RIP Tim Russert 1950 - 2008

Updated with refelections from his son Luke, Chris Matthews, Mike Barnicle, Pat Buchanan, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Tom Brokaw, Maria Shriver


Buffalo-born Irish American Tim Russert, anchor of NBC's "Meet the Press," died Friday afternoon of an apparent heart attack. His last act was doing voice overs for Sunday's show. The Emmy award-winning Washington Bureau chief of the network was only 58 years old and had just returned from a European trip with his wife Maureen Orth and son, Luke. He is survived by them, his sisters, and his father, Timothy Sr., about whom Tim wrote two best selling books("Big Russ and Me: Father and Son: Lessons of Life" and "Wisdom of Our Fathers:Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons"). One of the country's most respected political journalists, he was known as a hard questioner no matter which side of the political aisle upon which one sat. If you click on no other link, listen to the videos made by his colleagues. They are accolades to his gravitas, in a business that is all too often cut-throat. Particularly listen to Matthews, Barnicle and Buchanan on Hardball as they discuss the Irish obsession with politics and Irish-American Catholicism.
Photo credit: Boston College

Russert, who was a National Baseball Hall of Fame board member, began his career with NBC in 1984 and helmed "Meet the Press" beginning in 1991; prior to that he had been a counselor to New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who authored the 2008 Time Magazine biography featured below and earlier, an aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. We remember meeting him in Kingston, NY in the late 1970's when the senator was on a trip there and Russert served as chief of staff. A gracious man with an Irish sense of humor, he displayed a keen insight for politics which served him well in both his political and journalistic careers. And he was always kind to the journalists, even those of us who freelanced.

God rest his soul, and give comfort to his family. We will miss his voice, especially in this presidential election year.

Timothy J. Russert, 1950 - 2008

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25186769#25186769
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25186769#25186769
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25145655/displaymode/1107/s/2/framenumber/1/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lklfIPBK4Zg
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733752_1735737,00.html http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/russert-dies-of-apparent-heart-attack/#comments
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1814437,00.html

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, WGT

Victory Celebration for St. Brigid's Parish

In a telephone interview with Edwin Torres, chairman of the Committee to Save St. Brigid's, he told us that the Committee will be holding a fundraiser/ celebration at Connolly's, 121 West 45th St. on June 18th, at 7 p.m. sharp. This will be a reprise of 2006's Bards for St. Brigid's, with musicians like Larry Kirwan, and authors like Peter Quinn and Malachy McCourt. The proceeds will be donated to the legal defense fund. "We just want to say thank you to all the people who made this possible and who, by extension, are members of our parish."

Photo credit: Patricia Jameson-Sammartano


From our perspective, we can't wait for the next Mass to be celebrated at the Famine Church of the Lower East Side. This is proof that miracles do exist, and God is indeed hope.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, WGT

http://www.cny.org/archive/ld/ld1052208.htm
http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=8106

Saint Brigid's Has Been Saved!!!!!

Today's news about St. Brigid's Church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan is truly miraculous. The embattled congregation, which has been working mightily to save the church, has received the news that their church will be purchased by an unnamed benefactor for $20 million dollars. We quote an email from Edwin Torres, the chairperson of the Committee to Save St. Brigid's:

"Dear Members,
The associated press release a press release that an anonymous donor has met with the Cardinal and offered 20 million dollars to the Archdiocese. 10 million to restore St Brigid as a Parish Church, 2 million for an endowment and 8 million for the school. The Cardinal has accepted his unexpected offer. ST. BRIGID CHURCH is Saved!!!! I am lining up interviews with TV stations. The first will be with UNIvision today @ 12:30. in front of the church. Please try and come. I know it is short notice but it would be great if the committee is present. The Lord does hear the prayers of the just. Thank you Lord, and thank you to all members who persevered. God Bless! Please call me. 212-691-5570. Yeah! Yeah ! Yeah!Ed"

Photo credit: Committee to Save St. Brigid's

This Committee is entitled to all the joy -- God is indeed good, and hope prevails. On a more personal note, we have witnessed a true parish congregation, even though without a building. The Committee's concern for one another has been the true hallmark of Catholic Charity.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, WGT

http://www.savestbrigid.com/
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/05/21/2008-05-21_st_brigids_saved_from_wrecking_ball_by_a.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/nyregion/22church.html?em&ex=1211688000&en=2c1881e48b07cc4b&ei=5087%0A

Keltic Dreams Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at City Hall

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn hosted this year's City Council Celebration of Irish Heritage and Culture on Wednesday, March 12. Senator George Mitchell received the Thomas Manton Irish Man of the Year Award, Staten Island's own Assemblyman Michael Cusik and the CEO and publisher of the Irish Echo, Mairtin O'Muilleoir, and the Committee to Save St. Brigid's Church also won awards.

But by far and away the evening belonged to the 30 young stepdancers from PS 59 in the South Bronx, and their teacher Caroline Duggan. The children are of African-American and Hispanic descent, but they do a mean Riverdance. Ms. Duggan, who is from Dublin, is to be saluted for her devotion to her children, and their education.

March's festivities will continue; the next big event at City Hall is the Irish Heritage and Culture Week Celebration on March 28th.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, WGT


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/nyregion/14educ.html?ex=1206072000&en=6e76d50362c77a88&ei=5099&partner=TOPIXNEWS

News Flash from Northern Ireland - Paisley to Step Down as First Minister

It was reported this evening by Reuters that Antrim-born Ian Paisley will be resigning his position as First Minister of Northern Ireland in May. The Presbyterian minister, long infamous for his vitriolic diatribes against the Catholic population of the world, entered into the power sharing agreement brought about by the Good Friday agreement of 1998, which was implemented in 2007.

"No Surrender!" became compromise, after years of hatred. Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander, became Deputy First Minister. In an oxymoronic move, Northern Ireland's "Dr. No" became famous to a new generation for saying "yes" to power-sharing with the Irish Republicans, and that may eventually have been the reason for the surprise resignation. Paisley was initially to have served a four year term.

The 81-year old evangelist, head of the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland, and leader of his own insurgent Free Presbyterian Church since 1951, was first elected to Parliament in 1970 and to the European Parliament in 1979. According to CNN, in January he was forced to stand down as leader of the anti-Catholic sect because people were disappointed by his compromise.

No overt reason has been given for his resignation; his son, Ian, Jr. was forced to resign from the coalition due to ethical misconduct, but Dr. Paisley has sworn that had nothing to do with his resignation as First Minister. Last summer, Martin McGuinness visited New York and was feted; he said then that Paisley was ill.

Reaction to the surprise move was that this is the end of a 40-year old era for Northern Ireland politics, and people on both sides of the struggle had praise for Dr. Paisley's leadership.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano

Culture Editor, WGT

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL0455485820080305?sp=true&pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL0424769920080304

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL044936320080304?sp=true

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/04/paisley.quits.ap/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7270000/newsid_7278300/7278389.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030401438.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Irish Notes at the Oscars

The 80th Oscars have ended, and the Irish have walked away with two awards; Daniel Day-Lewis, the Dublin actor, won as Best Actor for his astounding performance in "There Will Be Blood," the movie based on Sinclair Lewis' novel "Oil." This was as he was "knighted" with the golden statue by last year's Best Actress, Helen Mirren; Day-Lewis quipped, "And that's the closest I'll ever come to getting a knighthood, so thank you." The You Tube posted below is one of the last scenes in the movie; it's the milkshake scene. Saying he had been thinking of fathers and sons, Day-Lewis dedicated the award to the memory of his grandfather, father, the writer, Cecil Day-Lewis("The Chronicles of Narnia")and his three sons Gabriel, Ronan and Cashel.

By far the surprise award went to Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for the lovely ballad "Falling Slowly" from the movie "Once," described as the little movie that could. The duo performed the Best Song earlier in the evening, and beat out three songs from the Disney movie "Enchanted." Markéta made Oscar history when she was led back onstage by host Jon Stewart after a commercial break so that she could give her thank-you speech. Both their performance and acceptance speeches were uploaded very quickly to You Tube, so we have included them here.

Day-Lewis, born in London and now living in County Wicklow, was the favorite to win Best Actor; other winners included Best Actress Marion Cotilliard, born in Paris("La Vie En Rose"), Best Supporting Actor Javier Bardem, born in the Canary Islands and now living in Madrid("No Country for Old Men), and Best Supporting ActressTilda Swinton, born in London and now living in Scotland("Michael Clayton"). - who in an aside to George Clooney, said, " the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber bat suit from "Batman & Robin," the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch, you rock, man!" Both women were surprise choices; both men, expected to win. "No Country for Old Men" was named best picture and the Coen brothers won the Oscar for Directing Achievement; "No Country" also won for adapted screenplay, from Cormac McCarthy's novel.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, WGT

"Take this sinking boat and point it home We've still got time Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice You've made it now ."(chorus of "Falling Slowly")



http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/winners/01_lead_actor.html
http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/winners/16_music_song.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8yLvb0gZM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe5ybN3eh-A

Divine Intervention for St. Brigid's Church

Sunday night, February 10, a mighty wind blew around New York City. Beleagured St. Brigid's Church on the Lower East Side, which has been the subject of many protests, fundraisers, and hearings in State Supreme Court, held up despite the wind.

Ironically, the scaffolding erected by the Archdiocese of New York as a preventive service to the community was blown to smithereens, according to Edwin Torres, the head of the Committee to Save St. Brigid's. Torres commented on the irony of the modern structure, which was erected in the summer of 2006, being blown apart in a windstorm, while the church itself, which has stood for 161 years, the latter two of them exposed to the elements because the Archdiocese tried to destroy the church before being stopped by a restraining order. Windows were broden, the wall was broken -- "Yet still she stands," said Torres.

Ah, the power of prayer.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, WGT