Archdiocese of New Orleans, Pope Francis Mourn Lives Lost in New Years Day Attack

By Currents News

Pope Francis is sending prayers of healing and consolation to the people of New Orleans, Louisiana, following an attack that occurred on New Year’s Day.

At least 15 people are dead and 30 injured after investigators say a U.S. Army veteran drove a truck into a crowd of people celebrating during the early morning hours of January 1.

Pope Francis assured New Orleans of his spiritual closeness to the city, commending the victims to “the loving mercy of almighty God.”

Information is still coming in about those who lost their lives in this tragedy like St. Thomas More Catholic High School Graduate Martin Bech Jr. Known as “Tiger,” the Lafayette, Louisiana man was a standout athlete at the school in football, lacrosse, and track and field. He went on to play for Princeton University and most recently lived in New York City working as a junior trader for a capital markets firm. He was visiting New Orleans for the holidays.

Another Catholic school alum also lost his life in the tragedy: 21-year-old Hubert Gauthreaux, who graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in New Orleans in 2021. The school is praying for the repose of his soul – along with his family and friends – sharing the news of his passing in a post on Facebook.

It’s believed many of those injured could be Catholic as people present were in New Orleans for the Notre Dame University versus University of Georgia football game.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans expressed his closeness to the Catholic community in a statement, saying “This violent act is a sign of utter disrespect for human life. I join with others in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans in offering prayerful support to the victims’ families. I give thanks for the heroic duty of hundreds of law enforcement and medical personnel in the face of such evil.”

‘Christ Is Walking With Us’ in the Diocese of Brooklyn This Jubilee Year

By Currents News

Parishioners from across the Diocese of Brooklyn packed the pews at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James on Dec. 29, 2024 to help Bishop Robert Brennan usher in the Jubilee Year, which he says is “a reminder of our connection to the greatest moment in time: when God became human, the birth of Jesus.”

The service at St. James was one of two Masses celebrated by the Shepherd of Brooklyn in the borough for the diocese’s formal opening of the Holy Year, which also coincided with the feast of the holy family.

“It’s a beautiful opportunity as a family and young adults to come and support our diocese and just to spread the love of God throughout the streets of Brooklyn and Queens,” parishioner Marlene Sanchez tells Currents News. “It’s something truly meaningful for me.”

Sanchez held hands with her family members as she walked through the streets of Brooklyn following Bishop Brennan, who led a procession with the Blessed Sacrament from the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Amid the sounds of New York City they prayed, stopping traffic and causing pedestrians to stop in their tracks to watch.

Gillian Hunte tells Currents News she didn’t mind the attention the procession was garnering.

“Besides proclaiming that we are for Christ because He is the light of the world, today’s a day we become a little bit closer to Him and the Son and what He is about,” she explains. “He is the way, the truth and the light.”

These pilgrims are holding that light close as we enter this Jubilee of hope.

“It gives us a concrete reminder that we’re not alone, that Christ is walking with us,” says Bishop Brennan.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 1/2/2025

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica to begin the Jubilee Year, and Bishop Robert Brennan marks its start with Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is in mourning following a terrorist attack on New Year’s Day that killed more than a dozen people and wounded many others.

In New York City, St. Jerome Church in East Flatbush holds a double celebration for New Year’s Day and Haitian Independence Day.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 12/20/2024

The New York City Council passed a bill allowing religious schools, including Catholic schools in Brooklyn with 150 or more students, to be reimbursed for security guards following a recent deadly shooting at a Wisconsin Christian school.

A Catholic school in Brooklyn held a special mass at St. Anselm Church to bless the new Bay Ridge Catholic Academy choir, marking the first such event for the academy, which was founded in 2019, with over 70 students in the choir.

St. Francis College in Brooklyn dedicated its “Our Lady of Angels Chapel” to the late Frank and Mary Macchiarola, a couple who dedicated their lives to education.

With Christmas just five days away, Pope Francis will start the festivities with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by the official launch of the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.

Diocese of Brooklyn Schools Among Those To Be Reimbursed for Security Through NYC Legislature

By Jessica Easthope

Religious and private schools across New York City are celebrating a major victory: on Dec. 19 the New York City Council passed a bill allowing non-public schools with 150 students or more to be reimbursed for a security guard.

Cheers were heard on the steps of City Hall as a looming vote to make 384 schools safer took center stage in the City Council chamber.

The bill is an expansion of an existing law that allows non-public schools with 300 students or more to be reimbursed for a security guard. Now the number of students has been reduced to 150, covering 42 Dioceses of Brooklyn schools, including three high schools and 39 elementary schools.

“It shows that we work together and that when we’re at our best, no matter what we call our God, that’s when we can say we’re a society that cares about people,” Superintendent of Diocese of Brooklyn Schools, Deacon Kevin McCormack, tells Currents News.

He was there to support the bill’s passing, with the vote coming just three days after a student and teacher were killed at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin. It was the 327th school shooting so far this year.

“Anywhere you look, you’re going to see these horror shows that are going on. This is going to make a difference,” says Deacon McCormack. “This is one extra layer to bring safety to our kids. And for that, we have to say thank you to the City Council and to all those who are supporting this bill.”

“Here you have something tragic like that happening at a school in Wisconsin, a small Christian faith based school. It’s heartbreaking,” explains Deanna Philippe, principal of Cristo Rey High School in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. “So we are deeply grateful to the City for this opportunity as every student, no matter where they are, deserves to be safe.”

Philippe had testified in front of the City Council on behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn earlier this year. She says a security guard will not only improve the physical safety of her students and faculty, but their mental health as well.

“I couldn’t tell you just how excited we are and how relieved we are at Cristo Rey Brooklyn that we’ll have some security guards available on staff to help keep our community safe,” she adds.

The bill, which passed in the City Council Thursday Dec. 19, is expected to be signed into law by New York City Mayor Eric Adams within the next 30 days. It will take effect in July of 2025, and security guards will be at their posts by the start of next school year.

St. Francis College Honors Former Chancellor with Chapel Dedication

St. Francis College in Brooklyn recently dedicated its chapel to honor the late Chancellor Frank Macchiarola and his wife, Mary. Frank Macchiarola, who passed away in 2012, was instrumental in guiding New York City through financial challenges in the 1970s and later served as chancellor of St. Francis College. His wife, Mary, recalled his deep connection to the chapel, noting, “He used to go to the chapel all the time. He found great comfort there.”

The dedication ceremony was a heartfelt tribute to the couple’s enduring commitment to faith and service. Mary Macchiarola described the event as “overwhelming,” reflecting the profound impact her husband had on the college community and the city at large. This dedication ensures that the Macchiarolas’ legacy will continue to inspire future generations at St. Francis College.

TONIGHT AT 7: NYC Passes Bill to Reimburse Security for Public, Private Schools

By Currents News

Nearly 400 religious and private schools are safer after the New York City Council passed a bill allowing them to get reimbursed for security guards. The passing of that bill opens up city funding for 42 Diocese of Brooklyn schools. Reporter Jessica Easthope will have the details from City Hall tonight.

Currents News Special: The Best of 2024

As we near the end of the year at Currents News, we’re taking a look back at 2024, a year of faith and fellowship in New York highlighted by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Eucharistic Revival.

We’ll revisit that day of prayer, music, and catechesis around the Body of Christ and the National Eucharistic Congress as well.

We will also review how schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn go above and beyond to teach children with special needs.

Plus, Currents News highlights how one man in New Jersey is spreading Christ’s love through music.

Pulse of the Parish: Keith Goldberg, Saint Francis de Sales

By Currents News

Before the players take the court and the fans fill the stands there’s just one person at St. Francis de Sales’ summer classic setting it all up. From moving bleachers into place to grabbing the scoreboards and setting up the first aid station, Keith Goldberg never stops moving.

“I’m in the yard approximately 20-25 hours a week,” he tells Current News, and for more than 15 years he has been the director of the church’s summer basketball league.

“I wanted to do what others had done for me growing up, and I got started and couldn’t let go,” he explains.

Goldberg spends close to 40 hours a week volunteering his time organizing the classic. He does so in addition to his full-time job as executive director for the diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) program.

The summer classic started 40 years ago with 26 teams and about 300 people. Now there are 104 teams and over 1,200 people ages seven to 69.

Goldberg handles it all without an assist, and the pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish in Belle Harbor, Queens. Father Bill Sweeney says drafting Goldberg for the job was a slam dunk.

“I have never met anybody more selfless than Keith,” he tells Currents News. “You never have to ask twice and he’ll do anything, anything for you. He’s always around, he’s always looking at the positive side of it.”

Goldberg says he’s not sure how many more years he’ll be lugging equipment around this yard, but for now, he’ll power forward.

“The faith is at the center of it,” he says, “and to do something that is not specifically church, but brings everybody involved and keeps people focused on their association with the parish is very important to me.”

Now you know Keith Goldberg from St. Francis de Sales and how he makes up the pulse of the parish.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 12/18/2024

With just a week until Christmas, The Tablet is on a mission to ensure every child in the Diocese of Brooklyn has a gift to unwrap. Volunteers at a local non-profit, ‘Make a Difference,’ are busy wrapping presents, thanks to funds raised by the newspaper’s Bright Christmas initiative.

So far, tens of thousands of dollars have been collected, but more support is needed to reach even more families in need. Find out tonight how you can get involved and make a difference this Christmas!

Keith Goldberg, the driving force behind the success of St. Francis de Sales’ Summer Classic basketball league, is tonight’s Pulse of the Parish.