Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy Students Learn Epiphany Blessing For New Year

by Katie Vasquez

Blackboards and chalk are not uncommon in schools, but mini boards are staying outside the classroom at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy. The signs are a way to bring good tidings into the new year.

Students at the Forest Hills school are beginning their first days of classes in 2025 in prayer while their Pastor Emeritus, Monsignor John McGuirl blesses chalked plaques for Our Lady of Mercy’s classrooms.

The mini blackboards are the school’s take on a centuries-old Epiphany tradition, where Catholics mark their homes with sacred signs and symbols to ask God for his blessing on their home, those who live in it, and those who visit.

Many of the students say they follow this custom at home, but doing it at school feels extra special.

“It made me feel like Jesus is here and he’s with me,” Phoenix Berkin-Albers, a 2nd grader at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, tells Currents News.

“The idea of it is that people that come into this building, this academy, are searching out Christ, trying to find out about Christ, trying to get close to him. And that’s what the Wise Men were essentially doing,” said Monsignor John McGuirl of Our Lady of Mercy Church.

“I definitely feel proud of doing it and definitely probably more blessed and just inspired to continue my religious faith,” says AnnMarie Dry, a 7th grader at the school.

The boards will stay up until next year, ensuring Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy stays a sacred space for all.

Our Lady of Sorrows Youth Celebrate Three Kings Day in Corona, Queens

By Currents News

Students at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Corona, Queens, dressed up to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany with a special musical performance that featured the famous biblical characters in Christ’s birth.

Some Christmas classics like Santa, Frosty, and elves also joined in on the festivities. The event also spread some holiday cheer as Christmas gifts were given out to the children in attendance there.

Karen Olson’s Pilgrimage Prayer: A Musical Journey of Faith, Peace, and Inspiration

By Jessica Easthope

In her home studio in northwestern New Jersey, Karen Olson has found peace.

It’s not because of the quiet of her office or the nature she’s surrounded by—it’s her connection to God.

“I aspire to be living as a prayer,” said Olson. “It’s not just praying before I eat and at night. It’s kind of when I breathe. I really, really feel very connected to God. It’s my biggest intention.”

Karen’s illustrious career as a violist spans decades. Divine Echoes is her ninth album, and on it is a track based on the Prayer to St. Francis—words she’s related to since childhood.

“We spent our summers at this gorgeous lake in northern Minnesota,” said Olson. “Lake Vermilion. And so I really connected with nature. For me, Saint Francis represents God and nature and spirituality. And then we’re instruments of peace. And we’re instruments, because I really believe in the vibrations and the power of music. So it really brought together all the things that I love.”

The song is called Pilgrimage Prayer. Karen says her hope was to bring a new voice to the prayer and to share that voice with as many as possible.

“We’re on this journey to find more and more peace and happiness and love in our lives,” said Olson. “And to share it. And the music is a perfect medium and way to help us on that journey. And my prayer is that this reaches more people and it touches them.”

Karen’s own pilgrimage has led her to stages around the world, using her God-given talents to touch audiences and reaffirm her own faith. This album, and specifically Pilgrimage Prayer, has shaped a mission to evangelize.

“It’s really changed my life,” said Olson. “Transformational is the word I like. My favorite line: ‘That you’ll be born to eternal life.’ I wanted people to hear that line that maybe would never hear it any other way.”

The prayer, written anonymously in the voice of St. Francis, calls upon God: “Make me an instrument of your peace.”

“So here we all are,” said Olson. “You listening? Me creating. We are all creators of this prayer because we can make it. We can make it a part of our lives.”

All Karen wants is for the song to reach others. She’s given Pilgrimage Prayer to the world, and as the prayer says: “For it is in giving that one receives.”

With Vigil on Bourbon Street, New Orleans Mourns Victims of New Year’s Day Attack

By Currents News

In New Orleans, Louisiana, people came together in prayer to honor those lost during a truck attack on New Year’s Day.

It was a celebration of life on the city’s famous Bourbon Street as mourners wept and danced for the 14 killed in that very spot. The people of New Orleans erected a makeshift memorial of crosses and pictures that also included candles, flowers, and teddy bears.

Many believe music and dancing is the best way to honor the victims who were on Bourbon Street to celebrate the New Year.

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Archdiocese of New Orleans, Pope Francis Mourn Lives Lost in New Years Day Attack

By Currents News

Pope Francis is sending prayers of healing and consolation to the people of New Orleans, Louisiana, following an attack that occurred on New Year’s Day.

At least 15 people are dead and 30 injured after investigators say a U.S. Army veteran drove a truck into a crowd of people celebrating during the early morning hours of January 1.

Pope Francis assured New Orleans of his spiritual closeness to the city, commending the victims to “the loving mercy of almighty God.”

Information is still coming in about those who lost their lives in this tragedy like St. Thomas More Catholic High School Graduate Martin Bech Jr. Known as “Tiger,” the Lafayette, Louisiana man was a standout athlete at the school in football, lacrosse, and track and field. He went on to play for Princeton University and most recently lived in New York City working as a junior trader for a capital markets firm. He was visiting New Orleans for the holidays.

Another Catholic school alum also lost his life in the tragedy: 21-year-old Hubert Gauthreaux, who graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in New Orleans in 2021. The school is praying for the repose of his soul – along with his family and friends – sharing the news of his passing in a post on Facebook.

It’s believed many of those injured could be Catholic as people present were in New Orleans for the Notre Dame University versus University of Georgia football game.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans expressed his closeness to the Catholic community in a statement, saying “This violent act is a sign of utter disrespect for human life. I join with others in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans in offering prayerful support to the victims’ families. I give thanks for the heroic duty of hundreds of law enforcement and medical personnel in the face of such evil.”

‘Christ Is Walking With Us’ in the Diocese of Brooklyn This Jubilee Year

By Currents News

Parishioners from across the Diocese of Brooklyn packed the pews at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James on Dec. 29, 2024 to help Bishop Robert Brennan usher in the Jubilee Year, which he says is “a reminder of our connection to the greatest moment in time: when God became human, the birth of Jesus.”

The service at St. James was one of two Masses celebrated by the Shepherd of Brooklyn in the borough for the diocese’s formal opening of the Holy Year, which also coincided with the feast of the holy family.

“It’s a beautiful opportunity as a family and young adults to come and support our diocese and just to spread the love of God throughout the streets of Brooklyn and Queens,” parishioner Marlene Sanchez tells Currents News. “It’s something truly meaningful for me.”

Sanchez held hands with her family members as she walked through the streets of Brooklyn following Bishop Brennan, who led a procession with the Blessed Sacrament from the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Amid the sounds of New York City they prayed, stopping traffic and causing pedestrians to stop in their tracks to watch.

Gillian Hunte tells Currents News she didn’t mind the attention the procession was garnering.

“Besides proclaiming that we are for Christ because He is the light of the world, today’s a day we become a little bit closer to Him and the Son and what He is about,” she explains. “He is the way, the truth and the light.”

These pilgrims are holding that light close as we enter this Jubilee of hope.

“It gives us a concrete reminder that we’re not alone, that Christ is walking with us,” says Bishop Brennan.

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Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica to begin the Jubilee Year, and Bishop Robert Brennan marks its start with Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

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Catholic News Headlines for Friday 12/20/2024

The New York City Council passed a bill allowing religious schools, including Catholic schools in Brooklyn with 150 or more students, to be reimbursed for security guards following a recent deadly shooting at a Wisconsin Christian school.

A Catholic school in Brooklyn held a special mass at St. Anselm Church to bless the new Bay Ridge Catholic Academy choir, marking the first such event for the academy, which was founded in 2019, with over 70 students in the choir.

St. Francis College in Brooklyn dedicated its “Our Lady of Angels Chapel” to the late Frank and Mary Macchiarola, a couple who dedicated their lives to education.

With Christmas just five days away, Pope Francis will start the festivities with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by the official launch of the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.

Diocese of Brooklyn Schools Among Those To Be Reimbursed for Security Through NYC Legislature

By Jessica Easthope

Religious and private schools across New York City are celebrating a major victory: on Dec. 19 the New York City Council passed a bill allowing non-public schools with 150 students or more to be reimbursed for a security guard.

Cheers were heard on the steps of City Hall as a looming vote to make 384 schools safer took center stage in the City Council chamber.

The bill is an expansion of an existing law that allows non-public schools with 300 students or more to be reimbursed for a security guard. Now the number of students has been reduced to 150, covering 42 Dioceses of Brooklyn schools, including three high schools and 39 elementary schools.

“It shows that we work together and that when we’re at our best, no matter what we call our God, that’s when we can say we’re a society that cares about people,” Superintendent of Diocese of Brooklyn Schools, Deacon Kevin McCormack, tells Currents News.

He was there to support the bill’s passing, with the vote coming just three days after a student and teacher were killed at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin. It was the 327th school shooting so far this year.

“Anywhere you look, you’re going to see these horror shows that are going on. This is going to make a difference,” says Deacon McCormack. “This is one extra layer to bring safety to our kids. And for that, we have to say thank you to the City Council and to all those who are supporting this bill.”

“Here you have something tragic like that happening at a school in Wisconsin, a small Christian faith based school. It’s heartbreaking,” explains Deanna Philippe, principal of Cristo Rey High School in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. “So we are deeply grateful to the City for this opportunity as every student, no matter where they are, deserves to be safe.”

Philippe had testified in front of the City Council on behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn earlier this year. She says a security guard will not only improve the physical safety of her students and faculty, but their mental health as well.

“I couldn’t tell you just how excited we are and how relieved we are at Cristo Rey Brooklyn that we’ll have some security guards available on staff to help keep our community safe,” she adds.

The bill, which passed in the City Council Thursday Dec. 19, is expected to be signed into law by New York City Mayor Eric Adams within the next 30 days. It will take effect in July of 2025, and security guards will be at their posts by the start of next school year.