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Pope Francis’ Trip to L’Aquila Raises Questions About Papal Resignations

By Currents News Staff and Cindy Wooden 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When the Vatican announced Pope Francis would travel to L’Aquila in central Italy Aug. 28 to open a seven-centuries-old celebration of forgiveness, people on social media began speculating that the pope would resign.

The 85-year-old pope will make his morning trip to L’Aquila just one day after a scheduled consistory to create 21 new cardinals and the day before a two-day meeting with the cardinals to discuss the reform of the Roman Curia, one of the main projects of his papacy.

Included in the trip, the Vatican said June 4, is a Mass in the square outside the medieval Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio on the edge of town. The basilica is the burial place of St. Celestine V, a 13th-century pope who abdicated just a few months after his election.

When then-Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2009, he placed the long woolen pallium he had worn during his installation Mass on top of Pope Celestine’s glass casket as a gift. When Pope Benedict resigned in 2013, many people wondered if that gesture four years earlier had been a sign.

But Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi of L’Aquila, announcing Pope Francis’ visit on the archdiocesan website, focused only on the celebration of the Celestinian Pardon and Pope Francis’ concern for the people of the archdiocese still recovering from an earthquake in 2009 in which almost 300 people lost their lives.

Pope Francis also is scheduled to visit the L’Aquila cathedral, which is still closed to the public because of damage from the quake, and meet with the families of those who died.

The pope’s visit, the cardinal said, is a sign of his love for “our church and our city, which is even more precious when we take into account his pressing pastoral commitments and some painful health problems.”

At the heart of the Celestine Pardon, celebrated annually Aug. 28-29, is the granting of a plenary indulgence to everyone who visits the Collemaggio basilica, goes to confession, receives Communion and prays for the intentions of the pope. Pope Celestine established the celebration in 1294.

“Pope Francis will be the first pontiff to open the Holy Door after 728 years,” Cardinal Petrocchi wrote.

Uvalde Teacher Recounts Horrific Details Inside Robb Elementary School During Shooting

Currents News Staff

From a hospital in San Antonio, a teacher who survived the Uvalde shooting offered the most vivid account yet of what happened inside his classroom.

“The kids started asking out loud, ‘Mr. Reyes what is going on?’ And I said ‘I don’t know what’s going on,” said Robb Elementary School Teacher Arnulfo Reyes. “But let’s go ahead and get under the table. Get under the table and act like you’re asleep.'”

In an interview with ABC, Arnulfo recalled the moments he and his students in Classroom 111 heard gunshots while they were watching a movie. As he told them to take cover, Arnulfo said the gunman entered the classroom and opened fire. One bullet went through his arm and lung – and another hit his back, according to ABC.

“One of the students from the next-door classroom was saying, ‘Officer, we’re in here. We’re in here.’ But they had already left,” said Arnulfo. “He then got up from behind my desk and he walked over there, and he shot over there again.”

Officers had responded within minutes of the suspect entering the school, but were repelled by the gunman’s fire – and then stationed in a hallway waiting for reinforcements – even as children inside 911 and begged for help.

“I get more angry because you have a bulletproof vest,” said Arnulfo. “I had nothing.”

Meanwhile in Washington, an impassioned plea from actor and Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey urging lawmakers to act.

“We start by giving all of them our promise that their dreams are not going to be forgotten,” said Matthew McConaughey.

President Biden Continues Call for Gun Control After 13 Mass Shootings Reported In the U.S.

Currents News Staff

At least 13 mass shootings were reported in the U.S. this weekend, resulting in 17 deaths. On Sunday in Tennessee, gunfire erupted in the Chattanooga area for the second time within a week.

“I was like wow,” said Tennessee resident Jake Cobb. “It was just crazy how I was just right down the road when it happened.”

The non-profit, Gun Violence Archive, says at least 246 mass shootings took place around the country through June 5 this year. It also says that the U.S. is on pace to have more mass shootings in 2022 than in any other year.

“There’s more to do,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “Thoughts and prayers won’t fix this. But taking strong action will.”

White House officials say President Joe Biden is encouraged with the Senate negotiations on gun control measures, but would like action taken sooner rather than later.

“While there have been measured victories on gun violence prevention in recent years,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “there hasn’t been a wide ranging bill passed since 1994. That’s almost three decades ago. So the president has made it clear that it’s time for Congress to act.”

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is among the lawmakers who support raising the minimum age to buy a semi-automatic weapon to 21 – but many Republicans resist the idea.

“If we’re going to stop sending 18-year-olds to fight our wars for us,” said North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, “then I suppose at that point I’d consider it. The age isn’t the issue. Nor is the gun.”

Emmaus Center’s ‘The Ultimate Playbook’ Aims to Tackle the Epidemic of Fatherlessness

Currents News Staff

It’s a day of football, fun and faith. The annual Catholic Men’s Conference is being held at the Emmaus Center in the Diocese of Brooklyn this weekend.

Currents News is joined by the Chairman of the Emmaus Center, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello to discuss who the guest speakers are, what attendees can expect, and how the timing of the event around Father’s Day isn’t a coincidence.

For tickets, head to https://emmausbrooklyn.org.

 

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 6/6/22

The Diocese of Brooklyn now has three new priests after Bishop Robert Brennan’s first ordination Mass.

Authorities in Nigeria are searching for the attackers behind a devastating mass shooting at a Catholic Church that left dozens dead.

With a swipe of the pen, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signs new measures to strengthen gun control into law.

Two pen pals writing to each other for more than 30 years — finally get to meet in person.

Bishop Robert Brennan’s First Ordination in Brooklyn Welcomes Three New Priests

Currents News Staff and Bill Miller

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Three friends stood alone in the dining room at the rectory of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, fidgeting in the final moments before their ordination to the priesthood.

The mood was electric Saturday morning, June 4, for the soon-to-be priests: Alex Olszewski, 51; Andrew Tsui, 41; and Father Dung (Vincent) Vu, 39.

Now, they were moments away from adding the title of “Father” to their names, and learning which parishes they were about to serve in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Father Olszewski admitted to being nervous.

But then Father Alonzo Cox, director of liturgy for the diocese, entered the dining room and broke the tension.

“Gentlemen,” he announced. “It’s time.”

The ordination ceremony was historic because the trio are the first seminarians to be ordained by Bishop Robert Brennan in the diocese.

It adhered to the Rite of Ordination, including the laying on of hands, the Prayer of Ordination, and the Litany of Supplication in which the candidates for priesthood prostrate themselves on the altar in a sign of humility.

Some of the diocese’s senior clergy watched from their seats around the altar, including Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio and Auxiliary Bishops Octavio Cisneros (retired), Witold Mroziewski, and Paul Sanchez.

The new priests received their new vestments on the sanctuary — the stole and chasuble — and also the Sign of Peace from fellow priests. The congregation gave the new priests an extended round of applause.

Despite their diverse backgrounds, the trio bonded and became friends while studying at the Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, which trains seminarians over the age of 30.

Father Tsui is a New York City-born son of Chinese immigrants who worked in accounting before joining a contemplative monastery in France. Father Vu was a history scholar back home in Vietnam, and Father Olszewski lived in Arkansas, where he had a long career in banking.

The ordination also was historic because Father Tsui became the first American-born Chinese priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn. He embraces the distinction with pride, but also humility.

He noted that many people of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. consider the Church to be a Western institution. Conversely, Father Tsui said he wants to be a priest with whom Chinese people can identify.

Bishop Brennan announced the new priest would serve at St. Bartholomew’s Parish in Elmhurst, which has a Sunday Mass in Chinese. His new leader is Father Rick Beuther, pastor of St. Bartholomew’s Parish.

“I thank the good Lord for assigning me to St. Bartholomew in Elmhurst,” he exclaimed. “I look forward to working with Father Rick and ministering to St. Bartholomew’s diverse community.”

Bishop Brennan thanked the new priests’ families for gifting the three men “to the Church.”

Father Tsui’s parents, David and Agnes Tsui, have passed away; so have the parents of Father Olszewski, Richard and Vivian Olszewski, who were natives of Brooklyn. However, Father Tsui’s siblings, Augustine, and identical twin brother, Arthur, were at the ceremony with their families.

Father Olszewski’s siblings could not attend, but he was shown plenty of love by parishioners from Our Lady of Snows Parish in Floral Park, Queens, where he spent his pastoral year.

At the end of Mass, the new priests offered “first blessings” to family, friends, and well-wishers.

Among those approaching Father Olszewski was Arthur Tsui, and his wife, Teresa, who received his blessing.

Father Olszewski’s assignment will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in the Flatlands, Brooklyn, under the leadership of its pastor, Father Dwayne Davis.

He said the heart of his ministry will be an outreach to people who struggle to return to the faith after being away for many years, especially hearing their confessions. He also wants to help shore up catechesis to keep young people grounded, and thereby protect them from straying from the Church in the first place.

Bishop Brennan also acknowledged a special deacon in the audience, Anh Vu, the younger brother of Father Vu, who will be ordained a priest next week in the Diocese of Bridgeport by Bishop Frank Caggiano, a former auxiliary in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“We’re very, very proud of him, too,” Bishop Brennan said. Deacon Vu stood to be recognized and also received applause. Members of the Vu family waved to him from the front-row pews on the other side of the cathedral.

The Vu brothers’ parents, Joseph Ngon Van Vu and Theresa Xuyen Thi Nguyen, traveled to the U.S. to be at both ordinations.

Father Vu is assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Queens Village under the leadership of Father Patrick Longalong, the pastor. Father Vu pledged to be a priest who reaches people of diverse cultures and languages, sharing the Gospel of Christ.

“I appreciate Father Patrick and all members of Our Lady of Lourdes Church for accepting and welcoming me,” Father Vu said.

He also took the opportunity to address the parish directly. 

“Since you already have and are having a strong faith life and a loving community,” he said, “I want to accompany all of you to bring God’s love to everyone, with a life of prayer, and humble works of charity, and to live as a witness for Jesus Christ.”

Father Olszewski said he was blessed by the love shown to him by the families of the other priests and parishioners from Our Lady of the Snows.

“That’s how it is in seminary,” Father Olszewski said. “And, if you’re in a parish, a good parish, the people do kind of become like your tribe or your extended family.”

 

Deadly Weekend Across the U.S. With 10 Mass Shootings Across Several States

Currents News Staff

The trauma from mass shootings in America is spreading. In a single weekend, as many as 10 mass shootings took place nationwide with 15 dead total.

The mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee spoke out about the shooting that took place in a nightclub where 14 people were wounded and three dead.

“I’m not trying to take away anybody’s Second Amendment rights,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “But I think we can agree there are common sense approaches here.”

At a Phoenix strip mall, a gunman killed one person and eight others were shot and wounded. One eyewitness said she heard more than 100 gunshots.

“A group of people that just started running in every direction,” the witness said.

Shooters opened fire at high school graduation parties, in both South Carolina and Texas. People ran for cover at a funeral outside a Kentucky church and in Philadelphia multiple shooters fired into a crowd, leaving three dead.

In Washington, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy says the time for common sense gun laws is now.

“I’m more confident than ever that we’re going to get there,” Sen. Murphy said, “but I’m also more anxious about failure this time around.”

One of the proposals on the table includes increasing the age to buy a semi-automatic rifle. Both the Buffalo and Uvalde shooters bought their AR-15 style weapons at 18.

“There is interest in taking a look at that age range, 18 to 21,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, “and doing what is necessary to make sure that we aren’t giving a weapon to anybody that has during their younger years a mental health history, a juvenile record.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 6/3/22

An angry President Biden is demanding more be done on the issue of gun control after several devastating mass shootings.

Federal investigators are poised to review how the FDA inspected a baby formula plant that played a role in a nationwide shortage.

Students at a Diocese of Brooklyn Catholic Academy hosted a surprise retirement celebration for their pastor.

How a woman was reunited with her roller skates — 40 years later.

San Antonio Archbishop’s Message to Pro-Life Politicians: Put People First Not Power or Prestige

Currents News Staff

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio has spent weeks consoling the families of the school victims in Uvalde, Texas. 

When it comes to gun violence, he’s also speaking out about it. The archbishop joined Currents News to share how the Church has come to support the families as the funerals start taking place, President Biden’s visit to the community and his message to pro-life politicians.