2024

St. Ephrem Catholic Academy is starting a new chapter with the grand opening of its Eagles Readers Library. After years without a library, the school is excited to offer students a fresh space filled with books generously donated by the community.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Catholic community in North Carolina is uniting in a powerful display of support for those affected. Churches in the Diocese of Charlotte are serving as vital aid distribution centers, rallying together to help rebuild after the storm’s devastating impact.

Explore Manhattan University’s sacred collection of over 600 saint relics. The historic treasures will soon be on display, offering the public a chance to dive into the rich history of the saints and the Church.

Diocese of Brooklyn Holds Hispanic Heritage Month Mass, Celebrating With Youth

The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a vibrant youth event last week.

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan presided over the Mass at St. Finbar Church in Bath Beach, Brooklyn.

Following the Mass, Bishop Brennan joined a reception organized by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, bringing together the community in celebration of faith and culture.

Bishop Emeritus Offers Blessings at Diocesan Anniversary Mass, Couples Renew Vows

The annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass took place on Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas in Flatlands, where 74 couples from across the diocese renewed their vows.

From just a few months to decades of marriage, each couple received a blessing from Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, who celebrated the Mass.

In his homily, he reflected on the teachings of Genesis, emphasizing equality between man and woman, and highlighted the importance of the sacrament of marriage, especially in today’s world.

Afterward, couples shared a total of 777 years of marriage and had the chance to take photos with Bishop DiMarzio.

Pope Back in Rome, Speaks on Synod, Women in Church and Abuse

Pope Francis began his visit to Belgium with a simple but meaningful gesture, sharing coffee and croissants with refugees and the poor at St. Giles Parish, known for its ministry to the homeless, including teaching trades like brewing beer.

He then attended his first official meeting at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart with clergy and laity, where he addressed the Synod, emphasizing a return to the Gospel over “fashionable” reforms. The Pope challenged everyone to consider how to spread the Gospel in a society that has drifted from faith.

Later, Pope Francis visited the University of Louvain, one of the world’s oldest colleges, celebrating its 600th anniversary. Speaking to students, he underscored the unique and vital role of women in the Church, stressing that women’s contributions should be celebrated in their distinctiveness rather than equated with men.

Before leaving on Sunday, the Holy Father celebrated Mass with nearly 40,000 attendees at Belgium’s national stadium. He delivered a powerful message against abuse, urging bishops and everyone to condemn abusers and bring evil to light, calling for transparency and accountability in confronting the issue.

In a surprise announcement, Pope Francis revealed plans to open the beatification process for King Baudouin, a Catholic monarch from the 20th century, who chose to abdicate temporarily in 1990 rather than sign a law legalizing abortion.

St. Athanasius Celebrates Hispanic Culture as Hispanic Heritage Month Comes to an End

It was a vibrant fiesta at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy in Bensonhurst, where the after-school program celebrated Hispanic culture through lively music and dance.

The event, sponsored by the Federation of Italian-American Organizations, aimed to honor cultural diversity and bring communities together.

The non-profit organization continues to play a key role in uniting the diverse neighborhoods of New York through such celebrations.

St. Bernadette’s New Principal Learns from School Community

By Jessica Easthope

Jeanne Shannon feels at home in the classroom, as long as there are children, it’s colorful, and faith is at the center, she knows exactly what to do.

“I believe in my heart this is really where I’m meant to be,” Shannon said.

Jeanne is the new principal at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights. These old halls are anything but familiar, yet she walks them, hoping to settle in deeper with every step. Before her, the school was run by the Filippini Sisters, whose ministry is devoted to education.

“I know I have big shoes to fill,” Shannon said. “I think that I bring a strong Catholic identity with me here to St. Bernadette’s. And I think Sister Joan has left me a great foundation to build upon.”

Within hours of the start of the school year, Jeanne sent out a survey to faculty, families, and students, asking their opinions about the school.

“I wanted to give people the opportunity to let me know how they felt about the school,” Shannon said. “And I wanted to learn for myself, like what I could do to continue to help this community grow and thrive.”

Jeanne is committed to celebrating learning diversity, even offering special education coaches to her teachers over the summer.

“That’s one thing I hope to bring to St. Bernadette—the opportunity to learn and teach in different ways, and to recognize that we all have different talents,” Shannon said. “Those talents make us special, unique, and important members of the community.”

After nearly 40 years as a teacher and principal at St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy, Jeanne says this change was meant to be.

“I used to read the story of St. Bernadette to my students. But also, my mom grew up in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and it was Our Lady of Lourdes who appeared to St. Bernadette,” Shannon said. “So I really believe my mom was nudging God, saying, ‘Send her there, send her there.'”

Now that Jeanne is at St. Bernadette, she’s hoping to stay rooted in what brought her here.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 9/30/2024

Pope Francis returns to the Vatican after a four-day visit to Luxembourg and Belgium, where he touched on critical issues like the Synod and the role of women in the Church. Watch highlights from his meetings with refugees, visits to historic sites, and a Mass attended by nearly 40,000 faithful.

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated Mass at St. Finbar Church in Bath Beach, uniting with young people for Hispanic Heritage Month. Meanwhile, St. Athanasius Catholic Academy students got into the festive spirit with a colorful dance celebration!

Join us as we begin a new series introducing the fresh faces leading Catholic academies in Brooklyn and Queens. In this episode, Jeanne Shannon, the new principal of St. Bernadette’s in Dyker Heights, shares her plans to learn from the school community.

Witness the love as 74 couples renew their vows at the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas. From newlyweds to couples married for decades, each received a special blessing from Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio in this heartwarming ceremony.

Brooklyn Couple Together for 71 Years Prepares for Diocesan Anniversary Blessing

By Katie Vasquez

Josephine and Cristobal Rodriguez pray the rosary every morning, then watch the Spanish mass on NET-TV.

The Brooklyn couple, who also celebrate mass every Sunday at Holy Family-St Thomas Aquinas parish in Park Slope, believes their faith is part of the reason they have stayed married for 71 years.

“God is so good to us that I get up in the morning and say thank god for another day,” said Josephine Rodriguez. “I have a lot of faith. And that’s the first thing I do in the morning is thank god for this day.”

“She can’t listen to mass without me; if I’m drinking coffee, I have to leave the coffee and come and listen to the mass,” said Cristobal Rodriguez.

They met in Moca, Puerto Rico, when she was 13, and he was 16, but the sparks didn’t fly until they moved to New York in 1951 and reconnected in Brooklyn.

“We met again. and then we started dating, and then we married,” said Josephine.

They married on July 3, 1953, at Queen of All Saints Church in Fort Greene. While the day looked picture-perfect, it did have some hiccups.

“We borrowed a camera from my friend,” said Josephine. “My friend, a flower girl, grabbed and dropped the camera.”

However, they will be able to celebrate their marriage again at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s wedding anniversary mass on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Josephine says seeing the other couples together and being blessed by Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan will be inspiring.

“That makes me feel like it’s something that going into our heart because we see all these people held together or marry for a long time, for a short time, but still felt good to be there and special,” said Josephine.

So what do the Rodriguezs’ say is the secret to a happy marriage?

“Well, I believe that love, respect, and communication are the most important things in a marriage,” said Josephine. “When you have that, you can survive.”

“And never go to bed and go to sleep, never go mad,” said Cristobal. “Never.”

Plus, they thank god every day for each other.

St. Christopher’s Inn Offers Recovery Through Prayer

By Katie Vasquez

They have their chores and time to play, but the main purpose of their stay at St Christopher’s Inn in Garrison, N.Y. is to get sober.

The recovery program run by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement is equipped to treat 118 clients, or “Brother Christophers,” as they are known here.

Like Victor, who has battled addiction for 40 years but is going through rehab for the first time.

“Drinking every day, and then I indulge in other drugs, but it was mainly alcohol,” says Victor, a client of brother Christopher. “I just got to a point where I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

The most recent data from the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support says that in 2022, 2.8 million New Yorkers had a substance use disorder.

Seventy-two percent of those who sought treatment were men.

The friar’s facility incorporates spirituality into the recovery program through prayer, meditation, and mass.

“You think you can control your life, look at the mess you’ve made. Okay, so that’s the understanding. So look for a power greater than yourself outside yourself,” said St Christopher Inn’s spiritual director and president, Father Dennis Polanco.

That’s why their staff claims it’s one of the more successful programs in the state.

“There is a sense of dignity and care for one another, a lot of love, a lot of encouragement,” said Lila Stromberg, an alcohol and substance abuse counselor at St Christopher’s Inn.

John says he lost his faith and control over his life due to addiction.

“I was, I’m just going to stick it out for 90 days. it’s what’s the worst thing that could happen?”

“That’s the biggest thing that this place gave me, like a meaningful connection to a higher power,“ said John.

It’s a connection he wants to keep once he leaves.

“It’s changed my perspective on life and how I experience it on such a deep level,“ said John.

But even after treatment, relapse is common. The CDC estimates that 40 to 60 percent of addicts experience it.

Thomas says he didn’t expect to return to St Christopher’s after completing treatment in 2008.

“God kind of goes by the wayside, and you may be praying to God, but the prayers are different,“ said Thomas.

The second time around, the Catholics found God again.

“I spent a lot of time here in the chapel. I never missed a mass, ended up becoming a reader at mass,“ said Thomas.

For anyone out there struggling, Father Dennis Polanco says the first step is asking for help.

“I think one of the things is to reach out to other people, you know, and don’t be ashamed about it,” said Father Polanco. “I think one of the things that holds families back is it becomes a big secret.“

If you would like to learn more, you can visit the facility’s website, https://stchristophersinn-graymoor.org/

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 9/27/2024

As Addiction Recovery Month ends, St. Christopher’s Inn offers healing through faith and therapy for men battling substance abuse.

Pope Francis deviated from his speech in Belgium to address the Church’s fight against sexual abuse before the nation’s leaders.

Explore The Tablet newspaper, where we uncover stories you won’t find anywhere else. In the latest edition, learn about the inspiring U.S. movement to replace a church bell destroyed in the Nagasaki bombing, with a Catholic institute in Massachusetts leading the charge.

Meet Cristobal and Josephine Rodriguez, a couple joyfully celebrating 71 years of marriage! Their unwavering devotion to faith shines as they attend daily Mass from home, showcasing their incredible journey of love and commitment. This weekend, they will have the opportunity to celebrate their marriage once again at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Wedding Anniversary Mass.