Catholic School Employee Dedicated to the Job Honored For Years of Service

By Katie Vasquez

When you call Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, Marie Delgaizo is the voice on the other end. She started as an administrative assistant at the Catholic school in 1992.

“You know, we start a day with prayer, we end the day with prayer and all that happens in between,” Delgaizo said. “It’s just a big part of how I live my life as well.”

“I wasn’t looking for anything big time,” Delgaizo said. “I worked on Wall Street from high school to about seven years. Then, I started a family. And then from there, I was, you know, stay-home, mom, luckily. And then it was time, you know, midlife area, and yeah, it’s time to go back.”

Now, it’s been three decades of watching students grow up like Emerson Raimundi, an 8th grader at the school.

“Every family needs a sturdy foundation, and for us, that’s Marie,” Raimundi said. “She’s an amazing secretary. And even through the most difficult situations, she’s been there for us through thick and thin.”

That’s why the school principal decided to surprise Delgaizo on her 75th birthday.

“She had no idea what was happening, and she was completely overwhelmed, a little nervous at first, I think,” Timothy Dillon, Principal of Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, said. “But, you know, just to see the amount of love that everyone here has for her.”

The singing wasn’t the only surprise. A statue of Jesus with the image of the Divine Mercy was dedicated to the hard worker. A gift that she hopes others will find the same comfort in.

“Not that I am drawing attention, but I hope those who see me stop there that maybe will just take a look at the statue and just offer up a word to Jesus.”

She has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“I just have the drive and. And being around here and the young kids, you’re forever young,” said Delgaizo.

For more than 30 years, one woman has helped shape young Catholics in Marine Park. Marie
Delgaizo, or as she’s usually known, “Miss Marie,” has been the face of the main office at Good Shepherd Catholic Academy.

Two Catholic Food Pantries Team Up to Fight Hunger, Inspired by Currents News Report

By Katie Vasquez

The line to the Father Felix Varela Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen in Corona wraps through the parking lot and down the block. People wait as early as 7 am for the doors to open at 3 pm. It’s a demand that Our Lady of Sorrows Pastor Father Manuel Rodriguez says can sometimes be overwhelming.

“People here, they need food. And the number of asylum seekers, refugees, and new immigrants is growing every day, every day,” said Father Manuel Rodriguez, Pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows. “So, you see more people coming, more people in need of food.”

The church opened the food pantry in September 2023 and quickly began feeding dozens of people weekly at the soup kitchen and every month at the food pantry. But more was needed for the growing lines.

Luckily, this report on Currents News caught the eye of Sister Caroline Tweedy at St. John’s Bread and Life.

“We were watching Currents News one night, and we saw this piece that Currents did on, you know, Our Lady of Sorrows and the fact that they were really reaching out into the community to serve the newly arrived and especially the people in the community itself who were struggling,” Sister Caroline said. “And we said, ‘You know, this is what we do every day. How can we partner with them to make a difference?'”

Bread and Life started supplying more food to the Queen’s Pantry, giving enough to feed 300 more people and enabling the pantry to open its doors for a second day every month.

“To me, it was a sign from God,” said Father Rodriguez. “Sister Caroline and the team, her amazing team at St. John’s Bread and Life, they became aware about the goodness, you know, of this initiative, actually through our wonderful media connection with our currents and DeSales.”

Sister Caroline and Father Rodriguez believe the pantry can have a more significant effect on the Corona community.

“I think that this helps not only the actual families who receive the actual food, but it helps everyone because when people are hungry in a community, bad things happen. Crime rates skyrocket, people get agitated, more violent violence takes place.”

“Our hope is that we can continue to make that grow so that there’s less of a reliance on the parish community itself. And the parish then can take their resources and grow the parish.”

They will keep helping those in need, one bag at a time.

For more information on how to help or donate to the Father Felix Varela Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen at Our Lady of Sorrows in Corona, go to OLSChurch-Corona.org.

Pro-Life Mother Passes: Jessica Hanna Returns to the Lord After Cancer Fight

Jessica Hanna garnered the world’s attention after the mom of four chose to forgo cancer treatments for the sake of her unborn baby.

She had been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer while she was 14 weeks pregnant.

The doctor insisted that she should have an abortion, but she instead chose to continue with her pregnancy, eventually giving birth to her youngest son, Thomas.

When she spoke with Currents News, she told us about that first scan checking for cancer after her son was born.

Unfortunately, less than two months after that interview, Hanna’s cancer came back, this time stage four.

She passed away on Saturday, Apr. 6, surrounded by her loving family.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 4/9/2024

For decades, St. John’s Bread and Life has been feeding the hungry. Now, the charity is expanding its mission by teaming up with the food pantry and soup kitchen at Our Lady of Sorrows in Corona.

In a new campaign video, former President Donald Trump proudly took credit for ending Roe v. Wade but said that abortion should be left to the states rather than imposing a national ban.

While the number of Catholics worldwide increased by 14 million in 2022, the number of priests and seminarians decreased, except on two continents.

Allow us to introduce you to the heart and soul of Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, Ms. Marie. With her unwavering dedication and service spanning over 30 years, she has been a pillar of support for the students and staff at the Marine Park school, a testament to the strong community bonds within the academy.

Vatican Publishes New Document on Threats to Human Dignity

Violence against migrants was listed on a new Vatican document that names threats against human dignity.

This list, released Monday, Apr. 8, also includes abortion, the death penalty, gender transition surgery, surrogacy, war, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.

The Holy See has been working on the document “Dignitas Infinita,” or Infinite Dignity in English, for five years.

The report quotes Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus John Paul the Second, and Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis Continues Calls For Ceasefire and Make Pleas For Peace

Six months ago, the conflict in the Middle East escalated as Hamas attacked hundreds at a music festival on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Since then, Pope Francis has used many of his public appearances to call for an end to violence and bloodshed.

“May the attacks and weaponry cease. Please,” Pope Francis said.

Despite being thousands of miles away, the Pope has repeatedly expressed his solidarity with those living in the war zones, stressing that everyone should be able to live in peace.

“Every human being, whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, whatever people or religion, every human being is sacred, is precious in God’s eyes, and has the right to live in peace,” Pope Francis said.

But it hasn’t just been messages. Pope Francis has also made concrete gestures. One was when he met with two fathers, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who had lost their daughters in the conflict. He praised their example of friendship as an example for all to follow. They expressed their gratitude for his prayers and support.

“Please continue to pray for peace,” said one of the fathers. “If we can be brothers, everyone can be.”

The Pope also met with families from both sides of the conflict in Rome in what the Vatican called “humanitarian” meetings. For many family members, it was a chance to share their stories.

Even on Easter Sunday, the Pope did not forget those in Israel and Gaza who are celebrating the Easter season amid the loss of loved ones and as war rages on around them. And he especially remembered the children.

“Let us not allow the ongoing hostilities to continue, to affect the civilian population, now weary severely, especially the children,” Pope Francis said. “What suffering we see in the eyes of the children. They have forgotten to smile, those children in those territories of war.”

Scouts Help During Migrant Crisis, Young Girls in Troop 6000 Learning to Adapt

As the city deals with a migrant crisis, the Girl Scouts of Greater New York is stepping in to ensure the youngest ones are being cared for.

A group of approximately 20 girls selling cookies at Grace Plaza in Manhattan on Thursday, Apr. 4, is part of Troop 6000. The Girl Scouts cohort is a first-of-its-kind program that was set up to help young girls living in the shelter system.

Using a bilingual curriculum, they’re helping the scouts learn and adapt to their new home.

“Girl Scouts of Greater New York,” said many of these young women from other countries, Troop 6000 offers comfort during a turbulent time.

Since this troop started seven years ago, it has served more than 2500 girls and young women.

First Sunday Mass Following Fire at Bushwick Church

by Katie Vasquez

The pews were filled at All Saints church this weekend,Bishop Robert Brennan joining the Williamsburg parish for Divine mercy Sunday.

But most of this crowd aren’t regular attendees, they normally spend their Sundays at its sister church, Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii in Bushwick.

That parish was devastated by a fire on Easter Sunday.

Mery Tolentino was at the 1pm Spanish mass where the flames first began.

“We were in the second reading of the bible, all of a sudden, unexpectedly, a lot of smoke started coming out from the rectory, which began to increment little by little and getting darker,” said Tolentino, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii.

Pastor of both churches, Father Vincenzo Cardilicchia says investigators have yet to find the cause of the fire which started in the sacristy.

Right now, there is asbestos abatement work and a demolition order for the rectory and parish center.

“There is almost nothing left,” said Father Cardilicchia, “but the site of worship itself is intact besides the water damage.”

A miracle since the church dates back more than 120 years and there were no sprinklers inside.

The Brooklyn priest was able to go in and retrieve sacred objects but one important item remains inside.

“We are still looking for the records, which is actually the most valuable thing because even something that is expensive can be substituted with something else but the records, the baptismal records, they go back to 1902,” said Father Cardilicchia.

As crews sort through the broken glass and charred wood, parishioners will have to worship at All Saints until further notice.

As Bishop Brennan consoles the devastated community, he reminds them that while the building may be gone, their faith remains.

“In a church fire, buildings are destroyed and we see that all things in this world are passing. But what’s constant? two things, our faith in the Lord Jesus,and in the power of his resurrection,” said Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

And many say they are hopeful for the future.

“We are concerned about our parish but then he gave us that, you know, hope,” said Luisa Cortes, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii church.

“The toughest the circumstances get, the more we shall be together to fight those circumstances,” said Tolentino.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 4/8/2024

A week after a fire ripped through their Brooklyn church on Easter Sunday, parishioners of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii gathered to celebrate Mass at All-Saints Church.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis met with relatives of people still being held hostage after Hamas kidnapped them on October 7. He has also met with those suffering from the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As New York City continues to deal with a migrant crisis, the Girl Scouts of Greater New York are stepping in to help.

A celestial phenomenon! Students at Catholic schools across the Diocese of Brooklyn took part in viewing a rare solar eclipse.

Catechumen Finds Peace From Easter Vigil Baptism

Laura Asserfea, raised by a single mom in Queens, went to church often. Her mom was a Eucharistic minister, but receiving her sacraments wasn’t a priority.

Currents News spoke to Asserfea, who attends the Oratory Church of St. Boniface in Brooklyn, to see how she was feeling now that she has fully entered into her new faith.