Pop-Up Exhibit in New York City Gives Special Insight into Mother Cabrini’s Life

By Emily Drooby

Tucked away at the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in northern Manhattan, there is a room filled with relics of Mother Cabrini. It’s a pop-up exhibit, perfectly timed for the saint’s birthday that marks 75 years since her canonization.

Inside the treasure trove, you can find a calling card, her clothes, a bed she slept in – all items the saint owned or used often.

Her laundry mark adorns her sheets and even her socks. Marking clothes was how the sisters identified who owned what, since their linens were identical.

Yet, inside one room is the most important relic of all: her body.

Executive Director Julia Attaway says every year thousands come here for a chance to feel closer to the beloved saint.

“With a saint as a Catholic, those are our heroes and we want to be in contact with those who are great in that way because we can learn from them,” Julia said. “We can hopefully imagine that we can become great too.”

Now, visitors can feel even closer and learn even more about the saint who built orphanages, schools, hospitals and served the Italian immigrant community in New York City.

This pop-up gives a glimpse into who she really was, through things like the size of her frock.

“And when you stand near it, you realize she was really tiny, she was really a little thing,” explained Julia. “Her immigration papers when she became a citizen, it says that she was 5 feet tall.”

She added, “I like the fact that she was so little and so strong.”

The space is filled with little gems of knowledge that a person can’t get from a photo.

Sister Antonina Avitabile is a Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is part of the congregation that Mother Cabrini founded.

“She was human,” Sister Antonina said. “She ate like we did, she slept like we did, she was a person…if Mother could do so many good things, we can too.”

First Class Relic Belonging to Blessed Carlo Acutis Arrives in Diocese of Brooklyn

By Jessica Easthope

The relic of the first millennial considered for sainthood will travel to Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, then will be displayed at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Bayside, Queens.

Seven small strands of hair belonging to Blessed Carlo Acutis were presented to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Wednesday, July 14. Thanks to the Queens’ church’s pastor, Msgr. Thomas Machalski, the relic is here to stay. He asked Bishop DiMarzio to request it with one thing in mind: evangelization.

“He used the internet for evangelization and now we have to use what he began and use his example to help change,” said Msgr. Machalski.

Acutis was a tech savvy, normal kid with a life cut tragically short. He died a week after being diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 15. The miracle that led to the Italian teen’s beatification involves a young Brazilian boy who was healed of a rare disorder after touching another of Acutis’ relics – a piece of clothing.

Acutis is admired for using the internet for good and bringing people closer to Christ through the Eucharist.

“Young people can seek holiness in their lives,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “This kid was a regular kid, wore what everybody else did. He was on the internet, everything young people did he did.”

With Acutis’ relics traveling to all of the schools throughout the diocese, young people will get to tap into their own holiness and realize that sainthood looks a lot like they do.

“We need saints that speak to the young people,” said Msgr. David Cassato, Vicar for Catholic Schools. “And he speaks to young people and the miracle is going to happen in Brooklyn.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 7/14/21

The first millennial, a teenager just like your own son or daughter, beatified by the Catholic church. Carlo Acutis’ relic is now in the Diocese of Brooklyn –– find out where you can see it.

An update on the papal progress report: Pope Francis is ready to head back to the Vatican, but not before a pit stop.

Bishops are fighting against what they call the “most extreme” pro-abortion bill they have ever seen –– see how you can take a stand for life.

One Brooklyn woman has already taken that fight into her own hands by trying to bring hope to women right before they enter an abortion clinic.

Brooklyn Woman Has Devoted Years of her Life to the Pro-Life Movement as a Sidewalk Counselor

By Currents News Staff

It’s a walk Rose has taken for years. With a cross to proclaim her faith and gloves to protect her health, day after day, she stands outside of a Brooklyn abortion clinic.

Rose tells Currents News the key to being able to come back day after day, is to, “Never, never give up on the fact that we can reach these women. But we have to do it with love.”

Rose hasn’t given up, “What am I doing that’s more important, even if it’s just prayer, someone has to be there to pray for these women.”

She started praying years ago, with Monsignor Philip Reilly and the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, a pro-life group that runs in the Diocese of Brooklyn. They’re working where they’re needed most.

New York City is often called the abortion capital of the country. Its where 50,000 of the states 80,000 yearly abortions happen. That’s according to the Susan B. Anthony List, a nonprofit that seeks to end abortion.

Three hours a day, four days a week, Rose stands here, fighting to change that.

It’s a calling that is not without its dangers. She has been threatened.

Rose says, “But then one time one of them says, you’re all alone. Who do you got here, you’re all alone. I said, I have Jesus, Mary and Joseph.”

It’s why Rose asked Currents News not to use her last name, a way to keep her safe.

But despite the dangers – she always comes back – driven by the success stories.

Rose explains, “But she came to the place two or three times, and then on the final visit she said, ‘I can’t do it.’ Praise the Lord, and that gives you encouragement. It doesn’t seem that you’re doing anything, but you never, never, never know.”

Standing quietly on the sidewalk, as women enter the center, she hands out rosaries and pamphlets with information for local pregnancy centers.

One of them – the Life Center of New York in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Their executive director, Fred Trabulsi explains, “Since we are working with Rose in the last six months or more, we have had maybe, four turn arounds, through Rose’s instrumentation.”

Fred says when he looks at her, he sees a possible future saint.

Bishop Octavio Cisneros Fears Situation in Cuba May Reach Dangerous Flashpoint

Currents News Staff

There are unprecedented protests taking place in Cuba. The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Octavio Cisneros knows first-hand about the brutal dictatorship that has had a grip on his homeland for more than 60 years.

Bishop Cisneros joined Currents News to talk about what’s ahead for the Cuban people in their fight for freedom and human rights.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 7/13/21

Heavy police patrols in Cuba as the government tries to quell the growing civil unrest in the country. Brooklyn Bishop Ocativo Cisnero, a Cuban native, explains the dire situation there.

Pope Francis is still going strong on his road to recovery. His hospital release date, however, remains unknown.

Get-well wishes and prayers seem to have worked for both the Holy Father and an educator recovering from COVID-19.

A Catholic nun celebrates a milestone anniversary with a former student, turned priest!

St. Peter’s Boys High School Principal Out of COVID-19 Coma

By Jessica Easthope

Signum fidei – it means “a sign of faith” and for the last month, that’s what Ray Cosentino has been looking for as his younger brother Mike fights for his life against COVID-19.

“The fear of losing someone you love is scary and the whole process of not knowing what’s going to happen,” Ray said. “The stress and anxiety level, it’s been hard.”

The Latin phrase is the motto of St. Peter’s Boys High School on Staten Island. It’s the school where both Ray and Mike attended and coach football. It’s also where Mike serves as the school principal. Now, after weeks of being in a coma – Mike is awake.

“Him coming out of the induced coma has all happened in the last 48, 72 hours and it’s a huge relief,” Ray said. “You get excited, but you have to remind yourself he has a long way to go.”

During the most stressful time in their lives, Ray and members of his family have been coming to the school’s grotto to plant flowers, light candles and read the signs students have been leaving. More than a year after the 35-year-old father-of-four delivered a pandemic message of hope and strength to his students, the disease had Mike in its grips in a flash.

“Mike’s always on his phone, busy, responding to people,” Ray said. “I called and checked-in. Everything just led to him going to the hospital and when he got there, it was a real concern.”

Coming to the grotto to pray is what got the Cosentino family through. Now, they want to make the space more beautiful for others. They say it’s prayers from people they’ve never met that helped Mike out of the thick of his coronavirus battle and will hopefully bring him home.

“There’s been a novena that went on for nine days and there’s still a Zoom prayer every night,” Ray said. “What do you say to that? People from other schools, other neighborhoods that don’t know my family, what can you say to that? It’s unbelievable.”

Now Mike is getting stronger every day, but he’s not out of the woods yet. So his family continues to visit the grotto. Ray says the prayers and support from the St. Peter’s community have been life-changing: this is where he comes for a sign of faith.

Nun Celebrates 70 Years as a Sister With Help From a Former Student Turned Priest!

By Emily Drooby

It was a stroll down memory lane for Sister Mary Anthony Gracyalny and Msgr. Thomas Machalski as they walked through the property that used to house Holy Cross Catholic Academy.

Msgr. Machalski was a student and Sister Mary was his first grade teacher. It was her dream job.

“So in the eighth-grade we had to write a, ‘what do you want to do when you grow up?’ So I said, ‘I would like to be a teacher,’” the sister told Currents News.

Her dreams became a reality and Sister Mary did become a teacher and taught all over the world including 11 years in Peru.

“It’s great, I’ve met a lot of people,” she said. “A lot of kids are still writing to me from Peru.”

It’s not a surprise to Msgr. Machalski that her former students would want to stay in touch with her. He says at his school, she was beloved.

“There was no kindergarten here at Holy Cross at that time,” the monsignor said. “So that was our first experience with school. You know all the trial and trepidation and the crying and all those other things that go along with the trauma of leaving home and going to school, she was always very soothing and calming.”

Throughout the years, they went from teacher and student – to mentor and future priest – to friends. She and the rest of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth always provided support.

“From the first minute that I shared that I heard that call, the sisters were always there,” Msgr. Machalski said. “When I was in the seminary in Michigan, they wrote me cards, they wrote me notes. When I had my first Mass, they were out there in numbers, celebrating with me.”

After all the support he’s received throughout his formative years to becoming a priest, he’s finally able to give back by helping her to celebrate 70 years as a sister. How? Honoring her with a special Mass.

“I’m not sure how many priests have the opportunity to celebrate the Mass for the 70th anniversary of a sister’s religious profession,” Msgr. Machalski said, “and also that sister was their first-grade teacher.”

Protests Grow Against Cuba’s 62-Year-Old Communist Regime

By Emily Drooby

Thousands of anti-communist protesters in Cuba chanted, “Patria y Vida,” which translates to “homeland and life.” For those who take the risk of saying those words during protests, could end up being arrested by the government.

Those words were a stark response to a similar government phrase from when Fidel Castro was in power, “Patria O Muerte,” which means, “homeland or death.”

Across Cuba, Puerto Rico, Florida, Las Vegas and more, demonstrators took to the streets in a show of support, demanding access to COVID vaccines, food, and freedom. Thousands are calling for an end to the 62-year-old communist regime.

It started back in 1959 when Fidel Castro overthrew the military dictatorship that was in place. He quickly converted Cuba into a one-party communist system, ruling for almost fifty years. His brother Raul took over and recently handed the reigns to current president, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Under Castro, Cuba’s highly contentious relationship with the United States led to the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the two countries to the brink of war.

Cuba’s economy and political freedoms have suffered ever since. Castro still holds a tight grip on the Cuban people.

That’s what makes these protests so shocking and unprecedented. Anti-government activity usually leads to immediate arrest. But in this police state, people are so hungry, and so angry that they’re speaking out against a government that for so long they’ve feared.

Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in years, with tensions building for months over increased sanctions first imposed by the Trump administration. The pandemic only delivered an additional blow to the already ailing economy.

Cuba Protests Prompt Calls for Change from President Biden and U.S. Elected Officials

By Jessica Easthope

Unprecedented protests all over Cuba on Sunday, July 11, have elected U.S. officials speaking out. President Joe Biden called the unrest “a clarion call for freedom.”

“The United States stands firmly with the people of Cuba,” President Biden said.

The White House showed solidarity with those who are protesting government failures like ongoing food shortages, the cost of living and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People shouted “unite” and “freedom” as many clashed with police during the rare and historic protests. The country is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades. The pandemic brought Cuba’s tourism industry to a standstill. Now a quality of life crisis has driven protesters to call for Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down.

Some lawmakers are hoping President Biden overturns Trump administration policies that tightened trade embargoes with Cuba. Others like New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the daughter of a Cuban immigrant, disagree. She said President Obama’s plan to normalize relationships with Cuba would do more harm.

Malliotakis is one of 10 Cuban Americans serving in Congress.

“I hope this is the beginning of real change toward freedom and democracy on the island. President Biden, as leader of the free world, must do all he can to influence this change,” Nicole said in a statement, Monday, July 12.

Cuban Senator Marco Rubio took to Twitter and joined those calls for freedom.

“Socialism promises guaranteed food, medicine and income,” Marco said. “If you give up your freedom, when, as always, it fails to deliver, you don’t get your freedom back.”

Here in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Octavio Cisneros, a native Cuban who came to the U.S. as a teenage refugee in the early 1960s without his parents, said people are fed up.

“The people are scared, the people are hungry, the people are fed up with the situation,” said Bishop Cisneros.

He said the oppression taking place in his home country is very much tied to the lack of freedoms faced by Cuban Catholics.

“Together with our prayers, we have to do something to make aware to the world community that this is going on,” he said. “That the vacation they experienced in Cuba was not reality and the reality can be seen now in what’s going on in the streets. They’ve been cut up by the socialist government.”