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Pope Leo XIV To Canonize the First Venezuelan Saints

By Currents News

For the first time in its history, Venezuela will have two people officially declared saints: Doctor José Gregorio Hernández and religious sister Carmen Rendiles.

The canonization ceremony will take place on October 19 at the Vatican. The person who has overseen both processes before the Holy See, postulator Silvia Correale, is fully aware of the importance of this event.

“In the figures of these two, the whole Church is, in a way, represented. Because he is a layman, a man, and she is a religious sister, a woman,” Silvia Correale, Postulator before the Holy See, told Currents News in Spanish. “So sainthood is for men and for women, for laypeople and for those who are consecrated. That’s the beauty of it.”

In the case of Mother Carmen Rendiles, one of the certified miracles involved a young woman who was in a vegetative state. After a visit to the tomb of the future saint, the woman was healed completely with no medical explanation.

The postulator for Mother Carmen Rendiles emphasizes her strength in facing a crisis in her religious order and leadership in founding a new one.

She was “a woman of great faith and deep prayer life, especially Eucharistic prayer,” Correale explained, “and she had the serenity to understand the difficulty of the moment and to walk forward together with her bishops, the Venezuelan bishops.”

As for José Gregorio Hernández, after the first miracle was approved for his beatification, Pope Francis waived the requirement for a second miracle due to the overwhelming popular devotion.

“José Gregorio is part of Venezuela’s national identity. Everyone is devoted to José Gregorio,” said Correale. “There isn’t a single Venezuelan who doesn’t know who he is because devotion to him is taught at home from a young age.”

These two canonization causes received strong support from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, particularly from Cardinal Parolin, who witnessed firsthand the immense devotion to these new saints during his time as nuncio in Venezuela.

“We knew we had the support of Cardinal Parolin and of Monsignor Peña Parra. Whenever they could help, they encouraged us, supported us, and accompanied us,” Correale told Currents News.

A large turnout of Venezuelans is expected in October, for a canonization that will be preceded by a prayer vigil at Rome’s Cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Parishioners Dead, Pastor Injured at the Gaza Church Pope Francis Used to Call Nightly

By Currents News and Judith Sudilovsky

JERUSALEM (OSV News) – Three people were confirmed dead and nine were injured, including a parish pastor, following what initial reports say was a mid-morning Israeli tank attack on the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza on July 17.

In a July 17 telegram, Pope Leo XIV said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza,” and assured Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, and the whole parish community of his “spiritual closeness.” He prayed for those who died and “for the consolation of those who grieve and for the recovery of the injured.”

“His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region,” the telegram said.

RELATED: Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace, Warns Against Escalation in Middle East Conflict

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the injuries and damage to the church in a brief morning statement. “The Holy Family Church in Gaza has been struck by a raid this morning,” the first July 17 statement said.

In a later statement, the patriarchate expressed its “deepest condemnation” of the attack, saying it was a “flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war.”

The statement emphasized that the bombing had destroyed large parts of the complex, forcing those with special medical needs to evacuate the area, some without the respirators they need to survive, endangering their lives.

Click here to read the follow-up statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

“At this critical moment, the Patriarchate affirms that churches are spiritual and humanitarian beacons, serving everyone without discrimination,” the statement said. “It also calls on the international community and United Nations agencies to provide urgent protection for religious institutions and humanitarian centers in the Gaza Strip and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, which criminalizes the targeting of civilians and places of worship.”

The parishioners confirmed dead by the Latin Patriarchate were Saad Salameh, 60, Fumayya Ayyad, 84, and Najwa Abu Daoud, a woman in her 70s. Salameh was the janitor of the parish and was in the yard at the time of explosions, a July 17 Caritas press release said. Ayyad was sitting inside a Caritas psychological support tent when the blast sent shrapnel to the area and fatally injured her. Abu Daoud was sitting in the same tent as Ayyad, the patriarchate’s CEO Sami El-Yousef confirmed to OSV News.

In a July 17 statement posted on X, Israel Defense Forces said it is “aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review.”

“The IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,” the IDF said.

Despite sustaining a light leg injury, parish priest Father Romanelli was shown placing his hand on the forehead of an injured man being carried out on a stretcher in a video broadcast by the Al-Arabiya TV station as he was accompanied by two men — one of whom was holding a bandage to the side of his face.

Father Romanelli was also transferred to the Al-Ahli Arab hospital for treatment, according to Reuters, but left after receiving care.

Photos show part of the church’s roof next to the cross blown away by the tank fire with burned marks down the wall, and windows shattered.

“The explosion occurred near the cross on the church roof, scattering shrapnel and debris across the yard,” said Caritas Jerusalem in a statement, adding that the church was “struck by a shell.”

The two elderly women had been sitting inside the Caritas psychosocial support tent when they were injured, the statement said. Three young people standing at the entrance of the church were also seriously injured, according to the statement.

The statement said Father Romanelli had been urging people to stay inside their rooms over the past week as the fighting in the area intensified.

“If Father Gabriel hadn’t warned us to stay indoors, we could have lost 50 to 60 people today. It would have been a massacre,” the statement quoted one of “our Caritas colleagues.”

“Yesterday, the threat became especially severe due to the presence of Israeli tanks near the church compound and continuous strikes in close proximity,” said the statement.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the Israeli strike and said it was “unacceptable.”

“With the Holy Father, the Catholic bishops of the United States are deeply saddened to learn about the deaths and injuries at Holy Family Church in Gaza caused by a military strike,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services.

He said the bishops joined their prayers with the pope for Father Romanelli, for his parishioners and especially for the families of those killed and injured. “With the Holy Father, we also continue to pray and advocate for dialogue and an immediate ceasefire.”

The Christian community of the Holy Family Parish now numbers around 600, the Latin patriarchate said in a statement.

Prior to the July 17 attack, the parish priest of this small Christian community in the Gaza Strip admitted in a recent Vatican News interview that his flock was already exhausted by war and a severe lack of food.

RELATED: Pope Francis Speaks to Catholics in Gaza Parish After Ceasefire

For many months before he died April 21, Pope Francis would call Father Romanelli nearly every night to ask the priest about the well-being of the Holy Family Parish community, those sheltering at the church’s compound and the overall situation in Gaza. The calls, which Father Romanelli described as “blessed,” provided comfort and support for the parish community.

“The Latin Patriarchate strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place,” church leaders of the Holy Land wrote in a July 17 statement released in the afternoon local time. “However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza. Many other innocent civilians have also been harmed, displaced and killed. Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere.”

“The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all what is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally, unjustified,” the patriarchate said.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 7/16/2025

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is going to camp in the Catskills – Currents News is in upstate New York to catch all the summer fun.

Catholic campers and scouts around the country can now earn a new badge of faith by learning about Pope Leo XIV and the history of the papacy.

Postcards are a great way to send a message, and one Christian woman has created a campaign that will help you send a note with a purpose.

Currents News Special: ‘Pulse of the Parish’ To Air Friday, July 18 at 7 PM

By Currents News

Currents News, New York’s nightly Catholic television newscast, will premiere a half-hour special, “Pulse of the Parish,” airing, Friday, June 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. EST on NET-TV.

This special profiles the people who are the heartbeat of the Diocese of Brooklyn– the pulse of their parish. Anchor Christine Persichette introduces viewers to the men and women who are on a mission to share their faith– parishioners who offer a helping hand both in the church and in the community. 

Featured parishioners include:

  • Michael Carestia, facilities manager at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette and its school in Dyker Heights. Michael is present everyday, just as he was years ago when he attended the school as a student.
  • Marge Migliaccio, a dedicated volunteer at Transfiguration – St. Stanislaus Kostka in Maspeth. Though officially the Saturday receptionist, she can be found at the church on most days, always ready to serve.
  • Catherina Cassiliano, a young parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Bensonhurst, who is helping to bring other young people back to the church. She was handpicked by the pastor to serve as the director of OLG camp.

Care of Creation Camp Offers Examples of Pope Francis Encyclical Laudato Si’

By Katie Vasquez

Kids are getting their hands dirty by helping God’s creation to flourish at Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica, Queens. 

The church’s “Care of Creation Camp” started three years ago to help students understand the late Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. 

“[What] I like about it, it teaches us like don’t litter and don’t harm the earth,” Jefferson Garcia, a student at the camp told Currents News.

“I learned how to plant flowers and how to not waste food,” added student Adrian Baylon. 

It’s great for children “to see themselves as made in the image and likeness of God, how to care for themselves, and also to really love the creation that God has given them,” explained Father Jim Price, CP, the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, “but all based on Laudato Si’ so they could come away with some idea of what Pope Francis’ vision was.”

Of course there was time for prayer, as counselors offered spiritual guidance related to the four elements: air, earth, water, and fire. 

 “Last week we read about the burning bush and this week we’ll read about what happened on Pentecost, as well as the fire on Mount Sinai,” Bella Zambrano, a counselor, told Currents News about the camp’s plans.

Staff said they have already witnessed a shift in the campers’ way of thinking.

“We were talking about food waste and how one third of all food gets wasted,” camp organizer Isabella Tamayo recalled. “At lunch time some of them [were] like, ‘Oh well I’m kind of… I don’t want anymore.’ I was like, ‘one third…’ and they were like, ‘That’s right.’ And then they finished their food.”

It’s a lesson they hope these young people will remember past their summer vacation.

It will “help them become like caretakers of creation and more conscious of the world that they live in for future generations to come,” said counselor Summer Knights. 

“So, in the future, the planet is still alive,” hoped student Nalani Wiley. 

The camp ends the week of July 14, 2025, but the church plans to bring it back next summer.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 7/15/2025

Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica is putting a faith-filled twist on summer camp, teaching kids to care for the environment through hands-on gardening and prayer.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey is being hailed a hero for saving dozens of lives during the deadly Texas flash floods.

A Catholic priest offering to pay for the funerals of children lost in the Texas floods speaks with Currents News about his mission to help grieving families heal.

Today marks the birthday of Mother Cabrini, a beloved missionary saint who devoted her life to serving immigrants and the poor.

‘It’s In Our Blood’: Generations of Lifters Keep the Giglio Tradition Alive in Williamsburg

By Katie Vasquez and Alexandra Moyen

WILLIAMSBURG — Every year in July for 138 years, the streets outside the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel come alive with music, Italian pride, and faith as thousands gather for one of New York’s most beloved cultural celebrations: the Dancing of the Giglio.

The Giglio, honoring St. Paulinus — the patron saint of Nola, Italy — is one of the main celebrations of the 12-day feast in gratitude to the Virgin Mary at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This neighborhood tradition has been part of Williamsburg for over a century, dating back to when Italian immigrants first settled in the area, bringing with them their deep faith and cultural customs.

Andrew Occhiuto, who called Our Lady of Mt. Carmel his “home parish,” ranks the Dancing of the Giglio as one of the most meaningful things in his life. For Occhiuto, the tradition is more than just an event — it’s a lifelong constant. He recalled his childhood days watching the towering statue sway through the streets from the rooftop of the church.

Today, Occhiuto takes pride in passing that same tradition down to his own family, just as his father once did for him.

“I have my wife and my two children. I have my 9-year-old daughter and my 5-year-old son, who are sort of seeing this with the eyes that I got to see it with as a child, and that makes it all the more special,” Occhiuto said. “It was special before, but it is even more special now.”

The base of the Giglio, which is decorated with Gigli flowers, holds a platform where a 12-piece brass band performs during the procession. Throughout the route, the lifters pause at certain points to “dance” the towering structure in rhythm with the music, especially when the band plays the feast’s traditional anthem, “O Giglio e Paradiso,” which has been a central part of Sunday celebrations since 1959.

Accompanying the Giglio, which requires at least 100 people to carry it, is La Barca — a 10-by-10-foot replica of a boat symbolizing St. Paulinus’ return to Italy by sea after his captivity in Turkey. Like the Giglio, the La Barca is lifted and paraded through the streets, playing a central role in the celebration’s rich storytelling and tradition.

As a lieutenant for the Giglio celebration, Occhiuto is involved in picking out lifters, assisting with training, and much more, which he said feels like a year-long job. Although tedious, he said it is worth it because he is surrounded by others who wish to carry on the tradition.

“I live in Whitestone, and there are people who live as far as Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. On this day, we all return home,” Occhiuto said. “That’s why this will keep going. As long as we keep our faith alive and our enthusiasm and our love for this alive, it’ll never end.”

Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which hosts the festival, said he has seen the event grow in both “size and spirit” during his eight years of participating.

He said what makes the feast day so special is how it continues to welcome everyone, including new neighbors, creating a sense of community that “bridges generations.”

“So many people have come, they see it, they want to learn about it, they want to be part of it,” Msgr. Gigantiello said. “It’s so energizing to see them come because we use that moment as an evangelization moment for them, to talk to them, and you’d be surprised how many of them are now coming to church on Sunday.”

John Diesso, who lives in California, hasn’t missed a festival since leaving Brooklyn in 2001. A dedicated lifter since the age of 15, Diesso continues to carry on the tradition, even participating after undergoing cancer surgery two years ago.

The strength to do these lifts comes from his need to honor his late father — “when I come here, I lift with my dad” — whose presence at the festival left a lasting impression not just on their family but on the entire community..

“He had a sausage and pepper stand right at the foot of the stairs of the church,” Diesso said, “and the priest told my mom after he passed away, ‘Teresa, they’ll never sell another food stand there ever again,’ and they haven’t to this day.”

17-year-old Michael Franco said he has been lifting since he was 13, but being a part of the Giglio has been a family tradition since he was a child.

He said the tradition is about family, culture, and love, and it’s what keeps him coming back every year despite living in Middle Village, Queens.

“Continuing the tradition is important to me because we want this feast to be around in 50 years like it’s around today,” Franco said. “One day, if I become a capo (leader), that would be really special to me, because I want my kids to experience what I experienced growing up in this feast.”

At least 100 lifters are needed for the Dancing of the Giglio. The statue, which weighs four tons, holds a 12-piece brass band on the base. (Photo: Alexandra Moyen)

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 7/14/2025

The iconic Giglio lift returned to Williamsburg as more than 100 men carried on the 130-year tradition honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel and San Paolino.

On the latest episode of “Big City Catholics,” Bishop Robert Brennan speaks with Father Charles Keeney of Catholic Extension about the transformative power of missionary work and ministering to those on the margins.

A Chicago man is being hailed a hero after he rescued a baby girl who had been left in the heat outside a church following a car theft.

Pope Leo XIV is receiving over 220 pounds of mail a day, with letters pouring in from Catholics around the world.