A psychiatrist on prayer, faith and illness

Short posting on the NY Times health blog – Prayer, Faith and Doctors – Well – Tara Parker-Pope – Health – New York Times Blog Several doctors I spoke with were religious before they became patients, but they were admittedly even more so once they faced serious illness. Others changed more dramatically. “Patients used to … Read more

Good Friday Pax Christi Stations of the Cross

Pax Christi is the Catholic peace organization. The Stations of the Cross going across Manhattan, mostly on 42nd St., are the New York branch’s biggest event of the year. This was the 26th year in a row they organized the Stations. Brigid and I participated for many years, from about 1991. I think being involved … Read more

Easter Day at the Gagnon’s

After 10:45 Mass (very crowded!) we went over to the Gagnon Estate for an Easter egg hunt and Easter dinner. This is a bit of a tradition – we’ve gone to the Gagnon’s for quite a few Easter days. Two of the six Gagnon’s were not around – Monica is working in France, and Nate … Read more

Easter and Lent

Today we are going to the 10:45 Mass, and then over to the Gagnons to eat lots of food and drink a bit of wine. I thought this was a cool picture.  Tom Faranda’s Folly: "Apostles Peter and John hurry to the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection" Unfortunately it’s a little small – … Read more

Good Friday, “Return from Calvary”

My friend Laura put me on to this picture, very coincidentally, yesterday. It is by British artist Herbert Schmalz (1856-1935). You can just see Calvary in the upper right hand corner. This morning I will be doing the Pax Christi Stations of the Cross, going across midtown Manhattan.

Fr. Eugene Keane

I just got an email that this priest had died. I knew him a little, and then Brigid and I had some very pleasant contact with him. Tim and his birth mother stayed in his home (it was below Kingston, NY) before Tim was born. I doubt if we had seen Fr. at all in … Read more

Tragic death in Croton

Yesterday morning there was a terribly sad and shocking accident at the Croton-Harmon railway station, as Theresa Fiorentino, the operator of the newstand in the station was struck and killed by an Amtrak train. Like everyone else who ever commuted to New York, I saw the lady all the time back when I was a … Read more