Church Celebrates Italian Culture: Diocese of Brooklyn Marches in Columbus Day Parade

By Katie Vasquez

Dozens from the Diocese of Brooklyn took center stage on Fifth Avenue on Monday Oct. 9, offering culture to the crowds and waving Italian flags in honor of Columbus day.

It was a thrilling opportunity for the students who were all aboard.

“I’m proud that I’m able to be in this parade and be able to be a part of this Catholic faith and Italian community,” Giada Bruno a student at St Bernard Catholic Academy said.

“It makes me feel really good having to be a part of this parade because it shows how proud I am,” Ariana magnavito a student at St. Bernard Catholic Academy said.

The explorer was not the only Italian honored. a statue of Mother Frances Cabrini, a religious sister who cared for immigrants in New York City, also made her way down Fifth Avenue.

“It’s an opportunity for us to all come together regardless if you’re Italian, regardless of your background just to come together in faith and just to walk throughout this parade,” Craig Tubiolo, Executive Director of the Emmaus Center said. “It’s just such an amazing experience. And to be together and to celebrate our faith.”

Before the parade, Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with people praying in Italian and English, a testament to the city of immigrants.

“It’s a reminder to me for us as a catholic church, that indeed we are a city of immigrants,” Bishop Brennan said. “We celebrate our diverse city of culture but at the same time our unity in faith.”

The parade isn’t just all about fun. It will also help put children through school. 

So far $36 million have been awarded to young scholars who need it.

Civilians Pray for Peace: Families of Hostages Plead for Their Release

The unspeakable anguish of a father describing the moment he saw a video posted on social media of his daughter pleading for her life. 

“It was Noa frightened and threatened,” Yakov Argamani, Father of captured hostage Noa Argamani said. “You don’t want to believe it even though you can clearly see it’s your daughter.”

He now wants this video to be seen widely.

Noa, 25, could be seen on the back of a motorcycle being driven away by Hamas terrorists.

Her boyfriend, Avi Natan, was also taken by the group.

They had been among the more than 1000 people partying at an all-night music festival in southern Israel near the Gaza border when it was raided by armed Hamas militants early on Saturday morning.

Her father says Noa and Natan were kidnapped, their whereabouts unknown but are assumed to be held in Gaza.

“I’m so sad at this moment,” Yakov said. “She’s my only daughter.”

Yakov’s pain is mirrored by so many others. 

Parents, family members, wives, husbands filled with horror and despair thinking about the fate of their loved ones.

In one video that’s been circulating widely online, a woman is seen in the back of a truck as a militant puts a scarf over her head. 

Currents News has not been able to independently verify it.

Yoni Asher, a resident of the Sharon region, says his wife and two daughters aged five and three were visiting their grandmother near the Gaza border.

He lost contact with them on Saturday morning and suspected they may have been abducted.

Later that day, his suspicions confirmed when he saw this video, the woman was his wife. 

He said he wants the video to be shown in the hopes of getting them home safely. 

“There was no doubt in my mind, I recognized them,” Asher said. “Surely my wife, my two daughters, my two little daughters that were on this cart. So I know for sure that they were taken.”

The Israeli army has not been able to establish the exact number of hostages taken.

So far, they estimate there are dozens, possibly more in captivity. 

Yakov has a message to whoever is holding his daughter.

“You have casualties just like we do,” he said. “This is an opportunity to connect between the two nations to reach an honest peace.”

If you want to help the victims on both sides of the violence, you can donate to the international red cross at icrc.org and click donate now.

Italian Organization Works to Protect Christopher Columbus’ Reputation

Columbus Day doesn’t come without controversy.

There are more than 100 cities across the country that have adopted Indigenous Peoples Day and believe that the explorer brought genocide to the Americas. 

Many Italians disagree, including one organization, the “Italian American One Voice Coalition,” which works to protect Columbus’ reputation.

They put together a list of points ahead of the holiday saying that:

  • Columbus never visited what is currently the United States.
  • He didn’t purposely bring disease.
  • How diseases were spread wasn’t understood until a century later.
  • the explorer didn’t bring slavery to the new world–it already existed there
  • Columbus Day was born out of discrimination. it was dedicated to the explorer by president benjamin harrison in 18-92 following the lynching of 11 italian americans in new orleans.

Andre Dimino is the president of that coalition.

He said it can be draining to reinforce these points every holiday, but it’s something he won’t stop doing. 

Dimino’s group is currently in a legal battle over the removal of a Columbus statue in New Jersey. 

Over the past couple of years, countless statues of the explorer have been torn down across the country with many wondering what could be next on the Columbus chopping block.

But the famed statue standing tall in New York City isn’t going anywhere.

The Columbus Circle Monument is protected under preservation laws on both the state and national levels.

If you want more coverage on Columbus Day coverage, check out thetablet.org, including pictures of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s float and a full recap of this morning’s Mass.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 10/9/2023

 

The annual Columbus Day Parade went down Fifth Avenue Monday in New York City.

The Diocese of Brooklyn had its own float, filled with students.

More than 1200 people are feared dead in Israel and Gaza after Hamas invaded the region.

The Pope called for a peaceful resolution to the violence and prayed for the victims in Israel.  

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 10/6/2023

 

Today’s the last day of The Tablet’s Catholic School Fundraiser.

The Synod on Synodality continues at the Vatican today.

We’ll have an update on the National Eucharistic Congress.

The celebration of Italian heritage will begin with a Mass at st. Patrick’s Cathedral led by Bishop Robert Brennan.

Shepherds of Brooklyn and Queens: Four Regional Episcopal Vicars Installed

By Katie Vasquez

Pews of people from Brooklyn and Queens came together Wednesday night, Oct. 4, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, as four clergymen stepped up to lead different parts of the diocese. 

The four men were installed as Regional Episcopal Vicars, meaning they will be in charge of a group of parishes, known as deaneries, that have been grouped together into a region. 

The diocese previously had two regions, but now, there will be four, two in Brooklyn and two in Queens.

Bishop Brennan said the plan to split the diocese is actually meant to help bring everyone together. 

“We can take this step,” Bishop Brennan said. “Be a little more present in each of the four vicariates and work on and continue to foster those means of communication and collaboration.”

Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski will be the Episcopal Vicar For Brooklyn West, a title he doesn’t take lightly.

“I will deal with the priests and with the laypeople with the parishes,” Bishop Mroziewski said. “So it’s a very significant position and a very significant responsibility to me.”

Father Joseph Hoffman will lead Brooklyn East, bringing with him his more than 40 years of priesthood and his experience as an FDNY chaplain.

As a priest in the diocese for 34 years, Father John Costello also has extensive knowledge of the church. But as the Episocal Vicar for Queens East, he wants to focus on listening to parishioners. 

“I think we need to give people that respect to help us plan what the future is going to be,” Father Costello said.

Father Peter Purpura, who will be in charge of Queens West, already has some plans on what he would like to change. 

“I felt over the years that very often we’re competing with one another, parish against parish,” Father Purpura said. “So how can we kind of approach pastoral work in a way that we can complement one another to serve as many people as possible?”

The four men will work with deaneries, support diocesan initiatives, install and assist new pastors, and address any complaints. 

The people in the pews are excited to be able to have their voices heard.

Synod on Synodality Guidelines: Pope Francis Lays Out Regulations for Prelates

by Jessica Easthope

For two years Catholics around the globe gave their input, and now issues that have been off limits for generations of Church leaders, are on the table. 

The Synod on Synodality puts forth questions in an effort to make the Catholic Church a more welcoming and collaborative institution. Some of those questions regarding women in decision-making roles, the blessing of same-sex unions, and married priests have caused media speculation. A factor Pope Francis says is unwelcome in the process, citing how it interfered in past synods. 

“With the synod on the family, there was public opinion that came not from our worldliness to give Communion to divorcees and that is how we started the synod,” Pope Francis said. “With the Amazon synod, there was public opinion and pressure to make ‘viri probati.’ We started with this pressure. Now there are some hypotheses about this synod, but what are they going to do here: Maybe women priesthood? I don’t know these things that are said outside.”

For the first time in history, women and laypeople are full participants in the synod. The Holy Father said the meeting is an opportunity for true discernment, one that was widely called for. 

“It is not easy, but it is beautiful,” Pope Francis said. “It is very beautiful. A synod that all the bishops of the world wanted. In the survey that was done after the Amazon synod to all the bishops of the world, the second place preference was this one.”

Members are forbidden to record, film, or disclose their interventions in synod issues in both general sessions and small group discussions.

Lending a Helping Hand: Bishop Brennan Helps Feed Incoming Migrants

The Diocese of Immigrants is currently ministering to tens of thousands of new arrivals as the migrant crisis continues to rock New York City.

Bishop Robert Brennan was personally on hand at one Queens church that opened its doors to help.

Bishop Brennan handed out hot meals at St. Pius V Church on Wednesday. 

The Jamaica church started the soup kitchen last year along with Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens, they feed dozens of people every week.

Bishop Brennan said helping the migrants is part of our faith and it’s something the migrants appreciate.  

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 10/5/2023

Four new regional vicars were installed in the Diocese of Brooklyn during a Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Mayor Eric Adams is visiting some Latin American countries trying to stop migrants from coming to New York City.

Bishop Robert Brennan is helping out the migrants that are already in New York.

It’s day two of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican.

Synod Begins: Pope Celebrates Opening Mass With Bishops

It’s a big day for the global Church as the Synod of Bishops kicked off Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Pope Francis celebrated the opening Mass in St. Peter’s Square. 

The month-long meeting is focused on how to transform the Church, making it more collaborative. 

John Allen, Vatican expert and editor of Crux, joins Currents News to discuss what the bishops will discuss.Be sure to stay with The Tablet and Currents News for continuing coverage of this synod meeting all month long.