New data reveals a rise in unsupervised abortions, with more women turning to chemical abortion pills.
Catholic Charities and The Bridge to Life unite to support mothers in a new shared space.
Louisiana classrooms will soon display Ten Commandments posters featuring figures like Mike Johnson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
A Texas Catholic school empowers special needs students, featuring a unique business born from a student club.
The Holy See has joined the chorus of outrage over the Olympics’ opening ceremony.
The Vatican says it was saddened by certain scenes during the event but did not specifically identify the part of the performance that offended Christians, when drag performers were seated at a table in a scene that reminded people of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
The Vatican said it ‘deplored the offense’ to many Christians and believers of other religions.
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Bishop Richard Henning, a Rockville Centre native who until last year spent the entirety of his priesthood career in New York, has been tapped by Pope Francis to take over one of America’s largest archdioceses.
The Vatican announced on August 5 that now-Archbishop-elect Henning will succeed Cardinal Seán O’Malley in the Archdiocese of Boston. Cardinal O’Malley, 80, has led the Archdiocese of Boston for 20 years, and is a global leader on clergy sex abuse issues.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said he got to know Bishop Henning when he was an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and commended Pope Francis’ decision to have him take over the Archdiocese of Boston.
“The Holy Father has chosen well in appointing Long Island native, Bishop Richard Henning, an outstanding priest and bishop, as the next Archbishop of Boston!,” Cardinal Dolan said in a statement. “I got to know Bishop Henning well during his years as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where the bishops of New York State relied on his wise counsel and pastoral insights. I am sure that the faithful people of Providence will miss him deeply.”
“Congratulations to Bishop Richard Henning on his appointment by Pope Francis to serve as the next Archbishop of Boston. Bishop Henning has been a good friend since our days as students at St. John’s University,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
“He is also well known by priests here in Brooklyn and Queens having taught Sacred Scripture at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph’s Seminary. Additionally, he was the founding director of the Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of priests from Brooklyn, New York, and Rockville Centre.
“While I am sure the Catholic community of Rhode Island will miss him, he will be a blessing to the Church in Boston, building on the great work of Cardinal O’Malley. At the same time, he will be an important voice for the Church in the United States,” Bishop Brennan added.
Bishop Henning, 59, was born and raised in Rockville Centre. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from St. John’s University in Queens, and received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington.
After his ordination in 1992, he spent five years as an associate pastor at the Church of St. Peter Alcantara in Port Washington. Bishop Henning was then assigned to post-graduate studies in Washington, D.C., and Rome. Upon his return, he joined the faculty at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, teaching scripture.
Then in 2012, Bishop Henning was chosen by the Dioceses of Rockville Centre and Brooklyn, and Archdiocese of New York, to lead the seminary through its transition to the largest retreat house in the Northeast. The Ordinaries of those dioceses also charged him to establish and lead the Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of Catholic priests and deacons.
Six years later, in 2018, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Henning as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where he served as a regional Vicar and later as the Vicar for Clergy and Pastoral Planning. Then, last May, Bishop Henning took over as the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island — his first appointment outside of New York.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, in a statement, said Bishop Henning is “a creative and pastoral evangelizer, a biblical theologian and teacher, and a seminary formator with great pastoral experience and a deep love for the Hispanic community in the United States.”
“As a son of Long Island and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, we take a humble pride in Bishop Henning’s…mission spirit, love for the poor and all those who carry the Cross of Christ,” the diocese said. “Bishop Henning’s commitment to global evangelization illustrates how a care for the global mission of the Church makes us more effective evangelizers in our local parishes and dioceses. Bishop Henning is a fine pastor and biblical theologian.”
WIth the appointment to the Archdiocese of Boston, Bishop Henning also becomes a metropolitan archbishop of that region, with direct authority over Boston and an indirect supervisory role over six other dioceses in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The Archdiocese of Boston is America’s fourth largest diocese with approximately 1.8 million Catholics, according to figures from the archdiocese.
A Capuchin Franciscan, O’Malley has served as the Archbishop of Boston since 2003, and is a close ally of Pope Francis. He is well known for his work with and advocacy on behalf of migrants and the impoverished, as well as his efforts to advance child protection globally. Cardinal O’Malley has led the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since 2014.
Cardinal O’Malley took over the Archdiocese of Boston following the fallout of the clergy sexual abuse scandals in the archdiocese, which garnered national coverage and led to significant reforms of the national church’s child protection policies.
In his statement congratulating Bishop Henning, Cardinal Dolan also thanked Cardinal O’Malley.
“I must share a word of gratitude to my brother, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, as he begins his well-earned retirement from his role as Archbishop of Boston,” Cardinal Dolan said. “For decades he has been a leader for the Church in the United States, and I know that we can look forward to his continued presence with us, as he continues his loving service to Jesus and His Church.”
More than two dozen teens from Xavier High School are going on a mission trip to strengthen their faith.
29 students kicked off their four-day trip to Maryland on Monday, August 5.
The incoming sophomores will visit First Fruits Farm and live off the grid while they harvest produce for local soup kitchens and food banks.
The trip is an opportunity for prayer and reflection for students committed to deepening their faith.
This trip is part of the school’s Companions of St. Francis Xavier Service and Immersion Program.
It allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the world while using their gifts of service for others.
By Katie Vasquez
A parish that prays together and paints together.
About 40 people at Our Lady of Grace Church in Gravesend have donated their time to give this adoration chapel a makeover.
“At least 20 years, 20, 25 years, it hasn’t been really improved upon,” said the Our Lady of Grace Church pastor, Father Guy Sbordone.
It’s a popular spot for the Brooklyn parish with hundreds coming in every month to pray before the blessed sacrament.
“302 people were here for the month of November 2023. So that’s a huge number to come in every day,” said Our Lady of Grace parishioner, Mary Ann De Luca.
But after decades of use, parishioner Mary Ann De Luca, noticed the chapel was starting to get into disrepair and suggested Troop 376 Scout Joseph Rotondi bring new life into the sacred space.
“There’s some issues on the floor. We’re going to put new tiles in. The lights, we just changed the light bulbs. but it was very dark in here for a very long time,” said Rotondi. “We also gave it a fresh coat of paint, of course.”
Joseph is taking on the job for his leadership project, a task which would elevate him to an Eagle Scout.
“Any project that serves the community, you have to carry it out, plan it,” said Rotondi.
His part of the project is to lead.
“You’re not even supposed to, like, touch like, you know, actual work,” said Rotondi.
And even his parents say Joseph can be a tough boss.
“He fired me three times yesterday,” said Joseph’s father, Anthony Rotondi.
Everyone agrees he has brought the volunteers together and transformed the space.
“He just tackles anything and he gives everything 150 percent,” said Joseph’s mother, Nicoleta Rotondi.
“He’s done a great job delegating responsibility and roles. He knows people well. He knows what they’re good at, what they’re sort of, what they do better, in a sense. So he knows what roles to give certain people,” said volunteer, Colin Thompson.
But as fun as it was to paint together, Joseph is most excited for his parish to pray here together again.
“They’re really devoted, I’ve seen people that come every day here and they stay for a half an hour or 45 minutes and pray here, which is really, really amazing that they devote so much time to the Eucharist,” said Rotondi. “It’s great that they’re working together and we’re completing this project. It feels great.”
There’s still a lot of work to be done here so the adoration chapel will be closed for a week until it’s all finished.
Bishop Robert Brennan helped staffers at Citi Field pray for a win more than a week ago.
The shepherd of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated Mass before the Mets played the Atlanta Braves on July 28th.
Mets chaplain Monsignor Thomas Machalski normally celebrates the liturgy for the Catholic players and staff ahead of every Sunday home game, but that Sunday, Bishop Brennan got up to bat.
While the Mets may have lost the game, as a lifelong fan, Bishop Brennan said he was grateful for the opportunity and still has faith in his team.
In an act of Olympic unity, representatives from the five major religions of the world gathered for a multi-faith meeting on Sunday, August 4.
Standing outside the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, the leaders and some 100 Olympic chaplains celebrated the spirit of fraternity during the most important sports event in the world.
They spoke freely, praying and reading religious texts together.
The Holy See’s envoy to the Olympics says the leaders chose Notre Dame because of its deep religious significance to Christians, and because it “speaks to all people” across the world.
Pope Francis has approved Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s resignation from the Archdiocese of Boston and appointed Bishop Richard Henning as the new leader. Bishop Henning, who holds a degree from St. John’s University, previously served as the Bishop of Providence in Rhode Island and as an Auxiliary Bishop in Rockville Centre.
The Vatican has issued a statement in response to a wave of criticism over the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The Holy See expressed sadness over Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of The Last Supper featuring drag performers.
A local Eagle Scout is spearheading a summer initiative, gathering volunteers to renovate the Adoration Chapel at Our Lady of Grace Church in Gravesend. Despite hundreds of monthly visits, the chapel has seen little upkeep over the years.
Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated Mass at the mother church of the Diocese of Brooklyn for the Feast of St. James.
Parishioners and those with a devotion to the patron saint of pilgrimages filled the Cathedral Basilica in downtown Brooklyn on Thursday, July 25.
Fresh off a trip to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana, Bishop Brennan had a special homily message.
By Jessica Easthope
A father and son are brushing up on history by brushing off the past.
Armed with brushes, scrapers, and a special cleaning solution, Zach Leonard and his 10-year-old son Lincoln have taken on an unusual summer project at Calvary Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
They’re restoring long-neglected headstones to their former glory.
“I think it’s important to resolve history,” Lincoln said. “Doesn’t mean if you don’t, it’s gonna get lost. And to know your past is very important.”
What started as a curiosity became a calling.
The Leonards came to Calvary Cemetery looking for roots, but found themselves planting seeds of remembrance.
“We found out that I had a great-grandfather, his great-great-grandfather, who was a veteran of World War I and World War II,” Zach said.
That great-grandfather was James Leonard, buried somewhere in these sprawling grounds, but finding him was just the beginning.
“We could really only make out the A-M-E-S of the James,” Zach said. “You couldn’t really see Leonard, and we were like we should clean this.”
Armed with determination and a bit of elbow grease, father and son set out to unveil other stories etched in stone.
“It’s really an incredible feeling because you’ve come there to honor someone, and it’s almost like they’re coming to life a little bit,” Zach said.
For this father and son, it’s about more than just cleaning headstones. It’s about connecting with history and each other.
“I hope that he learns that acts of kindness don’t require an organization or require donations,” Zach said. “Even if it’s something small, everything makes a difference in some way,” Lincoln said. “It can affect a lot of people.”
In a place where time stands still, two generations are ensuring that those who came before us will always shine bright.
“It’s easy to do really if you’re just willing to take the time,” Zach said.
Calvary Cemetery has been around since 1854, and spans 470 acres with over 300,000 graves.
It’s the final resting place for many notable figures, including General William Tecumseh Sherman and Dred Scott, but the Leonards are restoring every headstone, celebrity status or not.