Details:  To prominent comedian Jim Gaffigan, his wife’s brain tumor is definitely no laughing matter. But after his wife Jeannie successfully underwent a nine-hour surgery last month, which completely removed the tumor wrapped around her brain stem, Jim can now afford to smile. Just weeks after her surgery, Jeannie, 47, told PEOPLE that the entire medical ordeal she underwent was “a miracle.” “There’s just going to be so much to come out of this for me,” the comedy writer said. Jeannie... Read more

Further evidence that we’re doomed:  If the secret to a happy marriage is finding the right person, we can all stop looking. At least, according to “sologamists.” They’re part of a growing relationship trend, in which people are tying the knot to themselves. Erika Anderson is one of them. “I would describe it as women saying yes to themselves,” Anderson said. “It means that we are enough, even if we are not partnered with someone else.” In many ways, the... Read more

The world lost a good shepherd last night: the 6th bishop of Brooklyn, Thomas Vose Daily. He died at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens after several years of failing health. He was 89. Bishop Daily was a frequent visitor to our parish in Queens. He spent his Saturday mornings praying the rosary, often alone, outside a nearby abortion clinic, then stopping by our rectory for coffee and bagels.  I had the privilege of assisting at Mass with him several times.... Read more

From the WYD Facebook page:  Mary is at the centre of the World Youth Day 2019 logo. Ambar Calvo, 20 years old, a college student of Panama University, was the winner of the World Youth Day (WYD) logo contest convened by Pope Francis. The Canal of Panama stands out in the logo, which symbolises the way of the pilgrim who finds in Mary the course to meet Jesus. The silhouette of the Panamanian Isthmus, is seen as a place of welcome.... Read more

Today, Mother’s Day, a woman I know came to me in tears, barely able to speak. Her young daughter had chosen today to let her mother know she had just had an abortion. Please, in your charity, remember this woman, her daughter, and her daughter’s unborn child in your prayers—and hold up in prayer, as well, all those who are living with the aftermath of abortion. Their numbers are legion—and, in our Catholic parishes, probably even greater than we know. I... Read more

Multiple reports are saying this news could be announced any day now: Callista Gingrich, the wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is the preferred nominee to be the next ambassador to the Vatican. The White House hopes to announce her nomination before President Donald Trump meets with Pope Francis on May 24 in Rome. The decision to nominate Gingrich has been made, but the announcement has taken longer than expected pending approval from the Office of Government Ethics, an... Read more

Amazing story:  The weather was gray and misty with a deep chill on the London morning in January 2008 that Jonny Benjamin almost took his own life. A recent diagnosis of a serious mental health condition already felt like a death sentence. He climbed over a railing and sat on the edge of Waterloo Bridge, staring down at the Thames River below and willing himself to jump. Neil Laybourn was crossing the bridge by foot on his way to work, his first week... Read more

From his press conference during his return flight from Fatima: In response to a question from the press about the authenticity of the apparitions, Catholic News Service said, the pope, referring to the findings of a commission chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the retired papal vicar of Rome, explained: “The report has its doubts, but personally, I am a little worse,” the pope told reporters traveling with him from Fatima, Portugal. “I prefer Our Lady as mother, our mother, and... Read more

While the world honors the anniversary of the first appearance of Mary at Fatima, the New York Times’ great Dan Barry takes note of a forgotten New Yorker who witnessed the apparition at Knock: The letter delivered by hand to the Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor commanded one of its residents — a John Curry — to appear before a tribunal of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Refusal could lead to “ecclesiastical... Read more

…And he actually got a reply. Awesome story:  You send someone a gift; you get a thank you letter. Not surprising. You send a gift to the Pope, who knows what will happen? Dr. William Abersold of Highland can tell you. Last November, the author and Ph.D sent his book “Words about God” to Pope Francis. Then waited and waited. The agony ended in April when the mail arrived with an envelope marked the Vatican. Abersold couldn’t believe his eyes.... Read more