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Diocesan School Enrollments Up Overall as the New School Year Kicks Off

By Emily Drooby

Students were back in Samentha Samuel’s classroom for the first day of school wearing uniforms and masks,

“I’m happy to be back in the building,” Samentha said. “I’m glad that the kids are able to come back. There’s such a comradery and a communal feel here.”

She’s a teacher at St. Clare Catholic Academy in Rosedale, Queens.

Student Jennifer Pinnock said she has fun at school.

“I like that there’s very fun teachers and we do a lot of fun stuff,” Jennifer said. “Sometimes there’s a lot of work, but it’s still fun.”

School principal Mary Rafferty-Basile said she had to figure out a way to replace last year’s fear and nerves with confidence. The result led to a successful pandemic school year under their belt.

That confidence is still showing – now through their enrollment numbers that are up almost 10 percent.

“Because we are so successful last year, I really feel that parents know we have the safety of their children, top priority,” Mary said. “And so, because of that, the children are safe, they learn. It’s a great environment and word gets around.

They’re not alone. For the first time in a decade, schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn are seeing overall growth – 60 percent of them have seen an increase in enrollment.

It’s also the first summer in a while that a Catholic academy didn’t permanently close.

As for the Vicar for Catholic Schools, Monsignor David Cassato, he thinks it has something to do with how they handled the pandemic.

“We were able to keep our schools open,” Msgr. Cassato said. “Parents saw us and saw how good we were doing it, and I think that’s what opened their eyes to Catholic education.”

The uptick is a trend that he, and schools across the diocese, hope continues into next year.

President Biden Visits Queens Neighborhoods Affected by Flooding as Residents Ask for Federal Help

By Emily Drooby

It’s been almost a week since Tropical Storm Ida brought extreme flooding to Queens. As President Biden prepared to visit the borough, a neighborhood in Flushing was still picking up the pieces of their shattered homes.

“In ten minutes, everything’s a disaster,” said Marco Velasco. “Everything I lost, everything, the water was coming very fast.”

The entire basement and first floor of his home were destroyed by the flood waters. His family narrowly escaped death on the second floor of their home, but some of his neighbors didn’t.

Marco and his family are now staying at a hotel thanks to the Red Cross, but unfortunately, that ends soon. He said the damp smell in his home is what’s left.

“But after that,” Marco said, “I have nowhere to live now, in this situation with the smell.”

The Catholic man tells Currents News that his homeowners insurance doesn’t cover this flooding damage. He has no idea what he’s going to do. Like many, he’s planning to rely on FEMA for aid.

For now, some hope is being brought to Marco and his neighbors during a presidential visit to New York and New Jersey on Tuesday, Sept. 7. President Biden toured storm damage in both states and called for federal aid in order to fortify infrastructure so it can withstand any future powerful storms.

The president told reporters, “We’re at one of those inflection points where we either act or we are going to be in real, real trouble.”

Over the weekend, Biden approved disaster declarations in New York, which means those affected in Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, and Westchester counties can receive federal funds.

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced additional relief and extended emergency shelter services.

Currents News Update for Tuesday, 9/7/21

President Biden visited Queens today and got a first-hand look at all of the damage done by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Pope Francis met with young refugees from Afghanistan. He’s praying that many countries take in these refugees and that young Afghans will be able to receive an education.

Many women were among the crowds that gathered in Kabul to protest against the Taliban. We spoke with a teacher in Afghanistan who has been an outspoken advocate for girls.

With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 right around the corner, the annual “Walk of Remembrance” was held over the weekend at St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan.

Biden Visits Storm-Ravaged Areas of New York and New Jersey

Currents News Staff

One week after Hurricane Ida first made landfall, killing more than a dozen people in Louisiana and Mississippi and causing widespread flooding half a nation away, those in the storm’s path are still reeling and picking up the pieces.

Barbara Amarantinis is from Queens.

“Everybody’s personal belongings are out on the street and we’ve seen what it looks like down South after a hurricane,” Barbara said. “This is what Queens looks like today. It’s horrible.”

In the northeast, the full impact is still unknown.

“If you drive around Queens,” Barbara said, “it looks like a bomb went off.”

After Ida unleashed devastating floods it left dozens dead in at least six states and more than two dozen in New Jersey alone.

“The last four days have been so devastating to so many families with more than 130 properties damaged,” said Lou Manzo, the mayor of New Jersey’s Harrison Township. “Thirty-five completely destroyed families uprooted, infrastructure affected, poles down.”

In Louisiana, some of the hardest hit areas are still feeling the heat with no power. 

“We know there are a lot of people out there who are in fact hurting,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Please take advantage of cooling shelters, if you can. Run your generators if you have them, but do it safely.”

In some areas of the Bayou State, it could be weeks before all power is restored.

 

Catholic Priest and 9/11 Hero, Father Mychal Judge, Remembered During Walk Held in Manhattan

By Emily Drooby

Hundreds of people marched in silence while color guard commands and footsteps were the only sounds. It was an eerie scene in such a loud city as this group honored the life of Catholic priest and American hero, Father Mychal Judge.

Father James Hansen calls him a role model.

“Father Mychal Judge and what he did on September 11, I think is exactly what priests do,” he said. “They lay their life down for their flock.”

As an FDNY chaplain, on September 11, Father Judge left St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan for the Twin Towers. He spent his time there, providing comfort and prayers for New York’s bravest. Firefighter Sal Cassano was with him.

“We looked at each other, and a head nod to each other, and said it’s going to be a tough day, Father Mike, I think we are going to need a lot more chaplains, but he just went about his business,” Sal said. “He was going to shepard all of us up to heaven one day. And that’s what he was doing that day, taking care of his flock.”

Father Judge gave his life for his flock after being injured at the site. His body was eventually found and brought to St. Peter’s Church.

The Walk of Remembrance starts at St. Francis of Assisi Church near Penn Station with a Mass and the rosary, explained walk organizer, John Bates.

“We say the rosary, which is what Father Mychal Judge was doing that morning in the towers,” John said. “We do that to honor him and of course honor Mary.”

Then they walk almost three miles, all the way down to St Peter’s Church in the Financial District. Throughout the walk, they make stops along the way to honor the lives lost that day and the lives lost to illnesses since.

Marcher Bob Hickey was a life-long friend. He now helps his family run the non-profit Mychal’s Message. It was started by his granddaughter when she was only 11. She had a close relationship with Father Judge, formed while she was battling a deadly illness.

Bob still remembers finding out his friend was gone.

“Yeah, I was numb, what had happened it was like disbelief,” Bob said. “I knew he would be there, but you never think a friend is going to die, you just don’t…when I found out exactly how it happened, I wasn’t surprised. He’s there helping people, he’s there doing what he always did.”

The walk was also started by another friend of Father Judge, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald who was paralyzed after being shot on the job. Det. McDonald died in 2017, over 30 years after sustaining his injuries.

Even though Det. McDonald is no longer on this earth, this walk and memorial he created for his friend, carries the torch.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 9/3/21

The city is spending the long weekend recovering from its first ever flash flood emergency.

Tens of thousands fled Afghanistan, but what of those left behind?

The faithful paying last respects to Guy Sansaricq, the first Haitian bishop in the U.S.

Currents News Update for Thursday, 9/2/21

The city is bailing out, after Wednesday night’s fast-moving remnants of Ida raced up the east coast, killing more than a dozen people in New York and New Jersey alone.

A final farewell to America’s first Haitian born bishop. The Mass of Christian burial was held Thursday for Bishop Guy Sansaricq.

Bishop Guy Sansaricq’s Mass of Christian Burial at Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

By Jessica Easthope

The loss of a gentle, patient and holy priest leaves a great void in the Diocese of Brooklyn,  that’s what those who knew Bishop Guy Sansaricq best said, September 2, at his mass of Christian burial.

“Bishop Sansaricq is my old friend, I know him with humility and kindness,” said Bishop Glandas Toussaint of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The mass was held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights. Hundreds of men and women religious, as well as family, friends and parishioners came to mourn the man they say lived life with an important purpose.

In the days leading up to his death on August 21, Bishop Sansaricq was doing what he always did when the people of Haiti needed help – mobilizing quickly and turning all his attention to recovery after the devastating earthquake.

“He died preparing a collection for Haiti and so I can say now his legacy was for Haitian people to be more involved, it’s not only for collections but to try to sustain hope for Haitian people,” said Bishop Pierre Dumas of the Diocese of Nippes, Haiti.

When it came to uplifting the Haitian people both in Haiti and here in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Sansaricq’s work was never done, a point of pride for Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who called him a brother and confidant.

“He wants to show the advancement of the Haitian people which is a boost for them too that they made it, they’ve lived the American dream and are successful,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Bishop Sansaricq focused on the resilience of the Haitian people and allowed those living here to hold tight to their roots.

“If we try to take the legacy of Bishop Sansaricq we become more compassionate men and women, and that means to take care of Haitian people and talk about what happens there and to not forget Haiti,” said Bishop Dumas.

At the end of his funeral mass the Co-Cathedral erupted in applause – people thanking him for his service to the Diocese of Brooklyn and Haitians everywhere. Bishop Sansaricq’s love and hope for the country and its people is his legacy.

Parishioners and Clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn Clean-Up After Massive Flooding Caused by Ida

By Emily Drooby

It was a difficult site to witness inside St. Mary’s Winfield Church in Woodside, Queens. Five feet of water filled doorways that was down from the original seven feet. The pastor, Father Christopher O’Connor, took us on a tour of the damage.

He explained, “Water was just gushing from the outside in, I put a 40-gallon garbage can trying to catch the water but it filled in 30 seconds.”

The street behind the Woodside, Queens church flooded so badly that a car ended up on a fire hydrant.

The water came quickly – so quickly that nothing in the lower church could be saved. That includes their brand-new Adoration Chapel with a one of a kind Tabernacle Monstrance and restored 150-year-old pews.

“A lot of my people were crying this morning,” said Father O’Connor. He added, “It was really a work of art, and it was a beautiful place of prayer, and now it’s underwater.”

Long-time parishioner, Angel Marengo, stopped by the church to help.

“With the help of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, we will overcome this. It’s just a test of how much faith we have,” he said while speaking with Currents News about the damage.

Wednesday’s storm dumped between three and eight inches of rain across Brooklyn and Queens. Clergy and parishioners scrambled to clear it, like at Cathedral Preparatory.

Father James Kuroly, the rector-president said, “I came down here to the back door where there was a massive amount of water coming in through the doors, downstairs, and into the cafeteria.”

The water was since been drained thanks to their dedicated maintenance staff. However, the damage remains; destroyed floors, ceilings and items.

In Bath Beach, Brooklyn, the staff at St. Frances Cabrini church spent their morning clearing their flooded church. While in Williamsburg, the team at Our Lady of Mount Carmel had to drain both the parish hall and their school.