Christians Under Siege in Mideast

 Icon representing the Coptic martyrs

Some sources for news and ways to help:

Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Aid to the Church in Need

Help Iraq

Patrick Keely Symposium in New York

On Friday, March 20, 2015, The Monuments Conservancy will present its 25th Symposium at the New York Marriott East Side, 525 Lexington Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 pm, to  discuss the life and legacy of Patrick Charles Keely.  Keely was one of the most influential church architects of late 19th Century America.  In the Diocese of Toledo, St Francis de Sales chapel in Toledo and St. Peter & Paul church in Sandusky were his designs.

This year's theme is "The Eucharistic Foundation of Patrick Charles Keely's Artistry."   For more information, call 212-764-5645 x10 or email symposium@nationalsculpture.org

UPDATE:  Here's a link to online text of "Patrick Charles Keely, architect; a record of his life and work" by Francis Kervick -- click HERE.

Basilicas and More Basilicas

Pope Francis has named the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan, as a Minor Basilica.  Details HERE.

Somehow I missed several churches in Ohio being given the designation recently:

St John in Canton

St Mary of the Assumption in Marietta

Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Youngstown

Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson (near Youngstown).

Our local basilica, Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, was given the title in 1971.

A list of all basilicas in the United States HERE.