Pope Leo XIV’s longest apostolic journey thus far is continuing on as the Holy Father travels to Cameroon, the second destination on his tour of Africa.
A church in Fort Greene, Brooklyn has gotten a major upgrade. Now efforts to preserve the parish, which had long been in disarray, are being recognized.
A group of NFL players visited the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture to bring the sounds of R&B, Gospel, and Soul to Catholic school students in New York City.
By Katie Vasquez and Bill Miller
FORT GREENE — Father Henry Torres recalled how just a couple of years ago, motorists on the elevated Brooklyn-Queens Expressway could look down on Mary of Nazareth Parish and behold a church with a dingy facade and decrepit roof.
“There are people who have lived in this neighborhood for years, and, given the condition of the church, they thought it was closed,” said Father Torres, pastor since 2021.
Therefore, Father Torres and parishioners embarked on a major renovation project that’s expected to wrap by year’s end. The roof is new. The facade has been thoroughly cleaned and painted. Interior renovations are underway.
But the work has already won recognition.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy will honor Mary of Nazareth Parish on April 16 with a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award.
Father Torres said he is excited to receive the accolade during the ceremony at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Still, he noted, the renovations involve more than making the historic church more appealing to attract more parishioners.
“It really is a preservation of history,” Father Torres said. “This area, at one point, was predominantly Irish. The Italians came later, and then the Latinos.
“This is where they found their refuge, they found their faith, they found their strength.”
Mary of Nazareth was completed in 1877 under a different name — Sacred Heart Parish. Its Gothic Revival design was drawn by Thomas Houghton, a son-in-law and protégé of the famed 19th-century church builder, Patrick Keely.
RELATED: Diocesan Designer: The Remarkable Unsung Legacy of Church Architect Patrick Keely
Sacred Heart was one of several Catholic churches in Fort Greene — a bedroom community for people employed at the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.
However, over nearly 150 years, the other parishes closed due to shifting demographics. Sacred Heart absorbed those congregations, and, in 2008, changed its name to Mary of Nazareth.
Father Torres resolved not to let the memories of the other parishes fade into obscurity.
To that end, the altar from St. Lucy-St. Patrick Parish, which closed in 2021, will be used against the back wall of the sanctuary at Mary of Nazareth.
RELATED: St. Lucy-St. Patrick Shuttered Due to Changing Demographics, Costly Repairs
The revamped sacred space will also feature an image of the Sacred Heart to honor the parish’s former name, as well as portraits of St. Michael and St. Edward the Confessor.
Those saints were the patrons of two other Fort Greene parishes that merged in 1942 but later closed and consolidated with Sacred Heart Parish in 2008. That’s when Sacred Heart’s name was changed to Mary of Nazareth.
“The history of all of the churches is represented here,” Father Torres said.
Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, said the Lucy G. Moses Awards — or the “Lucys” — help showcase great preservation projects and the people who do the work.
“We modestly call them the ‘Oscars of preservation,’ ” Breen said. “We were very happy to see Mary of Nazareth come before us. We’re great fans of Patrick Keely and Thomas Houghton, but this is a lovely example of Gothic Revival architecture.”
She said the parish is especially worthy of the award for its rebuilding of the facade, the side-brick masonry parapets, and the monumental rose window. Stained glass windows were removed, cleaned, and reinstalled, Breen said.
“I think the people have done such a beautiful job at Mary of Nazareth,” Breen said.
Overseeing the work is Zaskorski & Associates Architects, which also handled the renovation of another property in the Diocese of Brooklyn, St. Raphael Church in Long Island City, which also received a Lucy award last year.
RELATED: St. Raphael Church Honored for NYC Preservation Efforts
She added that “ecclesiastical architecture” is some of the finest in America.
“It shows immigration patterns,” she said. “And so many of these buildings offer social services or cultural programs that help people beyond the congregation. They’re a real anchor to their communities.
“And Mary of Nazareth has been doing that near the Brooklyn Navy Yard for nearly 150 years.”
Father Torres said his renovation to-do list includes replacing the bells. He recalled how a bell company representative described how peeling chimes “give voice” to a parish.
“So, if we are able to get bells, it would serve as a sort of announcement — an announcement that we’re here,” Father Torres said. “Now, for everyone who’s looking for a parish to be home, they can contribute their histories to be part of Mary of Nazareth’s history.”
By Katie Vasquez
Hundreds of Catholic school students from the Archdiocese of New York took a break from their schoolwork Tuesday for a lively and faith-filled gathering at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture.
The students quickly filled the venue with smiles and cheers as they jumped out of their seats to the sounds of The Pro Players, an inspirational choir made up of former NFL athletes. The group performed a mix of gospel, soul and R&B music, energizing the crowd.
“I came in, I touched every chair here because I want our influence to be more than just a singer. I want people to feel something and I want lives to change,” said KeShun Freeman, a member of The Pro Players. “So coming in here this morning to pray over each chair was my way of saying, you know, God be with each person.”
The students are part of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund, which provides families with financial needs the opportunity to give their children a quality, values-based Catholic education within the Archdiocese of New York.
Many students said the experience brought them closer to their faith.
“They mostly talked about God and how they went to a lot of churches and church is good to go,” said Jonas De la Rosa, a seventh grader at Our Lady Queen of Angels School.
“I think that God is a really important part in faith,” added eighth grader Judah Nuno. “And like the gifts that they were given, they sang so wonderfully. And it was a really, like, great vibe that they created, which was all about love and gratitude.”
Another highlight of the event came when Frank and Lynn Mara were honored for their commitment to Catholic education.
“I’m one of 11 siblings and all 11 of us had 16 years of Catholic education, so we know how important that is,” said Frank Mara, senior vice president of community relations for the New York Giants.
“The closer you come to God, the more you want to be around that and proclaim it and live it,” said Lynn Mara, a board member of the Sheen Center.
The Sheen Center has additional faith-based programming scheduled in the coming months. Meanwhile, The Pro Players will continue performing throughout the tristate area over the next week.
By Jessica Easthope and Josephine Peterson
ANNABA, ALGERIA (CNS) – In a country marred by hardship, deep faith and hard-won independence, Pope Leo XIV pointed to Algeria as a living witness to what he called the Church’s “guiding principle above all,” a charity that transcends power, binds community and makes peace.
Throughout the first leg of his 11-day trip across Africa, the pope returned again and again to one idea: peace comes not through power or dominance, but through a sacrificial love, exemplified in Christ.
In the Basilica of St. Augustine, his spiritual father, Pope Leo presented the Christians of Algeria as an example of this aspect of the Church’s mission, asking that they remain a humble and faithful sign of Christ’s love.
“Your presence in this country is like incense: a glowing grain that spreads fragrance because it gives glory to the Lord and joy and comfort to so many brothers and sisters,” he said during his final Mass in the country April 14.
In his homily, he described a Church of charity, “where there is despair, she kindles hope, where there is misery, she brings dignity, and where there is conflict, she brings reconciliation.”
“Therefore, in the face of poverty and oppression, the guiding principle above all for Christians is charity: let us do to those around us, as we would have them do to us,” the pope said. “On the contrary, faith in the one God, Lord of heaven and earth, unites people according to perfect justice, which calls everyone to charity – that is, to love every creature with the love that God gives us in Christ.
RELATED: Pope Leo Praises Witness of Algeria’s Christian Martyrs at Meeting With Local Catholics
In his April 13 address to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the diplomatic corps, he pointed out that Algerians practice “sadaka” (meaning almsgiving and justice) “even for those of limited means,” and how their “spirit of solidarity, hospitality and community is woven into the daily lives of millions of humble and upright people.”
After being a French colony for more than 130 years, Algeria sought independence in 1954, sparking a war that left an estimated 1.5 million people dead.
The pope highlighted Algeria’s solidarity despite its years of hardship and conflict. He positioned Algeria as a teacher to economically wealthier countries, reframing what development means.
“Indeed, a religion without mercy and a society without solidarity are a scandal in God’s eyes,” Pope Leo said. “Yet many societies that consider themselves advanced are plunging ever deeper into inequality and exclusion. Africa knows all too well that people and organizations that dominate others destroy the world, which the Most High has created in order that we might all live together.”
During his address April 13 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, he spoke again on selfless love, saying the Church’s work with disabled children shows how charity transcends “material help” and creates “an authentic community, where many people share moments of joy and sorrow, united by bonds of trust, friendship and fellowship.”
RELATED: Local Sister Says Cameroon Feels ‘Fortunate’ for Pope’s Africa Trip
He furthered this message when speaking at a nursing home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, mirroring his repeated message that this sentiment is what builds the kingdom of God.
“Our Father’s heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant or the proud,” the pope said April 14. “God’s heart is with the little ones and the humble, and with them he builds up his kingdom of love and peace, day by day, just as you are striving to do here in your daily service, friendship and life together.”
It is precisely through charity that the pope said one performs acts of martyrdom, regardless of one’s religion.
“After all, it is precisely love for their brothers and sisters that inspired the witness of the martyrs we have commemorated,” he said in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. “In the face of hatred and violence, they remained faithful to charity even to the point of sacrificing themselves alongside many other men and women, Christians and Muslims.”
Throughout his two-day sojourn in Algeria, he spotlighted the selflessness of martyrs. Pope Leo’s first stop April 13 was the Maqam Echahid Martyrs’ Monument, which commemorates those who died during the Algerian War.
“Our presence here at this monument pays tribute to this history of Algeria and to the very spirit of a people who fought for the independence, dignity and sovereignty of this nation,” he said.
RELATED: Pope Leo Arrives in Algeria on First-Ever Papal Visit to the Country
In the beginning of his speech to the diplomatic corps, he recalled the 19 religious men and women who were martyred during the Algerian War.
By expressing this charitable love, the faithful find the ability to forgive and reconcile, ultimately leading to peace – Pope Leo’s biggest priority at the moment.
For months, Pope Leo has been relentlessly consistent on his call for peace, particularly following the conflict in the Middle East. Pope Leo presented peace not as a vague ideal, but as a moral calling, rooted in human fraternity, justice and humility.
To a country overwhelmingly Muslim – an estimated 99% identify as Sunni Islam – he emphasized that Algerians and Christians alike are brothers and sisters because they share “the same Father in heaven.”
“In a world full of conflicts and misunderstandings, let us meet and strive for mutual understanding, recognizing that we are all one family!” he said to the diplomatic corps April 13. “Today, the simplicity of this awareness is the key to opening many doors that are closed.”
From the start of his visit, he framed himself as “a pilgrim of peace.” The pope said the world cannot continue to “add resentment upon resentment, generation after generation.”
“In this place, let us remember that God desires peace for every nation: a peace that is not merely an absence of conflict, but one that is an expression of justice and dignity,” he said at the monument. “This peace, which allows us to face the future with a reconciled spirit, is possible only through forgiveness.”
By Currents News
Bishop Robert Brennan welcomed some of the more than 1,200 new members of the Catholic Church who joined at Easter Vigil Masses across the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated the Mass of the Neophytes on April 12 at Resurrection Church in Marine Park.
The special liturgy is designed to encourage the newly baptized and confirmed to continue their commitment to the faith while formally welcoming them into the diocese through prayer with their bishop.
Bishop Brennan urged the faithful at the Brooklyn church to pray for the new Catholics and expressed hope that they would become leaders who draw others to the Church.
By Jessica Easthope
Imagine Grand Army Plaza with no cars. That’s what New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani may be proposing.
The mayor’s office and Department of Transportation have laid out a complete redesign of Grand Army Plaza.
It’s the place where the Diocese of Brooklyn displays its Christmas tree and Nativity scene every year for more than a decade — under the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch, which plays a big role in the redesign.
Grand Army Plaza has also been the starting point for processions throughout the years.
The plan is to connect the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch and Bailey Fountain to the northern entrance of Prospect Park.
This would mean more cars driving in the roundabout in that area. Officials say it prioritizes pedestrian and cyclist safety, expands public space, and simplifies the flow of traffic.
It would basically restore the Arch as the formal entrance to Prospect Park.
While there is still plenty to work out — like how traffic will be rerouted and where sidewalks will go — the city wants to hear from residents. Support in past New York City surveys about this redesign has been really strong for prioritizing pedestrian access.
The Grand Army Plaza redesign proposal is in the public review and design refinement phase.
The Department of Transportation is hosting public workshops starting April 23 in person in Grand Army Plaza.
An online community feedback survey launches with the workshops and will run through May 31.
The city says the proposal is subject to public input and final approval.
For more information on how to give your input — visit nyc.gov/grandarmyplaza.
Pope Leo XIV began his longest apostolic journey with a historic visit to Algeria, promoting interfaith dialogue and meeting the local Catholic community.
New York City officials are proposing a redesign of Grand Army Plaza to make the historic space more pedestrian-friendly.
Parishioners in Queens are praying for peace after repeated vandalism incidents at St. Gertrude Church.
A Long Island parish unveiled a new statue of Blessed Michael McGivney, honoring the founder of the Knights of Columbus.
By Katie Vasquez and Paula Katinas
FAR ROCKAWAY — For the third time in less than six months, a statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Gertrude Church was vandalized.
This time, the statue was knocked to the ground, shattered, and damaged beyond repair, officials of the Diocese of Brooklyn said. The NYPD is investigating the incident at the church, which occurred overnight on March 14-15. The incident has been classified as a hate crime.
Father Frank Shannon, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude (the churches are part of the same parish), said security cameras captured images of a lone vandal smashing the 100-year-old statue with a boulder.
“I almost wanted to cry when I saw it. He took this huge boulder and kept banging it down on her head,” he said, adding that the statue is beyond repair.
The church will seek to replace the statue with one from the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Office of Patrimony, a holding area for statues from closed churches.
“We’re not giving in. Something will go back up,” Father Shannon vowed.
Officials noted that the recent incident marked the third time the same Blessed Mother statue has been vandalized. On Jan. 28, a vandal toppled the statue over. And on Oct. 2, 2025, a vandal covered the statue’s head with a black bag depicting a skull.
No arrests have been made in any of the attacks on the church.
St. Gertrude Church was also the target of thieves who stole a sign listing the church’s name that had been posted outside for 3 years. The thieves left the stand that had been holding up the sign.
It is not clear when the sign was stolen, Father Shannon said, though he estimated it occurred within the past few weeks.
“It doesn’t compare to what they did to the statue of Our Blessed Mother,” Father Shannon said. “But it’s one thing after another. And it really hurts.”
Vandals have also struck at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church.
On Oct. 5, 2025, vandals spray-painted the face of a statue of the Blessed Mother and a statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
The vandals also spray-painted the word “cult” at the foot of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux statue.
Parishioners expressed shock and dismay at the incidents of vandalism.
“This is very difficult to bear,” said Rosa Iris Miranda. “To tell you the truth, it’s heartbreaking. When you see all these things happening to our churches without any respect, without any love, it really breaks my heart.”
By Katie Vasquez
A Queens parish is dealing with yet another act of vandalism — this time, its church sign was stolen.
It’s the latest in a troubling series of incidents at St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude in Far Rockaway.