Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 05/31/2023

In tonight’s Pulse of The Parish, we’re taking you to Holy Name of Jesus Church in Windsor Terrace to meet Nick Sisto.

Protesters hit the streets of California after charges against the vandals who destroyed a statue of St. Junipero Serra were reduced.

The unembalmed body of a nun was exhumed and her order was shocked to find no signs of decay four years after her death.

Tonight On Currents News: Pulse of The Parish, Nick Sisto

In tonight’s Pulse of The Parish, we’re taking you to Holy Name of Jesus Church in Windsor Terrace to meet Nick Sisto.

Sisto helped with the stunning restoration of his beloved church.

You can watch Sisto’s story on Currents News, Wednesday night on NET-TV at 7 PM Est.

Mayor Adams Busing Newcomers Upstate to Albany

While there has been no major influx of migrants at the Southern border since Title 42 was lifted, there are still tens of thousands in New York City.

Mayor Eric Adams has announced plans to bus approximately five dozen migrants to Albany over the weekend. Community leaders in the state capital are complaining that they were given little notice about the latest impending migrant influx.

In an interview with the New York Post, the Albany County Executive called the move “organized chaos.”

Bishop Brennan Honors Fallen During Memorial Day Mass at Cemetery

Bishop Robert Brennan honored those who served the country in the armed forces this weekend with a special Memorial Day Mass. 

This year the bishop celebrated the holiday with a Field Mass at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens. 

The service was to remember and pray for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Similar liturgies were held at all cemeteries owned and operated by Catholic Cemeteries of Brooklyn and Queens.

Bishop Brennan Ordains 19 New Deacons on Saturday

It was a joyous day for the Diocese of Brooklyn, with 19 men being ordained as new deacons.

Bishop Robert Brennan presided over the sacrament on Saturday, May 27, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. 

The men, who range in age from 40 to 65, will perform baptisms, witness marriages, and distribute Communion in churches all around Brooklyn and Queens.

At the end of the Mass, Bishop Brennan gave his appreciation to the new deacons and the families who helped them realize their vocation. 

Brooklyn will be served by 13 of the new deacons, while the remaining six will serve in Queens.

You can read all about the Deacon Class of 2023 in The Tablet.

The paper introduces you to all the men, showing their different backgrounds and how they have been serving the diocese before their ordination.

Just pick up a copy of the paper to read all about them.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 05/30/2023

Police are looking for the person who broke into a Queens church and stole some valuable items.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has 19 new deacons.

Bishop Robert Brennan marked Memorial Day by celebrating a field Mass.

While there has been no major influx of migrants at the southern border since Title 42 was lifted, there are still newcomers entering the U.S.

Police Search for Suspect in Our Lady of Fatima Burglary

By Jessica Easthope

The gift shop inside the foyer of Our Lady of Fatima Church in East Elmhurst, Queens was found ransacked and religious items were thrown all over the floor. The physical damage has since been cleaned up and some of it repaired but the staff and parishioners said the emotional damage is going to last.

Building manager, Leo Martinez said it must have taken serious force to get in. The real marble wall was broken and when he came across it, it was powder on the ground.

“It’s sort of like a violation to your own property, this is pretty much a home for me so you take it pretty personal when things like that happen,” he said.

Early morning May 18, a man came with a bag of tools and broke into the small gift shop, making off with a garbage bag of cash and religious items worth $1,500.

“It’s shocking, someone comes into your home and your own space and violates,” Father Darrell Da Costa said.

Father Da Costa reported the crime to police immediately. The church will now get more cameras and new alarms and locks for its vicinity.

The pastor hopes people in the community feel safe and welcomed in church, including the man who burglarized it.

“It’s an opportunity to pray for that person to turn around and do better, with God’s help, turn around, turn to god and people will help you,” he said.

“I don’t wish bad on anybody,” said Leo. “But this hurt people emotionally.”

Police are now asking for the public’s help finding the person responsible. If you have any information you can call NYPD’s Crime Stoppers.

CNEWA Is Back At The Sheen Center With Award-Winning Photos On Display

There’s a photo exhibit returning to New York City that will take you places you’ve never been before and introduce you to people living in other parts of the world.

The Catholic Near East Welfare Association or CNEWA is back with a photo exhibit at the Sheen Center For Thought and Culture in Manhattan.

The papal agency that does relief work in 15 different countries is showing the “And Who Is My Neighbor – The Faces Of CNEWA” exhibit.

“It speaks to the truth of the dignity of every human person, it obviously speaks to the goodness, the good works CNEWA is doing in these areas,” David Dicerto, Director of Faith Programming at the Sheen Center said. “But that truth and that goodness is ultimately beautiful and that beauty comes through magnificently in these photos so I think it’s the perfect marriage of CNEWA’s mission and our mission here as a Catholic arts center.”

The exhibit features 11 photos from the agency’s magazine spanning three decades. 

The photos of people in places where war or conflict has created a humanitarian crisis were all taken by women photojournalists. 

The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be at the Sheen Center For Thought and Culture until June 15th everyday from 9AM – 6 PM.If you can’t make it in person, there’s a virtual tour of the gallery at CNEWA.Org

Meet the Priests: Deacon Samuel Mwiwawi Sends a Message of Hope to Deaf Community

By Jessica Easthope

Deacon Samuel Mwiwaiwi knows both Kenyan and American sign language, but he is not deaf. His mission is to minister to those who believe in the word of God, but have never actually heard it.

“Mostly the deaf community is ignored and people sometimes look down on them because they cannot understand some things and you find that society tries to push them” he said.

His passion for working with the deaf community started back home in Kenya when he was tasked with teaching deaf children.

“I would write and give to them, they would write and give back to me so it was hard to communicate and I thought their grammar was wrong but I realized they were using Kenyan Sign Language and the wording is different,” he said.

Growing up in East Africa, Deacon Samuel and his seven siblings moved around a lot, but his mother’s strong Catholic faith and his father’s constant support kept them close knit.

“That love that he had for us, for his family that makes me really emotional, most of the time his presence was always felt when at home, sometimes on Saturday we would sit together on the porch outside and he would get sugar cane and we would chop and cut, it was a closely knit family, we were always together,” said Deacon Samuel.

When he eventually moved to the United States to follow his priestly vocation, the complexities of the country’s immigration system stopped him in his tracks.

“I had many challenges with my immigration paperwork, that was a big challenges, I even at one time received a letter telling me to go back home but with God’s grace I’m here, things worked out and I have all reasons to believe God has called me to this vocation,” he said.

And now he’s on the heels of putting into practice the very ministry that has shaped his call to the priesthood.

“The deaf community they need someone to be with them,” he said. “The way they talk to you, you feel this is where I belong.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 05/25/2023

It’s time to meet another soon-to-be priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

A thought-provoking art exhibit is happening now at the sheen center for thought and culture in Manhattan.

The Hunter College professor who got violent with pro-life students, then with a reporter outside her home, has turned herself in to police.