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Young Catholic Professionals Launches New Chapter in Diocese of Brooklyn

By Christine Persichette and Bill Miller

GOWANUS — More than 400 working professionals from the Diocese of Brooklyn turned out on May 28 to launch the newest chapter of Young Catholic Professionals. 

YCP Brooklyn is the 45th chapter of the national organization that helps Catholic workers in their 20s and 30s grow closer to their faith as they endure the joys and struggles of their respective careers. 

Bishop Robert Brennan offered a prayer and blessing for the young professionals from Brooklyn and Queens, plus at least one from Long Island, at the venue called 501 Union, a short stroll from the Gowanus Canal. 

It was a multicultural event, with Catholics representing various ethnicities and both white-collar and blue-collar professions. 

Ismenia Ginebra of New Hyde Park, New York, is a Catholic career coach who helps women in their mid 20s navigate job moves. She said there is no YCP chapter on Long Island, so joining the Brooklyn chapter was a great fit for her.  

“It means so much to be part of the beginning of a new chapter here,” she said. “I’ve been to the Manhattan chapter a few times, and that’s been so nice to be part of something that’s already established. 

Ginebra noted that there’s something “special” about being a part of a new community.
“To see that the faith is so alive here in this part of the city is just a testament to how much work God’s going to do here,” she said. 

Peter Blute, executive director of YCP, which is based in Dallas, attended the launch party to welcome the new members. He described how the group’s founder, Jennifer Baugh, had a career, but in 2010, she felt God was calling her to create YCP. 

“She quit her full-time job and embarked on this unbelievable journey,” Blute said. “Back then, she had no idea that this would eventually spread to 45 cities across the country, literally from coast to coast.” 

YCP has chapters in large cities like Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, and Los Angeles. They all host networking events, happy hour get-togethers, mentorship programs, and conferences with guest speakers. 

“YCP continues to get better and better,” Blute said, “and it’s much better now that Brooklyn and Queens are part of the family.” 

Steven Mezzacappa, the northeast regional chapter manager of YCP in Manhattan, said the group’s aim is to inspire “modern-day saints” by equipping members to integrate faith into their professional and personal lives. 

“Their faith isn’t just for the weekends, it’s not for home, it’s in every area of your life, especially at work,” he said. “It’s all about bringing together people of like-minded values and building community.” 

Mezzacappa said members explore hard topics, such as virtuous leadership in secular workplaces. 

“It’s not a journey that you embark on alone,” he said. “It’s a journey that you embark on in fellowship and in community with other people.” 

Kiana Carrington of Mill Basin, a chapter president, joined the launch team three years ago. She is an event strategist who, as a child, attended Holy Cross Catholic School in

Flatbush, Midwood Catholic Academy in Marine Park, and Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School in Windsor Terrace. 

Carrington said YCP has a missionary aspect because it inspires Catholics to rekindle their faith, while drawing others to join the Church. 

“I wouldn’t think of myself as an evangelist,” she said, “but this is exactly what the mission is — bringing people back into the Church and also serving as a funnel into other ministries throughout the diocese.” 

Bishop Brennan told the audience how their chapter’s launch was a “dream come true” because efforts to form the group were in their opening stages when he was installed in late 2021. 

But he already had experience with YCP, having supported its Columbus, Ohio chapter during his time as bishop there. He said that chapter members reached out to him soon after he arrived and helped him learn about the people and geography of the Diocese of Columbus. 

“They became a network of great support, enthusiasm, and excitement,” Bishop Brennan said. “So, when there was some chatter about possibly starting a YCP chapter here, I was all in.” 

The bishop also helped arrange start-up funding by enlisting the Catholic Foundation of Brooklyn and Queens and its executive director, John Notaro. 

“I dreamed about this day,” Bishop Brennan told the chapter’s charter members, “and you’ve exceeded my greatest hopes.” 

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 5/29/26   

Hundreds of young adults gathered in Gowanus to launch Brooklyn’s chapter of Young Catholic Professionals, a new movement focusing on faith, friendship, and purpose.

New York’s new house of worship protection law creates security buffer zones and criminal penalties for those who block access to religious services.

In this year’s “Meet the Priests” series, Deacon Paul Zwolak is reflecting on his journey to the priesthood as he prepares for ordination in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Pope Leo XIV delights Knicks fans with a thumbs-up and smile after hearing a “Go Knicks” shout during a papal procession at the Vatican.

Soon-to-Be Priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn Says Seeking God More a Marathon, Less Like a Sprint

By Bill Miller and Jessica Easthope

Transitional Deacon Paul Zwolak has more than one thing in common with the apostle who wrote 13 letters in the New Testament.

In addition to sharing a first name, both have also described what it’s like to strive toward a destiny, like running a race.

In his second letter to Timothy, St. Paul indicated his ministry and, indeed, his life were about to end. He had no regrets.

“The time of my departure is at hand.” Paul wrote to his protégé, Timothy. “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

Deacon Zwolak, 27, competed in cross country and track at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood. He still runs, about eight to 10 miles each time he laces up his trainers.

The two Pauls, however, differ in that while St. Paul began his ministry centuries ago, Deacon Zwolak is just starting his. His ordination into the priesthood is set for 11 a.m. on June 6 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.

Running has “really taught me a lot about my own prayer life” because communicating with God is not like a sprint, he said. Especially not while the creator of the universe is directing someone’s future, like a priestly vocation.

“It’s more like a marathon,” Deacon Zwolak added. “If you ever ran a long race, you know sometimes you’ll get tired. But you know the finish line is somewhere ahead, so you have to keep pushing.”

Deacon Zwolak’s journey toward ordination began as a thought in the back of his mind while completing elementary school at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy in Middle Village.

The school is attached to the parish of the same name, where his family has belonged his entire life. His parents, Jacek and Krystyna Zwolak, immigrated from Gdańsk, Poland, to Middle Village in the 1990s.

“They were the first people that really introduced me to the Catholic faith. They brought me to church,” Deacon Zwolak said. “And growing up, they were the ones who taught me the Our Father, and the Hail Mary.

“The Catholic faith for them is really an important thing.”

RELATED: Deacon Paulo Salazar Logs Many Miles in Journey to Priesthood in the Diocese of Brooklyn

Deacon Zwolak is the second of three children; his older brother, Matthew, is 28, and they have a sister, Lucyna, who is 18.

“Growing up in Catholic school, you always heard about the importance of vocations,” he said. “I always felt like, ‘Yeah, the priesthood, it sounds interesting, but let me just think about it, pray about it.’

“So, it was always in the back of my mind.”

Deacon Zwolak entered Archbishop Molloy High School, which is run by the Marist Brothers. During his senior year, the faculty invited him to a retreat at the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus, in upstate New York. There, he met Brother Alfred George, who made a great impression.

“He was a really peaceful and joy-filled person,” Deacon Zwolak said of Brother Alfred, who passed away in 2023. “He said, ‘I get my joy from my vocation,’ and I took that very seriously,’ ” the transitional deacon continued. “I thought, ‘I want to be as happy as this brother is.’

And ‘I want to serve God, just like this brother is doing.’ ”

He enrolled at St. John’s University in 2017 to study biology. A year later, however, he switched his major to philosophy and entered the undergraduate seminary at Douglaston.

While there, he endured the COVID-19 pandemic, although he said the lockdown enhanced his prayer life.

“It was just a time when everything really slowed down,” he recalled. “So, I had a lot more time to pray and to just really understand more of my vocation.

“It really taught me that God works through the silence.”

Next, in 2021, he entered St. Joseph Seminary and College in Dunwoodie, where he recently completed coursework toward a master’s degree in theology.

RELATED: Priestly Ordination Returns to Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Brooklyn

Deacon Zwolak is the only candidate for ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn this year.

Therefore, Bishop Robert Brennan scheduled the event at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James. This church was where ordinations traditionally took place until class sizes grew, necessitating the move to the larger Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph to accommodate bigger congregations.

Like all soon-to-be ordained priests, Deacon Zwolak has no idea where Bishop Brennan will send him. Still, he hopes to have a parish assignment where he can work with youth.

“They really are an important part of the Church,” he said. “And if they know God and they love God, the Church can be built up so much more through their work.”

Currents News Special: ‘School Year in Review’ To Air Friday, June 5 at 7 PM

By Currents News

“School Year in Review,” a special edition of Currents News, is airing on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. EST on NET-TV.

The half-hour broadcast will highlight outstanding achievements, inspiring stories, and the lasting impact of a Catholic education throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn during the 2025-2026 academic year. 

From students who exceeded expectations to teachers who shaped both minds and hearts, “School Year in Review” showcases the people and programs that continue to strengthen Catholic schools and academies across Brooklyn in Queens

The special will feature: 

  • Public vs. Private: The Catholic School Advantage 

A closer look at the data and proven outcomes behind Catholic education—and why students in Catholic schools and academies consistently outperform their public-school peers in standardized testing. 

  • Expanding for the Future 

An inside look at the growing Catholic school communities throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn. Featured stories include a Queens high school expanding to welcome middle school students and a Brooklyn school unveiling a new Exploration and Innovation Center designed to transform the student learning experience. 

  • Trailblazing Teachers 

A tribute to the educators who dedicate their lives to forming young people academically and spiritually. Among them is a pioneering educator who became the first Black Catholic school teacher in the Diocese of Rockville Centre after beginning her remarkable 40-year career in a Catholic school in the Diocese of Brooklyn.  

Currents News is produced by NET-TV, an Emmy Award-winning cable network featuring news and information from the Catholic perspective.

It is available in the New York area on Spectrum Channel 97, Optimum Channel 30, and Verizon Fios Channel 548. Viewers can also watch the programming live at www.netny.tv/watchnow and on YouTube.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 5/27/26   

As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, we take a look at the New York City legacy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage continues as faithful make their way up the East Coast, stopping in Savannah, Georgia.

One woman religious in the Diocese of Brooklyn was honored with a special tribute, marking 60 years of dedication to evangelization and catechesis.

In this installment of “Pulse of the Parish,” a Queens parishioner is sharing how involvement in parish life at St. Sebastian Church has transformed his life.

Sister Alice Michael Honored for Over 60 Years of Service to Diocese of Brooklyn

By Currents News

There was a special tribute for a sister’s more than 60 years of service to the Diocese of Brooklyn: The Holy Spirit Institute for Service and Leadership — a program designed to train active parishioners to serve as missionary disciples — honored Sister Alice Michael during its graduation ceremony at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Jamaica, Queens on May 23.

Sister Michael has been working within the diocese for more than 60 years, with 40 of those years dedicated to evangelization and catechesis.

She is also known as a great spotter of talent, often identifying parishioners with leadership potential and encouraging them to apply to the Holy Spirit Institute.

The program presented Sister Alice with the Missionary Discipleship Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to evangelization and the proclamation of the Gospel.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Manhattan Legacy: Pregnancy Center Helps Women in Crisis

By Jessica Easthope

She’s been called a “true daughter of the Revolution,” but St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is more famously known for being a mother.

A Manhattan shrine that once housed the first American-born saint is now saving lives in a very different way on State Street.

The area has ties to George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay — and it’s where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton laid the foundation for a legacy of faith and unwavering courage.

There’s plenty of courage there to this day: Several days a week at noon, time stops as the Sisters of Life come together in prayer with volunteers to thank God and ask for His blessing in their work at the Visitation Pregnancy Center.

“We’re blessed to accompany women who find themselves pregnant and might be thinking about abortion,” the sisters say. “What are her fears? What are the pressures? And we also ask her dreams, like, what are your hopes for your life?”

Sister Gianna Maria Solomon, the Superior of the House, found it providential when the Sisters of Life moved to this historic address two and a half years ago.

It is home to the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The work the sisters do and the work Mother Seton did overlap, with women in crisis at the center.

“It’s providential,” Sister Solomon tells Currents News. “Her love for her students and for supporting moms and children when she was in New York… that just fits so tremendously with our mission.”

Women facing unplanned pregnancies receive free ultrasounds, material support, counseling, and hope — just feet away from the Shrine Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Mother Seton — or Betty, as she was called — lived here as a young wife and mother during the early days of the Republic.

Widowed at just 29, she converted to Catholicism against her Episcopalian socialite background, founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, and opened the first free Catholic school for girls in the United States.

She spent her life caring for orphans, widows, and the sick, eventually becoming America’s first native-born saint.

Now, as America prepares to mark its 250th birthday, this same address continues a mother’s giving spirit.

“People would call her Mother Seton. And it was this term of endearment and affection, but also just true to who she was,” says Sister Solomon.

A daughter of the Revolution, Mother Seton never took up arms but opened her own to help shape the soul of a new nation through education and charity. Today, her legacy lives on in the center’s rooms.

“I think the best things about America and what we stand on are these virtues of faith, desiring that each person can have true freedom, to seek the good and allow that for everyone,” Sister Solomon explains. “And I think Elizabeth Ann Seton reminds us that, if our country is to go forward in peace, it must seek the true good of each person, the most vulnerable, those who are forgotten about.”

As the country looks back on 250 years, the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton reminds us that some of the most lasting contributions to America came not from the battlefield or Founding Fathers, but from the enduring strength of mothers — biological, spiritual, and communal.

The Visitation Center is open to any woman who needs support.

It operates five days a week and is closed on Fridays and Sundays. The Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine operates on the same hours. Visitors can simply ring the bell, though the sisters encourage people to call ahead.

Pulse of the Parish: St. Sebastian

By Christine Persichette

Along Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, Queens amid the noise of traffic and trains stands St. Sebastian Parish, a former movie theater that now draws people in through faith.

For parishioner Nicky Torres, it is a sanctuary, a place to step away from the world.

Whether in the pews or up in the choir loft, Torres has found a spiritual home at St. Sebastian Church.

“It’s an outlet,” he tells Currents News. “I remove myself from all the worldly things and just concentrate on singing and praising.”

Torres never sang before joining the choir, one of the first ministries he and his wife became involved in after finding St. Sebastian’s.

“I was addicted,” he explains, “singing, and like Augustine said, when you’re singing, you’re praying twice. It’s not just singing those notes. You’re singing the words, and the words actually help me be in a prayerful mood.”

Beyond the choir, Torres serves in multiple roles throughout the parish: from Eucharistic minister to supporting catechists and children’s programs.

“Getting closer to God through participation or sharing time with other people… It gives me that fulfillment of being a soldier of the faith,” he explains.

Father Patrick West, pastor of St. Sebastian Church, says Torres is someone you can always count on.

“What makes Nicky so great,” he reflects, “well it depends on which hat he wants to wear today.” He describes Torres as someone “faith-filled, loyal,” who will “really love the parish and do anything to help build up the parish.”

“This is home for me, this is home for us,” Torres says of the parish in regards to himself and his wife.

His goal is simple: “I’m trying to improve myself… praying twice and praying twice better is the goal here.”

St. Sebastian Church was established in 1894. Early Masses were held in a firehouse before a small wooden church was built. The current building, which became St. Sebastian Church in 1955, was originally a movie theater.

It features a long sloped floor and no pillars, giving worshippers an unobstructed view of the altar. The parish has evolved with the neighborhood.

Once home to a largely Irish Catholic population, it now serves a diverse community, including many Hispanic and Filipino parishioners who bring rich devotions, novenas, and veneration of saints.

St. Sebastian Parish recently received a decree from Bishop Robert Brennan officially merging with Corpus Christi Parish. The merger is expected to strengthen the community and help grow Catholicism in Woodside.

Nicky Torres continues to be a visible presence in nearly every scene of parish life — a true soldier of faith and the heartbeat of St. Sebastian Church.

May 27 on Currents News: Pulse of the Parish, St. Sebastian

By Currents News

In Woodside, Queens, there’s a church that used to be a movie theater – and there’s one parishioner who’s in nearly every scene of parish life.

Nicky Torres says being involved in the Church gives him the “fulfillment of being a soldier of the faith.”

You’ll meet him and learn how he’s become the Pulse of the Parish.