A small chapel dedicated to two Sicilian saints is reviving the faith of a New Jersey town.
The 5 World Trade Center building will be developed for housing. Some units will be set aside for 9/11 survivors and first responders.
Catholic advocates applaud a judge’s decision to block Biden’s policy restricting asylum seekers.
Young people from the Diocese of Brooklyn are preparing for World Youth Day. Currents News speaks to two pilgrims ahead of their flight.
Father Edwin Ortiz couldn’t believe what he was seeing the first time he witnessed Father Gerald Umoren walk the streets of Bensonhurst, visiting parishioners at their homes .
Father Ortiz, The Parochial Vicar at St. Athanasius Church said it will forever stand out as an example of what it means to be a shepherd.
“Father Gerald really has integrated himself in the community,” Father Ortiz said. “It’s beautiful to see the relationships that he has and has maintained throughout these 19 years. He really gives himself completely to the parish.”
This year, Father Umoren, who’s a visiting priest from Nigeria, is walking the streets making his visits for a 19th summer. He’s greeted with a “welcome home.”
That is what Brooklyn is to him.
“I found a home here,”Father Umoren “Whether you call it first home or second home, I found a home here.”
It’s the reason he keeps coming back. When Father Umoren first came, the church was struggling.
“During that time, the church’s sex scandal was at its peak,” Father Umorensaid. “But when I came I found that the faith was still very strong. There were people in church and the people were very warm.”
Father Umoren is a teacher by trade. At home he’s the principal of a high school and a university and seminary professor.
But when he comes to Brooklyn, he’s the student. He’s practicing his language skills, and saying Mass in both Spanish and Italian.
“What impressed me is he wasn’t just trying to learn the language but the culture,” Father Ortiz said.
His language skills have made him some great friends over the years, like Anita de Mattia.
“I see her as one of the few remaining veterans,” Father Umoren said. “I’m so encouraged by the faith she shows. She is one of those who will not miss morning mass.”
“He was accepted,” de Mattia said. “It’s your personality and what you do with it that speaks for yourself. It’s that and also what he says to you.”
De Mattia has been a parishioner at St. Athanasius for 55 years.
Like others who have come to know and love Father Umoren, she can’t help but mention his signature smile.
“When I think of Father Umoren I see a big smile,” de Mattia said. “He’s always smiling, you want a piece of that joy.”
Like Father Ortiz, she too has come to appreciate his signature advice.
“Don’t rush, think through things, just be calm and relaxed and know that I’m praying for you, that’s what he says,” de Mattia said.
“Father Gerald pulled me to the side one day and told me [to] slow down, relax,” Father Ortiz said. “You’re never going to enjoy the priesthood. It will become work and you’ll never enjoy it.”
Father Umoren will tell you he comes to Brooklyn because he enjoys it. It makes him feel good, but his real impact is how he makes others feel.
“I’ve learned so much from him and I know it’s something I’ll always hold especially for future ministry,” Father Ortiz said.
A dozen people were treated for non-life threatening injuries when a crane partially collapsed from the top of a building that was under construction in Hell’s Kitchen on Wednesday, July 26.
The crane initially erupted into flames before falling 45 stories onto Tenth Avenue and 41st Street.
The building was deemed stable but as a precaution the Croatian Parish of Sts. Cyril and Methodius and St. Raphael, which is roughly a block away, was evacuated.
Currents News Katie Vasquez joins us from the scene in Hell’s Kitchen with the very latest.
Brooklyn has undergone a major clean up after a major storm on Tuesday, July 26, caused damage in Bensonhurst, including a part of one church.
A tree fell on the rectory of St. Dominic.
Currents News is on the scene with the latest on that crane collapse in Manhattan that injured several and forced evacuations, including a church.
Wednesday, July 26, marked the feast day of Jesus’ grandparents, St. Joachim and St. Anne.
Some modern-day grandparents looked to the family of Christ at a Mass in Coney Island at the St. Joachim and Anne Nursing And Rehabilitation Center.
They were joined by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens CEO, Monsignor Alfred Lopinto, in celebrating the liturgy.
Monsignor Lopinto said the feast is a special occasion for the seniors because this facility was made to take care of grandparents in need.
A former Catholic high school might be Mayor Eric Adam’s latest attempt at quelling the migrant crisis in New York City.
The building that once housed St. Agnes High School in College Point, Queens is reportedly going to become a temporary migrant shelter for 300 immigrant men for three months.
Tuesday marked a big day for parishioners of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James.
It was their patron saint’s feast day.
At one parish in Jamaica, the faithful have found unique and expressive ways to pray.
For the past 25 years, they have been led by one dedicated parishioner in her vibrant Praise Dancing Ministry.
St. Bonaventure-St. Benedict the Moor, a merger of two separate churches, has a rich history of diverse congregations. Originally established in 1930 with mostly white parishioners, it later became home to black Catholics from Africa and the Caribbean due to the Great Migration.
Father Francis Asagba, former administrator of the parish, explains, “All of them bring their unique cultures to enrich the diversity of the parish.”
The culture of the congregation is deeply embedded in their faith, from the music during Mass to the dancing. Praise dancing has become a powerful form of worship for many parishioners, allowing them to express their feelings as part of praise.
Paulita DaCosta-Campbell, a parishioner with unwavering devotion, took a leap of faith 25 years ago when she started the Praise Dance Ministry at St. Bonaventure. However, this endeavor was met with mixed reactions. “There were some people that were really for it, loved it, wanted it – but there were some people who turned their face up – dancing in the Catholic church?! You know, like what is that?! We don’t do that here!” she recalls.
But Paulita emphasizes that praise dancing is not a performance; it’s a ministry. Dressed in their praise garments, the dancers tell stories through their movements, conveying the word of God and the message of the songs they dance to.
Paulita DaCosta-Campbell of St. Bonaventure-St. Benedict the Moor in Jamaica, Queens is The Pulse of The Parish.
St. Joseph’s church in Astoria has become a place of hope for those battling cancer. The church has added three shrines, featuring Blessed Carlo Acutis, Saint Peregrine and Saint Sharbel.
All three of whom are connected to the deadly disease, according to Deacon Michael Chirichella of the healing ministry at St. Joseph’s church.
“Blessed Carlo died from cancer at the age of 15, leukemia, Saint Peregrine is a cancer survivor, the patron saint of cancer and Saint Sharbel is the patron saint of any ailments body and soul,” said Chirichella.
Deacon Michael has a personal tie to Saint Sharbel. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in January of last year, and credits oil from the saint, plus the dedicated work of his doctors for finally getting rid of the disease.
He now works in the healing ministry at St. Joseph’s church.
When parishioner Deborah Lee heard his story, she was reminded of her own friends who have passed away from cancer. She was inspired to donate a statue of Saint Sharbel to the parish.
“It gave me hope in the power of prayer and Saint Sharbel for healing. The women that I donated the statue to in honor of were very close to me, very important in my life and they died from cancer,” said parishioner Deborah Lee.
Long-time parishioner Edward Esposti is grateful for the shrines.
His wife, Vivian, had pancreatic cancer and fought it bravely for almost 2 years before finally returning to the lord last November. Her dying wish to her husband, to have a statue of Saint Peregrine dedicated in her memory.
“She prayed consistently to Saint Peregrine because he was the cancer saint and unfortunately to no avail, she still passed away, but I have to admit the lord needed an angel, another angel,” said parishioner Edward Esposti.
Now as people venerate before the shrine, Edward and Deborah are both glad that those who are fighting the tough battle of cancer have a place of refuge inside their parish.