2024

The annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner brought humor and generosity to Manhattan, raising millions for kids in need in the Archdiocese of New York. While former President Donald Trump attended in person and delivered a speech, Vice President Kamala Harris sent her remarks via video. The event has become a tradition during the election seasons.

Denise Reicino is the new principal at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens. With most students being undocumented, Reicino is determined to bring structure and faith to the school community. See how she is making a difference in Currents News’ series introducing you to the new principals in diocesan schools.

In honor of World Mission Sunday, Brooklyn’s Bishop Robert Brennan highlights the incredible work of Church missionaries across the globe on his podcast, “Big City Catholics.”

Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Opens New Science Lab, Igniting Student Curiosity and Exploration

By Katie Vasquez

Seventh graders at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy are suiting up in lab coats and goggles, diving into hands-on experiments thanks to a newly established science lab.

The state-of-the-art facility offers students an immersive learning experience, allowing them to explore scientific concepts that go beyond what was possible in a traditional classroom.

“I was really happy, especially knowing there’s so much to learn in science,” said seventh grader Noah Palmer, excited about the lab’s potential.

The lab has sparked student interest, with many, like Robert Palmese, envisioning future careers in fields like medicine and research.

The school’s science program came to life with the help of equipment from two closed Catholic schools, Salve Regina in East New York and Holy Angels in Bay Ridge.

Principal Paul Morisi described the lab’s creation as a “resurrection” of those schools’ programs, bringing new energy to Bay Ridge Catholic’s science curriculum.

Parents like Daniel McKenna played a crucial role, volunteering to transport the equipment from the shuttered schools, creating a strong sense of community involvement.

With this collaborative effort, Bay Ridge Catholic students are now well-equipped to explore the wonders of science in their very own lab.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 10/17/2024

Thursday night is the iconic Al Smith Dinner in New York City, which will help raise funds for needy children in the Archdiocese of New York. The event will be hosted by Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan, and former President Donald Trump will attend.

“Every Life: Why We March” will be the them for the 2025 March for Life. Organizers hope to inspire renewed passion within the pro-life movement.

Pope Francis will release his memoir “Hope” in January. It’s the first by a sitting pope. Originally planned for a posthumous release, it’s set to debut during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

Meet the future scientists of Brooklyn. Bay Ridge Catholic Academy unveils its new science lab, equipped with resources from two closed schools, Salve Regina and Holy Angels. Students are loving their hands-on learning experience.

St. Mel’s Catholic Academy Welcomes New Principal to Lead School’s Growth and Success

By Jessica Easthope

St. Mel’s Catholic Academy is excited to introduce its new principal, Lauren Giacalone, who is ready to make an impact.

Giacalone is looking to not only help students grow but to grow alongside them.

“I’m in the classrooms all the time. That’s where I belong,” Giacalone shares. “I want the children to know me, and I want to know them. I want to help with a lesson where a child is struggling.”

Giacalone wants to be seen and accessible to everyone in the school, both staff and students.

Her goal is to make a meaningful difference in their lives.

St. Mel’s journey has been one of resilience.

Once at risk of closure, the school was able to maintain and expand.

The 3rd graders, who were once the oldest in the school, will soon be the first 8th grade class, restoring the school’s full grade structure.

Since becoming principal, Giacalone immediately felt a deep sense of acceptance.

“This building has such a sense of home and family,” she said. “Everyone has taken me in as if I’ve been here forever.”

Her mission is clear: to be the kind of educator who makes a lasting difference.

“I need to be the person who remembers each child, their story, and who they are,” Giacalone said. “That’s what changes lives,” she says.

Giacalone’s passion for Catholic education shines through as she embarks on this journey at St. Mel’s, determined to leave a lasting impact on her students and community.

Thousands Still Without Power as Catholic Churches in Florida Support Recovery Efforts After Hurricane Milton

Florida continues its recovery in the wake of Hurricane Milton’s devastation. As of Monday, Oct. 14, nearly 400,000 people remain without power, a significant drop from the nearly four million immediately after the storm hit.

Despite ongoing power outages, at least 13 Catholic churches in the Diocese of St. Petersburg held Mass over the weekend. These parishes not only opened their doors for worship but also offered critical aid to their communities, providing supplies and temporary shelter to those in need.

Hurricane Milton has left behind an estimated $160 billion in property damage and economic loss, making it one of the most destructive storms in Florida’s history. The long-term impact on homeowners and insurance rates remains uncertain, with potential changes expected next year.

Father Chuck Dornquast, the Vocations Director for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, is on the ground helping with recovery efforts. He joins Currents News to share his experience and insights as he and others help communities rebuild after the storm.

Annual Eucharistic Procession Through Midtown Manhattan Draws Thousands

By Katie Vasquez

Thousands of New Yorkers experienced a unique sight during the evening rush hour as a Eucharistic procession, led by priests, sisters, and laypeople, wound its way through the streets of Midtown Manhattan.

The procession, starting at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and passing Radio City Music Hall, brought the Body of Christ into the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities.

Kasia Domaraezka, visiting from Poland, expressed her emotions while witnessing the event.

“I really feel very touched by this,” Domaraezka said. “And I kneeled when I saw … the body of Christ.”

The event, organized by the Napa Institute, aims to inspire faith through public displays of devotion.

“It’s going out to touch people with Jesus in the real presence … and the Holy Spirit is working to bring these people into the faith,” said Tim Busch, founder of the Napa Institute.

Since its inception four years ago, the procession has seen growing popularity, with nearly 2 million online views.

For many participants, it’s a recurring experience.

“I’ve come here before … and there’s actually a lot more people,” said Joseph Herrera, a sophomore at Cathedral Prep School and Seminary in Elmhurst..

Inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the faithful prepared with prayer, including the rosary and a Holy Hour. Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary, emphasized the spiritual importance of the procession.

“In the midst of it, we are putting out to the deep,” Msgr. Shea said. “We are going all out for Jesus.”

One of the highlights for many was the opportunity to venerate a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a Millennial soon to be canonized as a saint.

“It’s a beautiful thing because next year, he’s going to be canonized a saint,” Busch said.

This moment was particularly special for Zoe Dongas, a perpetual pilgrim who has traveled across the country for the Eucharistic Revival.

“To get to experience that with the people of my city, to proclaim Jesus from the streets, there’s no higher honor,” Dongas said.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 10/16/2024

Thousands gathered for the fourth annual Eucharistic Procession, stopping traffic in Midtown Manhattan as they walked with the Body of Christ from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Participants shared their faith as they navigated through the bustling city streets during rush hour.

In Florida, thousands remain without power after the devastation caused by back-to-back storms, though recovery efforts are in full swing. While some churches faced severe flooding, others are providing shelter, masses and essential supplies for those in need.

Meet Father Chuck Dornquast, the Vocations Director of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, who is on the ground assisting with relief efforts in Florida. Hear his firsthand account of the situation and how we can all help.

Lauren Giacalone, the new principal at St. Mel’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, discusses her vision for the school and what it means to serve the Diocese of Brooklyn community in Currents News’ series introducing you to the new principals in diocesan schools.

Non-Profit ‘Called’ Reimagines Preaching in the Catholic Church

By Jessica Easthope

A unique retreat is bringing together clergy and lay people to reshape their approach to preaching in the Catholic Church.

Organized by ‘Called,’ a nonprofit focused on transforming how the church engages its followers, the “Attentive Heart” retreat, held at the Thomas Berry Place in Jamaica Estates, New York, is aimed at empowering individuals to share their faith in new ways.

Father John Gribowich, the director of the Called Curriculum Team, highlights the retreat as a response to the crisis of ineffective preaching in the Catholic Church.

“This retreat is about how we communicate in a compelling way what God is doing in our lives,” he said.

Attendees from across the country gathered to share their experiences, listen, and learn to preach from the heart.

For some, like Father Andrew Dutko, this retreat is part of a personal journey of healing.

Father Dutko, who lost his wife Barbara in 2011, shared his emotional story.

“I woke up one day, and my life changed,” Father Dutko. “It still hits me in the stomach when I think about it, but my love for God never wavered.”

Others, like Christine Turner, found solace after experiencing profound loss.

Christine’s son Will died by suicide ten years ago, and the pain left her searching for spiritual meaning.

“I was feeling disconnected from the homilies I heard in church,” Turner said. “This retreat has taught me how to see God’s presence in my life, and it’s been incredibly healing for me.”

At its core, the retreat aims to encourage participants to recognize that anyone can preach, according to Kathy Lorentz, a member of the Called team.

“This retreat helps people realize that preaching isn’t just for the pulpit,” Lorenz said. “We all have the power to preach in our everyday lives.”

The next “Attentive Heart” retreat is scheduled for March. For more information, visit SundaytoSunday.net.

Columbus Day Parade Celebrates 80th Year of Italian Pride

The 80th Annual Columbus Day Parade took place on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Monday, Oct. 14, and the Diocese of Brooklyn put its stamp on the event in a big way.

The grand marshal, Michael T. Strianese, is a graduate of two schools within the diocese’s borders — Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge and St. John’s University in Jamaica.

“It’s a great day for Italians in New York and a great day for Brooklyn!” said Strianese, the retired chairman and CEO of L3 Technologies Inc., a global aerospace company.

He rode the parade route in a white Maserati.

The grandest of Columbus Day parades featured 25,000 marchers, including dancers, twirlers, and marching bands.

The march also featured plenty of colorful floats, many of which were blaring the “Tarantella” from their loudspeakers as people riding aboard bounced to the lively beat.

Greeting the parade participants, which included students from Xaverian and St. John’s, were hundreds of thousands of spectators who cheered along the route that ran up Fifth Avenue from 42nd Street to 72nd Street.

One of those spectators was Maria Nunzio, an Italian-American who lives in Ridgewood and is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church.

Nunzio and her friends draped an Italian flag over a sidewalk barricade to honor the heritage of Christopher Columbus.

“This is so beautiful! I love it so much!” she said.

The day began with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Afterward, he commented, “On St. Patrick’s Day, we say we’re all Irish. Today, we are all Italian.”

Cardinal Dolan noted that the Catholic Church and the Italian-American community enjoy close ties that date back many decades.

He recalled what former mayor Ed Koch told him when he first came to New York as the archbishop in 2009.

“When the immigrants came, two women welcomed them — Lady Liberty and the Mother Church,” Cardinal Dolan recalled.

For many, Columbus Day has taken on a much larger meaning than Christopher Columbus himself. It’s a day for Italian-American pride.

Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, delivered the homily at Mass.

He called Columbus “a great man who changed history” and praised the contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States.

John Mazzola, a parishioner of St. Finbar Church in Bath Beach, said the day filled him with a sense of pride as an Italian-American and as the son of immigrants.

“Today is a beautiful day for Italian pride,” Mazzola said.

“My father came here in 1956 on the Cristopher Columbus [ship]. He came here on a cold day in March,” he added, explaining that his dad, Francesco Mazzola, survived a storm at sea. “I’m very proud to be here.”

Several St. John’s students were eager to ride the university’s float along the parade route, dancing to the music even before their float joined the line of march. For Anthony Brandimarte, a junior, the parade allowed different parts of New York’s Italian-American community to come together.

“It’s a chance to share our culture and our identity,” Brandimarte said.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 10/15/2024

New Yorkers celebrated Italian-American heritage at the 80th Annual Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan. Tens of thousands of participants proudly marched down Fifth Avenue, with nearly a million spectators lining the streets.

New York City has even more Italian culture on display as the Italian American Museum officially opened its doors in Manhattan. Discover the inspiring story of Maria Pulsone, a symbol of the American Dream, featured right at the museum’s entrance.

In Corona, Queens, the feast day of Blessed Carlo Acutis was honored with the unveiling of a statue at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Hundreds of youth gathered for the event, as Acutis is expected to be canonized next year.

Explore how a nonprofit organization, ‘CALLED,’ is transforming the way preaching is approached in the Catholic Church, empowering both clergy and lay people through their innovative retreats.