December 12 marks the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and thousands of parishioners in the Diocese of Brooklyn have joined together for prayer and pilgrimage.
This week’s Tablet newspaper is getting readers into the Christmas spirit with a faith-filled gift guide and a donation campaign to ensure every child has a present under the tree this year.
Catholic teachers working in public schools are honored for their commitment to their students and their faith.
By Katie Vasquez
From the way they’re dressed to their dance steps, every part of the December 12 celebration at the Co-Cathedral of St Joseph is highlighting a faith that has been passed down through the generations.
“When we dance, yes, we dance because it’s in Mexican culture, our thought, our feeling is we are dancing to our God. We are praising him. We are glorifying him,” Father Baltazar Sanchez-Alonzo, the coordinator for the ministry to Mexican immigrants, tells Currents News.
It’s all in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, an almost 500-year devotion to the blessed mother so strong both in Central America and in the Diocese of Brooklyn that Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated two Spanish Masses, one for Queen parishes and one for Brooklyn churches, on Dec. 12.
“She teaches us to go to Christ, and that Christ is in the middle of us all. He’s walking among us. And so that’s what these people are representing, we’re celebrating Jesus Christ, walking with us through the journey of life,” says Bishop Brennan.
The coordinator for Mexican immigrants, Father Sanchez-Alonzo, says this feast broke records.
“This year we went past 4,000 people – 4,000 people, divided into two Masses,” said Father Sanchez-Alonzo. “So every year has increased.”
That devotion will spread through the streets of Brooklyn and Queens.
After Mass Bishop Brennan passes along a flame to more than 50 torch runners, which they will carry on foot back to their parishes.
“Taking the torches back to their parishes, it’s a great sign of the light of Christ being brought to the neighborhoods, witnessing to our faith and devotion,” explains Bishop Brennan.
For some the trek will be longer than others, but the runners don’t mind because they have their faith and each other.
“The community is the best part because we all come together to celebrate one purpose and it’s the mother Mary,” says Melvin Balderes, a parishioner at St. Stanislaus Kostka-Transfiguration parish in Queens. “She’s our mother, and as a mother she loves us so much that she gave her only son to us.”
By Katie Vasquez
There’s an open door policy at John Rullan’s office in William H Maxwell Career and Technical Education high school in East New York.
The Brooklyn principal says he is always open to hearing from students.
“When you see how you impact kids’ lives, it makes the job worth it,” he tells Currents News.
He adds that spending a whole school day together creates a bond between students and teacher, and the administrator views these teens as his own children.
“You’re with them so much that you become emotionally attached,” he explains. “When things go wrong and something happens to them, it happens to you.”
That frame of thinking has been a comfort to scholars who didn’t expect to enjoy going to the principal’s office.
“What I find is he basically is one with his students,” Doniele Brown, a senior at William H Maxwell Career and Technical Education High School, tells Currents News. “He’s trying to look out for everybody, be on their side, get to understand who they are as a person.”
“I feel like he controls the school with a sense of love rather than fear, which I think is a great motivator for the students,” fellow Aden Martine says of Rullan.
His bond with his students comes from his roots – he grew up in the neighborhood, attending St. Fortunata parish in Brooklyn and says he tries to instill Catholic values like corporal acts of mercy in his students.
For example when he came aboard in 2022 he created a food pantry, recognizing that some students couldn’t afford a good meal.
“I feel that when they see others in need, they realize that their lives are not as bad as they think they are. And so I think it’s very important to really give back to the community and society as a whole, to make these students successful in life,” Rullan says.
His efforts to better his students lives outside the classroom is being recognized by his peers at the Catholic Teachers Association. It’s an accomplishment he doesn’t take for granted.
“I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was shocked. But deep down inside, it’s always nice to be appreciated and to be recognized for all the things that you do,” he admits.
It’s rewarding for him to think he’s helping these students get on the path to success just by being an attentive listener.
“When the kids come back year after year and thank you for not giving up on them and really helping them to be successful, it makes you want to do more and give back more,” Rullan says.
By Currents News
Catholic teachers who work in public schools were honored Dec. 11 for their commitment to their students and their faith.
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan started the evening at Russo’s on the bay in Howard Beach, Queens with a prayer and offered his appreciation for the people who teach in New York City public schools but remain devoted to their faith.
Each of the six honorees were selected by the Catholic Teachers Association based on their work as a principal, teacher, or union member.
While religion is typically not in the classroom at public schools, these educators say they are united by faith and that the event is a way to bond.
“Any time somebody wants to just take a moment to acknowledge anybody for the work you’re doing, it feels nice. It feels good,” Noah Angeles, Superintendent for the New York City Department Of Education at New Visions High Schools tells Currents News. “ I’m just appreciative of that, for the organization itself just to take a moment tonight not just acknowledge me, but other educators in the field for the work they’re doing.”
“If you think about it, the number of our children who are educated in our public schools is enormous, and so I want to be able to support the Catholic teachers who are serving in our schools and we want to be able to support them in their good work,” Bishop Brennan says.
“Although we may not speak to being Catholic inside our public schools we are absolutely modeling what it is to be a strong Catholic, which is to lead a good spiritual life, to live a life of caring about others, compassion for others, empathy for others,” adds Patrick Burns, President of the Catholic Teachers Association.
By Currents News
December 12 marks the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe – the Marian apparition that is venerated by many across Mexico and Central America.
In the Diocese of Brooklyn, thousands of parishioners will be converging on the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Brooklyn for two different Masses.
Following the Mass a pilgrimage of the faithful, torches in hand, will spread the light of Christ through the streets of New York City.
Katie Vasquez has the history of La Virgin de Guadalupe tonight.
Bishop Robert Brennan gathered with hundreds of guests at his annual Christmas luncheon at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, raising vital funds to support Catholic education and empower young people across Brooklyn and Queens.
Queens students organized a diaper drive and tree lighting at Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy, creating gift baskets and raising funds for The Bridge to Life to support moms and babies.
Bay Ridge Catholic Academy’s third graders brought the Christmas spirit to life with an Advent presentation of songs and readings highlighting the birth of Jesus.
The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph hosted a packed Advent celebration with prayer, reflection, and inspiring performances by Christian singer-songwriters Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger.
By Jessica Easthope
The spirit of Christmas and the spirit of giving went hand-in-hand on December 11. Priests, parishioners and donors came together to support the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens, which helps provide Catholic education and youth ministry initiatives in the Diocese of Brooklyn. They’re important causes to Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan.
“The young people just continue to inspire me here in the diocese with our schools, our academies and, high schools and our youth programs,” he told Currents News.
“We need to make them feel like they are a part of this church, and they’re already on their faith journey,” added John Notaro, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens.
Every year the luncheon honors those who have made an impact in their church communities and who are committed to the future of Catholic education. This year, former American Express executive Dominick Ranieri was given the Emma A. Daniels Benefactor’s Award.
“My role, as well as all those on our board, is to help make those decisions that can help us stay sound financially and really extend the life of the school as far into the future as we possibly can,” he said.
Father Joseph Fonti was honored with the St. John Paul II Distinguished Stewardship Award. As pastor of St. Mel’s Church in Flushing, Queens, Fr. Fonti has played a pivotal role in helping build St. Mel’s Catholic Academy back up after it was set to close a few years ago.
“If we work together, educate the mind, fortify heart and soul with faith and love, we would have a success,” he told Currents News.
The Spirit of Hope Award was given to Walter and Eunice Campbell. The Campbells started the George K. Campbell Scholarship Foundation in 2006 in honor of their 20-year-old son who was killed in a car accident. The Campbells are active parishioners of Holy Family Church in Canarsie, Brooklyn and help sustain Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy.
“We help as much as we can. That’s when the tears come to my eyes and what have you, because, he’s still alive as far as I’m concerned,” Walter Campbell said about helping his community in his son’s name.
The event is expected to raise $400,000 for Catholic education and youth ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
By Currents News
A new sacred space is putting faith at the center of a Coney Island, Brooklyn nursing home.
Saints Joachim And Anne Nursing & Rehabilitation Center gifted its residents a newly renovated chapel that’s front and center in the lobby.
The facility celebrated the chapel’s grand opening on Dec. 10 with an all night affair, starting with a Mass presided over by Monsignor Alfred LoPinto, CEO of Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens.
The Mass was followed by a tree lighting ceremony on the front lawn and a dinner with live music.
By Currents News
Students at Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy in Astoria, Queens are making sure the Christmas season is bright for others.
During a school assembly on December 10, on behalf of students members of the Knights of Columbus Columbian Squires and the Junior Ladies of Charity presented baskets of baby clothes and supplies – along with baby bottles filled with change – to the Bridge to Life.
The kids chose the pro-life organization for their Advent service project. The donations will help some of the 5,000 expectant mothers the Bridge to Life serves every year.
By Currents News
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan and hundreds of his closest friends are getting into the holiday spirit of giving today while having lunch in Howard Beach, Queens.
The Bishop’s annual Christmas luncheon at Russo’s on the Bay raises money for Catholic education and supports youth programs throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn. Jessica Easthope will have more on celebrations and fundraising efforts tonight.