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Job Market Survey Reveals Vacancies Are Outnumbering Workers

Currents News Staff

The job market doesn’t appear to be cooling off as we continue through the summer. The Labor Department reports employers had about 11.4 million job openings in April.

That’s about half-a-million less than it was in March, when it hit an all-time high.

However, when the numbers are broken down, it shows there were close to two vacancies for every person that applies for work in April. The findings were published in the Labor Department’s ‘Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.’

Also among the findings, the services sector had the largest employment gaps, with the leisure and hospitality industry experiencing an 8.9 percent vacancy rate.

The overall U.S. economy is still more than a million jobs below its peak level.

Why Did Elon Musk Visit Pope Francis?

Currents News Staff

The billionaire tech mogul, Elon Musk, expressed his joy on Twitter after meeting with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta. Musk and four of his seven children met the Holy Father in a private audience.

The two have much in common—above all, an interest in ecology. Musk is not the only tech entrepreneur that has visited Pope Francis in recent years. In January 2016, the Pope met with Tim Cook of Apple and in August the same year, with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

At the outbreak of the pandemic, in 2020, Pope Francis contacted Microsoft and IBM with the hope of discussing the dangers of developing artificial intelligence without solid ethical foundations.

Pope Francis Hopes to Visit Africa As Soon as His Health Recovers

Currents News Staff

From July 2 to 7, Pope Francis was scheduled to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. However, problems with his knee prevented him. To show his solidarity despite the change of plans, Pope Francis sent a message to the people of the two countries.

“The Lord knows how much I regret having to postpone this much-desired and long-awaited visit,” the pontiff said.
“But let us not lose faith and let us cherish the hope of meeting soon.”

In the video, Pope Francis expressed the message he would have given in person during the trip.

“You have a great mission, all of you, starting with policy makers—that of turning the page to open new roads, roads of reconciliation, roads of forgiveness, roads of peaceful coexistence and development,” the Holy Father said.

At the end of the message, Pope Francis shared words of encouragement with the people of the two countries. He said that the tears they have shed in their suffering are not useless and that they will find God’s consolation.

Baby Boy Becomes an Orphan After July Fourth Parade Shooting Suspect Killed His Parents

Currents News Staff

In Highland Park, Illinois, a community is grieving after enduring the unthinkable. Two-year-old Aiden McCarthy is now an orphan following the July 4th parade shooting that killed seven people – including his parents Irina and Kevin.

“I don’t know how they’re going to tell him,” said Adrienne Rosenblatt, a neighbor of the victims.

Senator Tammy Duckworth says Good Samaritans found baby Aiden underneath his father who died at the scene.

“I pulled up,” said Greg Ring, a Highland Park Parade-goer, “and I said ‘This is not our kid. It’s not his blood. He’s ok. What should we do?’ And the cop said, ‘We can’t be babysitters now. Can you take care of him?’ We said, ‘of course.’”

The suspect “Robert Crimo III” made his first court appearance Wednesday and now faces seven counts of first-degree murder.

The victims ranged in age from their 30s to their 80s. Dozens more were injured in the attack.

“There are many other charges that we are reviewing with respect to the other individuals who have sadly been injured by this,” said Eric Rinehart, Lake County State’s Attorney. “Frankly, who were present on the scene, they were shot at. That may also constitute an attempt murder charge.”

Local authorities say the suspect – who is now being held without bond –opened fire from a rooftop as the parade got underway.

More than 70 high-velocity rounds were fired with a rifle – similar to an AR-15 – according to a spokesperson with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

Authorities also say the suspect contemplated carrying out another attack in Madison, Wisconsin – with another weapon in his car but ultimately did not go through with that attack.

Texas Community Prays Rosary For 53 Migrants Who Died In Truck

By Currents News Staff and Catholic News Service

SAN ANTONIO (CNS) — A rosary was held Monday morning for the 53 migrants who died last week after being found in the back of a tractor-trailer in San Antonio.

The archbishop of San Antonio offered prayers for dozens of people found dead as well as more than a dozen survivors discovered June 27.

“We pray for the souls of the … people who died in such a cruel, inhuman manner this evening,” Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller said in a statement soon after first responders made the gruesome discovery about 6 p.m. local time.

Authorities said the victims were migrants. They said the truck, found on a remote back road in San Antonio, appeared to be part of a smuggling operation.

Rubén Minutti, Mexico consul general in San Antonio, said 27 of the people who died are believed to be of Mexican origin based on documents they were carrying, the Associated Press reported.

Roberto Velasco Álvarez, head of the Mexican government’s North American mission, said on Twitter June 28 that in addition to the Mexican nationals, seven victims were originally from Guatemala and two were Honduran.

Officials believe the tragedy is the deadliest smuggling incident of its kind in U.S. history.

Archbishop García-Siller also asked for prayers for the survivors who were hospitalized, their families and “the first responders who assisted and saved lives and must now carry with them the memories of this scene of carnage.”

In addition, he called on people of the archdiocese “to unite in solidarity, as these brothers and sisters are members of our family.”

San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said those found alive were conscious, “hot to the touch,” and suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion.

“There were no signs of water in the vehicle, and no visible working AC unit on that rig,” he said.

Temperatures in the San Antonio area ranged from the high 90s to low 100s, according to the National Weather Service. With a few days left in the month, meteorologists said this June was already the warmest June on record in San Antonio.

St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Online Academy Celebrates Graduation

Some future leaders in the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated a milestone, 8th grade graduation!

The St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Online Academy had its very first graduation Friday with a guest speaker from Rome: Brother Guy Consolmagno.

During the online ceremony, each of the 12 graduates offered a cherished memory from their 8th grade year, a wish for their fellow classmates and a brief look at their high school of choice.

The St. Thomas Aquinas Online Catholic Academy is the city’s only remote learning option.

The virtual kindergarten through eighth grade school is for students across the country.

The program first began in September of 2020 after COVID forced students to go remote. Some 2,400 students are enrolled.

After schools began to open again, the diocese realized the need for this kind of online learning were still there, and so the academy was made permanent.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Ordination

Bishop Kevin Sweeney of the Diocese of Paterson New Jersey celebrated his 25th ordination anniversary at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Wednesday.

Bishop Sweeney thanked Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, as well as some auxiliary bishops of Brooklyn, for helping in his formation.

Bishop Sweeney is a Queens native and served in the Diocese of Brooklyn for 23 years before he was ordained a bishop and installed as the shepherd of the Diocese of Paterson 2 years ago.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 07/01/22

On this special edition of Currents News, stories of faith and inspiration:

A mom and daughter team up to run their church’s food pantry.

How the work of one Queens woman is helping others to pray and strengthen their faith every single day.

How a dad’s young daughter helped to turn his life around.