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Photographer Captures Images of Cathedrals and Basilicas Nationwide

by Katie Vasquez

When Andrew Masi goes to church, he’s bringing hundreds of other Catholics with him.

 “I feel like I’m taking people on a virtual tour of these places. I’ve had people tell me- you give me a way to experience the beauty of the church,” Masi said.

He’s known to his Instagram followers as, “The Catholic photographer,” most notably for capturing snapshots of faith on a cell phone camera.

Masi first picked up his camera almost a decade ago.

It was Easter Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, and he was inspired after simply looking up. 

“I’m looking up at the beautiful church, looking at the magnificent architecture, its gorgeous stained-glass windows, the statues, and I’m thinking wow this church is just amazing,” Masi said. 

Since then, he’s taken his passion for photographing parishes on the road.

He’s visited 35 out of 50 states and captured basilicas and cathedrals in cities like Philadelphia, Lansing, Michigan and Las Vegas.

“I feel a sense of gratefulness for my Catholic faith drawing me to these places,” Masi said. “Without my faith, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

On Labor Day, Masi will hit a new milestone. He’ll photograph his 100th church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, Tennessee. 

“They already know I’m coming and they’re like oh we’ll get the red carpet ready for you,” he said. 

Masi said he’s on a mission to see all the cathedrals and basilicas across the United States, a task he expects to finish within the next decade.  

But he’s not stopping there, he would also like to photograph churches throughout Canada and eventually all of Europe.

Diocese Pilgrims Return Home From World Youth Day With Renewed Faith

By Jessica Easthope

More than a million and a half people started out on a 6-mile trek in triple-digit heat — to the vigil that defined their pilgrimage to Portugal, with their sleeping bags in hand.

For Vincent Flores, a pilgrim from Our Lady of Help of Christians in Midwood, he remembers lying on the rocky ground as the sun went down, feeling closer than ever to his faith.

“Doing the walk, my faith has grown,” Flores said. “It’s become deeper and stronger. It was definitely very grueling, but God carries me through all struggles.

“My prayer life will definitely be changed when I pray,” Flores said. “I’ll be praying more deeply and from the heart.”

Bishop Robert Brennan knows the pilgrims sacrificed for their faith — that long walk and all throughout World Youth Day.

“They’ve been making those sacrifices all week,” Bishop Brennan said. “There were early mornings and late nights and looking out for one another and in that sense bearing the hardships, dealing with big crowds, they are sacrifices, but in the end they found it was worth it,” 

Bishop Brennan was also in that crowd as adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament began ahead of the overnight campout.

“They brought the Blessed Sacrament out and everyone just quieted down, can you imagine that,” Bishop Brennan said. “A million and a half people in one place in total silence in the presence of the Lord. It just goes to show you the depth of the Catholic faith, we know how to have a good time and enjoy each other’s company but we also know when it’s time to focus on Jesus.” 

Father Dwayne Davis, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Flatlands, said the most rewarding part of the pilgrimage was seeing it all come together for the pilgrims.

“At night when there was so much quiet for the Holy Hour and we were all there worshiping Jesus together,” Father Davis said. “Seeing them grow in their faith, seeing the light come on in their eyes, it was really a great joy.”

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 08/07/2023

 

The Pope has said Seoul, South Korea will be the next World Youth Day host city.

Bishop Robert Brennan said he saw the more than 300 pilgrims who traveled from the diocese come alive during their trip and he’s hoping to keep the momentum going.

Our insider at World Youth Day Elise Allen is with us talking all things Pope Francis after her flight back with him on the papal plane.

Pope Hears Young People’s Confessions in WYD ‘Reconciliation Park’

By Justin McLellan

LISBON, Portugal (CNS) — Young people were going to confession on street corners and park benches throughout Lisbon during World Youth Day, but in the 150 plywood confessionals set up in Vasco da Gama Garden three of them found themselves face to face with Pope Francis.

Donning a purple stole, the pope heard their confessions Aug. 4 in the riverside garden, which has been converted into “Reconciliation Park” and lined with white confessionals built by inmates from three Portuguese prisons.

While a confessional with a white chair bearing the papal insignia and visible to the press had been set up, Pope Francis opted for one of the regular, more private, confessionals instead.

The pope sat across from Francisco, 21, from Spain, followed by Yesvi, 33, from Guatemala and Samuel, 19, from Italy. The three confessions lasted some 10 minutes all together before Pope Francis left the area in a wheelchair and waving to the crowd gathered nearby.

Before going to the garden, Pope Francis met privately at the Vatican nunciature with Maria da Conceição Brito Mendonça, a 106-year-old Portuguese woman, who was born May 13, 1917 — the day of the first Fátima apparition. He also met with Edna Pina Lopes Rodrigues, a young woman with a serious illness; the pope had sent a message “of affection and prayer” to her in June. The pope was scheduled to travel to Fátima and pray with sick young people the following morning.

Priests ministering to pilgrims in “Reconciliation Park” were offering the sacrament of reconciliation in 50 different spoken languages and various sign languages.

Pilgrims from Diocese Get In Touch With Their Faith During Catechesis During World Youth Day

They call them “Rise Up” sessions — catechism designed to remind pilgrims why they’re at World Youth Day.

Travelers from the Diocese of Brooklyn got a chance to go to confession, during their last Rise Up session of the week on Friday, August 4.

Romeo Petric, a chaperone from St. Patrick’s Church, said the sacrament has been the highlight for him during his past six World youth Days. 

“When I’ve gone to confession I have tears rolling down my eyes and it’s a kind of moment and it’s you speaking to God through a priest and you just get to let everything go,” Petric said.

But even more rewarding than confessing his sin, is seeing young people confess theirs. 

“They all came out,” Petric said. “They went right back to their spots, and you could see not a smile on their face but a cloud being lifted away from them. They perked up a bit.”

Teens like Shannon Keenan took advantage of the opportunity.

“I feel like confessing your sins to someone can make you a little nervous,” Keenan said. “But afterwards I definitely felt lighter and that I can continue this pilgrimage with a clear head and more focus.”

Keenan said her World Youth Day experience has put her in touch with the faith she holds in her heart as well as the one she gets to express on the outside.

“I got to hear so many speakers talking about ecology and its effect on religion and today we talked about social media and friendship and I just didn’t expect it to be so educational,” she said. 

Pilgrims on Friday were still coming off of Thursday’s “Welcoming Ceremony,” where pope francis delivered a speech.

“The excitement started to build and once he entered the park the place was just explosive.”

Brooklyn’s Bishop Robert Brennan was in the crowd watching pilgrims react to what he said was a powerful message. 

“He got right to the heart of the matter and spoke very plainly,” Bishop Brennan said. “Using language like God loves you as you are. The experience of World Youth Day helps people to see, wow we’re not the only ones who believe this and who believe it with the same energy.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 08/04/2023

 

Pope Francis has been keeping busy in Portugal on his third day at World Youth Day Lisbon.

The Pope celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with three pilgrims at a public garden in Lisbon.

World Youth Day events continue through the weekend.

World Youth Day Pilgrims Make Pope Francis Feel Younger

Pope Francis finally met with pilgrims from around the world for World Youth Day on Thursday Aug 3.

His his energy seems to have only gotten better once arriving to the event.

He’s also met with Portuguese sex abuse survivors in a private meeting during the day.

Currents News’ Christine Persichette spoke with Elise Allen, the senior correspondent for Crux, to discuss Pope Francis’ second day of his trip to Portugal for World Youth Day.

Pilgrims Welcome Pope Francis in Lisbon

Grace Lugo and Stefanie Scotto, pilgrims from Our Lady Of Sorrows in Corona, Queens, were moved to tears still in disbelief.

They were among the crowd of pilgrims from the Diocese of Brooklyn who welcomed Pope Francis to Edward the 7th Park, along with hundreds of thousands of their peers.

For Julia Galante a pilgrim from St Patrick’s Church, listening to Pope Francis’ message was surreal.

“I got the chills, it’s something you would never expect to see in your lifetime,”Galante said. “I’ve heard so many people say you feel a presence of God when you see the pope but it actually was crazy.” 

Through a translator, he began his address by telling the young pilgrims they were all called to World Youth Day by Jesus Christ. 

It was a message in particular that Galante felt was being delivered to her personally.

“That was really heartfelt for me because only a few months ago I didn’t even know I was going on this trip,”Galante said. “And I wanted to go on this trip to feel closer to God so that’s crazy for the Pope to say. I don’t think I’ve gone to Mass this much in my life, so it’s really made an impact.” 

For other pilgrims like Luka Puglisi, Pope Francis’ presence shifted the environment of the crowd at World Youth Day.

“Even though he was far away and I couldn’t see him you felt this aura in the vicinity,” Puglisi said. “People were yelling their heads off. It was a really cool thing to see.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 08/03/2023

On his second day in Lisbon for World Youth Day, Pope Francis met with Catholic University students.

One young Catholic from the Diocese of Brooklyn is in Portugal connecting with her peers from other countries through friendship bracelets.

Pope Francis joined some of the young people in Lisbon to put the finishing touches on a painting they’ve been working on.

A Mass was held at the Church of St. Brendan In Brooklyn to remember six fallen heroes from the FDNY.