By Jessica Easthope
A vandal hit St. Rita Church in Long Island City, spray painting a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, completely covering the face, and writing the word “pagan” on the sidewalk.
The incident marks the third time in two years that the Queens has been a target of vandalism.
By Katie Vasquez
McClancy Memorial High School in Elmhurst, Queens has expanded its flag football offerings: a new all-girls team has been taking to the field.
By Katie Vasquez
JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens — Students at St. Joan of Arc School received a special lesson from their pastor, Father Christopher Heanue, about a figure he deeply admires: Father Felix Varela.
Varela, a Cuban priest, helped Irish immigrants in Manhattan during the 19th century, a time when many lived in extreme poverty and faced widespread disease, including cholera.
“It means a lot to me as an Irish son of Irish immigrants, the way in which Father Varela worked to care for the immigrant,” Heanue said. “The way in which he dedicated his life for the recently arrived Irish immigrant, fighting for their rights.”
Varela’s ability to connect with his congregation was strengthened by his language skills. He mastered English as well as Irish Gaelic, allowing him to better communicate with those he served.
“I’ve heard Gaelic and it is not an easy language,” Heanue said. “So, for him to be able to learn some of those words just to be able to better assist is pretty impressive.”
Despite his legacy, there has been little movement in Varela’s cause for canonization, which requires verified miracles attributed to his intercession.
“If people don’t know who he is, then they’re not praying to him or through his intercession,” Heanue said.
That is why Heanue is working to educate his parish and students about the late philosopher and writer.
“I felt like it was really good. I liked the lesson. I liked learning about him,” said Aubrey Sweat, a seventh grader. “I think he was a really good person.”
Students said Varela’s work remains relevant today as immigration continues to shape New York City.
“It relates a lot to today because there’s a lot of immigrants coming to New York, and a lot of bad things are happening, and there could be people who could stand up for them,” said seventh grader Logan Cordero.
“He helped the Irish, even though he was Spanish,” said Adriana Gonzalez. “But nowadays it’s kind of the opposite, and I think that there should be more people like him.”
Heanue said he hopes students will continue learning about Venerable Father Varela and, more importantly, ask for his intercession.
By Jessica Easthope
Greg Montgomery’s life has all the makings of a Hollywood epic. War, a whirlwind romance, the challenges of new fatherhood, second chances—it plays out like a movie, fit for the pews of what used to be the Loews Woodside movie theater, now St. Sebastian Church.
“When we adopted our son, it became more—I want that faith in our family,” Montgomery said.
Greg has been attending Catholic Mass for more than 20 years since he met his wife Jen Faith Brown-Montgomery, a singer, actor and performer and the cantor at St. Sebastian. The two had a cinematic meet-cute.
“My car broke down and Greg stopped to fix it,” Brown-Montgomery said. “I really just fell in love with him instantly.”
At the time Greg was recovering—he had broken his back in combat.
“I did six in the Navy, six in the Army, six in the Air Force,” he said. “Wind up breaking my back in my 18th year.”
“A lot of those children had birth defects, that were in his particular unit because of the exposure to the chemicals in the Gulf War,” Brown-Montgomery said. “So we knew we wanted to adopt.”
They adopted and when Damian came—so did Greg’s “come to faith moment.”
“The mother chose us,” Montgomery said. “She had OD’d on Percocet with heroin and Damian was born three months early, he died twice in the NICU. But kept coming back. Kept fighting. And he’s walking and talking.”
Damian was baptized Catholic. After experiencing all the blessings and fielding all the challenges of having a child with cerebral palsy—Greg wanted their faith to match.
“It’s hard to see, like he’s excluded from some birthday parties or kids don’t want to play with him,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think you could do it without faith.”
At the Easter Vigil Greg will receive his sacraments and officially become Catholic.
“He has been one of our best models for the other people in our class,” said Karin Sweeney, OCIA coordinator at St. Sebastian Church. ”
And he has done so much for our parish. We need people like Greg.”
Greg’s life has been an adventure—but soon a new one begins and he can’t wait for the sequel.
Bishop Robert Brennan joined an iftar dinner at JFK Airport Chapels, sharing a message of respect and unity during Ramadan.
Currents News
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan will lead a series of Holy Week and Easter liturgies at St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn, with all major services broadcast live on NET-TV.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, March 31 — Chrism Mass at 4 p.m., during which Bishop Brennan will deliver his annual message to the priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Holy Thursday — Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday — Way of the Cross at 10 a.m., followed by the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m.
Holy Saturday — Easter Vigil at 8 p.m.
Easter Sunday — Six Masses will be celebrated throughout the day:
9 a.m. — Creole
11 a.m. — English (ceebrated by Bishop Brennan)
1:30 p.m. — Spanish
4 p.m. — Italian
5 p.m. — Polish
6 p.m. — English
Viewers can watch the Easter Vigil and other Holy Week services live on NET-TV.
By Currents News and Bill Miller
JFK AIRPORT — Imam Essam Mahmoud wept suddenly while telling a story from the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Quran.
Imam Mahmoud, the Islamic chaplain at John F. Kennedy International Airport, described how Mary was pregnant, afraid, and confused. In desperation, she fled from her family to a secluded place.
But Mary, while camped at the trunk of a palm tree, gave birth to a son. She was soon visited by the angel, Gabriel, who explained that God had sent her the gift of a “pure son.” Despite her fears, she expressed obedience to God and resolved to love and care for the child.
Her example sparked an emotional response from the imam.
“She is fully human,” he said, dabbing tears from his eyes. “Yes, she’s experiencing human stress and emotions, and yet she makes a decision to trust God. We can say Mary is like a Bible walking in the street. Or, we can say a Quran walking.
“Because now we see that God is walking in front of us. And it is not something we hear; it is something we know.”
RELATED: Mary, Mother of Jesus and All Believers, Is Not Co-Redeemer, Vatican Says
Imam Mahmoud spoke with The Tablet on March 14 at the JFK office he shares with Father Cezariusz Jastrzębski, the airport’s Catholic chaplain.
The imam explained that reverence toward Mary — called “Maryam” in Islam — is shared by both religions, which might surprise some Christians.
The Quran mentions her more than 30 times by name, more than any other woman, Imam Mahmoud said. He reiterated Islam’s regard for Mary on March 16 at JFK during an “iftar” — the evening meal to break the daily fast during Ramadan.
Bishop Robert Brennan, the special guest, was accompanied by Father Jastrzębski, Deacon Vincent Lino, also a Catholic chaplain at the airport, and Father Michael Lynch, vicar for ecumenical and interreligious affairs for the diocese.
“Moments like this remind us that our communities share more connections than divisions,” Imam Mahmoud said. “When we come together — whether to pray, dialog, or simply share a small meal — we strengthen the bonds of peace and mutual understanding.”
He added that a “beautiful example” of this relationship is “our shared respect” for Mary.
“We cannot say Mary or Maryam without saying ‘peace be upon her,’ ” Imam Mahmoud said. “She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran.”
Father Lynch is also the pastor of St. Athanasius-St. Dominic Parish in Bensonhurst. He told The Tablet on March 17 that interfaith dialogue is a tenet of “Nostra Aetate (In Our Time)” — a landmark 1965 declaration from the Second Vatican Council.
Promulgated by Pope Paul VI, the document emphasized unity, interfaith dialogue, and respect for non-Christian religions, including Islam.
“The document,” Father Lynch added, “lists several areas of agreement between Muslims and Christians.”
Included, he explained, are the doctrine of God, the one revealer and merciful; the eschatology of judgment and resurrection of the body; and the practices of prayer, fasting, and alms giving.
“But then it says that Jesus’ mother is honored by Muslims as a virgin, and at times Muslims even call on her with devotion,” Father Lynch said.
RELATED: Pilgrims Glad to See Long-Awaited Renovations at Grotto of Nativity
He said Christians believe Jesus is the son of God, while Muslims say he is among the greatest prophets. Still, the shared belief that Mary is the Virgin Mother of Jesus is an opportunity for fellowship and dialogue.
And when people are talking and sharing ideas in good faith, they aren’t brawling.
“We Christians call her the ‘Queen of Peace,’ ” Father Lynch said. “I think that’s important for us to think about that as a bridge, as we think about ways to dialogue.”
RELATED: Sky’s the Limit: Bishop Brennan ‘Moved’ During ‘Historic’ Visit to JFK Chapel
The iftar drew nearly 200 airport employees to the buffet set up in a conference room near JFK’s four chapels in Terminal 4.
Bishop Brennan thanked Imam Mahmoud and the airport’s Muslim community for their invitation and “constant friendship.”
He said Catholics can trace the interreligious dialogue between Christians and Muslims back to St. Francis of Assisi, who died 800 years ago in 1226.
But, seven years earlier, at the siege of Damietta during the 5th Crusade, St. Francis crossed enemy lines to meet the Sultan of Egypt, Malik al-Kamil, to preach the Gospel.
RELATED: LaGuardia Finally Opens Interfaith Chapel for Travelers
He simultaneously demonstrated appreciation for the Sultan and his faith. They did not convert each other, but they did establish mutual respect, and St. Francis was given safe passage back to the Christian battle lines.
“St. Francis’ great prayer is so well known by people all around the world, not only by Christians,” Bishop Brennan said. “It is the prayer for peace — ‘Make me an instrument of your peace.’
“So, when I look at our friendship, this is the icon of friendship, that we are people who are rooted in our faith, connected deeply to the Lord God, and striving for peace, but doing so as friends.”
Currents News
A statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Gertrude Church was vandalized for the second time in 2026, suffering what parish leaders describe as irreparable damage.
The New York Police Department reports the incident occurred sometime between Saturday night, March 14, and Sunday morning, March 15.
The suspect smashed the statue’s head and toppled it over.
Father Francis Shannon, pastor of St. Gertrude Church, expressed deep concern over the repeated attacks on the more than 100-year-old image.
In an interview with Currents News, he said the destruction felt particularly painful given the statue’s age and significance to the community.
He added that while the parish is grieving, they are moving forward with practical steps to prevent future incidents.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.In response, St. Gertrude’s plans to install new security cameras next week and is obtaining estimates to replace the damaged statue.
By Currents News
The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten Pilgrimage reached its 27th stop March 20 with services at two parishes, one dedicated especially to young adults.
In Williamsburg, pilgrims gathered at the San Damiano Mission for a day of prayer focused on young people.
The schedule began with Mass celebrated by the pastor, Father Cristiano Pinheiro, and ended with Mass led by Bishop Robert Brennan, followed by Holy Hour and Benediction.
At the same time, other pilgrims visited St. Vincent Ferrer in East Flatbush.
The parish hosted a full lineup of Lenten services, including morning Mass.
The dual Brooklyn stops allowed the faithful to deepen their Lenten journey through prayer, Eucharist and reflection across different communities in the diocese.
By Currents News
Security has been reinforced at St. Peter’s Basilica following a recent act of desecration beneath Bernini’s Baldachin that drew widespread attention online.
The incident raised concerns among pilgrims and visitors about safety and protection at one of the Catholic Church’s most sacred sites. In response, Vatican officials have installed a new movable barrier around the Altar of the Confession to prevent further intrusions, while maintaining the basilica’s artistic and architectural integrity.