In Queens, Flushing First Friday Club Turns Restaurant Into Place of Worship

By Christine Persichette

For some Catholics, faith extends well beyond the walls of a church. Every first Friday of the month, members of the Flushing First Friday Club gather at Verdi’s restaurant in Whitestone to celebrate Mass and honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The tradition, which has endured for more than six decades, transforms the banquet hall into a sacred space where tables become pews and the faithful come together in prayer and community.

Barbara Eivers, 90, the club’s program chair, said she loves attending Mass outside of a traditional church setting. “I love attending mass outside away from church to show people that faith is everywhere — everywhere we are,” she said.

The devotion calls Catholics to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive first Fridays. Eivers recalled the promise attached to the practice.

“We’ve been promised a happy death if you make the Fridays,” she said.John Golden, board chair, has been part of the club for decades after being recruited by one of its original members.

“It’s important to keep the Catholic faith going in reference especially to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he said.

Carol White, club president and a retired nurse, said the gatherings offer more than just a meal and Mass. “The camaraderie, the spiritual uplift. We always have wonderful guest speakers,” she said.

The club sends notices to about 18 Queens churches to invite parishioners, but all are welcome.

The cost is $48, which covers a five-course meal.For decades, the Flushing First Friday Club has kept a simple but powerful mission alive — bringing faith, friendship and devotion to the Sacred Heart into the heart of everyday life.

Renewed Push for Father Capodanno Sainthood Enters Crucial Phase

By Currents News and Paula Katinas

As supporters of Father Vincent Capodanno’s canonization cause marked the 60th anniversary of the late Navy chaplain’s arrival in Vietnam, there was renewed hope that the effort was gaining momentum.

The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints is expected to decide whether to recommend to Pope Leo XIV that he declare Father Capodanno venerable in May. In the meantime, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, approved the creation of a novena for Father Capodanno’s cause.

While the novena took place from March 30 to April 7, to coincide with Holy Week, Father Daniel Mode, who wrote the novena, encourages the faithful to continue to pray it.

“It was an honor to do that,” said Father Mode, a Navy chaplain who is part of the historical committee for the canonization cause. “You can pray [the novena] anytime between now and May, or even after May.”

Father Mode wrote the Novena with the Father Vincent Capodanno Guild, a 4,000-member organization helping to promote the cause.

Father Capodanno, a Staten Island native who served as a chaplain during the Vietnam War and was killed in 1967, was declared a Servant of God in 2006, marking the first step toward sainthood. If he is declared venerable, it would mark the second step.

Father Capodanno arrived in Vietnam during Holy Week in April 1966 and earned the nickname of “The Grunt Padre” for his insistence on living, eating, and sleeping in the same conditions as the Marines (known as grunts) he was serving with.

He was killed by enemy fire while trying to shield a wounded corpsman with his body during an attack by the North Vietnamese in the Que Son Valley in central Vietnam on Sept. 4, 1967.

The cause for canonization was originally opened in 2006 by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, with Father Mode as the original apostolater. At that time, he began the process of putting together the positio — the primary document to be presented to the Vatican outlining why the person is deserving of sainthood.

Among the documents used for the positio was Father Mode’s book “The Grunt Padre: Father Vincent Capodanno, Vietnam 1966-1967,” published in 2000.

“As you can imagine, it is a huge document that includes everything; testimonials, baptismal certificates, timelines,” Father Mode said of the positio.

However, the dicastery suspended the canonization process in May 2022 and requested additional information about Father Capodanno, he noted.

Specifically, the dicastery wanted to know more about his life as a priest, “because there were questions about his obedience,” Father Mode said. In addition, the dicastery wanted to know about his relationship with his superiors and whether his final sacrifice (using his body to shield an injured Marine from gunfire) was really a free spiritual offer from the heart or simply a patriotic gesture.

To answer the questions, Archbishop Broglio established a second historical commission (the first one was originally formed at the start of the canonization process), which got to work. Their answers were submitted in May 2024.

As he awaits the dicastery’s decision, Father Mode said he is optimistic.

“I am always hopeful,” he added.

Mar Preece, the vice apostolater for Father Capodanno’s cause, said she is hopeful, as well. “He walked among us and radiated Christ to so many,” she said. “It is us who would benefit from naming him as a saint. But ultimately, God decides.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 4/24/26

Pope Leo XIV spoke about peace in Iran, dignity for migrants, and same-sex blessings while answering reporters’ questions aboard the papal plane.

Xaverian High School will break ground on a new Exploration and Innovation Center designed to expand learning space and modernize student opportunities.

The sainthood cause of Father Vincent Capodanno is seeing a renewed push as the Vatican prepares to review the next step in his canonization process.

The Flushing First Friday Club has spent decades turning a Queens restaurant into a place of worship for monthly Mass, prayer, and fellowship.

140 Years Ago: Father Augustus Tolton, First African American Priest, Ordained in Rome

By Currents News

The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is technically the cathedral of Rome where the pope’s chair as the Bishop of Rome, is located.

Aside from its connection to the Holy Father, the Italian archbasilica also has a unique connection to Catholicism in the United States: the first African-American priest was ordained at St. John Lateran on April 24, 1886, 140 years ago.

His name was Father Augustus Tolton.

Father Tolton was born into slavery in Missouri in 1854, but his mother Martha Jane escaped slavery, taking him and his brother to the State of Illinois when they were still very young.

Growing up in Illinois, he discerned a calling to the priesthood through the mentorship of a local Irish priest. But no seminary in the United States would accept him because of his skin color.

He was eventually accepted to study for the priesthood in Rome, and went to the Pontifical Urban University in 1880.

Six years later, he was ordained a priest at St. John Lateran by Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni. He then celebrated his first Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Father Tolton had expected to be sent as a missionary to Africa, but was instead sent back to his home diocese in Illinois to serve the African-American community.

Cardinal Simeoni explained to him the reason for this:

“America has been called the most enlightened nation; we will see now whether it deserves that honor.”

As a priest, Father Tolton went on to faithfully serve his local community for 11 years before dying of a heat stroke in July of 1897.

In June 2019, Pope Francis declared Father Tolton venerable, moving forward his cause for canonization.

Father Tolton went from slave to priest, but many are praying that he will soon go from slave to priest to saint.

Aboard the Papal Plane From Africa: Pope Condemns Killings in Iran, Speaks on Migration, Same-Sex Blessings

By Currents News and Josephine Peterson

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MALABO TO ROME (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly called for peace and dialogue in the Middle East, went a step further on April 23, condemning the unjust taking of life by governments as violence continues in Iran.

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal flight back to Rome after an 11-day trip to Africa, the pope said, “As a shepherd I cannot be in favor of war,” while addressing the escalating conflict involving Iran.

Since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes in Iran, more than 3,000 people have been killed, including an estimated 1,700 civilians, according to human rights groups and Iranian media. A fragile ceasefire remains in place, even as tensions continue to rattle global markets and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Until now, Pope Leo had limited his public remarks on the conflict to appeals for peace and dialogue. On the return flight, however, he directly addressed the moral implications of state violence.

“If there is regime change or no regime change, the question is how to promote the values in which we believe without the death of so many innocents,” he said, responding in Italian. “The question of Iran is evidently very complex.”

Responding to a similar question in English, asking whether he directly condemned the reported state violence aimed at Iran’s citizens, he said, “I condemn all actions that are unjust. I condemn the taking of people’s lives. I condemn capital punishment. I believe that human life is to be respected and that all people, from conception to natural birth — their lives should be respected and protected.”

“So, when a regime, when a country takes decisions which takes away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned,” he said.

Continuing his broader call for peace rooted in dialogue, he said in Italian, “I would like to encourage everyone to make efforts to look for answers that come from a culture of peace and not from a place of hate and division.”

The comments came after a week of criticism from President Donald Trump, who said the pope was “terrible for foreign policy” and questioned his stance on the conflict. Pope Leo declined to engage directly.

“I have no intention of getting into a debate,” he said on April 18, adding that he would continue to advocate for peace.

Throughout the in-flight press conference on April 23, the pope also reflected on themes that emerged during his Africa trip, including governance, and he answered questions on migration and the blessing of same-sex couples.

The pope reaffirmed the position spelled out in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s publication of “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”), which allows Catholic priests to bless a same-sex or other unmarried couple. However, it cannot be a formal liturgical blessing, nor give the impression that the church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage.

The pope was asked how he intended to preserve the unity of the global church on the matter, given a recent decision by Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising to allow priests to bless same-sex couples in his archdiocese, and the clear opposition to such practices by a number of church leaders, particularly in Africa.

“First of all, I think it’s very important that the unity or division of the church should not revolve around sexual matters,” he said.

“We tend to think that when the church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual, and in reality, I believe there are greater and more important issues, such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion, that would all take priority before that particular issue,” he said.

Pope Leo underlined that the Vatican does not agree with more “formalized” blessings of homosexual couples or couples in “irregular situations,” as is spelled out in the Vatican document.

He recalled the meaning behind Pope Francis’ expression of “todos, todos, todos,” meaning “everyone,” as being “an expression of the church’s belief that all are welcome, all are invited, all are invited to follow Jesus, and all are invited to look for conversion in their lives.”

“To go beyond that today, I think that the topic can cause more disunity than unity, and that we should look for ways to build our unity upon Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches,” he said.

In another question, the pope defended the Vatican’s practice of maintaining diplomatic relations with political leaders, including those criticized by human rights groups, saying such engagement can create opportunities to advocate privately for justice and humanitarian concerns.

“We are actually trying to find a way to apply the Gospel to concrete situations so that the lives of people can be improved,” he said.

On migration, he questioned the role of wealthier nations in driving global inequality.

“What does the global North do to support the global South, and those countries where young people today find no future?” he said, pointing to economic disparities that fuel migration.

While acknowledging the right of nations to control their borders, he stressed that migrants must be treated with dignity.

“We need to treat human beings in a humanitarian way and not treat them worse than house pets,” he said.

Winners of The Tablet’s Easter Art Contest Celebrated in Brooklyn

By Currents News

Students from across Brooklyn and Queens were honored for their creativity at The Tablet’s annual Easter Art Contest. With more than 250 submissions from 20 Catholic schools, the winning artwork brought the story of Christ’s Resurrection to life.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 4/23/26

A small glass structure in Lower Manhattan is being transformed into something much bigger — a first-of-its-kind support hub for New York City delivery workers.

Pope Leo XIV marked the last day of his apostolic journey to Africa with Mass in Equatorial Guinea.

A new restoration project in Prospect Park has some nature lovers worried about what will happen to the hundreds of birds that call the Brooklyn green space home.

Students from Catholic schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens were celebrated for their award-winning artwork during The Tablet’s 2026 “Christ Is Risen” Easter Art Contest Awards Ceremony.

Hub Opens to Support App-Delivery Workers: ‘Our Fight is for Dignity’

By Jessica Easthope and Alexandra Moyen

Guided by a belief rooted in Catholic values of human dignity and care for workers, District 18 City Council Member Amanda Farías views the city’s latest investment for delivery workers as a moral responsibility.

“How are we showing up for those people, and how are they able to work in environments with dignity, safety, and protection?” Farías asked. “That always comes back to the truth that I was raised by as a Catholic and how we’re going to safeguard people.”

On April 7, delivery workers and city leaders gathered near City Hall Park to open what they said is the nation’s first Deliverista Hub — a place that allows delivery workers 24-hour access to charge their e-bikes and phones, repair their bikes, and take shelter from any inclement weather.

The idea for the hub came from delivery worker Gustavo Ajche, who, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when drivers were working in hazardous conditions, saw potential in an abandoned newsstand outside City Hall.

“We’re so proud that finally we have a place where we can keep organizing delivery workers in New York City,” said Ajche, a delivery worker and co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos, an organization that advocates for app-based delivery workers.

Located at 249 Broadway, the hub was developed and built through the organizing of delivery workers alongside the Workers’ Justice Project, which will staff it.

Founded in 2010, the Worker’s Justice Project advocates for better working conditions and social justice in the workplace for New Yorkers. Although a secular organization, its fight for delivery workers aligns with the Church’s teachings on social justice. It organized Los Deliveristas Unidos with Ajche in 2020 to demand better labor conditions.

“It’s a huge community,” Ajche said. “When we talk about safety, this is going to be one of the main tools for us as Los Deliveristas Unidos to show the city how we are organizing and how we support our city.”

In October 2022, plans for the hub moved forward when then-Mayor Eric Adams and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer pledged to turn several unused, city-owned newsstands into rest stops for the city’s estimated 80,000 delivery workers. To fund the effort, Schumer secured $1 million in federal funding, but the project was delayed for more than 3 years due to bureaucratic obstacles and community resistance. However, Schumer noted that the situation positively shifted when Mamdani became mayor.

Farías applauded the project, knowing how much the city depends on delivery workers.

“This is critical infrastructure to have this hub,” Farías said. “It just shows how much we’re giving that direct investment and that thanks back to this group of people.”

Delivery work is turning into one of the city’s most dangerous jobs, with one in five workers injured on the job, and a fatality rate five times higher than construction, and the city is looking to create more hubs across the five boroughs to protect them.

“Our fight is for dignity, and this hub is one of the examples,” Ajche said. “If you [fight] for something and you persist, everything can be possible.”

Xaverian High School Announces $26M Expansion Including New Chapel, Labs and Classrooms

By Jessica Easthope

For students and faculty at Xaverian High School, the biggest challenge has there’s not enough of it — until now.

This spring the school will break ground on its Exploration and Innovation Center — a $26 million new wing that will transform how students learn and grow at the Bay Ridge high school.

“Amazing teachers that are always looking to dream big, now this is an opportunity for them to really dream and to be able to have the space to support their dreams in building a curriculum,” said President Bob Alesi, a Xaverian Clipper from the class of 1978.

The center will feature a state-of-the-art science lab, a fabrication lab for hands-on creation, and a rooftop terrace. The existing St. Michael’s Chapel will also be moved into the new wing, keeping faith at the heart of the expansion.

“It’s so important for us to make sure that we have spaces for kids to be kids,” Alesi said. “They want to be with one another, and this will provide an opportunity for them to do it in a really dramatic and beautiful way.”

Right now the school has 1,700 students walking the halls. Alesi says the new wing will be used by all of them from sixth grade up to 12th grade.

“The purpose of the new wing is really not to increase our enrollment,” Alesi said. “But to be able to make use of the space in a much more efficient and appropriate way for teaching and learning.”

The Exploration and Innovation Center will support all of their strengths and interests.

“Our hope is that it will cover all disciplines and all curriculum, and allow for every student at some point during their time here at Xaverian to be able to benefit from this new space,” said Alesi.

Alesi says the project, which is being funded through a capital campaign, also allows alumni the chance to give back to the place that shaped them.

“This allows us to continue to grow our academic programs, our spiritual programs, our extracurricular programs, and really chart the path for the next generation of Clippers,” Alesi said.

The Exploration and Innovation Center will be fully operational for the 2027-2028 school year.

Birdwatchers Raise Concerns Over Prospect Park Construction

By Katie Vasquez

At least once a week, Lisa Curtiss heads to Prospect Park, hoping to spot one of the many bird species that pass through.

“I’ve seen, I don’t know, 170 species of birds within about a 10-mile radius of my apartment,” said Curtiss, a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club.

One area of the park, known as the Vale of Cashmere, has become a hotspot for bird activity due to its layered habitat.

“Some birds are then going to be in the mid canopy looking for other things, and some birds are going to be way high up. And those are not interchangeable,” Curtiss said. “The bird that eats a worm cannot eat something that’s up. So that real layered habitat is super important.”

But recent construction has concerned some birdwatchers like Curtiss, who worry about losing these birds permanently.

“Over the last 50 or 60 years, we’ve lost over 25% of migrating birds, and I find that sort of shocking and really upsetting,” she said.

Fellow enthusiast Mary Beth Artz shares those concerns, especially as thousands of birds use the park as a pit stop during the spring migration.

“If they don’t have a place to stop and fuel and rest before they travel on, it’s going to be a big issue for these animals,” Artz said.

The Prospect Park Alliance says the $37.5 million project is the largest capital allocation to the Brooklyn park. It will transform the historic Children’s Pool and former Rose Garden.

Artz said she understands the need for renovation but hopes it will consider all living creatures.

“To bring it back to life is incredible for everyone,” she said. “But we also have to include not only the humans, but we have to think of the other creatures, species.”

Artz added that her faith guides her advocacy.

“God placed these animals for us on this planet. We need to take care of them. We need to be stewards so that we can continue to have these creations until the end of time,” she said.

The restoration project is expected to be completed in 2027.