Thousands of faithful from the Diocese of Brooklyn went to Stony Point on Sunday, September 1, to take part in a Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
Bishop Brennan joined the annual gathering of the diocese’s Hispanic Catholics, as more than 3,200 people from over 50 different parishes traveled to the Marian Shrine upstate.
The day featured music, a youth rally, and Mass, but Bishop Brennan was most excited to simply spend a day with his flock.
Ahead of their first day of class, hundreds of new high schoolers in Queens started to build the most important relationship they’ll have over the next four years—not with each other, but with Christ.
430 Archbishop Molloy freshmen gathered last Thursday, August 29, for a one-day retreat.
Over the summer, upperclassmen were trained on how to run the retreat alongside the school’s Campus Ministry.
The day’s activities were based on the five pillars of Marist identity: presence, simplicity, family spirit, love of work, and ‘in the way of Mary.
The new Archbishop Molloy “Stanners,” which comes from the school’s former name, St. Ann Academy, will start school on Wednesday, September 4th.
Labor Day marks the end of summer for students across the nation, and thousands of college freshmen are already getting started at St. John’s University after a busy move-in weekend.
Around 2,600 students arrived at the Jamaica, Queens campus, marking 25 years since the residence halls first opened there.
The incoming freshmen class comes from 44 states and 43 different countries.
By Katie Vasquez
School may start on September 4th for students at Saint Saviour Catholic academy, but for staff preparation has been going on for much longer and new principal, Mr Matt Artigas, is leading the way.
“I’ve actually never attended a public school,” said Matt Artigas, principal at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. “It’s been catholic school, kindergarten all the way through my doctoral program. So it really, Catholic education is very important to me.”
His new role is one of the changes happening at the Park Slope academy ahead of the new year.
Recently Saint Saviour switched to a new model of education that along with a principal, involves a school president rather than an assistant principal.
Dean Fusto is filling that role, taking on outreach and enrollment efforts.
“The principal has an incredible amount on their plate,” said Dean Fusto, president at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. “It’s constant, and we want to be able to make sure that he or she’s always focusing on the kids, on the program, on the curriculum and all those pieces. Another new addition are plans for a 4,000 square foot rooftop play space.”
The project has been in the works since 2017.
Saint Saviour so far has raised $2 million for it and still needs a little more fundraising to meet their goal.
Some of their plans include a basketball hoop, room to play soccer and a classroom.
“For those who want to do something, reading during their their break rather than running around. and then there’s also another smaller passive recreation, they will call it, that we envision perhaps life sized chess or even chess tables,” said Lenae Guarna, Saint Saviour Catholic Academy Board Chair.
Saint Saviour is also talking about using the space as part of their curriculum.
“We’re going to utilize it for our enrichment classes,” said Artigas. “We’re going to allow teachers to take their students up there on given days to work on lessons outdoors. So the possibilities are endless.”
“It inspires creativity, it lets you move around,” said Fusto. “It’s truly free time and recess time, which is just a critical part for kids.”
The school aims to start construction on the play space in June 2025.
Pope Francis has arrived in Indonesia, as part of his highly anticipated journey through Southeast Asia, aiming to foster inter-religious dialogue. Brooklyn’s Indonesian Apostolate is celebrating his historic visit.
St. John’s University welcomes 2,600 students, celebrating 25 years of residence halls with a diverse freshmen class from 44 states and 43 countries.
Incoming freshmen at Archbishop Molloy High School participated in a retreat focused on spiritual growth, with upperclassmen and Campus Ministry guiding the day’s events.
Saint Saviour Catholic Academy is kicking off the school year with a new principal and exciting plans for a 4,000-square-foot rooftop play space.
It’s back-to-school season in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and Catholic schools are seeing a rise in enrollment. St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst experienced a 20% increase last year and expects even more new students this year.
Diocesan schools go the extra mile for their students. At St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Astoria, teachers use Bluetooth-connected microphones to help students with hearing aids stay on track.
Faith formation is a top priority in the Diocese of Brooklyn schools. At St. Mel’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, two students converted to Catholicism, and the school played a key role in their spiritual journey.
Meet Khloe Chavez, a student at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Queens, who has a special connection to a soon-to-be saint. She first learned about Blessed Carlo Acutis when a relic arrived at her school and later received a video message from his mother.
Currents News checks in with Paulie Veneto, the retired flight attendant who is once again pushing an airline beverage cart in honor of some 9/11 heroes. Veneto is walking from Boston to Ground Zero in remembrance of the flight crews who died that day.
In just a few days, Pope Francis will embark on a significant journey through Asia and Oceania to foster interreligious dialogue.
National Correspondent for the Tablet and Crux John Lavenburg joins Currents News to discuss the pope’s travel plans to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.
By Katie Vasquez
This gym is packed with people learning new techniques that could save their lives.
“It prepares you for the different skills for the different attacks that could happen,” said Lisa Chase, a student at Krav Maga Experts.
Tsahi Shemesh started Krav Maga Experts on the Upper West Side 15 years ago.
“Krav Maga has got, has the same values as the Jewish values,” said Shemesh. Hurt no one unless you must.”
The name is Hebrew for contact combat, and it uses an Israeli self-defense system developed in the 1930s by Imi Lichtenfeld.
“He was defending himself and the Jewish community against Nazi gangs,” said Shemesh.
Since the war in Gaza started on October 7th, 2023, there has been an increase in anti-semitic attacks in New York City.
The latest report from the NYPD cited a 137 percent increase in June compared to the same time last year.
Tsahi says a month after the war started, he was nearly attacked by a stranger.
“I never experienced Anti-Semitism,” said Shemesh, “that was unacceptable.”
And he’s not the only one here who has felt the hate. Shemesh says at least 50 percent of students in his classes are Jewish.
Student Neil Cohen has been disturbed by what he’s seen.
“There’s definitely an increased threat environment for anyone who looks Jewish these days,” said Cohen. “But certainly, a lot of my friends and relatives do, and I want to be able to protect them if necessary.”
Which is the same reason Peter Zak started taking these classes,
“Whether it’s Anti-Semitism or any other reason, I feel I’m better prepared,” said Zak.
But more than physical strength, these students and instructors say it’s taught them not to hide who they are.
“I was a proud Jew before October 7th, even more so now,” said Cohen.
“I don’t want anybody to walk near me and not know that I’m Jewish,” said Shemesh.
If you are interested in taking a class, you can visit their website at
Monsignor Francis Twum-Barimah wasn’t expecting parishioners at St. Bernard of Clairveaux in Bergen Beach to get so emotional, but he was too.
“I was tearing within me even though it didn’t come out. I was quite emotional; it was so impressive,” Msgr. Twum-Barimah said. “It made me feel that they appreciate what I have done so far with them.”
It’s his last day as a visiting priest at the church. When he came for the first time last year, he was here for 5 months—so these last 6 weeks flew by.
Msgr. Twum-Barimah needed to take some time off last summer to recover from brain surgery. Before doctors removed a tumor, they laid out the possible outcomes.
“I woke up one morning and I was going blind,” Msgr. Twum-Barimah said. “The doctors told me it was 50/50, either you survive or you don’t, either you become a vegetable or you don’t.”
Msgr. Twum-Barimah has since made a full recovery. It’s hard to believe, but he came to Brooklyn for some peace and quiet and, in many ways, is getting back to his roots.
“It’s very quiet over here. I enjoyed the peace and quiet because I wasn’t home thinking about what the itinerary was. I just turned my mind off.”
He grew up farming with his family in rural Ghana, growing crops like cocoa and plantains. He traded in those days to plant different seeds, hoping instead to grow the faith of God’s people.
“I helped my parents on the farm.,” Msgr. Twum-Barimah said. “That’s what I grew up with. Even as a priest, I took interest in farming. That has been my major hobby; it’s been part of me.”
The interactions and relationships he’s formed are the fruits of his labor.
“The idea is growing what God has entrusted to you, making it useful,” Msgr. Twum-Barimah said. “I hope the seeds that I have planted here will germinate and grow.”
Msgr. Twum-Barimah is now back in his home diocese in eastern Ghana, where he serves as the Vicar General.
He said, God willing, he’ll be back in Brooklyn next summer.