There’s a parishioner over at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette who makes sure everything’s running smoothly. He’s at the Dyker Heights church and school day in and day out, just like he was in the good old days. But back then, he wasn’t exactly a teacher’s pet. Now, Michael Carestia is the Pulse of the Parish.
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Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 3/25/2025
The Diocese of Brooklyn is about halfway through its Lenten Pilgrimage, and travelers are taking part in a special lesson.
He didn’t have a degree in architecture, but when Patrick Keely came to Brooklyn from Ireland, he followed in his father’s footsteps and got to work designing churches in the Diocese of Immigrants.
A church in Queens now has 13,000 rosaries, thanks to a generous donation from one parishioner.
Queens Students Lead Rosary at Lenten Pilgrimage Stop
By Katie Vasquez
Catholics of all ages are uniting together in prayer as these students from St Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Queens lead the packed parish in praying the rosary during a Lenten Pilgrimage stop.
Father Vincent Chirichella, the pastor of St Joseph Church in Astoria encouraged the young people to get involved in the journey.
“It was great to see them express their faith and on this special day, the feast of the Annunciation,” he tells Currents News. “It was really wonderful to see the children so in love with the Lord and Blessed Mother.”
“It was a blessing because I love to pray all the time,” 4th grader Olivia Buscio tells Currents News of the experience. “I pray before I go to bed, and I feel like it brings me closer to God.”
The event involved electing volunteers like 3rd grader Lillian Schultz to pray a decade.
“I was a little bit nervous, because I’m usually, like, I really don’t speak a lot,” she tells Currents News. “I’m a little bit shy and timid, but it was really fun at the same time.”
In times of stress, Schultz says she turns to Mary for guidance: “I really like praying because I feel safe and I feel like Mary is listening to me, and I feel like she can help me a lot.”
It’s a lesson the pilgrims of the Lenten journey know all too well, as they have spent the last four weeks at different churches across Brooklyn and Queens taking part in Masses, adorations, and rosaries.
Father Chirichella hopes more of the young people learn from them.
“I think the rosary is a great habit, spiritual habit,” he says. “You know, we all have habits, but a spiritual habit for the children to get into, bringing a great peace throughout their lives.”
It’s a prayer God may have already answered.
“It was really fun,” says Buscio. “And I like to see Father, and I like to be together in church.”
Prince of Church Architecture Builds Faith in Brooklyn and Beyond
By Christine Persichette and Jessica Easthope
Monsignor Guy Massie has immense pride in his parish. Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen in Carroll Gardens can be seen from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and beyond, thanks to one of Patrick’s Keely’s signature designs.
“The iconic sign of Keely is the tower,” Msgr. Massie said. “This cross lit up at night in the harbor and let’s look at what that means for so many people. This parish was built by Irish immigrants and they worked on the shore and it was a sign of great hope.”
Inside the red doors lies more of Keely’s handiwork still visible today and symbols of his culture and faith many will never notice, unless you know where to look.
“Keely was Irish, and his Irishness came through in all of his churches,” laughed Monsignor Edward Doran, the former pastor of St. Charles Borromeo in Brooklyn Heights . “He snuck it in!”
Msgr. Doran has walked the pews of St. Charles Borromeo countless times, each time noticing and marveling at one of Keely’s design features – from the arches to the pillars made of wood.
Born in County Tipperary, Ireland in 1816, Keely’s father was a builder and the source of all his training. His Irish heritage was the first and seemingly only tool he needed to launch his illustrious career.
Keely revived a centuries-old style of architecture that welcomed new arrivals to the city.
“The immigrants were not always very well received,” said Msgr. Doran. “But in creating a beautiful piece of architecture, it represented the spirit of the Irish people, the faith of the Irish people, the positive attitude of the Irish people.”
Like many of his fellow Irishmen, Keely came to the states in 1842 as an unskilled laborer.
“I’ve been in practice for 45 years, architectural practice is something that you get good at after 30 years,” explained Carlo Zaskorski, principal architect at Zaskorski and Associates. “He managed to be able to have the effort, the drive, the stamina, the capability to be able to achieve what he did. And his buildings were sensational!”
With nearly 200 years of advances in technology and education, Zaskorski is still learning from Patrick Keely.
“Our job is so minor in comparison to what Keely did, I’m almost embarrassed,” Zaskorski joked. “Our job is to protect the interiors of Keely churches, but just to be associated with the building is exciting. It’s thrilling!”
Having restored several of Keely’s churches and many more across the Diocese of Brooklyn, Zaskorski says Keely was a master at capturing each church’s spirit from the inside out, Like at the Oratory Church of St. Boniface on the historic Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
“Churches to Keely and to the Irish Catholics were fundamental in essentially preservation of their culture, their spirit and, and their world,” Zaskorski said.
Throughout Keely’s career, he had the newly formed Diocese of Brooklyn’s best interests at heart, building in money-saving features in his designs. But not every design worked in his favor. One is known as “the cathedral that never was.”
Diocese of Brooklyn archivist Joe Coen says the unfinished cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Clermont Avenue in Fort Greene was slated to be the Prince of Church Architecture’s crowning achievement.
“The bishop, took money that would have been wonderfully given to the cathedral and supported the needs of his people.” Coen said. Here’s a crying need for high schools by 1933, and this cathedral is never really going to happen.”
Immigrants laid a foundation of faith in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Patrick Keely built upon it, forging a future for generations of newly arrived to shape their own lives and for the Diocese of Immigrants to continue to be a safe haven for all.
TONIGHT AT 7: Patrick Keely – The Remarkable Unsung Legacy of a Church Architect
By Currents News
You may not know his name, but you know his look.
When Patrick Keely arrived in Brooklyn in 1842 he got to work on his first Neo-Gothic architectural design, following in the footsteps of his father who built churches in Ireland.
Over the years, one stunning sacred space led to another. As they came to know his work people weren’t only impressed by Keely’s artistry, but also his faith and work ethic.
Many of his churches have withstood the test of time – his talent and his influence can be seen in buildings throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn.
St. John’s Bread & Life, Food Bazaar Supermarkets Help Feed the Hungry at Brooklyn Food Pantry
By Katie Vasquez
Grocery bags aren’t just handy for holding all the necessary goods, they are helping people in need fill their stomachs with a good meal in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
That’s because Food Bazaar Supermarkets and St. John’s Bread & Life in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn are teaming up a campaign called “Together, We’re Feeding Hope.”
For every bag purchased for $5 at the dozens of Food Bazaar locations in the New York City area, 100 percent of the proceeds go to Bread & Life.
The fundraiser kicked off at the beginning of March, and it’s been doing well so far.
“It’s a way to say, ‘I’m doing something positive during Lent, and I’m taking that time to think about that,'” Sister Caroline Tweedy, the executive director of St John’s Bread & Life, tells Currents News. “$5 will feed somebody for a day.”
“We did some quick math, and, we sold thousands and thousands of bags, which equates to over $50,000,” executive vice president of Food Bazaar Supermarkets, Edward Suh, explains of how the sales have done thus far.
He also says his stores pair perfectly with the Bed-Stuy food pantry’s mission.
“They provide meals and food to the people that need it the most,” he tells Currents News. “A lot of our locations, in fact, most of our locations are in areas that are a bit distressed, and we feel it’s our responsibility as a member of that particular community to give back in our own way.”
It comes at a time when families are struggling, and Bread & Life is seeing more and more people asking for help.
“It’s mostly older folks who are struggling,” Sister Tweedy observes. “They tell you they have to make a decision between rent and medical expenses, and so food is always at the end.”
Guests like Dawn Brabham are proof that the donations will go far.
The Brooklyn resident has relied on Bread and Life for two decades. The organization helps “a great deal, especially with the high prices,” she says.
The limited-edition tote will be available in stores until April 21, 2025.
Catholic News Headlines for Monday 3/24/2025
Pope Francis is home from the hospital, but the Vatican says it will be a few months before he goes back to his regular schedule.
More than a dozen pilgrims from the Diocese of Brooklyn are currently in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations continued over the weekend in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Sunset Park Catholic Academy Students Pray the Rosary for Pope Francis
By Katie Vasquez
From kindergarten to 8th grade, students are united in prayer in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Their main intention? The health of the Holy Father.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy has been following the updates on Pope Francis since he was admitted into Gemelli hospital on February 14.
“I just hope he recovers,” Ming Hui Lin, a 7th grader at the school, told Currents News.
Right now, the pontiff is showing signs of improvement and remaining stable.
“We really want Pope Francis to continue. He’s been a wonderful pope,” Our Lady of Perpetual Help teacher Catherine Aquilino said of the Holy Father.
The Sunset Park school is praying the rosary every Friday during Lent. While they are holding their beads, they are thinking of Pope Francis, who is thousands of miles away.
“We wanted to pray for his recovery and for the strength of the church during this time, because it’s trying all over the world, so we wanted to offer prayers,” explained Aquilino. “Perhaps saying the rosary and we would take the five decades and Fridays are the days allocated to the sorrowful mysteries. So that’s how that all came about.”
The rosaries have also offered an opportunity for students to connect with Christ.
“I think it’s been good for the little kids so that they get to know more about their faith and know more about the rosary and Mary,” 8th grader Erla Chua told Currents News.
It is a call that Chua said she doesn’t take lightly.
“The rosary is very important to me,” she explained, “and my family is very religious, and we take church and Mass and the rosary very seriously. We’ve been praying for Pope Francis, my family, for good health.”
And as the pope recovers, these students believe their prayers are being answered.
“I feel like we’re helping because when we’re praying, we’re asking God, for a blessing for another person,” Christopher Fernandez, a 7th grader at the school, said of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy’s prayer efforts.
“It is helpful,” added Lin. “It takes, a lot of stress off of someone.”
Catholic News Headlines for Friday 3/21/2025
Hundreds of high school seniors from Diocese of Brooklyn schools came together for a special Mass as they continue to prepare for graduation.
Students at one Brooklyn Catholic academy are supporting Pope Francis as he recovers by gathering on Fridays during Lent to say the rosary.
New Yorkers are praying that the St. John’s University men’s basketball team goes all the way – including the school’s athletic chaplain, Fr. Richard Rock.
Bishop Robert Brennan Celebrates Mass of Thanksgiving for Diocese of Brooklyn’s High School Seniors
By Jessica Easthope and Alexandra Moyen
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — With graduation around the corner, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s high school seniors will soon embark on a new chapter of their lives. And, as they prepare for their next journey, Bishop Robert Brennan reminded them to never forget that, first and foremost, they are children of God.
“God loved you into being, knows you better than you know yourselves, and believes in you,” he said. “Please don’t forget who you are, and remember that your Catholic community supports you, and make sure to stay connected to God’s Church.”
On March 21, Bishop Brennan celebrated the second annual Graduation Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, congratulating seniors from 15 different high schools within the diocese and encouraging them to take pride in their achievements.
He also acknowledged that they deserve “a lot of credit” for how far they have come.
Many seniors at the Mass said they wish to continue their Catholic education and build on the strong foundation they have received in the diocese throughout high school.
Emma Polanco, a Christ the King High School senior, said she will “need God now more than ever” as she continues her Catholic education at St. John’s University to pursue a nursing degree.
“I know that I have struggled so much with not just academics but the social aspects of high school,” Polanco said. “And to know that I’m going into college where it’s going to be very competitive … I know I am going to need to talk to him more [and] come to church more.”
Polanco said that when growing up, although her parents raised her Catholic and gave her the free will to decide if she wished to continue practicing the faith, she never felt the need to look anywhere else.
In fact, she said her faith has only gotten stronger in high school.
“I’ve gotten so much closer with God and built such a great relationship with him,” she said. “To know that I have him with me every single second of every single day makes me happy, and to have him with me throughout college, I know that I will be able to stay motivated throughout my nursing career.”
Tatiana Elias, a Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School senior, said choosing to continue her Catholic education was an easy decision. She said she looks forward to attending St. John’s University to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences.
“I feel like being in an area where I can express my faith but also expand my education is a way to make sure that I’m heading in the right direction,” Elias said.
She noted that it also created a sense of community.
“In my high school, I feel like everyone knows my name and cares about you differently,” she said. “The way the school runs as a whole helps you expand your faith but also enriches your knowledge.”
Christopher Goldman, a St. Edmund Preparatory High School senior, said he looks forward to expressing his faith at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Goldman, who is an altar server and Eucharistic minister at his home parish, St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Bergen Beach said he wants “to carry my faith with me as much as I can.”
Goldman said he plans to continue his Eucharistic ministry on his school campus and looks forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the faith at a Catholic school.
“I’ll learn more about kindness and following in Jesus’ footsteps,” he said.
After Mass, Bishop Brennan said that a graduation Mass had been an idea of his since his time as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2012.
When he became bishop of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, in 2019, he scheduled one for 2020, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to halt in-person Masses and graduations.
“When I finally came [to the Diocese of Brooklyn], we were able to pull it together, and it means a lot,” Bishop Brennan said. “I wish I could be at all the graduations, but I can’t, so it’s a chance for me to encourage the seniors to be together at one time, and I also think it’s good for them to see each other.”
Bishop Brennan said the diocese is “proud of them all.”
“This was a chance for me to say, ‘thank you for being the great people that you are,’ and to remind them that God believes in them, I believe in them, the Church believes in them, their families believe in them, and to never give up,” he said.
Father James Kuroly, pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Rockaway and director of the Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese, said it is a special year for the seniors because of the Jubilee Year.
He said the Mass was an opportunity for them to “celebrate together as a family.”
“I think when young people come together, and they recognize that they’re not alone in this journey of faith, that they have each other as support and, most importantly, to pray for each other,” Father Kuroly said.