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Pulse of the Parish: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Mary Mooney

From the rosary beads hanging above the church’s front door to the fleur de lis in the chapel, there are symbols of Mary throughout Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Queens Village.

“Even non-Catholics will come and attend our Masses because of the Blessed Mother,” said Father Patrick Longalong, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. “And once they come in and they experience such a welcoming environment, they want to stay.”

Pastor Longalong said they’ve been coming since 1924. That’s when German and Irish immigrants built the original church, now called the chapel.

But after World War II, the area’s population grew. Since there wasn’t enough room to expand at the original location, they bought the land across the street, and in 1954, the current church was built. Seventy years later, this church is located in one of the most diverse zip codes in the country.

“We have a lot of Filipinos,” Father Longalong said. “We also have a growing Bangladeshi community, Sri Lankan community, big Hispanic community, but even the Hispanic community is a very diverse group.”

The one thing that brings this diverse group together is their faith.

Take Mary Mooney, who leads a close-knit group of women in the prayer shawl ministry.

“My faith has sustained me through immigration, loneliness, loss of a child, you name it, loss of my husband recently, and there was nothing that your faith can’t carry you through,” said Mary Mooney, a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

Prayers of comfort and healing are woven into the fabric with each stitch. Mooney and her volunteers have spent countless hours knitting beautiful shawls, blankets, hats, and gloves for people battling an illness, grieving a loss, or facing a difficult time—anyone in need of a comforting embrace.

“We want that person to know that we’re sharing in whatever their struggle might be,” Mooney said. “It’s our pleasure to serve God in this way. I cry a lot because it gets very emotional sometimes.”

It’s a gift from their hearts and hands. They don’t expect anything in return, but they get a lot of thank you notes.

“Sincerest thanks to you and the shawl ministry for the most beautiful prayer shawl for our young niece,” Mooney said.

There’s a pattern of gratefulness.

“Words can’t express how I feel,” Mooney said. “Your generosity and prayers for me and my family remind me that I am not alone and that I will get through this.”

As long as one person out there might need to be wrapped in love, Mooney said she’ll continue her handiwork.

“By doing something very small, very simple, just give it quietly,” Mooney said. “It’s most touching that God gave you the ability to do something like that.”

Now you know Mary Mooney from Our Lady of Lourdes and how she makes up the pulse of the parish.

Looking to the Future: Community Members at One Catholic School In Queens Share Careers With Students

It was career day at one school in Elmhurst, Queens, allowing some professional adults to share talents and careers.

Currents News anchor Christine Persechetti had the honor of presenting to the students at P.S. 148, telling them all about her journey in the world of TV news.

Other speakers included doctors, firefighters, engineers, even a scientist.

Some of the kids came dressed as police officers, airplane pilots, or whoever else they want to be when they grow up.

Brooklyn Catholic Students Celebrate Mary By Helping Mothers in Need With Drive For Life

Students at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy in Bensonhurst have taken on a drive for life, using the month of May to celebrate the Blessed Mother and mothers in need.

The student council is responsible for the project, gathering donations of diapers, wipes, baby clothes, and other supplies for The Bridge to Life.

The pro-life organization helps expectant mothers who are struggling.

The St. Athanasius assistant principal said the students put their all into the project, wanting to honor Mary and mothers everywhere.

Bridge serves more than 5,000 women and children every year.

The supplies will be delivered to the organization at the end of the month.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 5/29/2024

One ministry has built a tight-knit community after settling in Queens Village after WWII. Through its local ministry, it’s spreading love one stitch at a time. Its coordinator is tonight’s Pulse of the Parish.

The mother of what will be the first millennial saint is making her voice heard! In a significant development, Pope Francis has acknowledged a second miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis. His mother, Antonia Salzano, is steadfast in spreading her son’s profound message.

In western Montana, you can turn to Bishop Austin Vetter for beer. The bishop’s “Golden Austin Ale” is a collaboration between the Diocese of Helena and Lewis and Clark Brewing.

This is a happy update to a story first brought to you by Currents News: a parishioner’s prayers have been answered. Petar Vukelich has found a kidney donor.

Eucharistic Revival: Monstrance Moves On to NJ After It Boards Boat That Stops At Liberty Island

After journeying through the Diocese of Brooklyn, the pilgrims boarded a boat that brought the monstrance across the Hudson River to Jersey City.

The boat stopped at Liberty Island, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan raised the monstrance and blessed those standing beneath the Statue of Liberty.

During that part of the pilgrimage, the passengers on board sat around the Blessed Sacrament, praying the rosary, singing songs, and praying litanies.

National Pilgrimage Comes to NYC, Blessed Sacrament Travels Through Diocese of Brooklyn

By Jessica Easthope

Zoe Dongas’ feet are tired, but her soul is energized. Christ is the song in her heart.

“My gift that I’ve been able to receive is getting to share music during this pilgrimage,” Dongas said. “It’s been such a blessing to be able to give glory to God in that way. Honestly, I think it’s the Holy Spirit because there should be no way that I’m still able to make noise, but we’ve been able to sing basically the entire day. God is good, and God is providing, even when we’re tired.”

Her voice is evangelizing along the way—she’s been walking for days in the name of the Eucharist as a perpetual pilgrim headed to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. The Bread of Life passed through her hometown, New York City, on Sunday, May 26.

“It has been so wild,” Dongas said. “We’ve experienced so many different communities. Getting to walk through the Archdiocese of New York and now the Diocese of Brooklyn is just such a gift since this is my home.”

The day started with Mass and Benediction at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan thanking the pilgrims for their dedication.

“No wonder this Archdiocese is thrilled as we welcome the pilgrims accompanying the Most Holy Eucharist on the national journey to the heartland in Indiana for our American Eucharistic Revival this coming July,” Cardinal Dolan said. “As this cathedral, as Fifth Avenue, as Rockefeller Center, as our parishes, our seminary, our streets, our shrines of Elizabeth Ann Seton and Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, even the Statue of Liberty, will welcome our Eucharistic Lord these days awash in God’s grace and mercy.”

Then it was off, taking thousands of pilgrims with it, making its way down 50th Street in Midtown Manhattan, and hours later, meeting Bishop Robert Brennan and hundreds more on the Brooklyn Bridge. The city skyline served as a backdrop as pilgrims built up the Kingdom of God.

“It’s exciting to be part of something bigger than ourselves,” Bishop Brennan said. “This isn’t just us. So this connection—New York to Brooklyn—is really a connection between all those walking from Hartford all the way to Indianapolis.”

Praise and worship continued through the streets of Brooklyn to Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral. It was unlike anything perpetual pilgrim Dominic Carstens had ever seen.

“It’s really different for me,” Carstens said. “I grew up on a farm with trees, and now I’m in the urban jungle, but there’s so many people on the sidewalk, and they look, and they hear the music. Then they see the Lord, and they’re just put in awe and curious. It’s those sorts of interactions that I’m going for—to get people to start being curious about our Lord in the Eucharist. From there, they can build their own relationships with Him.”

Hearts on fire with love for the Bread of Life—these pilgrims made a commitment to Christ to proclaim a sacred mystery and fundamental belief many Catholics have fallen away from.

“I’m hoping it’s a powerful sign to those who see the pilgrimage, to those who see the procession, that they themselves are drawn into the power of this moment,” Bishop Brennan said. “Maybe it might ignite that experience of faith, bringing people closer to the Lord.”

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 5/28/2024

As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passed through New York City, it was a joyful celebration on the streets of Brooklyn. The Eucharist was processed in a monstrance across the Brooklyn Bridge, where Bishop Robert Brennan met the pilgrims.

Pilgrims started with Mass at St. James Cathedral, then again brought Christ in the Eucharist through the streets on Monday before boarding a boat to head to New Jersey, which stopped for a blessing near the Statue of Liberty.

From the Garden State, the pilgrims will move on to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and finally Indiana. There, they’ll join pilgrims from three other pilgrimage routes across the U.S. for the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

The Congress, a five-day event, will see thousands of Catholics participating in various activities. These include Mass, Eucharistic adoration, speeches, and entertainment, making it a vibrant and engaging event for all.

Thousands Process With Eucharist As Pilgrimage Makes Its Way To Brooklyn

It was a joyful celebration on the streets of Brooklyn as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage made its way through New York City on Sunday, May 26.

The Eucharist was processed in a monstrance across the Brooklyn Bridge, where Bishop Robert Brennan met the pilgrims.

Thousands joined the procession to the various stops across the diocese, including Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral and the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday: Faith In Action Special Edition

St. John’s Bread and Life, a beacon of hope for the hungry for decades, is now embarking on a new chapter. This renowned charity is joining forces with the food pantry and soup kitchen at Our Lady of Sorrows in Corona, expanding its mission to reach even more in need.

Families forced to escape the violence of war in Afghanistan and Ukraine have found refuge on Long Island. The Sisters of St. Joseph have opened their hearts and property to house refugees.

A Brooklyn teen fought her terminal cancer with faith. Now, her family is pushing for her to become a saint. Kaitlyn Bernhardt touched many during her 15 years of life and continues to do so five years after her death.

Noah Jacob, 6, is a model and a role model. Noah has Down syndrome and spreads a message of inclusivity through his modeling career. But if Noah’s mom had listened to her doctors, who encouraged her to terminate her pregnancy, the world wouldn’t know him.

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