Holocaust Survivor Visits Catholic School to Share His Story

Students in Bay Ridge got a real-life history lesson on Wednesday, March 20, from the personal account of one of the worst moments in world history.

Emil Fish survived the Holocaust, and now he’s sharing his story with the next generation.

Students at St. Patrick Catholic Academy honored their guest by singing “Shalom.”

Fish was just nine, living in Slovakia, when his family was captured and taken to different concentration camps in Europe.

He shared details of his time with the students, who have been learning about the Holocaust in their classes.

Each one took away a little piece of knowledge.

Fish is 89 years old and part of a population that is slowly dwindling.

Currently, there are only about 245,000 survivors of the Holocaust still alive.

Fish said that’s why he feels it’s necessary to visit schools of all faiths.

The academy is currently planning a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Manhattan after Easter.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 3/22/2024

The Diocese of Brooklyn’s high schools marked a significant milestone in the lives of the graduating Class of 2024 on Friday, March 22. Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass that brought together students from 14 Catholic high schools, accompanied by their families and faculty members.

A Brooklyn elementary school student had the privilege of a lifetime, learning firsthand from a Holocaust survivor. This powerful encounter with history left a lasting impression on the young student.

A Brooklyn church has come together to raise money for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Learn more about this organization and how it’s positively impacting those most in need.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. See how the Diocese of Brooklyn has spent weeks planning for it and what’s in store for those excited to join the festivities.

Diocese of Brooklyn Celebrates Class of 2024 Graduates at Cathedral Basilica of St. James

The Diocese of Brooklyn’s high schools marked a significant milestone in the lives of the graduating Class of 2024. A celebration took place Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass that brought together students from 14 Catholic high schools, accompanied by their families and faculty members.

A representative from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) at Queens College delivered a special address before the commencement of Mass. The address focused on nurturing and preserving one’s faith journey during the upcoming college years. FOCUS is dedicated to engaging students and fostering a deeper connection with their faith, enriching their spiritual lives.

The diocese celebrated graduating seniors as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

Wilkes Barre’s Brewing Company Creates Lenten Lager to Help Fight Hunger in ’40 Days Brew’

By Jessica Easthope

What used to be St. Joseph’s Monastery and Schoolhouse is now Breaker Brewing Company. The classrooms are now tap rooms, and the aroma of holy incense has been replaced with hops and grain.

Co-owners Chris Miller and Mark Lehman can’t shake what’s left of the holy ground, no matter how much foam and fizz is here today.

“I never knew I’d be working here every day,” Lehman said. “I never knew that it would be part of life in the future, this little church, but that worked out.”

Many brews have been born in this place, but none have been blessed as their latest creation. Like the brewery, its name tells a story that ties the past to the present.

“That research kind of led us down to this path of the 40 Days doppelbock we have today,” said Father Brian Van Fossen, the pastor of St. Faustina Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Wilkes-Barre. “It’s based on that German understanding of beer and has a relatively low alcohol content and a rich, vibrant flavor, but also a lot of really good things in it.”

The Lenten Lager is called 40 Days Brew. Father Van Fossen said the beer serves a dual purpose. One of those purposes is to pay tribute to the history of the beverage once brewed by monks, and the other is to give back. The beer was created to help fight hunger and homelessness in the area.

“The connection with Breaker Brewery is just the connection to the area; you know it’s rooted in the area,” Father Van Fossen said.

The sleepy coal mining community’s roots run straight through Breaker. The 40 Days Doppelbock German-style beer has amber hues and flavors from fruit dark like the coal that put Wilkes-Barre on the map.

The beer that comes out of this tap is more than its ingredients; it’s community. Father Van Fossen said this Lent, instead of giving up a vice, focus on virtue.

So the next time the bells toll at Breaker Brewing Company, it might be that a new beer was created.

If you believe in the power of beer in bringing people closer to each other and, in turn, closer to God, this is a call to action. The Diocese of Scranton’s goal is to sell enough 40 Days Brew to raise $200,000. Breaker Brewing Company keeps only what it costs to make the beer.

The money will go to an initiative called Rectory Set Cook, which will see $2 from every four-pack and $1 from every 40 Days Brew sold, which will be donated to the program that helps those in need in the Diocese of Scranton.

Though this is the first year the Diocese is making beer part of its giving back, the idea started decades ago. Father Van Fossen, co-owner Mark, and a Diocese of Scranton development official, Sandy Snyder, went to Catholic high school together.

Diocese of Scranton Priest Explains How Monks Used Beer to Fast During Lent

By Katie Vasquez

For thousands of years, beer has been part of the daily diet of various civilizations. But did you know it has ties to the Catholic Church?

In the 16th and 17th centuries, European monks would brew beer at their monasteries.

“People were not working as hard,” said Father Von Fossen. “They were tired. They were biting each other. It was just not a good fit for communal life.”

They created the doppelbock or double bock beer, which was more nutritious than the average pint.

“They’re able to create something that has high carbohydrates, also antioxidants, and a variety of other things that we would term nowadays, like super-food, almost into that beer,” said Father Von Fossen.

The monks would drink the beer four times a day for the full 40 days, and as they gathered for prayer, they discovered the beer helped.

“They found out that they were able to work harder, work stronger, work longer,” said Father Von Fossen.

According to Chris Miller, the co-owner of Breaker Brewing in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the brewing process for beers like the doppelbock has mostly stayed the same.

“The process of making beers is real simple,” said Miller. “You’re getting grains, you’re milling them, you’re combining them with water, you’re extracting the sugar out of them, you’re going to boil that and add hops. and then when you’re done, you chill it, ferment it, and then finish it. Can it or keg it, drink it,” said Miller.

What has been updated is the technology.

“They would have to brew beer at a certain time of year when it’s still cold out so they can lager it,” said Miller. “Right now, all we have to do is turn our tank on, set it to 32 degrees, and we’re good to go.”

“I think we still have aspects of the prohibition,” said Father Von Fossen. You know, and we have this idea that giving up beer is a holy act. And it can be, but in the same sense of it all, beer could also be community bringing could bring us together.”

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 3/20/2024

The Diocese of Scranton says beer has the power to bring people together.

Pope Francis is urging bishops in Latin America to eradicate the indifference toward migrants.

The World Happiness Report is out, and the United States continues to fall.

Lenten Pilgrimage: Bishop Brennan Blesses Crucifix Honoring Monsignor Delendick

Tuesday’s Lenten pilgrimage stop included a dedication to a beloved chaplain in the diocese.

Bishop Robert Brennan blessed a new crucifix dedicated to Monsignor John Delendick at St. Jude’s Church in Canarsie, Brooklyn.

The FDNY chaplain, who died last year from 9/11 related cancer, was a pillar in the community following the attacks.

Download the Lenten Pilgrimage app to pray along with the pilgrims and see all the stops they will make.

Search “Lenten Pilgrimage” on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Community Prays for Haiti at Lenten Pilgrimage Stop

by Katie Vasquez

The congregation at Holy Innocents church showed off their Haitian pride on Monday night,

from dozens of flags waved in the pews, to the Creole hymns filling the Flatbush church.

but among the joyful noise, sounds of sadness,as people of faith think of the havoc happening now in Haiti. Over the last few days, Haiti has been gripped by violence as gangs have been launching attack after attack against the government.

The constant gunfire has left people in the country locked in their homes,

So Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan wanted to offer some comfort to their families in Brooklyn, dedicating the latest stop in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten pilgrimage to prayers for peace in Haiti.

“The people here are connected to their families and they’re worried about their families. and it’s not just in these last couple of weeks with the big violence that’s been happening, but there have been kidnappings that people have told me about, cousins, brothers and sisters who’ve been kidnapped themselves and having to pay ransom.”

The mass gives those who are feeling the effects of this crisis a sense of purpose even though they are thousands of miles away.

“Our family there, this suffering, this suffering, we cannot even have the opportunity to send food for them. so it’s a terrible situation. They have to do something,” said Adeline Sanon, a parishioner at Holy Innocents Church.

“It was much needed because we feel so powerless. we feel, you know, we are in the lenten desert and even more so by what’s going on in Haiti,” said Michele Guerrier, a member of the Haitian apostolate.

And as they waved the flags of their heritage, they prayed that God will watch over the nation.

“What gives us hope and what gives us comfort is that the Lord has been so, so good to us. and the lord is always faithful,” said Bishop Brennan.

“The Haitian people, they are my family. so like the Bishop said, when one part of the body hurts, the entire body hurts. so, you know, I’m crying with all the Haitians,” said Guerrier.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 3/19/2024

Led by Bishop Robert Brennan, the Diocese of Brooklyn comes together to pray for Haiti.

Bishop Robert Brennan leads the celebration of Mass today for the Lenten pilgrimage at St. Jude’s Church in Canarsie.

According to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute, more than a million abortions occurred last year.

Learn more about how young Catholic professionals make it their business to form their faith.

St. Joseph’s Day Treat: Staff at Brooklyn Bakery Working Overtime to Make Pastry

Tuesday is the feast of St. Joseph, and many will celebrate it with a tasty treat.

The dedicated staff at Brooklyn’s Fortunato Brothers Cafe works tirelessly to produce St. Joseph pastries for eager customers. The bakery starts making them around Valentine’s Day, producing hundreds of pastries.

It is a popular dessert in Italy, where St. Joseph’s Day is also Father’s Day. Fortunato Brothers offers a delightful array of St. Joseph pastries in different varieties, each adding a unique layer of fun and excitement to families celebrating the feast day.

If you want a St. Joseph’s pastry but can’t make it to Fortunato Brothers for the feast day, don’t worry—the bakery will continue to make the treat through Easter.