Mary Virginia Merrick, founder of the Christ Child Society, as a young woman. She died in 1955 at age 88. Photo provided
By the time she was 10, Mary Virginia Merrick of Washington, D.C., a devout Catholic, thought she would become a nun. But a fall
finding faith (76)
Related: Society founder was confined to bed, wheelchair
By Janis Fontaine
On a Wednesday morning in June, 17 women from the Christ Child Society of Boca Raton gathered in the Community Room at the Downtown Library for some serious business. So why
By Janis Fontaine
Several times in her life, author Lee Ann Mancini of Boca Raton has looked for a particular type of book and, unable to find it, decided to write it.
It started with “Sea Kids,” Mancini’s award-winning series of Christian children’
By Janis Fontaine
In April, four monks from Gaden Shartse Monastic University in southern India visited Atha Yoga Shala in Delray Beach, which supports the community with yoga, meditation and healing programs. The Tibetan Buddhist monks participated
Elements of the modern Passover plate include the shank bone (zeroa), which represents the roasted sacrificial lamb. The egg (beitza), one of the ‘new’ foods, represents a holiday offering. The bitter herbs (maror) and horseradish wrapped in romaine
Cason United Methodist Church will coordinate the sunrise service again this year by the Delray Beach Pavilion. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
On Easter Sunday, falling this year on March 31, hundreds of Christians will get up extra-early to go to
By Janis Fontaine
When tragedy or terror strikes in Delray Beach, after the police and fire rescue crews roll out, they call the police chaplain on duty. Father Bernie Pecaro supervises the clergy who respond.
The job of police chaplains is twofold:
For Christmas a few years ago, the author was given the ‘50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition’ of Ben-Hur. It’s one of her favorite movies of all time. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
My introduction to God didn’t come from my parents or
By Janis Fontaine
In 2017, Gena Vallee heard God’s call. When she answered, he put her to work immediately. “I don’t know if I can really call it work,” she said. “Much of what I do is an honor, and most times it goes by in a wink.”
Vallee, 43, was
Charles Milling and his son, Ellis, who was born last April during the pandemic shutdown. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Is it too soon to call the coronavirus a gift?
For Charles Milling and millions of others, life slammed on its brakes a year a
Father Paul Kane of St. Paul’s Episcopal worked four hours on Nov. 3 at the South County Civic Center. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Ensuring a person’s right to vote in a presidential election usually doesn’t fall to the local priest, but Father
By Janis Fontaine
As the Jewish High Holy Days approach, we offer four places to commemorate the somber day and five things you may not know about Rosh Hashana.
• The name Rosh Hashana isn’t in the Torah. The Torah calls it “a day of shofar blowing.”
Cameron Newman talks with Shayne Wright of WPBF-TV about helping victims of the shooting at the Chabad of Poway. His Go Fund Me page has raised more than $127,000. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Cameron Newman is only 15 years old, but his mother
Rabbi Ruvi New of the Boca Beach Chabad speaks at the inaugural Women of Valor brunch in January. New invited women to share stories of courage and commitment for the Chabad’s book, due to be published early next year. Photo provided
By Janis Fontai
Jack Jaiven and Wayne Barton developed the annual meal. Photo provided by Susan Stallone, Temple Beth El
By Janis Fontaine
Why would a group of Jewish people set up, serve, then clean up Easter dinner for Christians they don’t even know?
Call it a m
The Spontaneous Christmas Pageant at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church lets children come onstage as they wish when the pastor calls out the need for story characters. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Imagine a children’s Christmas pageant with no assig
As with past celebrations of ‘Chanukah Under the Stars,’ music will be an important part of the Dec. 7 event, with three choirs performing. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Thanks in part to a Jewish Outreach grant from the Jewish Federation of Sou
ABOVE: Gina Logan (standing) laughs with Jane Amme as they prepare for the sale of holiday crafts. BELOW: B.J. Mays dresses handmade angels. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Janis Fontaine
The women used to be bankers and teachers, nurses,
By Janis Fontaine
To Rabbi Shmuel “Shmuli” Biston of Chabad of East Delray Beach, offering free services this month for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest days of the year in Judaism, is the right thing to do.
“Unfortunately, the world revolve
Members of Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Boynton Beach gather after a service. The Rev. Dr. Bruce Turner (center) is interim pastor. The church sold the property to a city agency and plans to lease part of the space. Photos by Ti
