New Exhibit Recreates October 7 Music Festival Massacre in Israel

A new exhibit in New York City is recreating the Nova Festival attack, giving visitors the chance to understand exactly what unfolded in Israel on October 7th.

The exhibit is called ‘6:29 AM: The Moment Music Stood Still.’

It includes actual items left behind after Hamas gunmen stormed the festival, and videos recorded that day.

One survivor said the exhibit will give visitors a glimpse into how they felt during the attack.

The exhibit will be on display in Manhattan through May 23rd.

For more information, go to Nova0629exhibition.com.

Young Man Gets Lesson in Faith at Queens College

By Katie Vasquez

Noel Guzman attends mass at the Newman Center on Queens College’s campus four days a week. But that is only one stop for Noel; he says he attends mass seven days a week at various other churches.

“Whenever I can, I try to squeeze in two a day, just try to have my time, peace with God, and prayer with him as well,” said Guzman.

The college student admits he was sometimes devout. Although he had received the sacraments of baptism and communion, his family didn’t regularly attend church.

“Growing up, it was Catholic in name,” said Guzman. “Not with practice. Very rarely.”

A friend invited him to a Protestant bible study when he was a sophomore.

While Noel didn’t feel connected to that faith, the experience did send him on a spiritual journey, where he looked into Islam, Lutheran, and Greek Orthodox ideologies.

“I remember adamantly researching the papacy. That was the biggest thing for me because that’s one of the biggest divides between, you know, the West and the East,” said Guzman. ‘ Shortly after that, I signed up for confirmation classes, and I was confirmed.’

The 23-year-old now helps the altar servers at St Mary’s Nativity-St Ann Parish in Flushing.

Father Jose Diaz, the pastor, and Newman Center Chaplain says Noel is a role model for other young people.

“I think it’s incredible that he’s a young man who’s really dedicated his time to seek Jesus. Yeah, we go to church, we do all these things. But when you kind of sit with it, you know, you make it a priority in your life to rediscover this thing which. This faith, which is something beautiful. I think that’s something that’s admirable for sure,” said Father Diaz.

Bishop Robert Brennan also acknowledged his dedication.

“I’m inspired by him and by so many others, but I’m inspired when a young person maybe rediscovers or just discovers more deeply their Catholic faith and the joy that that the lord gives to us, and then living it out, living it out authentically,” said Bishop Brennan.

And Noel hopes he can inspire other young Catholics who may have lost their way.

“I think people, especially young people, are looking more into it now. They’re having a lot more of those questions because, despite their concerns, they get that comfort and that confirmation that is true faith. Yeah, it’s beautiful, actually,” said Guzman.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 5/6/2024

We’ll have the story of a Queens College student, who got a lesson in faith at school. Noel Guzman rediscovered his love of God and passion for the Mass while on campus. Guzman spends four days a week at a service at the Newman Center.

Despite being urged by Mayor Eric Adams to go forward with it, Columbia University has decided to cancel its main commencement ceremony. It will instead hold smaller ceremonies for each of its 19 colleges.

After three New York City synagogues and the Brooklyn Museum received bomb threats over the weekend, Senator Chuck Schumer announced a $400 million increase in federal funding for security in places of worship.

We’ll give you a sneak peek at a powerful new art exhibit on display in Manhattan. It’s called ‘The Moment Music Stood Still’. It re-creates the moments when Hamas fighters stormed a music festival in Israel on October 7th, killing people and taking hostages.

Pope Encourages Swiss Guard to Foster Friendships, Avoid Isolation

By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Meeting members of the Swiss Guard, including 34 new recruits, Pope Francis thanked them for their dedication and generous service protecting the pope every day.

He told them they stand out for their professionalism and their “kind, attentive, indeed scrupulous style,” during an audience at the Vatican May 6, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for the new guards later that day. Family members of the new recruits were also present at the audience.

The men have built “a positive and respectful atmosphere in the barracks,” the pope said, and they show great courtesy toward “superiors and guests, despite sometimes long periods of intense and strenuous service.”

Pope Francis encouraged them to continue to foster friendships and camaraderie.

Serving in the Swiss Guard, an enlistment that lasts at least two years, means it is “an important and formative time for you,” he said. “It is not just a period of work, but a time of living and relating, of intense fellowship in a diverse company.”

“I urge you to actively cultivate community life,” the pope said, asking them to reject the habit among many young people today of spending their free time online and alone.

“It is better to use your free time for activities with others, for getting to know Rome, for moments of fraternity in which you talk about yourselves and share, for sports,” he said.

“These experiences build you up from within and will accompany you throughout your life,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, celebrated Mass with the guards in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The colorful swearing-in ceremony of new recruits is held May 6 to mark the date in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards lost their lives defending Pope Clement VII in the Sack of Rome. Only 42 guards survived. Holding the ceremony on the anniversary is meant to remind new guards of the seriousness of their commitment.

New recruits pledge to “faithfully, loyally and honorably” serve and protect the pontiff and, if necessary, sacrifice their lives for him.

Today, the more than 130 Swiss soldiers are responsible for guarding all entrances into Vatican City State as well as keeping watch over the pope and his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. They also provide security and ceremonial services during liturgical events and visits of heads of state and other dignitaries to the Vatican.

Bishop Brennan Celebrates Graduation Mass in Brooklyn for the Class of 2024

Students across Brooklyn and Queens flocked to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph Friday for a special Mass for this year’s graduating class.

Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan led the celebration for around 1500 8th graders.

They hail from almost all the Catholic academies, which was a first for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Bishop Brennan says the purpose for this first was to give them this message ahead of their upcoming graduations.

To hear Bishop Brennan’s full message, click here.

The Christophers Affirm the Highest Values of the Human Spirit for Creatives With Award

A nonprofit organization is awarding creatives who affirm the highest values of the human spirit.

“The Christophers,” founded by Maryknoll priest Father James Keller, is rooted in service to God and humanity.

The awards were created in 1949, but since then, the people behind more than 1500 films, books, and TV programs have been recognized.

The 75th Annual Christopher Awards recently announced their winners.

Brooklyn author Torrey Maldonado was one of those creatives.

It’s actually Maldonado’s second time winning this prestigious award.

His most recent award-winning book is called “Hands.”

Maldonado joined Currents News to talk more about it.

Bishop Robert Brennan’s 2024 8th Grade Mass Homily

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass on Friday May. 3, for all 8th graders who are graduating from Catholic academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Hundreds of students packed the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, we’ll let you know what advice the bishop has for the Class of 2024 .

Two Catholic Schools Closing Due to Low Enrollment and Rising Costs

by Katie Vasquez

The morning walk to school for Sharnet Hilton and her daughter, Mia, has become bitter-sweet, because these steps will soon come to an end.

Mia’s school, Salve Regina Catholic Academy in East New York, has announced they are closing their doors.

It’s a tough reality for the 7th grader and her mom, who just transferred here from a charter school last year.

“It can be challenging finding a new environment where you feel safe, where you feel loved, and where you’re learning. The unknown is the hard part of the school closing. and there’s just not another school like this,” said Sharnet Hilton, a parent at Salve Regina Catholic Academy.

“I’m really going to miss this school,” said Mia Hilton, a 7th grader at Salve Regina Catholic Academy.

The Diocese of Brooklyn says Salve Regina and another school, St Catherine of Genoa-St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Flatbush, are shutting their doors due to declining enrollment and unsustainable operating costs.

Right now Salve Regina has 193 students enrolled and if they had kept their doors open, they would’ve had 143 students in September.

St Catherine of Genoa-St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Flatbush would’ve seen a similar drop- they currently had 151 kids in classrooms, that number would’ve dropped to 122 kids.

“It’s going to be hard to walk around these hallways knowing that it’s going to be empty, knowing that you’re not going to hear the students’ laughter or their talking,” said Michelle Donato, principal at Salve Regina Catholic Academy.

The board of trustees at each school made the ultimate decision to close, Salve Regina board of directors chairperson Jorge DeJesus said there were 3 options to stay open: increase enrollment, raise money or increase their tuition by 1500 dollars.

“Just not a realistic number that we can ask our parents to sacrifice even further,” said DeJesus.

Unfortunately, Salve Regina is the last Catholic school standing in East New York.

“There is now going to be a desert of catholic education and evangelization to young people without the ability to be able to to share the good news of the gospel with young people,” said DeJesus.

The superintendent’s office is committed to assisting all families with finding a seat in another catholic academy come September.

“My faith is very important to me, and that’s the reason that I put them in a Catholic school, because it’s important for me that they know of God,” said Xiomara Palencia, a parent at Salve Regina Catholic Academy.

“It’s going to be a real sacrifice. It’s very heartbreaking that, you know, we won’t have them anymore. I cry, I cried. It’s just very sad,” said Sakinah Scott-Pegues, a parent at Salve Regina Catholic Academy.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 5/3/2024

Two Catholic schools in Brooklyn are closing at the end of this school year. The diocese announced this week that Salve Regina Catholic Academy in East New York and St. Catherine of Genoa – St. Therese of Lisieux in Flatbush will not reopen in September.

In a joyous celebration, Bishop Robert Brennan led a Mass for all eighth graders graduating from Catholic academies in the diocese. The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph was filled with the laughter and excitement of hundreds of students, marking a memorable moment in their academic journey.

Every year, the Christopher Award is given to creative professionals who affirm the highest values of the human spirit. We’ll introduce you to two-time winner Torrey Maldonado from Brooklyn. His most recent book, “Hands,” is a coming-of-age tale about a 12-year-old navigating a difficult life as he tries to map out his future.

App Trying to Get People Worldwide to Pray the Rosary

One group is trying to give 1 million roses to Mary by the end of the month.

The Christian social network Hozana Association launched the campaign, inviting Catholics worldwide to pray a decade of the Rosary every day.

Imagine the collective power of one million people, each offering a decade of the Rosary daily and logging it on their app “Rosario.” Together, we can place one million roses at the shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

The Hozana Association’s development manager, Cassandre Verhelst, explained the idea behind converting the prayers to flowers.

Some 40,000 people are participating in the initiative, and you can join them.

Join us in this global prayer movement by downloading the user-friendly app ‘Rosario Pray the Rosary.’

It’s available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, ensuring inclusivity for all.