Archives

Stories of Survival and Heroism Follow the Path of Tornadoes that Ripped Through America’s Heartland

Prayers are going out to the victims of those deadly tornadoes in America’s heartland.

At least 74 people are confirmed dead after the twisters ripped across eight states. Now, communities are digging through the destruction left behind.

“It came and in just in a matter of two minutes it just blew everything up,” said Gary Morgan from Dawson Springs.

Thousands upon thousands of structures have been demolished.

“The house is gone. There’s nothing left,” said Mitchell Wooldridge.

Whole communities were laid to waste – with Mayfield, Kentucky being one of the hardest hit towns.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear adding, “Nothing that was standing in the direct line of this tornado is still standing.”

The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts turn into missions of recovery.

Mayfield Mayor Kathy O’Nan saying, “Every day that goes by, we lose a little bit of that hope.”

Those that made it out alive are sharing harrowing tales.

“It felt like there were 10 grown men outside this door trying to pull it off the hinges,” said De’Amonte Williams.

Two Kentucky law enforcement officers were hit by the tornado while inside their cars. Not only did they survive, they also saved a young girl.

“We could hear somebody screaming for help. By that time Chief Deputy Jeremy Prince was coming to help us and he said there’s a girl inside that was bleeding profusely we ran up there and her leg was seriously injured,” said Deputy Sgt. Richard Edwards of the Graves County Sheriff’s office.

U.S. bishops are praying that those affected will find peace, comfort and hope in the Catholic faith, saying “during the advent season where we await in joyful anticipation for the birth of our lord, we pray for those who have been injured, for those who have lost their lives, and for their grieving families and communities.”

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 12/13/21

Rescue efforts continue in America’s heartland today as a streak of deadly tornadoes tore through eight states over the weekend.

Pope Francis is also praying for the victims and survivors of the Midwest storms.

They’re celebrating the Christmas season at the Vatican — with a South American twist!

It was also the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe over the weekend.

St Athanasius: Hispanic Growth in the Parish and Community Outreach

Our season kicks off with Ed’s visit to St. Athanasius parish, where he speaks with Msgr. David Cassato on the happenings since they last spoke. Then he talks with the directors of the Youth Ministry and Religious Education programs about the many ways youth in their parish take part in outreach programs.

Vatican Nativity Crèche Inspired by Peru’s Andean Region

Currents News Staff

The Nativity Scene adorning St. Peter’s Square this Christmas is from the Huancavelica region in the Peruvian Andes.

“Here we have the Chopcca Nativity scene. It commemorates the bi-centennial of Peru’s independence,” said artist Macisete Alejandro Díaz Abad.

The 35 life-size statues representing the Chopcca people of Huancavelica were made by a team of artists from the same region.

“The project was completed with a lot of excitement, a lot of enthusiasm, to present this Nativity scene to the world, showing all the characteristics of towns in the Andes, in this case those in Huancavelica,” said Manuel Breña Martínez. “My fellow Peruvians and artist friends are able to communicate their feelings, their love for their land.”

The bright outfits worn by the statues are like those made by the Chopcca people, who are known for their colorful textiles. The Nativity scene also includes plants and animals typically found in the Andes and the stone houses and bridges are like those commonly seen Huancavelica’s towns. The work is a snapshot of the cultural wealth of Peru, and an expression of the people’s piety.

“It expresses the faith of the Chopcca people,” said Huancavelica’s Bishop Carlos Salcedo Ojeda. “It communicates the strength which comes from Jesus, to live as a community, in solidarity, and to continue to build the aspect of ‘we.’ Not individualism nor isolation, but community.”

This is the first time the Vatican chooses a Nativity scene from the Americas. The Christmas tree is a 90-foot tall red spruce from Andalo, in Italy’s northern Trentino region.

“All the spheres you see on the tree were handmade by 40 volunteers,” said artist Alberto Perli. “There are 600 handmade spheres, which will later be donated to an association for parents of children with cancer.”

The Nativity scene and Christmas tree will adorn St. Peter’s Square until January 9, 2022.

 

With Bishop Brennan’s Blessing, Diocese of Brooklyn’s Christmas Tree is Lit

Currents News Staff and Ed Wilkinson

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — In a twilight ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 8, the Diocese of Brooklyn held its annual Christmas tree lighting beneath the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza.

After it was illuminated, the 27-foot-high Douglas Fir, decorated with 16,000 multi-colored LED lights and accompanied by life-sized Nativity creche figures, was blessed by Bishop Robert Brennan.

Hymns were sung by the Gospel Choir from St. Saviour High School in Park Slope.  

The event was sponsored by DeSales Media Group, the technology and communications arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Msgr. Sean Ogle, chairman of the board of DeSales Media, offered the opening prayer, explaining that the tradition of displaying a Nativity scene dates back to 1223, when St. Francis of Assisi brought the idea to life in Greccio, Italy.

Bishop Brennan thanked DeSales Media, the parent company of The Tablet, for continuing to tell “the greatest story ever told.”

“Jesus came in the simplest of ways,” he said. “He was born in a manger, among the poor.”

He urged parishioners to visit the Nativity scenes that will be erected in their parish churches so they can be amazed at the power the Lord brings to everyday living.

Meanwhile, this display would offer a message of hope to all who pass by one of the busiest spots in Brooklyn, Bishop Brennan said. As joggers ran past the site and continuous traffic circled the scene, he remarked that  “you can’t have more everyday life than right here in Grand Army Plaza.”

Msgr. David Cassato, vicar for Catholic schools, praised the singing of the young women from St. Saviour’s, mentioning that they represent some of the best students in the Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens.

Bishop Brennan recalled visiting St. Saviour’s on the day of the announcement that he would be the new Bishop of Brooklyn: “It’s good to see you again,” he said.

A video offered welcoming messages to Bishop Brennan from school children throughout the diocese. He said he looked forward to visiting all the schools in that presentation.

“I am overwhelmed by the welcome of the past few days,” Bishop Brennan said.

Christine Persichette, the anchor of Currents News on NET-TV, served as master of ceremonies.

The lighting ceremony was filmed for special programming on NET-TV, the 24-hour cable channel.

The tree lighting came less than one day after a Christmas tree outside the Newscorp building was torched on 6th Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

A diocesan spokesman said police would maintain a 24-hour watch on the exhibit, as they have done in the past. He said heightened security would include new lights that have been installed in the plaza for greater visibility.

Welcoming Bishop Brennan to Brooklyn, NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Michael Kemper said that “an excellent relationship” exists between the NYPD and the Church and it will continue to flourish.

In his remarks, Bishop Brennan encouraged all the faithful to visit the display in Grand Army Plaza this Christmas season and to spend time in prayer at their parish Nativity.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 12/10/21

Violence is on the rise at New York city’s public schools — But it’s a very different story at Catholic schools.

Families in the Diocese of Brooklyn are stepping in to help migrants at the southern border.

The late, great Catholic ball player Gil Hodges is finally in the baseball Hall of Fame.

There’s only 15 days until Christmas —  and here’s a great way to get you into the holiday spirit: the Futures In Education Spirit of Christmas concert!

Grammy-Nominated Christian Artist Matt Maher to Headline Diocese of Brooklyn’s Spirit of Christmas Concert

 The Spirit of Christmas Concert will take place at the Emmaus Center, 288, Berry St., at 8 p.m. For ticket information, visit futuresineducation.org/events/concert2021/

By Currents News Staff and Paula Katinas

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Music can help bring people together, even in a sharply divided nation, according to Matt Maher, a top-selling contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, who will be one of the featured performers at the Spirit of Christmas Concert on Dec. 13 at the Emmaus Center of Brooklyn.

“We live in such a divisive time,” said Maher, a Canadian-born Catholic who has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards over the years. “Yet, art has an ability to cut through even our own biases or wounds. It has the ability to hopefully create empathy.”

Maher, who lives with his family in Nashville, Tennessee, firmly believes that God is at the center of art and that through art, He can create unity.

“Making music is a gift that I was given,” Maher continued in an interview last week. “And I believe that I was given it by God. Art can be like a lifeline for people. I think God’s in the middle of that. Absolutely. I think He wants people to know how much He loves them.”

Looking ahead to his Brooklyn performance, Maher expressed excitement about the inaugural concert for the new arts center in Williamsburg.

“As an artist, anytime I get to play music and also be part of something that impacts a community, it definitely increases the meaningful nature of what music and art can do in a community. So, in particular, it’s a beautiful thing to be part of the impact that center will have for the Diocese of Brooklyn, for the city, and for the community,” he said.

Maher will treat the Emmaus Center audience to several songs from “The Advent of Christmas,” his 2018 release which won Christmas Album of the Year honors at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards.

The Spirit of Christmas concert, featuring guitarist Maher and tenor Danny Rodriguez at the venue’s inaugural event, is a joint venture of the Emmaus Center and Futures in Education, a notable foundation supporting schools and students in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The 600-seat Emmaus performance space is housed in the renovated Williamsburg Opera House.

Craig Tubiolo, executive director of the center, said the site of the historic opera house “is once again ready to be a premiere destination for great shows in Brooklyn.”

Maher, who has been releasing albums since 2001, is one of today’s most successful Christian musicians. Several of his singles have gone gold, selling 500,000 units. His song “Lord, I Need You,” from his 2013 album, “All The People Said Amen,” went platinum, selling 1 million units.

His work has been lauded by the music industry. Among the accolades: He was named Songwriter of the Year at the 2015 Dove Awards, the premier platform honoring the best in various forms of Christian music.

One of the highlights of his career came when he had the honor of performing “Lord, I Need You” at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. He sang and played guitar as Pope Francis led 3 million worshippers in Eucharistic adoration.

He also performed for Pope Francis in 2015 at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Back in 2008, he had performed for Pope Benedict XVI at the Rally for Youth and Seminarians in Yonkers, N.Y.

After more than 20 years of making music professionally, writing a good song is still a thrill for Maher. He said creating work that speaks to his emotions and to the emotions of others is his ultimate aim.

“Absolutely, I want to be moved by the reality of God’s love in my life. And I want that to be reflected in my art because, if it doesn’t move me as a songwriter, it’s not going to move anyone else,” he said.

“So, as I’m writing songs these days, I’m always asking the question, ‘Does this feel honest?’ ”

 

Diocese of Brooklyn Assists Haitian Migrants Settling in NYC After Traveling From Del Rio Border

By Jessica Easthope

A family sitting around the table, eating and laughing, a home cooked meal is ready on the stove – it looks idyllic – but only if you don’t know where they’ve been.

“My wife was really traumatized by all the people we saw suffering along the road, especially the children dying, she felt like she and our child could have died too,” said Jean Altenor.

For a month and a half, Lynda Aurilus and Jean Altenor, like more than 15,000 other Haitians, were on the move, walking most of the way from Chile to Texas – headed for the Del Rio border.

“We knew we couldn’t go back to Haiti, we could never go back so we saw the opportunity and decided to join a big group and go,” Lynda said.

They arrived in Cambria Heights, Queens in September with just the clothes on their backs. They were taken in by Marie and Joseph Orilus, Lynda’s aunt and uncle.

“It’s beyond comprehension what they explained to me the agony they went through, to walk from 11 countries, I can express the sadness within me to reach out to them,” said Marie.

They left Haiti, fleeing political violence in 2017 after Lynda’s cousin was murdered. Now they’re starting over in another foreign country – but here it’s the promise of the Diocese of Brooklyn to keep them safe.

“We have to come as a community, as a church to see what can we do to accompany these people long term,” said Father Hilaire Belizaire.

Of the 1,000 Haitians who made it to New York, 200 have settled in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Hilaire Belizaire, the coordinator of the ministry to Haitian immigrants has been helping them get settled.

“Jesus identified himself with the poor, with the needy, that was the face I saw in those migrants, this is an opportunity to respond to the gospel mandate,” said Father Hilaire.

People who made it through the border aren’t eligible for refugee status so they’ll all relying on host families like Marie and Joseph.

“As Catholics, there’s no greater reward,” Marie said. “Knowing I helped somebody improve their life.”

 

And if you want to help others like Lynda and Kean make a new home in New York City
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is on the frontlines resettling migrants. To donate to their cause, visit ccbq.org and click “give now.”