Commentary

  • Commentary

    A Message to My Parishioners before Election Day

    The follow message was sent via bulletin to the parishioners of Our Saviour and the Chapel of the Sacred Hearts in NYC on Sunday November 1, 2020. Election 2020 – Millions of Catholic Voters Dear Parishioners: In the midst of this volatile and divisive 2020 election, I want to be re-affirm clearly that all are invited and welcome at Our Saviour and the Chapel of the Sacred Hearts. Some of you have or will vote for Donald Trump. Some of you have or will vote for Joe Biden. Some of you may sit out this election – I wish you wouldn’t. All of you are welcome at the Church of…

  • Commentary

    Thank you: A Message of Hope and Gratitude

    As we exit Thanksgiving time and the world around us enters into Christmas festivities, I draw your attention to Advent, a season marked preeminently by hope, and expectation – virtues and values that even our Christian tradition has a difficult time holding onto. Our Catholic Charities work is the incarnation of the virtue of hope. While each Catholic Charities agency has its own, the overall tagline of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of New York is “providing help and creating hope.” Our work has little meaning unless it brings hope to those in need. Is not a major part of our work convincing those who approach us for help to…

  • Commentary

    George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States

    My Brief, yet Memorable Encounter with Human Decency and Respect I had the privilege of meeting President George H.W. Bush in person once. It was brief, by accident, and had nothing to do with any of the broad range of public policy issues in which he was involved during his varied and long tenure of public service. It occurred at the end of May, 1993, about four months after he left office. I was meeting with Cardinal John Joseph O’Connor at the cardinal’s Madison Avenue residence when the doorbell rang. A minute or so later, President George H.W. Bush was standing at the doorway of the room where Cardinal O’Connor…

  • Commentary,  Protecting & Nurturing Children & Youth

    A MESSAGE FROM MONSIGNOR SULLIVAN: NOT SILENCE, NOR MERELY WORDS, BUT FAITH & MISSION-FILLED ACTIONS…

    I write with strong negative emotions. The recent Pennsylvania grand jury report depicts a 70-year narrative that cries out to heaven. Outrage, sadness, disappointment, disgust, anger, frustration, etc. are part of what I feel. My first reaction was simple: “What …!?!” Many in, and outside the Church, have spoken. I won’t quote them, but simply mention a few words and phrases that to me are on target: tragedy, sick, criminal, mishandling, clericalism, repentance, accountability, firm purpose of amendment, cover-up, institutional self-preservation, betrayal. These recent revelations of the abuse of children by clergy and its mishandling by bishops rend asunder in very particular ways the hearts of our Catholic Charities family.…

  • Commentary

    “Congress shall have the power… to declare War.”

    Last evening, I attended an important event focusing on the first amendment right of religious liberty. This is critically important as religious liberty, domestically and globally, is currently threatened in diverse and challenging ways. In the gift bag was a miniature copy of the Constitution. Since it was the eve of the Memorial Day weekend, I perused it and found Section 8 that states very simply: “Congress shall have the power… to declare War.” This weekend we will remember with appreciation and prayer those who gave their lives fighting wars. Sadly, our political system is so paralyzed and compromised that with regularity men and women of the United States are…