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Young Artists Shine in The Tablet’s Easter Art Contest 2025

By Currents News

We give a nod to the young artists of the Diocese of Brooklyn as The Tablet’s Easter art contest has come to a close.

In schools across Brooklyn and Queens, 150 students put their pencils and crayons to paper to depict Christ’s resurrection for the annual competition.

Done in partnership with the Archbishop John Hughes Council of the Knights of Columbus, the winning artists will receive certificates, cash prizes, and have their work published in The Tablet.

Judging is going on now, and students will hear if they’ve won in the coming days.

8th Graders Celebrate Mass with Brooklyn Bishop

By Katie Vasquez

After spending years forming friendships and growing their faith, hundreds of eighth graders across the Diocese of Brooklyn came together on Friday with their bishop to prepare for the next step of their journey, high school. 

The Jornada Movement, a Hispanic youth ministry that brings teens and adults together for retreats and faith-building reflections, provided the music to get these soon-to-be graduates pumped up for the special liturgy.

The Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph brought the 1,800 eighth grade students in the Diocese of Brooklyn together with their shepherd.

Bishop Robert Brennan says attending each graduation ceremony would be otherwise impossible. As each student prepares to move on to Catholic high schools across the Diocese, they hope they can continue the relationship with God built in their Catholic academies. 

“Archbishop Molloy also has very spiritual…they have a lot of faith programs…even though [at] Sacred Heart, we’ve done so [many] things in Church to grow in faith, Archbishop Molloy will also be helping me grow in faith spiritually,” said Bryan Casiano, an eighth grader at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Bayside. 

“I hope to…possibly become an altar server in that school…become someone known for their passion through Christ, and to do His works through me,” said Ethan Canales, an eighth grader at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Bayside.  

“We certainly hope that when our kids graduate here, they stay close to the Lord. It’s very easy to do when you’re in our schools. Most of them are going to our Catholic high schools, then it will be no problem,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“But, Catholic high schools are paradigms of Catholic identity and Catholic imagination, so I’m confident there.”

“That’s very encouraging, and, whether it be to the Catholic high schools, which we really want to encourage, or through their parish youth programs, that they stay connected, being connected is so important,” said Bishop Robert Brennan. 

Since there are so many graduates in the class of 2025, the Diocese had to split the celebration into two different Masses. The second Mass will take place on May 9th.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 5/2/2025

Eighth graders from the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered for Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, where they received prayers and advice from Bishop Robert Brennan as they prepare for high school.

As the world waits for the next successor of St. Peter, the chimney that sits atop the Sistine Chapel to announce his appointment is put in place.

St. Francis College hosted its 2025 Charter Award Dinner in Brooklyn, raising funds to honor Franciscan values and celebrate honorees.

Currents News Team Celebrates New Addition

By Currents News

Currents News welcomes the newest member of our team.

On Tuesday night, Baby Julian Ioane Easthope was born—coming in at eight pounds, one ounce.

His mom is our reporter, Jessica Easthope, who has been covering news from around the Diocese of Brooklyn and beyond for the last 5 years.

Mother and baby are doing beautifully.

Congratulations to Jessica, her husband Jerome, and new big sister Violet on the newest member of the Easthope family.

Brooklyn Youth Honor Pope Francis at Memorial Mass

By Currents News

Youth filled the pews at Blessed Sacrament Church in Cypress Hills for a Mass to honor the late Pope Francis, celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan.

The memorial service was organized by the Diocese’s Jornada Movement, a Hispanic ministry that brings teens and adults together for retreats and faith-building reflections that go on to define their lives.

During his homily, Bishop Brennan reflected on Pope Francis’ deep connection with young people, sharing words of encouragement from the Holy Father himself.

Bishop Brennan also read from a letter penned by Pope Francis, where the late pontiff told young people to keep up their momentum in the Church.

Catholics in Rome Hope for a Pope Like Francis

By Currents News

Many Catholics currently in the Eternal City hope the red hats pick a pope with the same qualities as his predecessor.

Tens of thousands have visited Pope Francis’ tomb since he was buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major on Saturday.

How Cardinals Became Papal Kingmakers

By Currents News

While the pope is the leader of the universal Church, he is also the bishop of Rome. In early Church history, popes were elected locally by the clergy and people of Rome, with cardinals playing a minor role.

That changed in 1049 with Pope Leo IX, who elevated cardinals from liturgical assistants to counselors. He broadened their ranks by selecting bishops, priests, and religious leaders from across the Christian world. To legitimize their roles in Rome, he assigned them a church, deaconry, or diocese tied to the city—an honor still upheld today when new cardinals receive a titular church along with their red hat.

In the 11th century, Pope Nicholas II reformed the election process, declaring that only cardinals could choose the next pope. Though the conclave has evolved over time, cardinals have remained central to the selection of Saint Peter’s successor.

Inside the Largest Papal Conclave in History

By Currents News

In what will be the largest conclave in history, 133 cardinals will take part in the proceedings—13 more than a previously held limit Pope Paul VI informally set in 1975.

Among those 133, Pope Francis created 108 of those red hats, roughly 80 percent of the voting body.

The highest age group of cardinals were born in the 1950s, with 51 of them in the voting body. Forty eight of them were born in the ’40s, 27 in the ’60s, and six in the ’70s. The youngest in the College of Cardinals was born in 1980, making him 45 years old.

As for the year that has seen the most cardinals, 13 men were born in 1947.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 5/1/2025

When it comes to appointing a new pope, Catholic cardinals weren’t always the ones who did so. Currents News takes a look at how they became key collaborators in the future of the Church.

The Diocese of Brooklyn continues to honor the life and legacy of the late Pope Francis with a special youth Mass in his memory.

A man who smashed a statue of Baby Jesus at a Queens church was recently indicted on multiple charges.