Holy Games Initiative Continues This Week During Paralympics After Summer Olympics Success

The Olympic Games may have ended, but the spiritual journey continues. The second phase of the initiative to support athletes and visitors with faith and prayer moves forward at the Paralympics.

Olympic chaplain Father Joseph Fitzgerald, a Long Island priest and past Olympian, joins Currents News to share insights on the success of the first phase and plans for the 2028 Olympics in L.A.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 8/27/2024

Diocese of Brooklyn principals are starting the year on the right foot. The group of 64 gathered Tuesday for Mass at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston and a meeting where they collaborated, shared resources, and discussed their successes and challenges in the year ahead.

The Olympic Games may have ended, but the spiritual journey continues. The Holy Games initiative’s second phase, to support athletes and visitors with faith and prayer, moves forward at the Paralympics. Olympic chaplain Father Joseph Fitzgerald, a Long Island priest and Olympian, joins Currents News to share insights on the success of the first phase and plans for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

A remarkable discovery shed new light on the Old Testament. A piece of 3,800-year-old dyed wool fiber was unearthed in the Cave of Skulls in Jordan. The scarlet dye, one of the most valuable mentioned up to 25 times in the Old Testament, offers fascinating insights into ancient practices.

Diocese of Brooklyn Priests Celebrate ‘Man’s Blessed Friend’ on National Dog Day

By Jessica Easthope

Nine-year-old Havanese, Harry Chirichella is all bark and no bite, ever.

“He’s met thousands of people, I’ve never seen him lose his temper. I’ve never seen him snap at anybody, “ said Harry’s owner Father Vincent Chirichella, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Astoria, Queens.

Even through all the white fur, Father Vincent says you can see his thoughts and Harry can see yours.

“I counsel people in my office, and he just will go over sometimes he puts his paws around their leg and, kind of puts his head against their leg. People just instinctively, comforted by dogs because of their ability to give unconditional love,” he said.

Harry has enriched Fr. Vincent’s ministry and the lives of his parishioners. As a certified emotional service animal, he brings an official sense of calm wherever he goes.

“It facilitates an opportunity for, a conversation with them, getting to know them, getting to know their story, getting to know their needs. It’s evangelization. And he’s definitely part of it,” said Fr. Vincent.

Over in Jackson Heights, Father Rick Beuther, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church has an evangelization tool of his own – an eight-year-old Lab named Thomas.

“Parishioners really love Thomas. When you’re contacting people for the first time and he’s always there, he brings the temperature down for people,” said Fr. Rick.

Father Rick and Thomas routinely make visits to parishioners and take walks through the neighborhood.

“Visiting the sick, those who are alone, I always give them a call and say, hey, could I bring a friend,” he said.

For Fr. Rick, there are moments that he’ll never forget, when Thomas showed his heart.

“Just last week, I had a woman, coming in talking to me about the death of her mom. And all of a sudden, he got up and laid on her feet, I said he’s feeling your pain,” Fr. Rick said.

When it comes to these canine companions, their loyalty is limitless.

“Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, he says in one of his, sermons ‘love me, love my dog,’” said Fr. Rick.

“They really make a priest more human,” said Fr. Vincent. “Because sometimes people forget that we are human.”

Sometimes it takes the love of a dog to be a reminder that priests are people too.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 8/26/2024

A visiting priest at St. Catherine of Genoa Church in Brooklyn is praised for quickly detecting smoke and preventing a fire from spreading.

The NYPD arrested a Queens man for allegedly stealing valuable sports memorabilia from Rick Pitino’s office at St. John’s University.

A historic Olympic bronze bell will ring at Notre Dame Cathedral when it reopens this December.

National Dog Day highlights how dogs bring joy and comfort, even in ministry across the Diocese of Brooklyn!

Visiting Priest Credited with Saving Church During Fire

By Katie Vasquez

As smoke and flames went through St Catherine of Genoa church, firefighters were on scene within minutes.

But they were only able to do their job because visiting South African priest, Father Adrien Ntwa was doing his.  

“I came in the church to change the linen, but while I was inside the church, then i started smelling the smoke inside the sacristy like something was burning,” said Ntwa.

He was alone in the rectory Friday night as workers were trying to repair a sagging roof in the parish garage.

 “I went to check with them. What happened? Can they smell the same thing that I’m smelling, that is where they pointed on the top of the roof of the church that ‘Father the smoke is coming from the church.”

Father Adrien called 9-1-1 immediately and left the building, making sure to grab the essentials on his way out.

“I took that precaution of removing item that are necessary for us, which are important for us in the first place was, in my mind, the blessed sacrament,”

No one was injured and the damage was minor. The official cause of the fire is still being investigated.As the parish is working to pick up the pieces, Bishop Robert Brennan visited them on Sunday to pray with the East Flatbush community. 

In a statement on the mass, Bishop Brennan said:

“We shared sorrow at the damage caused by the fire but, at the same time, a great deal of gratitude and hope, focusing on the presence of the Lord among us.  The parishioners showed tremendous gratitude to Father Adrien Ntwa, who is there for the summer, for noticing the smoke and calling the fire department, to the FDNY and NYPD for the quick and effective response, and to all those who are assisting in the clean-up and repair.”

While the parish may be praising Father Adrien as a hero, he says there was only one person saving people that day. 

“We recognize that it was not god, we wouldn’t have that presence of going to the church and changing the linen of the church. So when they say father,  thank you, because we are present, I say, thank God because he allowed me to go in the church at that time.”

For now St Catherine of Genoa is celebrating mass in the basement of their former school. They hope to be able to schedule masses inside the church by the end of the week. 

 

Visiting Priest Father Basil Achusim Incorporates Music Into Adoration

By Jessica Easthope

A song of praise booms through the chapel and columbarium of the Basilica of Regina Pacis in Dyker Heights.

Father Basil Achusim can’t help but express his faith through music.

“It’s empowering people to allow themselves to be touched by the words by this music now so we don’t just listen to the music we’re inspired and sent on mission by music,” Father Achusim said.

But Father Achusim said as a whole, music in church is lacking in the Western world. Parishioners back home in the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Nigeria can’t celebrate Mass without it.

“That’s one of the things that surprised me about the Western world. My entrance as a priest toward the altar was silent,” Father Achusim said. “I was like, is everything okay, what’s happening? Music in Mass and songs I think is something that needs to be revived; you would never imagine that in the parishes where I’ve served.”

Father Achusim, who’s spending his second summer at the basilica and with its parishioners, said music isn’t high on the list of priorities for the global Church.

“One of the greatest problems the Church is facing now is clarity to the truth and fidelity to it,” Father Achusim said. “We must not shy away from the truth, maybe because of persecution or whatever, otherwise the truth gets obscured, and the Church must strive to tell the hard truth, accepted or not.”

For Father Achusim, these truths include the sanctity of life, the truth about Jesus being God, and His true presence in the Eucharist. When it comes to that, he said the American Church and the National Eucharistic Revival are leading the way.

“There is a huge army of Christ emerging from the American faith of Catholicism. It’s evident in many dioceses now. It’s God or nothing,” Father Achusim said. “Seeing over 55,000 Catholics gathered in adoration in the stadium, not for football, not for soccer, not for hockey, but they’re all there for Jesus, in this age, in this era, is incredible.”

So Father Achusim continues to use his voice in song—for truth and the true presence.

Father Achusim is here in the United States for a few more weeks. In early September, he’ll head back to Rome, where he’s getting his PhD in Theology.

Thieves Steal Personal Items from Rick Pitino’s St John’s University Office

by Katie Vasquez

A bold break in happened at St. John’s University earlier this week. 

The Queens campus has security cameras and patrols all over but that didn’t deter these thieves.

The NYPD says around 6 pm, August 20th, two men walked into the office of men’s basketball coach, Rick Pitino. 

Once inside they stole around $375 worth of goods, including a ceremonial dagger as well as a bullhorn which can be seen in the surveillance video. 

Rick Pitino joined St John’s in 2023 but he has a storied coaching career in leading teams like the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville to NCAA championships. 

The St. John’s University athletics dept confirmed in a statement they shared that video with police and are assisting in the investigation.

Students on campus say they are surprised by the break-in- and plan to be more careful. 

“I definitely would keep more of an eye on my belongings, just you know making sure my valuables are on me or you know they are locked away somewhere. but then again like i said, there’s a lot of good people on this campus so in that sense, i don’t feel really threatened or you know worried as much,” said John Castro, a graduate student at St. John’s University. 

“I thought it was kind of, I was sad to hear from the school, I’m new here and it’s a little scary to hear that,” said Matea Kovacevic, a freshman student at St. John’s University. 

“Obviously it’s not a good thing to happen in the school, it was, like, kind of scary to hear about. being a student here, first year and all that,” said St. John’s University freshman student, Isaiah Garcia.

According to an email sent to students, St. John’s says the perpetrators also came back on August 21st and removed property from another office. Police are still looking for the two men.

Miracle In Missouri: Medical Experts Say Deceased Nun’s Body Did Not Decompose

The nuns at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles monastery in Missouri have received a new report on the remains of their founder, Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster.

Her body, found intact last year—four years after her death—has astonished many.

Medical experts, commissioned by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, determined that her body shows no signs of decomposition. The investigation concluded that “the condition of her body is highly atypical for the interval of nearly four years since her death, especially given the environmental conditions and the findings in associated objects,” according to the diocese.

For example, the casket’s lining had completely deteriorated, yet Sister Wilhelmina’s habit and clothing showed no signs of breakdown.

The discovery in 2023 attracted thousands of Catholics to the monastery.

“Just the real tidal wave of people being inspired and encouraged by such a beautiful witness to the grace of God,” said Sister Misericordia Radel of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary.

Although there are currently no plans to initiate a cause for sainthood, the diocese has not ruled it out.

“We’re not pursuing that just yet—we’re going to wait,” said Sister Misericordia. “But that doesn’t mean we’re not collecting testimonies and building files of people reporting different graces and healings they have received.”

The sisters at the monastery say they draw strength from her presence.

“She’s cheering us on. She’s helping us,” Sister Misericordia said. “She wants us to be there too, so her work on earth is not done.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 8/23/2024

Police are searching for two burglars who stole priceless sports memorabilia and personal items from St. John’s University basketball coach Rick Pitino’s office, all caught on camera.

New findings reveal that Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster’s body remains perfectly preserved four years after her death, with medical experts finding no signs of decomposition.

Father Basil Achusim, a visiting Nigerian priest, brings a unique musical touch to Mass and adoration during his second summer at the Basilica of Regina Pacis in Dyker Heights, enriching the congregation’s spiritual experience.

The Vatican has released a special postage stamp featuring the seals of the U.S. and the Vatican, commemorating 40 years of diplomatic relations, available exclusively from the Vatican Post Office.

Tonight at 7: Brazen Thieves Ransack Rick Pitino’s St. John’s University Office, Steal Memorabilia

JAMAICA —  The campus office of St. John’s University basketball coach Rick Pitino was  burglarized Tuesday by two individuals who made off with sports memorabilia and personal items, according to police and sources.

The unidentified suspects stole approximately $375 worth of goods during the break-in at Carnesecca Arena, where Pitino’s office is located. Sources reported that among the stolen items were a signed basketball, a ceremonial dagger, and a bullhorn.

The perpetrators entered the building around 6 p.m., ransacked the office, and fled the Jamaica campus on a moped, heading west on Union Turnpike with the stolen items.

St. John’s athletics department issued a statement confirming that surveillance footage had been shared with the NYPD, and the university is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

The footage shows two men walking through the arena’s hallways, with one holding a bullhorn believed to have been taken from Pitino’s office. 

It remains unclear whether other parts of the building were targeted in the theft, but it has been reported that Pitino himself filed the complaint with the NYPD. Although he did not respond to requests for comment, Pitino took to Twitter to express his frustration on the burglary. 

Pitino, who joined St. John’s in 2023, has had a storied coaching career, leading teams like the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to NCAA championships and contributing to the resurgence of the New York Knicks in the 1980s.