Gertrude Conway has a routine, first the candles, then the books, then she opens the door, next she fixes the ribbons on the pews. She runs a tight ship at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Brooklyn Heights.

“I always want it to look beautiful, I don’t need any help, I do it myself, people coming in if they see the pews strewn with books and things they get the wrong impression, they think we don’t care and we do care,” she said.

She’s been doing this volunteer work for decades, Pastor, Father Mark Amatrucola says she’s the lifeblood of the parish.

“Gertrude is at the center of everything we do, this is very much her home and her family and feels welcome here and is always willing to give her all,” he said.

And age definitely hasn’t slowed her down, in a few weeks she’ll be 100 and as her milestone birthday fast approaches, Gertrude says she’s always found comfort in consistency. The world around her is ever changing, but she stays the same.

“I could go tomorrow or I could go a couple of years from now, only God knows and I don’t plan on it, I don’t sit and worry about it, I don’t give it a second thought, I just get up in the morning and do the same thing I did yesterday. I’m the same today as I was 50 years ago, haven’t changed at all,” she said.

Over the years she hasn’t lost her spark – her passion lies right here with her in the pews of her parish.”I love my faith because it’s done so much for me, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my faith, I always joke I say what I do here in the church, I’m working my way to heaven it’s the only way I’ll get there,” she said.

You won’t find her front and center at mass, she sits in the back, alone with her prayers.

“There’s a real special, humble nature about who she is and knowing she’s seen a lot in her life but is always full of joy and good spirit for this place,” said Fr. Mark.

“God and the Blessed Mother have been very, very good to me and I feel like what little I can do is thank you,” Gertrude said.

When it comes to Gertrude’s faith, it’s not part of her routine – it’s who she is.

By Jessica Easthope

The Holy Spirit powers his kicks, and faith fuels the force of his strikes. Deacon Dean Dobbins says when it comes to self-defense, you can never be too prepared.”You never know what perpetrator might be coming at you, you never know, especially in times like this, the cities are out of control right now,” he said.

The permanent deacon at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills, is also a former NYPD detective and 8th degree black belt – who knows just how dangerous the streets of New York City have become.

“The violence rate is up so high, people are getting pushed into subways, people are getting mugged, people are getting punched in the face, people who take martial arts would be able to defend themselves and walk away from it,” said Deacon Dean.

While the NYPD doesn’t keep statistics on random and unprovoked attacks, so far in the first four months of 2023 there have been 7,884 felony assaults and 12,607 misdemeanor assaults, that’s more than the number of assaults in the entirety of 2022.

At Deacon Dean’s dojo, the Okinawan Karate Do of New York, he welcomes people from all walks of life to come in and to learn the discipline and inner strength it takes to stay safe on the streets.

Destin Cava is a seventh grader at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy. Since he and his cousin Solmarie Navas started taking karate lessons here last year, they’re more self-aware and much more confident.

“I don’t have both my headphones in, I make sure I’m careful if I walk the streets, I’m self aware.” said Destin.

“At first when I didn’t go to martial arts I was nervous, shy and wasn’t confident enough to be in school and communicate but now since I’m in martial arts I have developed, and I communicate and socialize even more,” Solmarie said.

Deacon Dean says his classes are not about fighting – but thriving.

“If I can teach my students anything it’s about respect and that martial arts can get you through a hard time, I just want to see them as better people, it helps them in school, in their faith and I just want to teach them about what’s out there,” he said.

And what’s out there better think twice.

There’s a big celebration happening in Rhode Island that’s been three-quarters of a century in the making.

Robert and Ann Gorman are marking a lifetime of love with their diamond anniversary, celebrating 75 years together.

“I’m a very lucky guy,” Robert said. “I agree to that,” Ann responded. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 0.1 percent of all marriages last 70 years.

The couple first met in the 1940s, after Robert returned from World War II, while working at a mill.

They were married at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Federal Hill, two years later.