Ireland Welcomed Jews

Dear Editor: Ireland welcomed approximately 2,000 Jewish refugees fleeing Eastern Europe between 1880 and 1910. The Irish Jewish Museum located in Dublin’s Clanbrassil St. area (known as “Dublin’s Little Jerusalem”) was opened by Dublin-born President of Israel Dr. Chaim Herzog in 1985.

Herzog attended Trinity College and spoke Yiddish with an Irish brogue. He loved the Irish people. When he was elected President in 1983, Herzog started the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Israel.

The museum contains memorabilia of the Jewish community’s contributions to present-day Ireland; for example, Mr. Robert Briscoe was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1956 and 1961. And his son, Ben Briscoe, was Lord Mayor in 1988.

Joyce’s Leopold Bloom (“Ulysses”) was born on Clanbrassil St. A plaque on a house next door to the museum reads: “Barry Fitzgerald (William Shields)… 1901-1988… Abbey Theatre… Oscar Winning Actor... Lived Here.”

Brother Edward Kent, OSF
Fresh Meadows

Editor’s Note: Brother Ed is a retired member of the faculty at St. Francis Prep. He is an expert on James Joyce and occasionally lectures on the great Irish author.

The Priests of Red Hook

Dear Editor: James Mack’s column, March 3, about Father Thomas Casey, Father William Galloway and Father William J. Reilly from Visitation parish in the 1940’s brought back many a memory. My sister Theresa and myself marched with the Visitation Band. Matty Walsh was the director. We marched in many a St. Patrick’s Day, Polish Day and Holy Name Rally parade.

My dad Joe Caputo  was an usher for well over 30 years. Mostly at the 6:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday morning.

I remember going to confession on the lines to Father Casey and Father Galloway. They were long while the line to Father Reilly had maybe three people. He would come out of the confessional and tell us to get in his line. He was tough in there but he was a great man and priest.

Mr. Mack also mentioned Dougherty’s Bar and Grill. The lady who lived across the street from us on Walcott St. would send me to Dougherty’s to fetch her husband at dinnertime.
Thanks, James, for bringing back those memories.

Rosario (Roy) Caputo
Howard Beach

Thanks from Far Rockaway

Dear Editor: I believe that I speak for the entire parish community when I say “Thank You” for the splendid coverage (Feb. 24) of the 150th anniversary Mass at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Far Rockaway. Saturday, Feb. 17 was a spectacular celebration of the 150th anniversary of this great parish.

How wonderful it was to see the church packed with so many people. It was an honor to have Bishop DiMarzio and Bishops Daily, Caggiano and Cisneros for this celebration. It was also a thrill to have two former pastors there, Msgr. Herron and Father Ogle, as well as so many priests who have served St. Mary’s in the past.

And so many families: Father Josephjude Gannon and his mother, the Schiavones, the Conroys, the Garcias, and so many more. And who can forget so many faithful servants, Msgr. McKenna, Sister Stella Francis, CSJ, Sister St. Pierre, CSJ, Eddie and Mary Mooney, Deacon Martin Waldron and Pearl, and so many more…

God bless Father James Cunningham, pastor of St. Mary’s. His leadership and coordination of this 150th anniversary will long be remembered and looked upon with gratitude for years to come.

May God grant St. Mary Star of the Sea another 150 years in spreading the Gospel, creating the future, and moving with the Spirit.

Sister Eileen M. McCabe, CSJ
Far Rockaway

Loves Pastor’s Leadership

Dear Editor: I just want to thank Msgr. Ronald Marino for his excellent leadership as our pastor at St. Rosalia - Regina Pacis. He is doing an excellent job. Our attendance at Mass is rising. Our collections are rising and he raised enough money to build a ramp so that our elderly and handicapped parishioners would be able to get into the church. I know that he will keep up the good work.

Thank you, Msgr. Marino, for the excellent job as pastor.

John Castaldo
Bensonhurst

More on Vocations as Brother

Dear Editor: It was wonderful of The Tablet to feature the ministry of Brother Charles Nuzzo, FSC, at St. Gabriel’s School, East Elmhurst, last month. It also was good to read the response of Brother Thomas Joseph Cole, OFM, March 3.

There are many grateful graduates of grammar schools where students were inspired by the work of Brothers of various congregations. While we hope that all readers will pray for young men to consider religious life, maybe all those who had the privilege of being taught by Brothers could pray for new vocations to arise in the diocese.

All our congregations can be found through the Internet. For more information about the De La Salle Christian Brothers, you can go to www.cbline.org, where information about our ministries and vocation can be found. (The Tablet story on Brother Charles is currently posted at our site.) Readers can Google any of the other congregations to explore the great work being done in Brooklyn by so many excellent congregations of Brothers.

A sincere thanks to you at The Tablet for bringing the vocational situation of Brothers to the forefront.

Brother Dennis Lee, FSC
Narragansett, RI

Editor’s Note: Brother Dennis is the vocation director for the Christia

Simple Welcome Works Wonders

Dear Editor: Thanks for citing, March 10, my recent article in Church Magazine about baptized Catholics who do not identify themselves as such anymore.

You noted that I divided them among three categories: spiritual seekers, those who disagree with Church teaching on sexuality and those who have studied theology and spirituality and have decided to take a different path away from their Catholic roots.

But there were also two more categories indicated in the article: those who marry outside the Catholic fold and take on the religious tradition of a spouse and those who move and fail to reconnect with a new parish. The experts I cited in the article (Spring 2007) indicated that these two groups constitute the largest in number. The optimistic spin on these facts is that often a simple invitation— particularly true for newcomers in any community –  can bring many back into the fold. The evangelization experts I quoted in the piece note there are relatively few “fallen away” Catholics who leave the Church for doctrinal issues. Often they are simply awaiting an invitation and the right opportunity. 

Your readers are welcome to contact the National Pastoral Life Center at 212-431-7825 or visit their website at www.nplc.org for more information about how to reach out to inactive Catholics.

 Peter Feuerherd
Rego Park

Pro-Lifers Not Being Heard

Dear Editor: The March 3 Tablet had an interesting letter from Margaret Treacy regarding the pro-life message and upcoming 2008 presidential election. I’d like to add a couple of comments.

First of all, Ms. Treacy made a minor mistake in stating that Maureen O’Connell was running for State Senate in Suffolk County, it was Nassau County. More importantly I’d like to express my frustration and pessimism regarding how the pro-life message is being sent out, especially on behalf of Catholics.

I consider the pro-life message one of the most important issues of our time. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the Catholic Church is doing enough on its part to spread the word.

Yes, the 2008 presidential election is important. However, so are many other elections. In November 2006 Eliot Spitzer won the election in New York State and became our new governor.

Unfortunately Eliot Spitzer’s policies are contrary to the pro-life message. If you don’t believe me, look it up. He supports embryonic stem cell research. Where was the Catholic Church in November? I’m not saying that there wasn’t a movement to oppose him. I’m just saying that it was not heard.

Personally, I attended a conference on Oct. 7, 2006, sponsored by the Brooklyn Diocese at St John’s University on stem-cell research. At the conference many of the moral issues on stem-cell research were discussed. When I offered to speak at my parish on this issue, I was put aside and not offered the opportunity.

In addition, every year the March for Life takes place in January to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion in this country. This day should be the Catholics’ 9/11 so to speak. While some parishes encourage its members to participate in the march, many (including mine) are silent on this issue. When I speak to some people regarding this issue and getting the younger Catholics involved, many of them tell me that this is not an issue they should be involved in yet.

However, the media is certainly getting out the “pro-choice” message to the young people, and as a result the pro-life movement is starting out behind the eight ball.

Thomas Murawski
Glendale

Editor’s Note: Certainly, the diocesan leadership has not been silent on these issues, but we do have to be careful to stick to the issues and not endorse or support specific candidates.