Why the Giglio Tradition in Williamsburg Cannot Be Missed

Currents News Staff

A big Brooklyn tradition is “carrying” on tonight – all four tons of it. Parishioners at Our Lady of Mount Carmel are once again parading Saint Paulinus through the streets of Williamsburg.

The giglio – a 72-foot tower adorned with the patron saint of Nola, Italy – is the highlight of the 12-day-long feast and tonight is the much-loved nighttime lift.

It’s a neighborhood tradition spanning generations back to when Williamsburg was populated by mostly Italian immigrants. The man behind the festivities is the church’s pastor, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello says it’s also a way of reconnecting people to the faith.

“And really what it does,” says Msgr. Jamie, “it connects them to their loved ones who have died… They see their parents and grandparents walking down the street holding their hands when they lift that giglio. They remember their loved ones who aren’t here anymore and they’re right next to them they lift that giglio in their honor.

I think people should come to the feast to experience the spirit of faith… to experience faith in a different way… bringing our faith into the streets, celebrating our traditions.”

The giglio feast has been around since 1903 and this year, it took more than 100 “lifters” to carry it.

There’s still time to take Msgr. Jamie’s advice and join in on the fun. At 2 p.m. on July 16, Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio will celebrate the feast day Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The festivities will all come to an end on Sunday July 17 with the old-timers day Giglio lift at 3 p.m. It’s a Brooklyn tradition that cannot be missed.

Giglio Feast

Saturday, July 16 at 2 p.m. – Mt. Carmel Feast Day Mass

Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m. – Old Timers Day Giglio Lift

Homilies in Your Home: Matthew 11:28-30

Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Brennan’s Homily from Thursday’s Mass on 7/14/22

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 7/13/22

The legal status of abortion is still uncertain nearly a month after the Supreme Court overturned Roe.

Pope Francis is making history yet again. This time he chose women to help him pick future bishops.

Time to lift once again as the Giglio celebrations continue in Brooklyn. It’s almost over but you can still catch a couple more.

Scientists are astounded at the new images of God’s creation — courtesy of NASA’s latest technology.

A Historic First in the Catholic Church: Pope Francis Appoints Three Women to Dicastery of Bishops

By Currents News Staff and Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Ten days after saying he would name two women to the group that helps him choose bishops, Pope Francis appointed three women to the office.

The Vatican announced July 13 that the pope had named 14 new members of the Dicastery for Bishops.

For the first time ever, the members include women: Sister Raffaella Petrini, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, who is secretary-general of the office governing Vatican City State; French Salesian Sister Yvonne Reungoat, former superior general of the order; and Maria Lia Zervino, an Argentine who is president of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations.

The dicastery is led by Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet and is responsible for helping the pope choose bishops for Latin-rite dioceses outside of the church’s mission territories. Members meet twice a month to review dossiers submitted by Vatican nuncios about potential candidates and to vote on the names they recommend to the pope.

Before Pope Francis’ reform of the Roman Curia took effect in June, members of the dicastery were only cardinals and a few bishops.

The other new members of the dicastery include: Cardinals Anders Arborelius of Stockholm; Jose F. Advincula of Manila, Philippines; José Tolentino de Mendonca, Vatican archivist; and Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops.

Pope Francis also named as members several bishops who will become cardinals in August: Cardinals-designate Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for Clergy; Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, France; and Oscar Cantoni of Como, Italy.

The other new members are: Archbishop Drazen Kutlesa of Split-Makarska, Croatia; Bishop Paul Tighe, secretary of the former Pontifical Council for Culture; and Benedictine Abbot Donato Ogliari, abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome and apostolic administrator of the Abbey of Montecassino, Italy.

The new members join existing members, including U.S. Cardinals Blase J. Cupich of Chicago and Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey.

The Push Back on Abortion Continues as State Courts Temporarily Block Bans

Currents News Staff

It’s supposed to a “Post-Roe America” but abortion access is far from settled. The legal status is changing day by day across the United States. Two more courts just pushed back on state restrictions while Congress and the Biden Administration are taking steps too.

More state courts are weighing in on abortion access and the federal government is too. In Louisiana, abortions just became legal again and in Minnesota, a judge declared restrictions on them unconstitutional.

The rest of the country in this post-Roe era – bans and restrictions are likely in certain states and some are in limbo. People can travel across state lines for the procedures, but some worry about stronger pro-life measures.

“As an African American,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, “what I hear when I hear that is fugitive slave laws.”

In a Senate committee hearing yesterday, a witness pushed back when asked why she doesn’t call all people who can get pregnant “women.”

“Your line of questioning is transphobic,” said Khiara Bridges, a Professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, “and it opens up trans people to violence.”

Senator Josh Hawley bristled at the characterization. House and Senate committees are discussing abortion access again today. That comes as the Justice Department announces a Reproductive Rights Task Force.

It was created to safeguard things like patient privacy and access to medication abortion. That idea has some pro-life advocates worried. Some Republicans would rather see the ban on protests at the homes of Supreme Court Justices enforced.

“I’ve called on the Justice Department to protect the justices and their families,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley.

Other lawmakers say they’re concerned about other rights the High Court might strip away.

The barrage of court filings means that for roughly half of the country – the legal status of abortion is still uncertain nearly a month after the Supreme Court overturned Roe.

Homilies in Your Home: Matthew: 11:25-27

Reverend Christopher Heanue’s Homily from Wednesday’s Mass on 7/13/22

The Story of the Man Who ‘Started the Civil Rights Movement in the Diocese of Brooklyn’

Currents News Staff

Servant of God Msgr. Bernard Quinn was an Irish-American known for his fight against racial injustice. He’s already considered a saint by many and his legacy carries on today – not only around the Diocese of Brooklyn but also at St. Peter Claver Church, the parish he founded for African-American Catholics.

The Brooklyn priest who has been spearheading Msgr. Quinn’s cause for canonization, Msgr. Paul Jervis, joined Currents News to discuss the new documentary film premiering about the life of Msgr. Quinn.

Where to Watch

It’s not too late to see the documentary, “Monsignor Quinn: Servant of God” – just tune into NET-TV on Monday, July 18 right after Currents News at 7:30 p.m. or on Saturday, July 23 at 4 p.m.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 7/12/22

Bodega workers are meeting with New York’s District Attorney Alvin Bragg today — asking him to drop the murder charges in that deli death.

Abortions are now states rights — but the Biden Administration is saying hospitals must be able to provide them.

A look at a new documentary on a man the Ku Klux Klan wanted dead — and his lasting legacy in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Why Certain Medications and High Temperatures Are Dangerous and Shouldn’t Mix

Currents News Staff

A heat wave continues to crash over much of the U.S. But mixing those soaring temperatures with some medications could cause major problems.

Dr. Riza Conroy with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center says some medications that don’t go well with the sun include: some antibiotics; antidepressants; antihistamines; anti inflammatories and medications for blood pressure and diabetes.

“Sometimes the reaction can take weeks or months for it to fade,” said Conroy.

She says bring a cooler when you’re out as the heat can degrade insulin and other medicines.

“Put the medication, especially insulin, in the cooler and keep it nice, cool and dark,” Conroy added.

She says sun-related side effects of medications usually develop about 24 to 72 hours after sun exposure and may appear to be an exaggerated sunburn.

“It looks red,” she said. “Sometimes scaly. Sometimes itchy and sometimes when it’s really bad blisters and spots that resemble hives.”

Conroy says to take the medicine before bed instead of the morning and follow these sun-smart steps:

SLIP: on clothing that covers the body.

SLOP: on SPF 15 to 30 or higher broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen.

SLAP: on a hat

SEEK: shade and avoid the sun between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

AND SLIDE: on sunglasses with UV protection and side panels.