TRUMBULL - Finn Kilmartin and Will Zaccagnino were in the eighth grade when they found out they'd both be heading to St. Joseph for their high school years.
Since that time, they've become massive parts of the Hogs' football team, Kilmartin as a linebacker and sometimes running back, and Zaccagnino as a disruptive lineman wreaking havoc on both sides of the ball.
When Kilmartin sees the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Zaccagnino make a big play, he's not just celebrating with a friend or a teammate.
He's celebrating with his godfather.
Kilmartin converted to Catholicism with guidance from Father Ferry Galbert, the school's former chaplain, during his sophomore year and received the Sacraments all at once, with baptism, confirmation and communion at the Easter Vigil in 2025.

#finn #since #hogs #catholicism

When Amy-Jill Levine was a child in Massachusetts, a schoolmate in her predominantly Catholic hometown told her she was guilty of killing Christ because she was Jewish.
Her mother reassured her that wasn't the case — and instead of being embittered by the encounter, the young Levine began attending a Catholic catechism class to learn more about her Christian neighbors and their beliefs.
That blossomed into a decades-long academic career in an unusual role — a Jewish scholar of Christian Scriptures. Levine has worked to improve how Christians and her fellow Jews understand each other. She's spoken at many churches and taught students about the ancient Jewish context of Jesus' life and teachings. She's written numerous books, some in tandem with Christian scholars; she and a co-author even presented one book personally to Pope Francis.
But after the Catholic Biblical **** ociation of America announced earlier this month that Levine was elected its first-ever Jewish president, an antisemitic backlash began.
Denunciations appeared in the posts and replies on social media accounts with tens of thousands of followers. Critics called her "anti-Christian," claimed she's trying to hijack Catholicism, denounced Jews for not accepting Jesus, and tacked on anti-Zionist comments.

#jewish #jill #massachusetts

Lady Marina Windsor is not your average royal — and she certainly does not dress like your average royal. As the great-great-granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary of Teck, Marina is somewhat distantly related to Queen Elizabeth II. Marina's grandfather — Prince Edward, Duke of Kent — was the late queen's first cousin. This means that Elizabeth was Marina's first cousin twice removed.
While Marina's connection to royalty is undeniable, it's also not particularly strong. The late queen never considered Marina a member of her inner circle. The young aristocrat has never served the crown as a full-time working royal. What's more, Marina actually forfeited her place in the line of succession as a result of her dedication to Roman Catholicism — the religion of her Canadian-born mother.
The unusual combination of Marina's royal bloodline and her relative distance from the throne has given her a unique sartorial opportunity. While Marina does occasionally have to embrace some royal fashion rules, she also has the chance to push the bounds of what is considered acceptable clothing for women of her rank. By playing with bright colors, floral patterns, and more traditional cuts, Marina has developed a sense of style that defies all expectations. Rather than follow trends, the aristocrat has made a fashion category all of her own.
Read more: Here's How Much Each Member Of The Royal Family Is Really Worth
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#marina #royal #great #late

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch said in a recent interview that the U.S. was not founded on "one race or one religion," pushing back on arguments made by conservatives such as Vice President Vance.
"We were founded, a lot of our colonies, for our religious pluralism, right? And the opportunity to practice your own faith in your own way," Gorsuch told PBS host Margaret Hoover in an episode of "Firing Line" published Friday.
"And we were never supposed to be a nation that was about one race or one religion, it was about those ideas," he added, referring to America's founding principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "And those things are perfect ideas that speak to every human heart and that unite us all."
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, touted his view in December that Christianity provided the prevailing ideals for the founding and continuation of the country.
"I'm not saying you have to be a Christian to be an American. I'm saying something simpler and truer: Christianity is America's creed, the shared moral language from the Revolution to the Civil War and beyond," the vice president said at Turning Point USA's annual "AmericaFest" event.

#religion

(NewsNation) — Catholicism is seeing renewed interest among some members of Gen Z, many of whom are embracing traditional values and searching for deeper meaning and purpose. The trend has also become part of a broader conversation about how faith and traditional values are influencing American politics, particularly among conservatives seeking to reshape the Republican Party.
"There are so many things out there that cheapen life, and they're looking for some meaning," said the Rev. Jim Lisante of Our Lady of the Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park, New York. He spoke with NewsNation's Leland Vittert on Monday, saying he thinks the church provides that to the younger generation.
"I think for many, many young people today, they are saying, 'Everything I've been promised that would give my life meaning has not given my life meaning, and maybe there is a deeper spiritual reality I should explore.'"
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In Washington, D.C., Catholics hold a significant number of influential positions. Catholics make up a majority of the Supreme Court, and more than a third of President Donald Trump's second-term Cabinet. Vice President J.D. Vance is among the most prominent Catholic figures in the administration and recently released a book about his faith journey **** led "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith."