A delegation of Haitian Catholics from here in the Diocese of Brooklyn journey to Del Rio, Texas, to aid the migrants on our border.
Half a million people signed a petition calling on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe -v- Wade.
We sat down with New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan to talk about Brooklyn’s new shepherd.
Currents News Staff
Bishop Brennan had plenty of support in the Diocese of Columbus, particularly with students.
John Lavenburg, national correspondent for The Tablet and Crux is in Bexley, Ohio. He caught up with some Catholic school officials in the Diocese of Columbus and discussed how the bishop-designate’s impact in Ohio will be felt here in Brooklyn and Queens.
By Jessica Easthope
Now is the time to strategize. A small advocacy group is pulling together lawyers, money, supplies and medication to the Haitian families who made it up from the Del Rio border – and for the families who remain. Despite reports, there are still hundreds at Customs and Border Protection processing centers.
“We went to advocate, we didn’t know there were going to be any Haitians to touch any Haitians to advocate for, but we weren’t prepared for the many ways that God opened doors,” said Elsie Saint Louis, the CEO and executive director of HAUP, Haitian Americans United for Progress.
Last week the group led by father Hilaire Belizaire with representatives from Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and HAUP, Haitian Americans United for Progress went down to Del Rio, Texas. For four days they helped migrants hoping to be received by families across the United States – they purchased plane tickets, called family members and mediated with ICE agents.
But the horrors of what migrants experienced stayed with them.
“They looked scared, they haven’t been eating for seven days, they haven’t showered,” said Father Hilaire.
“I saw my brothers and sisters in so much pain and misery and this is a crisis, it’s not a Haitian crisis, a black or white crisis but a humanitarian crisis,” said Deacon Jean Rameau.
Of the 15,000 Haitians who were camped out at the border, around 5,000 made it into the United States for processing and 1,000 made it to New York. But the Haitians already living here are suffering too, helpless in bringing their family into the country – only to see them return home to struggling Haiti.
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s painful, I put myself in their own shoes, they were seeking a place of refuge and now they’re going to a place with so much insecurity, that’s what keeps me up at night,” Father Hilaire said.
Now understanding the path forward – the group came back more energized than ever to help solve this crisis.
“The story’s not over, the Haitians are on the border and they need compassion and no Haiti cannot receive them, Haiti is too fragile,” Saint Louis said.
The group is meeting this week with members of congress to help the families here who need work and a place to stay, as well as those still hoping to make it out of Texas. According to U.S. immigration authorities 60 to 80,000 Haitians are still en route to the United States through South America.
By Emily Drooby
A delicate dance takes place as the hot end of a 3D printer slowly creates a finger at Monsignor McClancy Memorial high school in Elmhurst, Queens.
It’s an art class with a science component. However, for students, it’s so much more than just a class or a grade.
“It’s very exciting,” said Junior Nathan Atherley. “It kind of moves you a little bit to know that you’re still able to help another person.”
These students are lending a helping hand — literally by designing, creating and 3D printing functional limbs.
“It was important for us to not only show students that there are ways to use your skills in art in other ways but that they could be used potentially for service opportunities as well,” said art teacher Michael Savoca.
Learning while serving others is a key value of this Catholic school which is run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
It’s a “STEAM” program: science; technology; engineering; art and math, and it is coordinator Ann Smith’s dream. She finally got it up and running, but the pandemic hit right after and forced it into a hiatus.
“And the kids in this class, they remember when we started this project and they also remember when we had to stop,” Ann said. “So, I think it’s going to mean even more to them that they’re going to be the ones to take that torch and go with it.”
With the program finally back up and running, the students are working on their second prototype.
Soon, they’ll be finding an actual recipient for the prosthetic limb.
“I think it’s definitely a cool feeling of knowing that something we are working on in school hours can potentially help someone outside of our school,” senior Anna Dobrzanska explained.
A unique art class that’s teaching students and serving a greater purpose.
By Emily Drooby
Any given day at the Chinese American Planning Council, or the CPC, immigrants from all over Brooklyn receive help.
Now, that help includes recovering from a disaster.
Tropical storm Ida devastated parts of New York, causing families to lose everything. FEMA is providing grants to help victims get back on their feet, but a whole community is being left out.
“When folks reached out a lot of people from the undocumented community were finding out they were not eligible for any of these grants,” explained Steve Mei. He’s the director of CPC Brooklyn Community Services.
The storm left undocumented New Yorkers very vulnerable, with no help finding new housing, replacing furniture or paying for funerals.
So the city and state stepped up – creating a 27-million-dollar fund to address this.
Steve said, “This will go a long way in terms of not only making folks be able to survive but be able to house them.”
The most one can get is $72,000 dollars; $36,000 for housing and $36,000 for other needs.
Five other non-profits throughout the city, upstate and Long Island are handling requests for their area. In the Bronx, Catholics are in charge. Catholic Charities New York is handling the requests there.
“These are families that really were left without anything. Their basements were flooded, their cars were flooded and they really have no other recourse,” explained Beatriz Diaz Taveras, the executive director of Catholic Charities NY Community Services. She added, “This is such a relief a welcome relief.”
The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Bishop-Designate Robert Brennan got a big “Welcome Back” from the diocese in New York where he was raised, educated and began his very ministry as a priest.
Retiring Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was singled out for special honor over the weekend at Catholic Migration Services’ annual Shining Star Dinner.
Bishop DiMarzio attended the Italian Apostolate procession and celebrated Mass in honor of Mother Cabrini.
Many New Yorkers are still struggling after this summer’s terrible flooding from Tropical Storm Ida and one group in particular – undocumented immigrants – have been overlooked when it comes to financial aid.
By Jessica Easthope
Catholic Migration Services’ annual Shining Star dinner was different than in years past – there were less people but the message of inclusion and diversity in the Diocese of Brooklyn remained.
Instead of honoring individuals from each of the ethnic apostolates like usual – there was only one honoree this year, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
Bishop DiMarzio was recognized for his 25th episcopal anniversary and his years of advocacy on behalf of immigrants in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Catholic Migration Services was also honored for 50 years of helping and uplifting the more than two million immigrants of all races and religions who call the diocese home.
“It shows that we really do have a unity that’s unique to be able to do this here in Brooklyn,” Bishop DiMarzio said.
We have this wonderful organization to not just meet legal needs but pastoral needs and live out the gospel message of welcoming the stranger,” said Father Patrick Keating, the CEO of Catholic Migration Services.
There are millions of people on the move every day in the world and I think it’s going to be part of our future, part of our life,” said Msgr. Ronald Marino who founded the annual dinner.
The Shining Star dinner, which is normally held in two sessions, is Catholic Migration Services’ biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the dinner go toward keeping legal services free for immigrants in need.
By Jessica Easthope
The Diocese of Rockville Centre is rejoicing – one of their own is back in New York.
For more than 50 years, Bishop Robert Brennan called the diocese home, now those who know him best are calling him the right man to be bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
“Bishop Brennan is embracing and saying yeah this is where the Holy Spirit wants me to be,” said Msgr. Jim Vlaun, the president and CEO of the Catholic Faith Network.
Msgr. Vlaun and Bishop Brennan knew each other long before they discerned their calls to the priesthood. They knew each other in high school at St. John the Baptist in West Islip. Msgr. Vlaun says though he’ll miss Columbus, he knows Bishop Brennan will serve Brooklyn with his whole heart.
“I think that’s what Bishop Brennan experienced, how could I leave these people but in that charism I think there’s that missionary spirit that says yes Lord, I will do what you ask,” Msgr. Vlaun said.
Bishop Bill Murphy met Bishop Brennan years later at St. Agnes Cathedral, when he was installed as the Bishop of Rockville Centre, Bishop Brennan – his auxiliary bishop and secretary, then vicar general and moderator of the curia, the two were side-by-side for 16 years.
“He just brought a fresh look to everything and he was a very wise counsellor for me,” Bishop Murphy said.
But Bishop Murphy says the man he affectionately calls Bob showed his true colors when important titles didn’t stop him from following his ministry – he asked to be assigned to a parish as a pastor.
“That’s the kind of man I’d want to have in a leading position, he’s a priest to his core,” he said.
As for the people who looked to him as a spiritual leader, they’re telling parishioners in Brooklyn – you’re the lucky ones now.
“He was just a terrific young priest and he helped me through some bad times that I had,” said Kathleen Murray.
“He always had time for everybody no matter what he was doing, he’s a bishop for all people and they’re just so very lucky to have him,” Teresa Manning said.
Church officials in Rockville Centre say Bishop Brennan’s biggest challenge will be the same one all priests face – to evangelize, but he’s the person to take it on.
Next on this special edition of Currents News: a new era begins.
Pope Francis names Robert Brennan the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
And a fond farewell to Brooklyn’s retiring seventh Bishop, Nicholas DiMarzio.
Currents News Staff and Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — All Christians are called to be missionaries, which at its most basic level involves living in such a way that other people ask what motivates their love and concern, Pope Francis said.
“Jesus asks us all, and you as well, to be missionary disciples. Are you ready?” the pontiff asked in a video marking the beginning of the church’s annual celebration of October as Mission Month. World Mission Sunday is Oct. 24.
Every Christian is called to be a missionary, Pope Francis said in in the video as the church’s mission month begins Oct. 1, 2021. (CNS screenshot/Pope’s Worldwide Network via YouTube)
The Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of October is: “We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavor of the Gospel.”
The intention and the pontiff’s video commenting on it are distributed by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer.
To be a missionary, Pope Francis said in the video, “it’s enough to be available to answer his call and to live united to the Lord in the most common daily things — work, meeting other people, our daily duties, the chance events of each day — allowing ourselves to be guided always by the Holy Spirit.”
The way a Christian lives should provoke admiration in others, he said. Then they will ask, “How is it possible for this person to be this way?” or “What is the source of the love with which this person treats everyone — the kindness and good humor?”
Evangelization or missionary activity is not about forcing or coercing anyone, he said. “Mission is based on an encounter between people, on the testimony of men and women who say, ‘I know Jesus, and I’d like you to know him too.”