HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

March 11, 2010

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PUBLIC POLICY DAY

Catholics lobby state lawmakers

The future of Catholic schools is weighing heavily on the minds of Catholics in New York State — and Conor Genovesi and Ben Valentine want to tell their legislators about it.


SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Author urges Velveteen Rabbit principles

A children’s book made Toni Raiten-D’Antonio reevaluate her life.

REFLECTION

Halfway through!

We are halfway through the 40 days of Lent. Is there time to start if we haven’t yet been ready?


YEAR FOR PRIESTS Q&A

Pastor readjusts after military time

Rev. John Close, 57, is pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in New Lebanon and its mission church, St. Joseph’s in Stephentown. He was ordained for the Diocese of Albany in 1982.


DEBUT IN DIOCESE

First Rachel's Vineyard retreat to offer healing after abortion

The impact of abortion is most often measured by numbers of unborn children lost. But the trauma suffered by women who have abortions can include guilt, depression, addictions, broken relationships and repeat crisis pregnancies.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Leaders call for slashing poverty

Perhaps its own tea party movement is brewing within Catholic Charities.

DIOCESAN APOSTOLATE

Vietnamese Catholics 'vibrant and growing'

Those wishing to experience a bit of Vietnamese culture can do so the first Sunday of each month at Sacred Heart Church in Albany. That’s when the Vietnamese Apostolate in the Albany Diocese has its 11 a.m. Mass.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Albany Catholics asked to help poor worldwide

In the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, Catholic Relief Services provided food to 500,000 survivors, gave shelter kits to about 6,500 families and oversaw efforts to revive St. Francois de Sales Hospital in Port-au-Prince.


COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Siena Saints become ‘three-peat’ MAAC champs

For the third consecutive year, the Siena Saints men’s college basketball team is going to the NCAA Tournament.