It took but an instant for Anthony’s “silly and smiley” personality to capture Katie Church’s attention three years ago. Every day, the sprightly four-year-old boy visited a compound run by the Salesian religious order in his impoverished village of Masaya in Nicaragua, where Church and fellow missioners tutored and played with him and other local children. Anthony was short but still wanted to do what the older kids did, so Church lifted him up to the basketball hoop so he could take a shot with the ball.

Bishop Serratelli made a pastoral visit to St. Agnes Parish in Paterson Jan. 19 where he celebrated Mass for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Bishop’s visit also came near the feast day (Jan. 21) of the parish’s patron, St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, who is patron saint of girls, chastity, Girl Scouts, engaged couples, virgins and rape victims.

This year is a special year for Catholic Charities’ Department for Persons with Disabilities as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of Murray House’s annual dinner dance. The celebratory event will be held at the Brownstone in Paterson from 6 to 11 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 16. To mark this milestone, DPD will be presenting lifetime achievement awards to dozens of recipients to celebrate its history and give thanks to those who have made a lasting impact through their support to the agency through the years.