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Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 11/20/2024

It’s official! Pope Francis announced that he will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis during the Jubilee for Adolescents in Rome on April 25-27, 2025.

Discover Michelangelo’s iconic Sistine Chapel art at a stunning new Brooklyn exhibit, bringing Rome’s grandeur to Sunset Park.

St. Sebastian Church in Woodside welcomed over a dozen new altar servers, installed by their pastor Father Patrick West during a Mass on November 10th.

An Iowa woman is turning cracked pickleballs into Christmas ornaments, reducing waste while preserving the holiday spirit.

Brooklyn Exhibit Offers Unique View of Sistine Chapel

by Katie Vasquez

In the heart of Vatican City, around five million people every year visit the Sistine Chapel to see the famous work of Michelangelo.

Many say it can be overwhelming, both because of the iconic images, and the crowd of tourists.  

“I remember craning my neck to look up and, you know, throngs of people,” said visitor, Maryann Hansen. 

“You’re sort of herded through. It’s an assembly line viewing,” said visitor, Sean Landis. 

That’s what organizers say is the benefit of a new Brooklyn exhibit, instead of traveling thousands of miles, faithful only have to go to Sunset Park.

“It’s not meant to replace it, but it’s a different way to experience it,” said exhibition organizer Johanna Guttmann. 

By scanning a QR code, visitors can also learn more of the backstory behind each piece. 

“I always love art, so this is very nice for me to see more details. and you always learn something more,” said visitor, Giselle Castro Williams. 

Organizer, Johanna Guttmann explains the famous Michelangelo paintings, which detail the biblical story of man from creation to the last judgment, were a daunting task for the artist. 

“He resisted for many years but when the Pope wants you to do something. I don’t know how many times you could say no,” said Guttmann. 

It took four years for him to complete the project, and he returned 20 years later to complete the last judgment, a feat that organizers say is impressive for that era. 

“It’s physically a very, very difficult job, not to mention the fumes, the dust,” said Guttmann. 

It’s why Brooklynites are happy to see this new exhibit, which gives a new perspective to the centuries-old art. 

“It’s really a beautiful job of recreating and, giving people who can’t go, the experience,” said Hansen.

The Sistine Chapel exhibit runs through January 5th. 

If you would like to buy tickets to the exhibit, you can head to https://chapelsistine.com/ and click on New York. 

You can also buy tickets at the door, it’s located at 900 Third avenue in Sunset Park. 

Pope Francis Sets Date for Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis

By Currents News

The long awaited moment has finally arrived: the announcement of the date on which the first millennial will be declared a saint.

Pope Francis says that in 2025, on the Day of Children and Adolescents, he will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis. The timeframe for his canonization will be during the Jubilee of Adolescents, April 25-27. Pope Francis did not say the exact date he will be choosing, but it could be Sunday, April 27.

Carlo Acutis died in 2006 of leukemia at only 15 years old. He lived a short life, but left his mark on the world.

“When he died, the funeral was full of poor people. Everyone wondered what they were doing there. It was because Carlo had secretly been helping them,” Postulator Nicola Gori  tells Currents News. “The family knew because as he was only 15, his mother was going with him. He brought them sleeping bags or food, and that’s why they felt they needed to attend the funeral.”

He not only stood out for his dedication to the poor, but he was the first saint to take religious advantage of the Internet by creating websites dedicated to Eucharistic miracles. Starting in 2025, Carlo Acutis will be held up as a model for the whole Church, especially for the young.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 11/19/2024

Hundreds of students across the Diocese of Brooklyn have yet to receive special education services for which they qualify for this school year. New York City Public Schools, which provides those services, says their hands are legally tied.

Thanksgiving is next week, but Friendsgiving is already happening in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with the San Damiano Mission.

The Vatican is using video game technology to tell the story of St. Peter’s Basilica in a new interactive exhibit.

Students at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights got the chance to interact with author Maryann McMahon.

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens Celebrates 125 Years of Service

By Currents News

Catholic Charities is celebrating 125 years of service in Brooklyn and Queens this year. Over the weekend of October 15, the Holy Father’s representative to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre celebrated a closing Mass at a packed Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on Sunday, November 17.

The Papal Nuncio reminded the hundreds of parishioners in the Prospect Heights church of why they provide the services and help they do throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn. 

Since Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens was founded in 1899, they have grown to become one of the largest faith based providers of affordable housing in the country: they currently sponsor more than 160 programs and services.

Diocese of Brooklyn Celebrates Puerto Rico’s Patron Saint

By Currents News 

On November 18 Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan led a celebration for the patron saint of Puerto Rico, Our Lady of Providencia.

The devotion of the faithful to Our Lady of Divine Providence first began in Italy in the 13th Century before locals began migrating to Spain and then Puerto Rico. 

In the diocese of immigrants Bishop Brennan spoke to young people about carrying on this long tradition of faith in advance of the official Feast Day of Our Lady of Divine Providence, which is November 19.

Diocese of Brooklyn Students Struggle to Receive School Support After Missed Paperwork Deadline

By Jessica Easthope

In the Diocese of Brooklyn, students are essentially being locked out of the academic help they require to thrive in class. A missed deadline for submitting paperwork and the legal barriers surrounding it have caused heartache for students and their families. Now, the use of those services for students are delayed, and progress has come to a screeching halt.

Over 250 students across the diocese’s elementary and high schools aren’t receiving the special education services they require after their letters of intent allowing private and parochial school students to get access to support provided by the public school system were signed and handed in after a June 1 deadline per part of the state’s legal process.

Luisa Manzo, Associate superintendent of Diocese of Brooklyn schools, says that this school year the June 1 deadline was strictly enforced. Though some families didn’t meet it, she knows there’s still a problem that needs to be solved.

“I think that deadlines are extremely important and that parents really need to respect them,” she tells Currents News. “However, right now, there is a serious issue.. whether it’s OT, whether it’s speech, without that support they’re kind of taking a step back.”

At. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Astoria, Queens, where student Joseph Salam goes to school, special education teacher support services provider Sabrina Cirabisi says she has a handful of students like him who she’s legally not allowed to interact with due to the missed form submission deadline. 

“Without that form, I am not able to provide them with any of their services,” she says. “You can basically see desperation in their eyes.”

Susan Salam and her son Joseph look at his good grades every single day before they head out the door to school. They keep him motivated to do well, but this year in 5th grade all the motivation in the world hasn’t changed his reality.

Without access to these resources, “school is hard,” Joseph admits. “ELA is hard. I’m failing science… I just think I need the services, because I’m struggling.”

The school’s principal Liz Reilly says the consequences of this will have lasting impacts. 

“The teacher moves forward and the divide between the students who can and the students who need help just grows,” she explains. 

New York City Public Schools say they’re committed to serving every child who needs it, but while Joseph waits, the goal of staying on track is slipping away. 

“This is damage that’s going to be irreversible,” says Cirabisi. “Self esteem suffers, their well-being suffers.”

Joseph’s mom is already seeing some of these effects in her son’s experience this academic year. “He did great last year, so why this year,” Salam asks. “My son is getting 50s and 40s and failing all his classes. “

“We spent three hours studying science and I got a bad grade,” he adds. “We spent hours on studying, and I still get a bad grade.”

Diocese of Brooklyn Superintendent Deacon Kevin McCormack says he understands the legal obligations of the New York City Public School system, but allowing bureaucratic red tape to hold up this kind of service is unacceptable. 

“We have to stop hiding behind rules and we have got to start dealing with human beings,” he says. “That’s what’s essential here. How are we going to take care of kids in need?” ]

Diocese of Brooklyn schools officials are continuing to push for these services. Currents News reached out to New York City Public Schools, and as of air time there is no date for these students to receive services again. 

The school system maintains their legal obligation is first to the families who had their paperwork in on time. 

While students are being offered extra help by their teachers, families are also taking extra measures, going into their own pockets to seek outside paid help from private tutors. 

That being said, the Diocese of Brooklyn is not pointing any fingers at parents who missed this deadline. They were notified of it, but they understand parents are sometimes inundated with emails and messaging can get lost in the mix. 

However, the deadline and this required form are part of state law, and legally it’s not possible for students to receive services until this paperwork is sorted out. 

The reality is that students won’t be able to meet the requirements they need to succeed in school until the circumstances improve. 

Musicians from Ukraine Perform Classical Music to Help Those Affected by War

By Katie Vasquez

The notes on this organ fill Our Lady of Refuge Church in Flatbush with music from Ukraine.

A reminder of home for musician Daria Maksymova.

“I would like to share my culture and to share my experience,” said Maksymova. 

The organist and pianist, along with baritone singer, Andrii Koshman are in New York for an amazing opportunity, interning at the Metropolitan Opera House. 

“It was my dream to participate in this internship program,” said Koshman. 

But as the symphony of music and singing builds in the church, they can’t help thinking of the sorrow back home. 

“I’m all the time on the phone with my family, and suddenly you want to start crying, but you need to go on stage,” said Maksymova. 

On Sunday, for the first time, President Biden authorized the use of powerful US long range weapons for Ukraine to fire inside Russia. 

“It was really a disaster in Ukraine, a lot of missiles were in our air,” said Koshman. 

While the concert was free, Daria and Andrii urged attendees to contribute to Ukraine Catholic University which has become a key figure in the war, helping veterans and civilians deal with trauma and mental health. 

Although she lives in Breezy Point, Ellen McDonald felt called to act. 

“If there’s any way we can help to rehabilitate these young men and the people that have been injured in this war, that in itself is a gift,” said McDonald.

As the war continues, Daria and Andrii will keep playing for peace in their homeland.

“I hope that it will end soon,” said Koshman. 

“We are going through hard times, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have light at the end of the tunnel,” said Maksymova. 

Both will be returning to Ukraine once their internship ends in December. 

If you would like to help, visit Ukraine Catholic University’s foundation website at:

https://ucufoundation.org/donate

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Change Turkey Distribution

by Katie Vasquez

It’s turkey time for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, as the non profit makes sure every table in the diocese has a bird this thanksgiving. 

“A record high, over 3,700, you know, so I think it will go to more people,” said Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, the President and CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. 

That number includes turkeys and chickens for more than 30 parishes. 

The organization made a change this year, instead of going to the churches, the churches are coming to them at the Msgr. Joseph Pfeiffer resource center in Howard Beach.

Parish officials pick up the birds and they hand them out to their church’s most needy. 

CCBQ CEO, Msgr. Alfred LoPinto saying the new system helps ensure more families get to enjoy the holiday staple, and it keeps the spirit of the season alive for the faithful. 

“People would be lined up from the day before and it would get a little raucous. and so, it just was not a very respectful way to treat people,” said Msgr. LoPinto.

Deacon Jean Rameau was picking up 90 turkeys for Holy Family-St Laurence church in Canarsie.

The Brooklyn church identified those with the greatest need including the homebound,low-income people and families.

“I think it’s the best way, the way we’re doing it this year. Because in the past, we go to the communities and, you know, distributed the turkeys, but. and then people from the parishes, those are in need, they didn’t get, they never get a chance to get their fair share,” said Deacon Rameau.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in Jamaica, Queens taking 150 birds for their parish, to help their food pantry and parishioners. 

“We have like 400 families in the CCD program. so we try to choose those who are, that have more difficulty,” said Father Victor Bolanos, Pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. 

Clergy saying the free birds are a much-needed help for their flocks.

“Any help that we can provide the communities in in any sense,” said Father Bolanos. 

“We’re going to help as many as we can, but the more we have and the more people we could help,” said Deacon Rameau. 

And for volunteers like Joe Reilly with Queens Local 45 Carpenters, it’s a chance to spread some holiday cheer, one turkey at a time. 

“There’s no greater feeling. I make a good living at what I do. and, you know, I’m not trying to be selfish about it. I’m just trying to pay it forward,” said Reilly.