New Converts Welcomed to Catholic Church at Easter Vigil

By Katie Vasquez

At the start of one of the most important liturgies of the Catholic church, a fire is blessed,the flame is used to light the paschal candle

And then light dozens of individual candles, illuminating the Co-cathedral of St. Joseph with candlelight.

Bishop Robert Brennan says this symbolic start to the Easter vigil is meant to show us how Christ guides us.

“While we’ve experienced a lot of darkness in the world, we also experience a certain amount of darkness in our lives right don’t we? and things that weigh us down. and when we’re pulled down, it’s Christ who lifts us up. He brings light to the darkness,” said Bishop Brennan.

Bishop Brennan leads the people’s prayers in darkness during this mass, as they mourn the death of Christ, until the lights come back on, signaling Jesus’ resurrection.

Rector of the Co-Cathedral, Father Christopher Heanue says it’s the culmination of everything Catholics have been waiting for.

“It’s just we call it the mother of all liturgies. It’s what we call it, the mother of all. because it is just, it compiles everything. And when done right, it’s beautiful,” said Father Heanue.

For hundreds around the diocese of brooklyn, this mass is also the culmination of their journey of faith.

Bishop Brennan baptizes four of the more than four hundred new Catholics joining the church at the Easter vigil, including Holly Turner who was seeking a clean slate.

“I actually grew up in a Baptist church, but my mother is a Catholic and my father is Baptist. And coming to this church, I felt like it was beautiful and I just loved how sacred everything was and I was really drawn to this church. and I wanted to be baptized. To start over,” said Turner who was baptized at the vigil.

The mass was also a chance for some to finish receiving their sacraments like Jorge Deroche who grew up Catholic, but was confirmed at the vigil.

“I feel like everything’s finally coming to completion. everything we’ve been working for,” said Deroche.

Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue say this group now fully formed in the faith is a reminder of how fortunate we are as catholics.

“They’re coming with a longing for peace. They’re coming for our longing for, for Jesus’ love,” said Father Heanue.

“That sense of baptism renews the gift of faith that inspires us. that people have made the conscious choice to embrace the faith, and that makes us stop and think. and that’s always a source of great excitement around Easter time,” said Bishop Brennan.

Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii Rectory and Parish Center Destroyed in Easter Sunday Fire

By Jessica Easthope

Staff at Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii are already fielding questions from people wanting to donate and help after Sunday’s devastating fire, but during his visit, Monday, Bishop Robert Brennan said what the church needs more than anything is prayer.

Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii on Seigel Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn is in ruins after a fire ripped through the parish center and rectory. The flames sent parishioners running during Easter Sunday mass.

“It was our last service of the day, everybody was happy,” said Mariluz Cruz a secretary at the church. She was attending the 1:15 p.m. Spanish mass on Easter Sunday when the fire broke out, she suffered burns to her hand but says she barely remembers what happened after she saw the smoke.

“It was so hot, we just had to go back I don’t know what happened after that, one parishioner said she told me get, out get out but I didn’t even hear that,” she said.

Mariluz and nearly 150 others were in the pews, celebrating the most joyous day of the year when thick black smoke came pouring out of the door to the sacristy. Fr. Romulo Marin was celebrating the Spanish mass.

“I took the fire extinguisher but the fire was too strong I burnt my hand a little bit and when I attempted to get out the roof collapsed,” he said.

There were a few minor injuries among parishioners and first responders. Bishop Robert Brennan, who was at the scene, Monday says he’s grateful for the FDNY’s response.

“Thank God people are by and large safe and thank God for the fine people in our fire department, their courage and generosity and quick response, I can’t say enough,” Bishop Brennan said.

Though the rectory and parish center are destroyed it appears the church made it out of the fire with just a bit of smoke and water damage.

” God was protecting us,” said Mariluz. “There’s some meaning there for me.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation as officials continue to map out the next steps in starting renovations to the church.

Bishop Brennan Celebrated Easter Sunday Mass With the Faithful

Bishop Brennan got to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with his flock on Easter Sunday.

Bishop Brennan blessed the crowd at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, who renewed their baptismal promises as per the Easter tradition.

Bishop Brennan says the Easter Sunday Mass, like the vigil the night before, is meant to bring the light of Christ forward during these dark times.

To create a welcoming service for all, the first three rows of the church were reserved for the deaf community.

A sign language interpreter also translated the Mass.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 4/1/2024

An investigation is underway after a fire broke out at a Brooklyn church on Easter Sunday.

On Holy Saturday, hundreds of people were baptized at the Easter Vigil in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, where he appealed for peace in the world.

The season of Eastertide is just beginning, a time between Easter and Pentecost in which the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ disciples on the seventh Sunday after Easter.

Pilgrims Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge on Good Friday for the Way of the Cross Procession

By Jessica Easthope

On the most solemn day of the year, hundreds turn their sorrow into footsteps, following the path Christ took to where he was crucified.

These pilgrims use the Way of the Cross to present their faith to the world on Good Friday.

“We follow him on this walk, commemorating his death and his passion and death. And then we do that because he came to walk among us,” Bishop Robert Brennan said. “He came to be with us to guide us, to give us life and hope.”

Bishop Brennan led hundreds from the Cathedral Basilica of St. James across the Brooklyn Bridge to Lower Manhattan. Among those that walked nearly two miles behind a wooden cross are Catholics just learning of Christ’s sacrifice.

Daniella Ruggiero, a parishioner at St Saviour Church in Park Slope, brought her children on the journey.

“To come here with them, and having the cross in front of us is to show my kids that the Christ is not is not only inside the church, but it’s around us in our daily life,” Ruggiero said.

Silvia Romano and her daughters traveled from Connecticut to be part of the annual procession.

“It’s very important to bring my girls here because the Christian experience, that is a challenge in your heart that in very but not only something that you go to the church on Sunday,” Romano said. “So, I really like that that that’s these that are about the way of the and they will not them.”

Pilgrims we spoke with say that in New York City one of the most secular places on earth it becomes more and more of a challenge every year to live your faith. But it’s on days like this, they’re reminded why they take that challenge head on.

“With everything that comes through this city, that for us is important to let them understand that it’s something for them and one day I hope that they will discover it and they should be proud.”

Bishop Brennan says the growing number of children who walk the Way of the Cross is a source of hope.

“It is always encouraging to see this particular walk as an attraction for so many of our young people,” Bishop Brennan said. “These kind of moments will always stay with us, especially in times of need. We’ll be able to know with a little bit of confidence when we’re going through our tough times.”

The crowd stopped several times during the procession to read Stations of the Cross, sing and to hear reflections from Bishop Brennan before ending in the Financial District.

It’s important to note that Good Friday is the only day the church doesn’t celebrate Mass.

That’s because Catholics believe Good Friday is a day of mourning, not joy.

Instead, services are held, which include a special reading of the Gospel, a veneration of the Cross, and a distribution of Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament.

No prayer of consecration takes place, to deepen our sense of loss.

Bishop Brennan Commemorates Last Supper by Washing Feet of 12 People

by Katie Vasquez

A triumphant start to the Easter triduum.

“This is the real high point of the year. You know, holy week’s big, Easter’s big, but the triduum is the center of it all,” said Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan.

Bishop Brennan celebrates a mass of the lord’s supper at the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph,

starting the three-day period leading to Christ’s resurrection at Easter.

The holy Thursday service remembers Jesus’ last supper with his apostles before he died, changing bread and wine into his own body and blood.

It’s become a core tenet of the Catholic faith, but Bishop Brennan says Catholics can take more from the gospel story.

“Lesser known, but very important is after that giving of the gift of his body and blood. He speaks to them. If you go to John’s gospel, he spends five whole chapters just speaking to them about their relationship, their friendship. You know, no greater love is there as a friend than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend. and you are my friends,” said Bishop Brennan.

That friendship is also symbolized in the holy Thursday mass.

Bishop Brennan washes the feet of 12 people, just as Jesus did for his disciples.

“It’s a very moving moment for me to be able to celebrate, for any priest to celebrate.”

It also moved those whose feet were being washed, like 11-year old Joel Avendano.

“It was like a weird sensation, but very pleasant. like i was, my heart was beating fast. um, and I was shaking for some reason,” said Avendano.

The mass ended with a procession of the blessed sacrament, leaving the church in silence.

“The altar is empty. We know that Jesus is not there, his agony has started,” said Co-Cathedral at St. Joseph parishioner, Lida Wickham.

“It’s like one long moment of prayer that we keep vigil with christ. so it’s very, very these are very powerful days,” said Bishop Brennan.

This is the start of Christ’s suffering, before the joy of his resurrection at Easter.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 3/29/2024

On Good Friday, Bishop Robert Brennan led a group of Catholics across the Brooklyn Bridge in a special Way of the Cross procession.

Students at St. Luke’s Catholic Academy in Whitestone are honoring Christ’s sacrifice by creating a display of the Stations of the Cross.

We are looking back at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Diocese of Brooklyn, where Bishop Brennan presided over the Holy Thursday service, which begins the Easter Triduum.

As Women’s History Month comes to an end, we take time to learn more about a group of phenomenal trailblazing women at a Queens church.

Bishop Brennan Leads Good Friday Observances With Processions and Prayers

Bishop Robert Brennan is observing Good Friday on March 29 with a series of solemn ceremonies and processions across the borough.

The day commences with the Way of the Cross procession that began at 10 a.m. The procession kicked off with a prayer service at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn. Participants then traversed the Brooklyn Bridge, pausing for moments of reflection on the bridge and at City Hall Park. The procession will culminate at St. Andrew’s Church in Lower Manhattan.

Following the morning procession, at 3 p.m., the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion will take place at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, providing worshippers with an opportunity for prayer and reflection on the significance of Good Friday.

Later in the evening, at 7 p.m., the Good Friday procession will commence from Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen’s Parish in Carroll Gardens. This procession, a joint effort with the Maria Addolorata congregation, has a 125-year tradition in the neighborhood. Residents along the route are encouraged to participate by placing a cross in front of their homes.

Bishop Brennan’s schedule offers opportunities for prayer, contemplation, and communal observance of this important holy day in the Catholic faith.

Lenten Pilgrimage Served to Draw Young Catholics ‘Into the One True Faith’

Ever since Noel Guzman became more devoted to his faith in high school, he has prioritized his involvement in youth ministry. In addition to being a parishioner at Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann in Flushing, he’s a member of the Newman Center at Queens College.

So, it only made sense for him to come to the Holy Hour offered at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on March 27, he explained, as he made the final stop in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten Pilgrimage. While it was open to all, the diocese called upon its young adults to join one another in prayer.

“After a while, you can’t keep it to yourself. You get the goading to just go out there and proclaim the Word, not only with your actions but with your words,” Guzman, 23, said. “Whether it’s going to adoration or inviting people to come with you, it’s a beautiful way to get them involved in Catholic life and back into the one true faith.”

Dozens came to the Holy Hour for Eucharistic adoration and vespers, or evening prayer. There, a combination of songs, performed by the Music at Co-Cath, and prayer led by Bishop Robert Brennan guided the attendees through an afternoon of worship. The afternoon service marked the 40th, and final, location on the Lenten Pilgrimage, a program introduced by the diocese in 2023 that encourages Catholics to visit a different church every day during Lent.

The program has been a key part of Bishop Brennan’s worship path during Lent, visiting numerous sites throughout the pilgrimage. During the Eucharistic adoration, the bishop sat among the churchgoers in the pews before processing up to the altar for the vespers.

“It was a good experience for me to spend a little time with the Lord, going to different places, to cut out a certain part of the day. It also connected me, in a very powerful way, to almost 40 of our parishes,” Bishop Brennan said.

Any Holy Hour, Bishop Brennan explained, is about “friendship with Jesus Christ,” and he said he hoped the evening reminded the attendees of their relationship with God.

The purpose of the Lenten Pilgrimage in part was to refocus Catholics’ faith in preparation for Easter. Numerous youth groups were invited to participate in the evening prayer, including the Jornada Movement, a Hispanic ministry in the diocese that brings young Catholics together for retreats and faith-building reflections. For its president, Felix Perez, the evening offered him a chance to pray for those working on their next retreat.

“I always take the time to talk to Jesus during these Holy Hours that I go to. Today was special because I really like it when the bishop is a part of things. He is so humble and he has great ideas,” Perez said.

Throughout the Lenten Pilgrimage, several stops were designated for youth and young adults to attend, part of the continual efforts by the diocese to evangelize the future generations of the Church.

“Since Bishop Brennan has come to our diocese, he has focused a great deal of energy and time on evangelization, specifically to our young adults,” said Father James Kuroly, the director of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese. “We have various programs and various opportunities for our young adults … but this is really an opportunity for us to come together as one.”

The Eucharistic adoration was led by the Shalom Catholic Community, an international association of the faithful recognized by the Holy See. The group resides at San Damiano Mission Catholic Church in Williamsburg. As a missionary, Barbara Freitas, 29, lives her life to bring people to the Church, and she sees that emulated through the diocese’s work.

“Just seeing the bishop also very involved in this and trying the most to make young adults close — just his intentional love for them is very fruitful,” Freitas said.

The evening concluded with Bishop Brennan offering thanks to all those who joined him in the pilgrimage and inviting them to the Eucharistic Revival on Saturday, April 20. The full day of celebrating faith and culture within the diocese will be held at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. For more information, visit dioceseofbrooklyn.org.

Decoration of Easter Staple Part of Old Polish Tradition in Brooklyn Parish

This weekend one church in Borough Park will take part in a centuries-old Polish tradition blessing Easter baskets.

The families at St. Frances de Chantal Church have been decorating the baskets with flowers and other festive touches, before filling them with meats, cheese, holy water, eggs and chocolate.

But parishioners tell Currents News the bright colors and delicious smells aren’t for show.

There’s a special meaning behind each item.

On Holy Saturday the parishioners will bring the baskets to church for Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mrożewski to bless them.

Then on Easter Sunday, they make meals like white borscht soup from the treats inside.