Latest news with #MountSt.Mary'sUniversity
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Emmitsburg to allow new type of student housing downtown
Students will be allowed to live in the Village Zone in the town of Emmitsburg in residences with six or more bedrooms. The policy does not apply to homes with five or fewer bedrooms, since those types of living arrangements are considered boarding homes in the town code. Designations of student housing of this type are to be awarded as zoning special exceptions by the Board of Appeals and must not be within 500 feet of another boarding home or student housing units, according to the ordinance. Additional conditions of student housing for those enrolled in post-secondary schools include one off-street parking space per bedroom, trash to be screened from public view and a maximum of one student per bedroom. All dwelling units must meet the requirements of the International Building Code. The ordinance came as a response to two rental properties owned by local businessman David Ott that totaled 11 units — surpassing the boarding house thresholds. The ordinance passed 3-2 on Monday. Commissioners Jim Hoover, Kevin Hagan and Cliff Sweeney voted in favor. Commissioners Amy Boehman-Pollitt and Valerie Turnquist voted against. Hagan said the ordinance was more about preventing development in the future that might change the character of the community of West Main Street and destroy the historic, charming nature. He added that a more robust student housing bill may need to be passed later to address all forms of housing that students from Mount St. Mary's University may choose, but the ordinance would provide assurances to landowners in the near term. 'We're putting off the good for the perfect and we may never find the perfect,' Hagan said. 'The longer we wait, the more it costs everyone. We're running up everybody's legal fees here.' Boehman-Pollitt said amending the ordinance with a rental registration bill later to put more restrictions on student housing was like 'putting the cart before the horse.' 'I don't see how it is the town's problem to make sure a landlord gets to maximize their profit, so much as what is our town vision?' she said. 'If we want it limited, it should be stated ahead of time.' Turnquist said the policy was 'so vague' that it would not adequately solve the issue for any parties involved. 'I'm not opposed to students living in town, but I think we need to protect the quality of life for our residents by ensuring a policy that's fair and equitable to all,' she said. During the public comments period, two residents spoke out against student housing, while Gerard Joyce, Mount St. Mary's president, asked the council to continue building the relationship between the town and the Mount. 'We want to be part of this community, if you'll have us,' Joyce said. He added that living off campus was not a matter of scarcity of on-campus housing, but a step in the development of life skills for students looking to live independently and frequent local stores and restaurants, adding to the vibrancy of downtown life. 'Part of our mission is producing ethical leaders with service to God and others — you're the others in this scenario,' Joyce said. 'I want you to be as proud of our students as we are.'
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pope Francis' funeral: Top 7 moments that made it historic
The world bid adieu to the 'people's pope' on Saturday. Pope Francis , who passed away on April 21, was laid to rest on April 26 after a moving funeral attended by world leaders, including royalty, presidents, and prime ministers. Apart from the turnout of all the important people and heavyweight world leaders, what made Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday 'potentially historic' was the presence of a wholly inclusive crowd. In fact, according to Vatican estimates, 250,000 people flocked to the funeral mass at the Vatican, marked by enchanting choral music and emotive readings. The 88-year-old pontiff's coffin was then transported to its burial place in the Basilica of St Mary Major, as 150,000 more onlookers lined the route through Rome for the first funeral procession for a pope in a century and to bid farewell to the first Latin-American pope. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo To sum it up, the streets of the Vatican and Rome witnessed an outpouring turnout of over 400,000 people, who paid their final tribute as the 'people's Pope' was on his last mortal journey. Amongst all those mourners and a service that lasted for a few hours, some key moments made Pope Francis' funeral quite historic and memorable. Take a look. American reporter delivering the first reading American Kielce Gussie, 28, conducted the first reading in English, reciting several verses from the Acts of the Apostles. Gussie, a journalist at Vatican News, holds an undergraduate degree in theology from Mount St. Mary's University and a licentiate degree in church communication from Rome's Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. The appearance of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accompanied by his wife, Olena Zelenska, received applause from the crowd in St. Peter's Square and appeared on screens throughout the area. Zelenskyy has led Ukraine through its war with Russia, which escalated in 2022 following the invasion of the Eastern European country. For the funeral, Zelenskyy made a notable change to his usual military attire, opting for dark clothing that included an elegant black jacket with front pockets and a more casual cut, paired with a dark shirt instead of his typical T-shirt, along with dark boots. Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskyy has consistently worn informal military dress to show solidarity with soldiers on the front lines. However, his choice of attire sparked controversy during his last visit to Washington, where a reporter's question about his informal dress briefly shifted the tone of the event. His decision to dress more formally for the funeral marked a significant, albeit subtle, shift for the solemn occasion. Trump and Zelenskyy's impromptu mini-summit One of the most striking moments came from an impromptu meeting at the Vatican. Photos released by Kyiv's presidency depict Zelenskyy, Trump, Macron, and Starmer gathered in a marble hall ahead of the funeral, with Macron resting a supportive hand on Zelenskyy's shoulder. Trump and Zelenskyy engaged in a private, face-to-face 15-minute conversation inside St. Peter's Basilica, seated without any aides or advisors nearby, indicating a direct discussion between the two leaders. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the meeting as 'very productive,' with plans for further discussions later in the day. This direct and seemingly cordial interaction stood in sharp contrast to the recent public tensions between the two leaders. In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy described the meeting as positive, suggesting it could become historic. Trump and Macron's unexpected 'sign of peace' During the funeral Mass, Trump participated in the Catholic ritual known as the "sign of peace." He exchanged handshakes with his immediate neighbors: Finnish President Alexander Stubb, with whom he recently played golf in Florida, and Estonian President Alar Karis. He also reached out to shake hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was seated a short distance away. In Catholic liturgy, the "sign of peace" occurs after the Our Father and before Communion, inviting the congregation to offer gestures of peace to one another, typically handshakes, bows, or embraces, depending on tradition. The handshake with Macron was facilitated by last-minute changes to front-row seating arrangements, as Vatican protocol was set aside for this unprecedented event. Trump, First Lady Melania, and Zelenskyy were given front-row seats alongside other key leaders, underscoring the funeral's international significance. Trump's second encounter with Ursula von der Leyen On the steps of St. Peter's Square, President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen exchanged a handshake, marking their first encounter since January 21, 2020, when they met at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Although their interaction was brief and limited to formal courtesies, it seemed warm despite recent transatlantic tensions over trade tariffs. In their brief exchange, President von der Leyen and President Trump agreed to meet again. Von der Leyen later posted on social media X, stating that she had good exchanges with several leaders gathered to pay their final tribute to the pope. It remains unclear how many other leaders Trump met during his short stay in Rome; reports suggest he also spoke briefly with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prince William, the Prince of Wales. An anti-Trump undercurrent in the Homily During his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrated Pope Francis' unwavering advocacy for migrants and the marginalized. Some interpreted these remarks as a subtle rebuke to President Trump, who was present in the audience. Cardinal Re cited Pope Francis's visits to Lesbos and Lampedusa, two islands symbolizing the tragedy of migration, where thousands have drowned at sea. He also referenced the Pope's Mass at the Mexico–U.S. border and echoed the Pope's enduring exhortation: 'Build bridges, not walls,' a phrase long seen as a direct critique of Trump. The crowd erupted in spontaneous applause, particularly during Re's calls for peace and dialogue amid war and destruction—an emotional high point of the ceremony. "Confronted with the raging wars of recent years, which have brought inhuman horrors and countless deaths and devastation, Pope Francis consistently raised his voice, imploring for peace and advocating for reason and honest negotiations to find possible solutions," Re continued. The Book of Gospels and the Bells One of the most poignant and iconic moments in papal funerals is the simple yet profound image of the breeze turning the pages of the Book of the Gospels, which rests atop the pope's coffin in St. Peter's Square. The book was opened to the reading, "In the Passion and Death of the Lord." The coffin carrying Pope Francis was brought through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica for the last time as bells tolled throughout the Vatican in his honor. The funeral, which lasted over two hours, concluded with the ringing of bells for the pontiff. His coffin was then taken to Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he was laid to rest. 'Building bridges': Heralded as the "People's Pope", Pope Francis became popular beyond the vast Catholic community he led for championing the disadvantaged and dispossessed throughout his 12-year papacy. After his death on April 21, the whole world poured their heart into sending condolences and prayers. On April 26, on the day of the late pontiff's funeral service, thousands lined the streets of Rome for the funeral procession. The four-mile route between St. Peter's Basilica and the final resting place of Pope Francis -- the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome -- was lined with tens of thousands of mourners following his funeral on Saturday morning. People could be seen crying and applauding as Francis' coffin drove by. Pope Francis' coffin was placed in the bed of a white pickup truck, where it was visible to the thousands lining the streets. The procession took the pope's body past some of Rome's historical landmarks, such as the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Pope Francis Laid To Rest At St. Mary Major: World Leaders Gather For Historic Farewell
New York Times
26-04-2025
- General
- New York Times
Who Was the American Who Did the First Reading at Pope Francis' Funeral Mass?
The honor of delivering the first reading at Pope Francis' funeral Mass on Saturday fell to Kielce Gussie, an American who works as a reporter with Vatican News. It was, she said on social media, 'a great way to say goodbye' to the pontiff. In a strong, resonant voice before the many thousands of mourners who had gathered in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Ms. Gussie read from the Acts of the Apostles 10: 34-43, a Bible verse that Francis chose for the service and that holds large significance for Catholics. Ms. Gussie, 28, grew up in Florida, and graduated from Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland with a degree in theology, according to her LinkedIn profile. She began working in Rome in 2019, according to her profile, and last October joined Vatican News — a news agency that Francis created to bolster news coverage of the church and the Vatican. 'I'm really happy to be here because it's a great way to say goodbye to Pope Francis,' Ms. Gussie said on social media outside St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday morning before the Mass. She added that her last memory of Francis was from her birthday. 'He gave me a little blessing,' she said. 'It's really a special way to spend my birthday.' She said it had been difficult to see Francis grow frail in his final days, 'but he gave everything until the end.'
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
American Kielce Gussie does 1st reading at Pope Francis' funeral
American Kielce Gussie, who works as a journalist at Vatican News, did the first reading in English -- several verses from the Acts of the Apostles -- at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. Gussie, originally from Florida, completed her undergraduate degree in theology at Mount St. Mary's University. The university featured her in an article in March 2019, saying that she planned on incorporating her faith with media. "While in Rome, Gussie will pursue an internship with either EWTN or Catholic Bytes," Mount St. Mary's University said in 2019. "After completing her Licentiate, she hopes to continue working in Rome with a Catholic media company. Her goal is to incorporate her Catholic faith with media directed toward youth evangelization. Assistant Professor of Communication Mary Catherine Kennedy, Ph.D., is confident that Gussie will succeed. 'Kielce is a go-getter. She came to the Mount with an idea of what she wanted to pursue after graduation,' Kennedy said. She has paired her communication classes with her theology classes to pursue work in the Church. Her ambition and desire to serve others is spectacular, and I expect her to do well in her graduate studies in Rome.'" This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. American Kielce Gussie does 1st reading at Pope Francis' funeral originally appeared on
26-04-2025
- General
American Kielce Gussie does 1st reading at Pope Francis' funeral
LONDON -- American Kielce Gussie, who works as a journalist at Vatican News, did the first reading in English -- several verses from the Acts of the Apostles -- at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. Gussie, originally from Florida, completed her undergraduate degree in theology at Mount St. Mary's University. The university featured her in an article in March 2019, saying that she planned on incorporating her faith with media. "While in Rome, Gussie will pursue an internship with either EWTN or Catholic Bytes," Mount St. Mary's University said in 2019. "After completing her Licentiate, she hopes to continue working in Rome with a Catholic media company. Her goal is to incorporate her Catholic faith with media directed toward youth evangelization. Assistant Professor of Communication Mary Catherine Kennedy, Ph.D., is confident that Gussie will succeed. 'Kielce is a go-getter. She came to the Mount with an idea of what she wanted to pursue after graduation,' Kennedy said. She has paired her communication classes with her theology classes to pursue work in the Church. Her ambition and desire to serve others is spectacular, and I expect her to do well in her graduate studies in Rome.'"
