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With Bishop Brennan’s Blessing, Diocese of Brooklyn’s Christmas Tree is Lit

Currents News Staff and Ed Wilkinson

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — In a twilight ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 8, the Diocese of Brooklyn held its annual Christmas tree lighting beneath the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza.

After it was illuminated, the 27-foot-high Douglas Fir, decorated with 16,000 multi-colored LED lights and accompanied by life-sized Nativity creche figures, was blessed by Bishop Robert Brennan.

Hymns were sung by the Gospel Choir from St. Saviour High School in Park Slope.  

The event was sponsored by DeSales Media Group, the technology and communications arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Msgr. Sean Ogle, chairman of the board of DeSales Media, offered the opening prayer, explaining that the tradition of displaying a Nativity scene dates back to 1223, when St. Francis of Assisi brought the idea to life in Greccio, Italy.

Bishop Brennan thanked DeSales Media, the parent company of The Tablet, for continuing to tell “the greatest story ever told.”

“Jesus came in the simplest of ways,” he said. “He was born in a manger, among the poor.”

He urged parishioners to visit the Nativity scenes that will be erected in their parish churches so they can be amazed at the power the Lord brings to everyday living.

Meanwhile, this display would offer a message of hope to all who pass by one of the busiest spots in Brooklyn, Bishop Brennan said. As joggers ran past the site and continuous traffic circled the scene, he remarked that  “you can’t have more everyday life than right here in Grand Army Plaza.”

Msgr. David Cassato, vicar for Catholic schools, praised the singing of the young women from St. Saviour’s, mentioning that they represent some of the best students in the Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens.

Bishop Brennan recalled visiting St. Saviour’s on the day of the announcement that he would be the new Bishop of Brooklyn: “It’s good to see you again,” he said.

A video offered welcoming messages to Bishop Brennan from school children throughout the diocese. He said he looked forward to visiting all the schools in that presentation.

“I am overwhelmed by the welcome of the past few days,” Bishop Brennan said.

Christine Persichette, the anchor of Currents News on NET-TV, served as master of ceremonies.

The lighting ceremony was filmed for special programming on NET-TV, the 24-hour cable channel.

The tree lighting came less than one day after a Christmas tree outside the Newscorp building was torched on 6th Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

A diocesan spokesman said police would maintain a 24-hour watch on the exhibit, as they have done in the past. He said heightened security would include new lights that have been installed in the plaza for greater visibility.

Welcoming Bishop Brennan to Brooklyn, NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Michael Kemper said that “an excellent relationship” exists between the NYPD and the Church and it will continue to flourish.

In his remarks, Bishop Brennan encouraged all the faithful to visit the display in Grand Army Plaza this Christmas season and to spend time in prayer at their parish Nativity.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 12/10/21

Violence is on the rise at New York city’s public schools — But it’s a very different story at Catholic schools.

Families in the Diocese of Brooklyn are stepping in to help migrants at the southern border.

The late, great Catholic ball player Gil Hodges is finally in the baseball Hall of Fame.

There’s only 15 days until Christmas —  and here’s a great way to get you into the holiday spirit: the Futures In Education Spirit of Christmas concert!

Grammy-Nominated Christian Artist Matt Maher to Headline Diocese of Brooklyn’s Spirit of Christmas Concert

 The Spirit of Christmas Concert will take place at the Emmaus Center, 288, Berry St., at 8 p.m. For ticket information, visit futuresineducation.org/events/concert2021/

By Currents News Staff and Paula Katinas

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Music can help bring people together, even in a sharply divided nation, according to Matt Maher, a top-selling contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who will be one of the featured performers at the Spirit of Christmas Concert on Dec. 13 at the Emmaus Center of Brooklyn.

“We live in such a divisive time,” said Maher, a Canadian-born Catholic who has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards over the years. “Yet, art has an ability to cut through even our own biases or wounds. It has the ability to hopefully create empathy.”

Maher, who lives with his family in Nashville, Tennessee, firmly believes that God is at the center of art and that through art, He can create unity.

“Making music is a gift that I was given,” Maher continued in an interview last week. “And I believe that I was given it by God. Art can be like a lifeline for people. I think God’s in the middle of that. Absolutely. I think He wants people to know how much He loves them.”

Looking ahead to his Brooklyn performance, Maher expressed excitement about the inaugural concert for the new arts center in Williamsburg.

“As an artist, anytime I get to play music and also be part of something that impacts a community, it definitely increases the meaningful nature of what music and art can do in a community. So, in particular, it’s a beautiful thing to be part of the impact that center will have for the Diocese of Brooklyn, for the city, and for the community,” he said.

Maher will treat the Emmaus Center audience to several songs from “The Advent of Christmas,” his 2018 release which won Christmas Album of the Year honors at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards.

The Spirit of Christmas concert, featuring guitarist Maher and tenor Danny Rodriguez at the venue’s inaugural event, is a joint venture of the Emmaus Center and Futures in Education, a notable foundation supporting schools and students in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The 600-seat Emmaus performance space is housed in the renovated Williamsburg Opera House.

Craig Tubiolo, executive director of the center, said the site of the historic opera house “is once again ready to be a premiere destination for great shows in Brooklyn.”

Maher, who has been releasing albums since 2001, is one of today’s most successful Christian musicians. Several of his singles have gone gold, selling 500,000 units. His song “Lord, I Need You,” from his 2013 album, “All The People Said Amen,” went platinum, selling 1 million units.

His work has been lauded by the music industry. Among the accolades: He was named Songwriter of the Year at the 2015 Dove Awards, the premier platform honoring the best in various forms of Christian music.

One of the highlights of his career came when he had the honor of performing “Lord, I Need You” at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. He sang and played guitar as Pope Francis led 3 million worshippers in Eucharistic adoration.

He also performed for Pope Francis in 2015 at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Back in 2008, he had performed for Pope Benedict XVI at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, N.Y.

After more than 20 years of making music professionally, writing a good song is still a thrill for Maher. He said creating work that speaks to his emotions and to the emotions of others is his ultimate aim.

“Absolutely, I want to be moved by the reality of God’s love in my life. And I want that to be reflected in my art because, if it doesn’t move me as a songwriter, it’s not going to move anyone else,” he said.

“So, as I’m writing songs these days, I’m always asking the question, ‘Does this feel honest?’ ”

 

Diocese of Brooklyn Assists Haitian Migrants Settling in NYC After Traveling From Del Rio Border

By Jessica Easthope

A family sitting around the table, eating and laughing, a home cooked meal is ready on the stove – it looks idyllic – but only if you don’t know where they’ve been.

“My wife was really traumatized by all the people we saw suffering along the road, especially the children dying, she felt like she and our child could have died too,” said Jean Altenor.

For a month and a half, Lynda Aurilus and Jean Altenor, like more than 15,000 other Haitians, were on the move, walking most of the way from Chile to Texas – headed for the Del Rio border.

“We knew we couldn’t go back to Haiti, we could never go back so we saw the opportunity and decided to join a big group and go,” Lynda said.

They arrived in Cambria Heights, Queens in September with just the clothes on their backs. They were taken in by Marie and Joseph Orilus, Lynda’s aunt and uncle.

“It’s beyond comprehension what they explained to me the agony they went through, to walk from 11 countries, I can express the sadness within me to reach out to them,” said Marie.

They left Haiti, fleeing political violence in 2017 after Lynda’s cousin was murdered. Now they’re starting over in another foreign country – but here it’s the promise of the Diocese of Brooklyn to keep them safe.

“We have to come as a community, as a church to see what can we do to accompany these people long term,” said Father Hilaire Belizaire.

Of the 1,000 Haitians who made it to New York, 200 have settled in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Hilaire Belizaire, the coordinator of the ministry to Haitian immigrants has been helping them get settled.

“Jesus identified himself with the poor, with the needy, that was the face I saw in those migrants, this is an opportunity to respond to the gospel mandate,” said Father Hilaire.

People who made it through the border aren’t eligible for refugee status so they’ll all relying on host families like Marie and Joseph.

“As Catholics, there’s no greater reward,” Marie said. “Knowing I helped somebody improve their life.”

 

And if you want to help others like Lynda and Kean make a new home in New York City
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is on the frontlines resettling migrants. To donate to their cause, visit ccbq.org and click “give now.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 12/9/21

It’s Christmas in Brooklyn again! The Diocese of Brooklyn’s 27-foot Christmas tree was lit up at Grand Army Plaza.

In D.C., another symbol of our faith was attacked!

The Diocese of Brooklyn is opening its arms to migrants at the southern border.

As the Supreme Court considers a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, other states are preparing for a ruling that would uphold it.

Gil Hodges Inducted as Hall of Famer a ‘Long Time Coming’ His Catholic Family Says

Currents News Staff

First baseman. Manager. All Star and devout Catholic. That is how the late, great ball player Gil Hodges is being described – until now. 

The former Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Mets star has posthumously been inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame – a national honor and recognition for his family. 

His son, Gil Hodges Jr. joined Currents News to talk about the long awaited tribute.

St. Mel’s Parish and School

Ed Wilkinson visits the parish of St. Mel’s in Flushing, Queens. He speaks with the pastor, Father James Fonti, about the vitality of the parish, and the reopening of the parish school as The Early Childhood Center at St. Mel’s Catholic Academy. Ed also speaks with the principal, Amy Barron about the importance of the school to the community.

Three More Missionary Group Hostages Released in Haiti

By Currents News and The Tablet Staff

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — A Haitian gang has released three more of the hostages it kidnapped from Christian Aid Ministries, while 12 remaining representatives of the Ohio-based missionary group approach the third month of their captivity.

The missionaries announced on their website that the 400 Mawozo gang released three of its hostages on Sunday, Dec. 5. Gang members had abducted a total of 17 adults and children in mid-October and threatened to kill them unless a $1 million-per-person ransom was paid, according to Haitian authorities. The gang freed the first two hostages on Nov. 21, said Christian Aid Ministries, which has neither named any of those released nor provided background details of the situation.

[Related: Cries of Haitian People ‘Cannot go Unheeded,’ Vatican Official Says]

The group did say Monday that the three most recently released “are safe and seem to be in good spirits.” The organization asked for continued prayers for the entire team, abducted at a time when Haiti is in the throes of widespread gang violence and kidnappings. Those taken captive included 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian and comprised 12 adults and five children.

Haiti’s social turbulence follows a summer that brought a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and the assassination of the country’s president, along with shortages of key supplies for the population.