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Stolen Sign Latest in String of Vandalism at Queens Church

By Katie Vasquez and Paula Katinas

FAR ROCKAWAY — For the third time in less than six months, a statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Gertrude Church was vandalized.  

This time, the statue was knocked to the ground, shattered, and damaged beyond repair, officials of the Diocese of Brooklyn said. The NYPD is investigating the incident at the church, which occurred overnight on March 14-15. The incident has been classified as a hate crime.   

Father Frank Shannon, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude (the churches are part of the same parish), said security cameras captured images of a lone vandal smashing the 100-year-old statue with a boulder.    

“I almost wanted to cry when I saw it. He took this huge boulder and kept banging it down on her head,” he said, adding that the statue is beyond repair.   

The church will seek to replace the statue with one from the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Office of Patrimony, a holding area for statues from closed churches.   

“We’re not giving in. Something will go back up,” Father Shannon vowed.   

Officials noted that the recent incident marked the third time the same Blessed Mother statue has been vandalized. On Jan. 28, a vandal toppled the statue over. And on Oct. 2, 2025, a vandal covered the statue’s head with a black bag depicting a skull. 

No arrests have been made in any of the attacks on the church.   

St. Gertrude Church was also the target of thieves who stole a sign listing the church’s name that had been posted outside for 3 years. The thieves left the stand that had been holding up the sign.   

It is not clear when the sign was stolen, Father Shannon said, though he estimated it occurred within the past few weeks.    

“It doesn’t compare to what they did to the statue of Our Blessed Mother,” Father Shannon said. “But it’s one thing after another. And it really hurts.”   

Vandals have also struck at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church.    

On Oct. 5, 2025, vandals spray-painted the face of a statue of the Blessed Mother and a statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.  

The vandals also spray-painted the word “cult” at the foot of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux statue.   

Parishioners expressed shock and dismay at the incidents of vandalism.   

“This is very difficult to bear,” said Rosa Iris Miranda. “To tell you the truth, it’s heartbreaking. When you see all these things happening to our churches without any respect, without any love, it really breaks my heart.” 

Currents News Special: Coming to Catholicism

Currents News introduces you to some of the nearly 1,300 individuals who became fully initiated into the Catholic Church this year at Easter vigils across the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Meet some of the men and women who were counting down the days to the Easter Vigil, when they took their place in the pews.

This special newscast features some of their journeys to finding their faith, including:

Pope Leo: ‘I Have No Fear’ Speaking Out Message of the Gospel

By Currents News

Speaking aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV said he has “no fear” when it comes to proclaiming the message of the Gospel — even amid political tensions.

The Holy Father emphasized that the Church is not political, but is called to be a voice for peace in the world.

TONIGHT ON CURRENTS NEWS: ‘The Funeral Mass of Pope Francis’ Special

By Currents News

As the Church marks the liturgical anniversary of Pope Francis’ death, Currents News is presenting special coverage of his funeral Mass — a final farewell that drew tens of thousands to St. Peter’s Square under a clear Roman sky.

Revisit the moments that captured the legacy of the “People’s Pope” on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass Held for Bishop William Murphy

By Currents News

Clergy and faithful gathered at St. Agnes Cathedral to honor Bishop William Murphy, the longtime shepherd of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Bishop Robert Brennan delivered the homily, remembering him as a mentor and friend who dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel.

Facebook Marketplace Listing Brings International Student to Faith

By Jessica Easthope

You wouldn’t exactly call Davis Liu and Robbie Manoogian unlikely friends. Despite being born on opposite ends of the world and 10 years apart, they actually have a lot in common. They’re both big baseball fans and both studying engineering at the University of Florida. And as of recently, they share another major part of life.

“The baptism is just the beginning. What made me really happy? The journey that got me here,” Liu said.

At the Easter Vigil on April 4, Davis became Catholic. How he got there started with a Facebook Marketplace post.

“I came across this guy who said he’s looking for a friend on Facebook Marketplace,” Manoogian said. “I was like, I gotta hit him up.”

“One day, Robbie sent me a message that he asked me if I wanted to check out his church. And also they have free food, it’s called Mass and Meal on Tuesdays,” Liu said.

Davis was already on an adventure. He came to the United States to get his master’s in aerospace engineering and use his degree back home in Taiwan as a military researcher. But in one click, he set out on a faith journey — with Robbie as his guide.

“Religiously, it feels like I am his guide,” Manoogian said. “I am sitting in the back of OCIA classes helping him understand all these new words. I am constantly reminding him to pray. I’m constantly checking in on him, constantly giving him saints to check out. But I’m not doing it alone at all. God has guided me so much to kind of hold his hand.”

The invitation turned into months of curiosity and questions.

“Seeing these young people pray so deeply and want to connect to God is really what made me very shocked,” Liu said.

What began as a casual conversation grew into a powerful conversion.

“There’s so many Davises out there,” Manoogian said. “There’s so many people that are waiting to be reached out to. It should be such a norm that we can bring anyone in. ‘Just come to Mass with me,’ that’s all it takes.”

Robbie says Davis’ story is a reminder that God can use any person, any place and any moment to draw us closer to Him.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 4/8/26

Despite an agreement to a two-week ceasefire between President Donald Trump and Iran, Pope Leo XIV is continuing to call for peace in the Middle East and says that much more must be done in the region.

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn joined New York clergy and Catholics in mourning as they said goodbye to a shepherd, mentor, and friend: Long Island Bishop William Murphy.

An international student attending the University of Florida got more than he bargained for after trying to make a sale on Facebook Marketplace – he closed the deal with a new friend and a new faith.

Long Island Catholics Mourn Bishop Emeritus William Murphy

By Currents News

Catholics on Long Island are remembering their former shepherd.

On Tuesday, the Diocese of Rockville Centre said goodbye to Bishop Emeritus William Murphy at a Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of St. Agnes.

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan delivered the homily and shared a personal connection to the Long Island bishop.

In a statement after the announcement of Bishop Murphy’s passing, Bishop Brennan said, “I had the privilege of learning so much from him and enjoying his friendship. And I know that for many other bishops in the United States, he was to them also a mentor and friend.”