Remembering Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island

By Currents News

Bishop William Murphy, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, died March 26 at the age of 85.

Born in 1940 in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, Murphy was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1964 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

He served as an assistant pastor and teacher in Boston for more than a decade before spending 13 years in Rome as undersecretary of a pontifical commission.

Upon returning to Boston, he held several roles, including secretary for community relations and director of the Office of Social Justice.

In 2001, he was appointed the fourth bishop of Rockville Centre, serving the Long Island diocese faithfully for 15 years until his retirement in 2016.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced as of March 27, 2026.

The Tablet and Currents News offer our prayers:

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

March 31 on Currents News: Pulse of the Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus

By Christine Persichette

From what looks like chaos is coming a sense of calm at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Bayside, Queens.

Sister Kathleen Masterson, the pastoral associate at the church, is transforming the parish hall into a sacred space – with a little help from her friends.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 3/27/26

Hundreds of students from Catholic schools across Brooklyn and Queens came together for Eucharistic rallies, marking one of the largest youth-led prayer efforts in the city.

Bishop Robert Brennan read to students at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy in Queens as part of an initiative called the Great Diocesan Read-Aloud.

Students at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy pitched their own podcast ideas during a visit from a DeSales Media digital leader.

The Oratory Church of St. Boniface in Brooklyn is moving forward with new plans to enhance its space as nearby construction continues.

Diocese of Brooklyn Students Pray Nearly 200,000 Hail Marys During Eucharistic Rallies

By Jessica Easthope

Bead by bead, they prayed. One by one, their hearts were touched by the true presence.

“I always knew Christ as my best friend and as my Savior,” said Valentina Quinones, a sixth-grader at St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy. “It makes me happy to see other schools come and other children know who Jesus is.”

Quinones and her fellow middle schoolers at St. Elizabeth joined students from eight other schools Friday, March 27, for the Diocese of Brooklyn’s ninth and final Eucharistic rally of the school year. It was the largest by far — 740 students saying the rosary, 53 Hail Marys each. That equals 39,220 Hail Marys in a single day. Seventh-grader Marco Villacres from St. Helen Catholic Academy said they can do better.

“It just shows our faith is getting stronger to God,” Villacres said. “It’s never enough. It’s just what we need to do as Catholics.”

Almost every school in the Diocese of Brooklyn participated in Eucharistic rallies this year, totaling close to 200,000 Hail Marys, give or take.

“We started crunching the numbers a few weeks ago when we realized, wow, that’s a lot of Hail Marys,” said John O’Brien, associate superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn. “To have so many of their peers praying together in this type of setting, in this type of liturgy. It’s a really unique experience. And the kids really come through.”

Pastor of St. Helen Church, Fr. Francis Colamaria, said this kind of prayer effort is sure to make an impact.

“All I can say is wow,” Colamaria said. “I’m blown away. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my childhood in Catholic schools. And this is a great blessing. Unprecedented. And I look forward to having more of these.”

Prayers by the hundreds of thousands was never the goal. It’s what these young Catholics can do when they pray together — and what God can do in them.

TONIGHT AT 7: Student-Led Rosary Rallies Sweep Brooklyn and Queens During Lent

By Jessica Easthope

The power of prayer is on full display across the Diocese of Brooklyn this Lent, as students from Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens lead rosary rallies in one of the largest youth-led prayer efforts in the city.

From large school gatherings to moments of quiet reflection, these rallies are bringing young people closer to Christ — and showing the lasting impact of faith beyond the numbers.

TONIGHT AT 7: As Construction Darkens Parts of Brooklyn Church, Community Looks on the Bright Side

By Currents News

Construction may have darkened parts of the Oratory Church of St. Boniface, but parish leaders are turning the challenge into an opportunity.

After ongoing building work blocked stained glass windows, the church is now moving forward with plans to transform its lower levels into a new space for fellowship, ministry, and community events.

The Tablet’s Easter Art Contest Now Open to Diocese of Brooklyn Catholic School Students

By John Alexander and Currents News

Future Van Goghs, Rembrandts, and Picassos from across the Diocese of Brooklyn are encouraged to submit their work for The Tablet’s annual “Christ is Risen” art contest for a chance to win cash prizes.

Young artists can showcase their talents by creating artwork celebrating Christ’s resurrection. It’s a joyful way for students to celebrate the blessed event by creating images that reflect the true meaning of Easter.

For more than 20 years, The Tablet has partnered with the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus Council No. 481 on the Easter art contest, in which hundreds of Catholic school students from across Brooklyn and Queens participate. Their handmade works will be submitted to The Tablet, whose staff members will judge the faith-based creations.

Former Archbishop John Hughes Council Grand Knight Vincent DiBenedetto said the art contest is a powerful way to reinforce faith.

“Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said. “The belief that Christ has risen is central to our faith and celebrated with joy and reverence. Our Catholic school students help to remind us of the significance of Easter.”

The art contest began when The Tablet’s Editor Emeritus Ed Wilkinson formed a camaraderie with then-Grand Marshal of the Knights Camillo Casano, who generously donated awards and cash prizes to students who created faith-based artwork inspired by Scripture.

Twice a year, young student artists at Catholic academies, schools, and parishes are invited to create their own interpretations of the themes “Keep Christ in Christmas” and “Christ is Risen,” focusing on the spirits of those seasons.

“The contest is a fantastic opportunity to evangelize to Catholic school students,” said Michael Gray, editor of The Tablet. “It is the continuation of a time-honored tradition of The Tablet recognizing our Catholic school students within the Diocese of Brooklyn.”

Father Guy Sbordone, the chaplain for the John Hughes Council of the Knights, attended last year’s art contest and helped motivate the students to follow their faith. “Did you read the Bible? Did you watch an Easter movie?” he asked. “It all gives you the inspiration to create such beautiful art.”

SUBMIT ARTWORK: thetablet.org/christ-is-risen-easter-art-contest-2026/

Students from several diocesan schools celebrated a significant achievement at last year’s awards ceremony as talented young artists from St. Saviour High School, Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, St. Bernard Catholic Academy, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy, St. Stanislaus-Kostka Catholic Academy of Queens, St. Peter Catholic Academy, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, St. Saviour Catholic Academy and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, took home the top prizes.

The students use their artistic gifts to create art that celebrates the glory of Christ’s resurrection. Some dappled their canvases with paint; some used charcoal, and others demonstrated their skills through elaborate sketches and other forms of traditional art.

All entries will be judged based on adherence to the theme (Christ Is Risen), originality of the works, and demonstration of artistic ability.

Lenten Pilgrimage Inspires Students at Brooklyn Catholic Academy

By Currents News

At a stop on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten pilgrimage, students at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy got a firsthand look at faith in action.

Michael Lynch, pastor of St. Athanasius Church, celebrated Mass with pilgrims and students, encouraging young people to follow their example and grow in faith.

Later in the day, students joined Bishop Robert Brennan for the Stations of the Cross.

Brooklyn Youth Gather for Mass for Peace During Franciscan Jubilee

By Alexandra Moyen and Currents News

CYPRESS HILLS — Andy Chantes has been a part of Jornadas de Vida Cristiana for five years. In that time, he said he had gained a deeper understanding of the power of prayer, which led him to participate in a Mass for Peace.

“I wanted to take part in the Mass because of what’s going on throughout the world,” said Chantes, treasurer of the Jornadas movement, an ecclesial group serving Latino youth and young adults. “I personally feel like there is a lot of hatred and violence in the world, and I think celebrating this Mass is one of the most amazing and beautiful things you can do.”

On March 25, Blessed Sacrament Church in Cypress Hills opened its doors for an evening of prayer hosted by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Jornadas movement.

The Mass was celebrated by Father James Kuroly, the diocese’s director of youth and young adult ministry. He said the Mass was an important opportunity to commemorate the Franciscan Jubilee Year Pope Leo XIV proclaimed in January. The jubilee year started January 10 and ends on January 10, 2027, marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death.

During his homily, Father Kuroly highlighted St. Francis of Assisi as an example of what it means to be an instrument of peace. He asked the young adults in the pews to follow in his footsteps and resist becoming desensitized to violence.

“I look at these young people today, and their life has really been a life filled with wars and conflicts,” Father Kuroly said. “How easy it is to be accustomed to that instead of being challenged as St. Francis was challenged and as he challenges us to be an instrument of peace.”

Johnny Galindo, a new member of the Jornadas movement, said it was important to attend the Mass not just to pray for an end to wars, but also for an end to the violence people experience in everyday life.

“Obviously, there’s a bunch of conflicts around the world, but it doesn’t have to be a major war. It can be anything that is harmful. It could be physical, psychological,” the 19-year-old Galindo said. “It would be nice if there was peace around the world, no matter how big or small it is.”

Felix Perez, president of Jornadas de Vida Cristiana, said he understood Father Kuroly’s message, adding that he encourages his youth group to be instruments of peace.

“We teach our kids to be peacemakers in their schools and in their homes. Not everyone has the easiest time, so we teach our kids to be there to help others to show others that they are not alone,” Perez said. “We teach all the kids in the Jornadas movement to love your neighbor the way that God told us to and to love them like you love yourself.”

10th Annual International Gift of Life Walk Brings Pro-Life Witness to ‘Canyon of Heroes’

By Bill Miller and Jessica Easthope

Lunchtime pedestrians and tourists took double-takes on March 25 as the normal bustle of the Financial District gave way to drums, bagpipes, and megaphones carrying slogans of the pro-life movement.

The 10th annual International Gift of Life Walk in New York City stepped off from Foley Square and quickly moved onto Broadway. The street is also known as the “Canyon of Heroes” for its legacy of hosting ticker-tape parades celebrating heroic accomplishments, like sporting championships or military victories.

Prominent in the procession were the drummers, pipers, and other musicians of the Holy Choir of Angels Band from St. Louis de Montfort Academy in Herndon, Pennsylvania. Other pro-life supporters followed the marching band whose members wore red berets or red sashes.

Paul Victory, 17, played the trombone in the procession. He said it was important to march to advocate for life.

“Murder is wrong,” Victory said. “Even someone who has just reached the age of reason can know that murder is a sin, even if it’s complicated.”

St. Louis de Montfort Academy is operated by the Catholic advocacy group, Tradition, Family and Property. TFP Director John Horvat II told The Tablet that angry pro-abortion voices had opposed previous marches.

At this event, the opposition was scant, with one scowling man silently standing at a street corner, his middle finger raised as marchers passed. Two other men at different spots also cursed the participants.

The Gift of Life Walk is sponsored by Personhood Education of New York. Its president and founder, Dawn Eskew, noted the event is always held on March 25 to commemorate the International Day of the Unborn Child, as designated by St. Pope John Paul II. The day was also The Feast of the Annunciation.

She said New York City is the venue because it is widely known as the “abortion capital of the world.”

She praised the academy’s commitment to participating in the event, and credited other allies, including pro-life activist Bernadette Patel of Bay Ridge, and Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne of the Archdiocese of New York

Before stepping off, the prelate offered words of encouragement to marchers.

“We need people who are pro-life to show up,” Eskew said. “We have a plan for next year to get more people here.”