Diocese of Brooklyn Celebrates Polish Heritage at Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

Polish pride was on full display at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on Sunday, Oct. 20, where dozens of faithful from across Brooklyn and Queens gathered for a special Mass celebrating Polish heritage.

The Mass, a reflection of the deep cultural roots of the Polish-American community, was led by Polish Archbishop Adrian Galbas.

In his homily, Archbishop Galbas spoke to the Polish-American faithful about the importance of embracing their heritage, while Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan, who co-celebrated the Mass, encouraged young attendees to hold onto both their culture and their faith.

At the conclusion of the Mass, the young Polish congregants expressed their gratitude by presenting the bishops with flowers.

Catholic Students in the Diocese of Brooklyn Honored For Their Work Supporting Global Mission

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — At the Diocese of Brooklyn’s annual Mass for World Mission Sunday on Oct. 20, Father Thomas Ahern spoke of how the late Bishop Thomas Daily (1927-2017) would rush to join the missionary field in remote areas of Peru, where he often traveled in a dilapidated Volkswagen Beetle, or on horseback.

“[Bishop Daly] often told the priests of the diocese these were the happiest years of his priesthood,” said Father Ahern, the diocese’s director of the Propagation of the Faith Office. “Why? Because the people were thirsting for Christ.”

World Mission Sunday, created in 1926 at the direction of Pope Pius XI to help the global mission of the Church, is an annual observance held on the third Sunday in October. It includes a mandatory second collection in parishes worldwide to help the Pontifical Mission Societies.

The theme of this World Mission Sunday is “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” based on the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 28:19, where Jesus issued the Great Commission — “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

Father Ahern, who celebrated the diocese’s Mass in the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, said everyone evangelized comes to the banquet of God’s love. The money, he added, helps missionaries “create an atmosphere where people can come to the banquet.”

“The goal is to come to know and love Christ, in the Eucharist, in the scriptures,” said Father Ahern, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in South Ozone Park, Queens.

According to information from the Propagation of the Faith Office, the diocese raised about $180,080 in last year’s World Mission Sunday Collection for the Pontifical Mission Societies. This year’s numbers have not yet been finalized.

Vital to last year’s total were St. Sebastian Catholic Academy in Woodside, Queens, and St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, each raising more than $12,000 for the pontifical mission, according to Father Ahern.

Specifically, the schools’ donations funded the Missionary Childhood Association, one of the three groups that comprise the pontifical mission. Following Mass, students from both academies received framed “high donor” awards.

Among them was Jeremy Amare, a seventh grader at St. Sebastian Catholic Academy.

“I didn’t know much about mission before,” he said. “We have to help raise money for the poor people, that’s it.”

While St. Sebastian and St. Bernadette perennially lead the way in raising mission funds, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven received the Banner Award for donating at least $1,000 in 2023.

In Father Ahern’s homily, he conveyed the importance of donations by describing the meaningful work of missionaries worldwide. He noted missionaries travel to some of the world’s most dangerous places to evangelize people yearning to know God.

Father Ahern spoke from personal experience, as he mentioned that he often visits with missionaries from Nigeria and Kenya, where “the churches are packed.”

“They can’t build them quick enough,” he said, noting that priests from those countries become missionaries to people in the United States.

Father Ahern also explained that parishioners in these locations also collect money for the pontifical mission, even though they live in impoverished areas and difficult situations. He recalled asking one African missionary why the poor parishioners donated, to which the missionary replied that the people insisted on doing so.

“They said, ‘We want to receive a blessing for giving, even though we don’t have anything. We want to help those who have even less than we do,’ ” according to Father Ahern. “That’s a beautiful sentiment.”

That attitude, he added, shows “the Church is alive.”

“So,” Father Ahern concluded, “World Mission Sunday reminds us not only of its needs but also its vibrancy in other parts of the world.”

Breezy Point Parishioner Takes Pilgrimage to All Diocese of Brooklyn Churches in Queens

By Katie Vasquez

Kenny Hogan, a parishioner from Blessed Trinity Parish in Breezy Point, has always found peace within the walls of his local church.

But in 2021, as the nation emerged from the pandemic and churches reopened, Hogan felt inspired to embark on a spiritual journey across Queens—visiting all Catholic parishes in the borough.

It all started with a simple visit to a different church, but soon, Hogan was using the Diocese of Brooklyn’s parish locator to guide him on a mission he wasn’t sure he’d ever complete.

“I didn’t think I’d finish,” Hogan said, “but I started slowly crossing them off the list. It became an enjoyable part of my life.”

The pilgrimage wasn’t just about seeing different churches—it was about connecting with the people who make up the Diocese, which is known for its diversity.

“No matter where I went, I always felt welcome, like part of their family,” he shared.

Hogan also marveled at the beauty of each church’s architecture.

“Some of them were just spectacular,” he noted. “I’d arrive early, sit, and take it all in.”

Though his journey concluded last August at St. Stanislaus Kostka in Maspeth, Hogan says the experience will stay with him forever.

And while many have asked if Brooklyn is next on his list, he’s content revisiting some of the Queens churches he grew especially fond of.

For Hogan, this pilgrimage was more than just a checklist—it was a deeply healing, spiritual experience.

“My soul was refreshed,” he said. “It was a great, spiritual journey.”

If you want to follow in Hogan’s footsteps and visit more parishes throughout Queens or Brooklyn, just go to dioceseofbrooklyn.org/parishes/locator.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 10/21/2024

Meet Kenny Hogan, a parishioner at Blessed Trinity Parish in Breezy Point, who has visited nearly 100 churches across Queens. Discover how this journey has deepened his appreciation for the rich, diverse Diocese of Immigrants.

Catholics worldwide gathered for World Mission Sunday, a special time of solidarity for those spreading the faith across the globe. The Diocesan Director for the Propagation of the Faith led a special Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph and honored two schools that raised thousands for missionary work.

The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated Polish pride with a vibrant celebration at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. A special heritage mass was celebrated on Sunday and hosted by the Ministry to Polish Immigrants of the diocese.

Ivan Green, a former scientist and now principal at Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village, is making waves by blending STEM education with faith. Learn more about his unique approach to teaching, where Christ and science go hand-in-hand in the classroom, in Currents News’ series introducing you to the new principals in diocesan schools.

New Principal Brings Structure and Stability to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy

By Jessica Easthope

It’s been only a few weeks since Denise Reicino became the principal of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, but her impact is already visible.

Reicino is deeply involved in the school community, knowing each student and parent by name.

“We know every child by name, we know every parent by name, and we know every parent’s situation,” she said.

The school serves a unique population — 95% of the students are undocumented, and English is their second language. Despite being a native Spanish speaker, Reicino faces her own challenges, particularly when it comes to bridging cultural gaps.

“A lot of the challenges that I feel that I’m experiencing are cultural. It’s sometimes hard to communicate American culture to families who are just arriving in the country,” Reicino explains.

Many of the students’ families are migrants from Ecuador, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Reicino is determined to make the school a safe haven for these children.

“Discipline is very important,” she said. “But it’s not just about being harsh—it’s about being consistent. I want school to be a place where students can find refuge. For that to happen, the environment needs to be calm, with clear rules that we all follow.”

With most students coming from strong faith backgrounds, Reicino’s role also includes nurturing their Catholic identity.

“I respect any parent who values Catholic education as an investment in their child’s future,” she said. “They know their faith will help their children strive for better things, both in school and in life. And we honor that investment by connecting their children to their faith.”

Reicino is not only shaping the students’ academic and spiritual lives but also growing as an educator herself.

“Listening to students is key,” she said. “Even as a principal, I’m still learning. As an educator, that never stops.”

$10M Raised at 79th Annual Al Smith Dinner as Humor and Politics Collide

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN — The jokes were flying at the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a tradition that during presidential election years is usually a night where both candidates put aside their rancor and engage in light-hearted banter in a spirit of bipartisanship.

However, while both presidential candidates delivered remarks at this year’s dinner on Oct. 17 at the New York Hilton Midtown, only one of them was there in person.

Former President Donald Trump, this year’s Republican nominee, was the evening’s featured speaker. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, opted not to attend and instead sent a pre-recorded video greeting to attendees of the black-tie affair.

Harris’ absence marked the first time a presidential nominee did not show up for the Al Smith Dinner since Democrat Walter Mondale in 1984 — a fact that Trump joked about in his remarks.

“The last person not to attend this event was Walter Mondale, and it did not go very well for him,” Trump said to laughter from the audience. Mondale, the Democratic nominee in 1984, lost the election in a landslide to Republican Ronald Reagan. “He lost 49 states and won one, Minnesota,” he added.

In her video, which was played just before Trump took the podium, Harris took “advice” from Mary Catherine Gallagher, a Saturday Night Live character from the 1990s. The fictional Catholic schoolgirl, played by actress Molly Shannon, warned her not to say anything negative about Catholics.

“I would never do that no matter where I was. That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit,” Harris said in a reference to recent remarks Trump made in Detroit in which he noted the Motor City’s struggles to emerge from bankruptcy and warned that the rest of the country could wind up in a similar situation.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York presided over the gala, a sold-out affair that drew 1,500 people, including Mayor Eric Adams, Senator Charles Schumer, and numerous luminaries from the worlds of politics, media, and sports. Trump attended with his wife, Melania, who is Catholic.

Bishop Robert Brennan, who was among the guests seated on a dais, said he was looking forward to the evening.

“It’s a great custom. It’s always nice to see so many people who are involved in so many areas of city life, so many areas of business and politics, and government,” Bishop Brennan said. “And it’s meant to be a relaxing night, a little bit of fun, and yet remind us of who we are as Americans — that we participate in this great political process where we debate, we share ideas, and make informed decisions.”

Comedian Jim Gaffigan, a Catholic, performed the hosting duties.

“Good evening, rich people!” he said. “I’ve got to be honest. I feel like I’m at a casting call for Daddy Warbucks, and I’m not going to get the job,” he said to the audience at the $5,000-a-plate dinner. Gaffigan was referring to Daddy Warbucks, the millionaire from the “Little Orphan Annie” cartoons from the 1930s.

The gala dinner serves as a major fundraiser for the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, an organization founded in 1946 to honor the memory of Alfred E. Smith, the Democratic governor of New York in the 1920s who, in 1928, was the first Catholic to be nominated by a major political party for president.

The foundation provides financial support for non-profits in the Archdiocese of New York that help the underprivileged and children. It was announced at the dinner that the evening raised close to $10 million. Gaffigan repeatedly joked that former mayor Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire sitting on the dais, should chip in to put the foundation over the $10 million mark.

While Trump and Harris have sharply disagreed on the campaign trail, there was one area in which they agreed — the good work done by the Catholic Church.

“You do something incredible,” Trump said. “The Catholic Church helps the poor, educating children, and supporting the vulnerable.”

“The Al Smith dinner provides a rare opportunity to set aside partisanship and come together to do some good by supporting the tremendous charitable work of the Catholic Church,” Harris said.

In a lighthearted moment, Cardinal Dolan sought to strike a bipartisan note.

“Can you imagine sitting here with (Democratic Senator) Chuck Schumer on my right and Donald Trump on my left?” he joked. “That is a rare occurrence!”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 10/18/2024

The annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner brought humor and generosity to Manhattan, raising millions for kids in need in the Archdiocese of New York. While former President Donald Trump attended in person and delivered a speech, Vice President Kamala Harris sent her remarks via video. The event has become a tradition during the election seasons.

Denise Reicino is the new principal at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens. With most students being undocumented, Reicino is determined to bring structure and faith to the school community. See how she is making a difference in Currents News’ series introducing you to the new principals in diocesan schools.

In honor of World Mission Sunday, Brooklyn’s Bishop Robert Brennan highlights the incredible work of Church missionaries across the globe on his podcast, “Big City Catholics.”

Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Opens New Science Lab, Igniting Student Curiosity and Exploration

By Katie Vasquez

Seventh graders at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy are suiting up in lab coats and goggles, diving into hands-on experiments thanks to a newly established science lab.

The state-of-the-art facility offers students an immersive learning experience, allowing them to explore scientific concepts that go beyond what was possible in a traditional classroom.

“I was really happy, especially knowing there’s so much to learn in science,” said seventh grader Noah Palmer, excited about the lab’s potential.

The lab has sparked student interest, with many, like Robert Palmese, envisioning future careers in fields like medicine and research.

The school’s science program came to life with the help of equipment from two closed Catholic schools, Salve Regina in East New York and Holy Angels in Bay Ridge.

Principal Paul Morisi described the lab’s creation as a “resurrection” of those schools’ programs, bringing new energy to Bay Ridge Catholic’s science curriculum.

Parents like Daniel McKenna played a crucial role, volunteering to transport the equipment from the shuttered schools, creating a strong sense of community involvement.

With this collaborative effort, Bay Ridge Catholic students are now well-equipped to explore the wonders of science in their very own lab.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 10/17/2024

Thursday night is the iconic Al Smith Dinner in New York City, which will help raise funds for needy children in the Archdiocese of New York. The event will be hosted by Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan, and former President Donald Trump will attend.

“Every Life: Why We March” will be the them for the 2025 March for Life. Organizers hope to inspire renewed passion within the pro-life movement.

Pope Francis will release his memoir “Hope” in January. It’s the first by a sitting pope. Originally planned for a posthumous release, it’s set to debut during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

Meet the future scientists of Brooklyn. Bay Ridge Catholic Academy unveils its new science lab, equipped with resources from two closed schools, Salve Regina and Holy Angels. Students are loving their hands-on learning experience.

St. Mel’s Catholic Academy Welcomes New Principal to Lead School’s Growth and Success

By Jessica Easthope

St. Mel’s Catholic Academy is excited to introduce its new principal, Lauren Giacalone, who is ready to make an impact.

Giacalone is looking to not only help students grow but to grow alongside them.

“I’m in the classrooms all the time. That’s where I belong,” Giacalone shares. “I want the children to know me, and I want to know them. I want to help with a lesson where a child is struggling.”

Giacalone wants to be seen and accessible to everyone in the school, both staff and students.

Her goal is to make a meaningful difference in their lives.

St. Mel’s journey has been one of resilience.

Once at risk of closure, the school was able to maintain and expand.

The 3rd graders, who were once the oldest in the school, will soon be the first 8th grade class, restoring the school’s full grade structure.

Since becoming principal, Giacalone immediately felt a deep sense of acceptance.

“This building has such a sense of home and family,” she said. “Everyone has taken me in as if I’ve been here forever.”

Her mission is clear: to be the kind of educator who makes a lasting difference.

“I need to be the person who remembers each child, their story, and who they are,” Giacalone said. “That’s what changes lives,” she says.

Giacalone’s passion for Catholic education shines through as she embarks on this journey at St. Mel’s, determined to leave a lasting impact on her students and community.