Katie Vasquez is on the scene as a contingent of faithful from the Diocese of Brooklyn, led by Bishop Robert Brennan, gather in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the country’s unborn and the population’s most vulnerable. She’ll have the full report on how the 2025 march unfolds tonight.
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Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 1/23/2025
Tens of thousands are set to gather for the March for Life in Washington, D.C., starting with prayer at the Basilica before marching across the National Mall to urge lawmakers to protect unborn babies.
The Department of Homeland Security rescinded a policy protecting “sensitive locations” like churches from ICE arrests, sparking concerns from Catholic leaders and prompting NYC Mayor Eric Adams to address community fears in a Flushing town hall.
Pope Francis has been reaching out nightly via WhatsApp to Gaza’s Holy Family Parish, offering support and blessings to the over 600 people sheltering there.
A dedicated mom is making a big impact for tiny lives, creating special onesies for premature babies too small for standard newborn clothing.
Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 1/22/2025
Pope Francis is speaking out about the ceasefire in Gaza, thanking the mediators for ensuring that peace can be made.
The feast of Our Lady of Altagracia, or Our Lady of High Grace, is celebrated in a special way in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
One New Jersey woman had an abortion when she was 19-years-old. After years of sadness and regret, she’s healing and leaning on her faith to help mothers – and others – in need.
The Mercy House Serves Women and Families in the Archdiocese of Newark
By Jessica Easthope
Every walk of life finds compassion here at the Mercy House. There are three in the Archdiocese of Newark, the Newark location serves 100 people a day.
“God was like. Oh, if you think you’re only helping women that is not what you’re doing here. We don’t just help women, we help children, families, anyone that needed help,” said founder Cheryl Riley.
Riley who serves as the director of the Archdiocese’s Respect Life Office and the Mercy House started out, she thought she’d only be helping pregnant women who were contemplating abortion but chose life instead, women who made the decision she was too afraid to make 40 years ago.
“They gave me, like, a paper receipt. And I remember just thinking, like, years later, like I received a receipt that day in exchange for my baby’s life. My fear was greater than my faith,” she said.
On May 30, 1985 a 19-year-old Cheryl ended the life of her unborn child. What followed was years of unimaginable pain.
“After my abortion, I didn’t even want to live. That’s how bad the pain was,” Riley said.
Through her faith and Rachel’s Vineyard, an organization offering retreats for women who have had abortions, Cheryl found peace.
“On Rachel’s Vineyard, we asked God to reveal the sex of the baby. I didn’t even have to think about it. The name Christina came to me. And that’s what really helps you heal is when you put a name, it’s your child,” Riley said.
Out of her healing came a new life. Cheryl married and had three children, started the Mercy House and made a promise to God to do his work, helping mothers and anyone who needed her.
” I want to see my baby. When I die, hopefully I’m going to be able to see her. And I know I’m not going to be able to do that unless I make it right here,” said Riley.
Cheryl thinks of all the things Christina never got to do, so this is how she honors her every day.
TONIGHT AT 7: An Inside Look at How the Mercy House Serves Mothers, Community in Need
By Currents News
The Mercy House supports and shelters some of New Jersey’s most in need. It all began when founder Cheryl Riley opened her doors to women who chose life, giving out food, clothing, and baby supplies.
Today the doors are open to all and Cheryl says if it wasn’t for her own healing the Mercy House wouldn’t exist.
Bishop Robert Brennan: At March For Life, We Give Witness to the Value of Human Life
By Currents News
Bishop Robert Brennan will be leading a group of parishioners from the Diocese of Brooklyn in the March for Life, and joins Currents News before he leaves for Washington D.C.
While it’s a march Bishop Brennan attends every January, it’s a year and a new presidential administration that will bring some differences to the experience.
Donald Trump is president again and Roe v. Wade has been overturned, leaving the issue up to individual states.
New York is perhaps the most pro-abortion state, where the procedure is now enshrined in the state constitution. Bishop Brennan offers New Yorkers advice on how to continue to fight for life in advance of the march.
Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 1/21/2025
Pro-abortion advocates can sometimes include doctors and hospitals. Meet a couple from Queens, New York, who don’t regret going against doctor’s orders and choosing life for their daughter.
On day one of his second term, President Donald Trump hit the ground running, signing dozens of executive orders shortly after being sworn in. It’s captured the attention of Pope Francis.
A Diocese of Brooklyn priest was among those praying for the Trump presidency and the nation at the inauguration. Learn how he struck up an unlikely friendship with the Commander in Chief.
Queens Parents Chose Life for Daughter Despite Doctors Orders
By Katie Vasquez
In 1996, Laura Vasquez learned she was pregnant.
It was a moment of joy for her and her husband, Andrew Rios.
“To me, carrying life was God’s gift. I saw it as God’s gift,” Laura, a parishioner at St. Helen’s Church in Howard Beach, Queens, tells Currents News about that day. “I just broke down in tears,” adds Andrew while reflecting on the memories.
Laura says she had a difficult pregnancy filled with multiple hospital stays. At one point, she and her husband had a chilling discussion with doctors.
“I remember hearing the word ‘terminate,’ and I said, ‘Excuse me. What do you mean by ‘terminate,'” she explains.
“It took all of about 30 seconds to decide. You know, that’s not an option for us,” says Andrew.
The parishioners at St. Helen’s leaned on their faith, and viewed their daughter Isabella as a miracle child when she was born.
Days later, doctors noticed some issues.
“‘Her eyes are rolling up. We want to do a CAT scan of her brain and so on,'” doctors told Andrew at the time.
It took two years of tests to get Isabella’s diagnosis, a rare genetic disorder called Cornelia-DeLange syndrome.
“Failure to thrive is one of the conditions, delayed in walking, delayed and talking,” says Laura, “sshe checked the boxes for all those milestones.”
Isabella is now 28 years old and has defied the odds.
She loves to dance and do puzzles, just like anyone her age.
“Isabella has a love for life. She loves to go out. She loves to shop,” Andrew says of his daughter.
And although she has limitations, her parents say they always knew God wouldn’t give them more than they could handle.
“The phone rings and she video calls and says ‘Hi, daddy,’the best part of my day,” Andrew tells Currents News.
“I always say, ‘God, I know what you wanted,. You gave me this child because you know my resilience and you know that, no matter what, I am going to do everything that I can just to make her live a sound, a sound life,” says Laura,
The Catholic couple is happy that they chose life, because they now have the light of their lives.
TONIGHT AT 7: Faced With Pressure to Abort Their Daughter, Catholic Couple Chooses Life
By Currents News
The March For Life in Washington D.C. is just days away, and in the Diocese of Brooklyn Currents News is meeting those who have chosen to champion life. Jan. 21 we head to Queens, New York, to speak with a couple who chose their daughter’s life over doctor’s orders to abort the pregnancy.
Meet the 90-Year-Old Tailor Styling Vice President JD Vance
By Currents News
An Ohio master tailor is living the American dream now that he’s dressed Vice President JD Vance for Jan. 20’s presidential inauguration ceremony.
In the sewing room of a custom men’s clothing store that bares his name, 90-year-old Romualdo Pelle, an immigrant from Italy, reflects on his life’s work in fashion saying, “it’s my life I guess, my way to express myself.”
Despite his age he doesn’t need glasses to thread a needle, and doesn’t need to put on airs either. “Are you kidding me? A hillbilly from Italy with a small town for maybe 15,000 people,” he says when asked if he every dreamed of tailoring suits for a U.S. vice president. “No, I would never dream of that.”
He’s been sewing since he was nine yeas old, having learned the skill from a godfather before he immigrated to the states in 1960. His career as spanned more than history, and now includes some notable customers from Vance to Neil Armstrong.
Vice President Vance has now been seen around the globe in Pelle’s handiwork, and the order he placed for the inauguration weekend includes eight shirts, six ties, four suits, three belts, two overcoats and two pairs of gloves. The store’s co-owner Chris Berre says Vance has been a loyal customer of theirs since he first stepped into politics and won a Senate seat.
“The fact that he’s taking time to find a small business in what is now his hometown and supporting a small business in the story like Romulo has, it’s surreal,” he tells Currents News.
Vice President Vance even hand-wrote a note to the tailor that reads “For Romualdo, with admiration for tour hard work and dedication. Pelle says there’s been “so much sacrifice” to get to this point, but with sacrifice comes honor: he’s outfitting the vice president of the United States.