is divided over many issues, including immigration and the question of how to handle the number of undocumented immigrants who cross over every day from Mexico to enter the U.S.

The tree lighting ceremony, held against the backdrop of music performed by the choir of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, was sponsored by DeSales Media Group, the technology and communications ministry of the diocese and parent company of The Tablet.

It also featured a prayer for unity from Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Octavio Cisneros, and Father Alonzo Cox.

“May all of us, created in the image and likeness of God, continue to grow in unity as one body, one spirit, one church,” said Father Cox, the director of The Liturgy Office for the diocese. Bishop Mroziewski read a portion of the prayer in Polish, and Bishop Cisneros recited a part in Spanish.

The tree, purchased by the diocese from a family-owned farm in Pennsylvania, was brought to Brooklyn a week before the lighting ceremony. It was cut down, transported to the borough, and set up at Grand Army Plaza by Torsilieri Inc., the company that provides the same service for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

Msgr. Sean Ogle, vicar for clergy for the diocese and chairman of the board of DeSales Media Group, said prayer is important, particularly now.

“Above all,” he said, “we know we need the power of prayer to light up the world’s darkness.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 12/15/22

 

Just as it does every year, Grand Army Plaza has a colorful new addition. The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Christmas tree is shining bright!

The Israeli Tourism Ministry is expecting more than 120,000 pilgrims will try to visit Jesus’ hometown during Christmas week.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 12/14/22

The Emmaus Center in Williamsburg was filled with the sounds of Christmas.

The Diocese of Brooklyn is getting into the Christmas spirit! The annual tree lighting is today.

A retired NYPD cop wants to make sure children have presents under their trees this Christmas.

Stars Shine During ‘Spirit of Christmas’ Concert at the Emmaus Center

By Ed Wilkinson and John Alexander

WILLIAMSBURG — A rock legend, a Grammy Award winner, an American Idol finalist, and a New York Tenor highlighted the Spirit of Christmas Concert that benefitted Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens.

The festive annual event was held on Dec. 13 at the Emmaus Center in Williamsburg, a diocesan center for evangelization through the arts.

The packed house of more than 600 people was treated to some beloved rock, pop and Christmas classics, along with some Grammy Award-winning hits courtesy of Al Jardine of The Beach Boys and singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson.

World-renowned New York Tenor Christopher Macchio hosted the show and performed alongside each featured guest, including 10th season American Idol finalist Haley Reinhart, female vocalist Jackie DiMaggio, harpist Erin Hill and celebrated pop and Doo-Wop singer Joel Katz.

The star-studded cavalcade of popular music performers took the stage along with such notable guests as Bishop Robert Brennan and Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Williamsburg.

The show opened with Juan Morales and his group performing a well-received rendition of “Feliz Navidad.” Anthony Mangano, host of NET-TV’s “City of Churches” welcomed everyone with a prayer and a rendition of “A New York Christmas,” before singer Joel Katz impressed the audience with his cover of the late Johnny Maestro’s classic “16 Candles.” Especially moving was the fact that Maestro’s widow was in the audience.

The audience erupted in applause when Al Jardine performed a selection of The Beach Boys hits including “Surfin’ USA,” “California Girls,” “I Get Around” and the 1965 No. 1 hit “Help Me, Rhonda,” that featured Jardine singing lead on the original recording. Macchio joined Jardine for a touching rendition of “What Would I Do Without You.” Erin Hill and Jardine performed a heartfelt duet of The Beach Boys favorite “In My Room.”

Msgr. Gigantiello called it an “extra special” evening because all proceeds from the show benefit Futures in Education, an organization that for more than 30 years has helped provide financial aid and tuition for students attending Catholic schools and academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and allowed the audience to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas.

Bryson has released more than 30 albums, with five being certified Gold, and 57 charted singles, including the 1984 top-20 duet classic “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack, and the top-10 hits “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” and the chart-topping “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle.

Bryson was joined by DiMaggio for his Grammy Award-winning duet “Beauty and the Beast,” which he originally recorded with Celine Dion. Bryson mentioned Dion’s recent health struggles and asked the audience to pray for her.

Reinhart dedicated a stunning performance of “Silent Night” to Bishop Brennan as she reflected upon attending Midnight Mass and recalling all that it means to her and her family.

Macchio, who has performed in some of the most esteemed venues around the globe, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, and the White House, performed devotional standards, including “Ave Maria,” and Msgr. Gigantiello’s favorite hymn, “O Holy Night,” which Msgr. Gigantiello said it best sums up “the true meaning of Christmas and the night Jesus was born and became man to be with us.”

To conclude the program, Macchio invited Bishop Brennan and all the performers to join him on stage for the timely hymn “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

The Emmaus Center is a world-class performing arts theater housed in the historic Williamsburg Opera House, which was built in 1897 and renovated in 2021. The 800-seat venue is situated above Ss. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church and located at 299 Berry Street in Williamsburg.

Craig Tubiolo, executive director of the Emmaus Center and founder of Godsplanproductions.com, said that the purpose of the concert was to bring people together.

“The audience was blessed by legendary performances by our very own Chris Macchio and special guests,” Tubiolo added. “It was clear to see that their God-given gifts and talents were on display in honor of the Christmas season.”

Celebrate Christmas ‘With Ukraine In Your Hearts,’ Pope Says, Urging Aid

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Celebrating Christmas is important and beautiful, Pope Francis said, but he asked people to spend less on their celebrations this year and donate the savings to help the people of Ukraine.

As he has done at his general audiences since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the pope asked pilgrims and visitors Dec. 14 to express their “closeness to the martyred Ukrainian people, persevering in fervent prayer for these brothers and sisters of ours who are suffering so much.”

“Brothers and sisters, I tell you, they are suffering so very, very much in Ukraine,” the pope said.

“I want to draw your attention to Christmas, which is coming, and to the festivities,” he said. “It’s beautiful to celebrate Christmas and have parties, but let’s reduce the level of Christmas spending a bit; let’s have a simpler Christmas with more modest gifts.”

And, the pope said, “let’s send what we save to the people of Ukraine, who are suffering so much.”

People in the country are hungry and cold, he said.

“And many die because there are no doctors and nurses available,” the pope said.

Celebrate Christmas “at peace with the Lord,” he said, and “with Ukraine in your hearts.”