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ACCEPT
Greg Montgomery’s life has all the makings of a Hollywood epic. War, a whirlwind romance, the challenges of new fatherhood, second chances—it plays out like a movie, fit for the pews of what used to be the Loews Woodside movie theater, now St. Sebastian Church.
“When we adopted our son, it became more—I want that faith in our family,” Montgomery said.
Greg has been attending Catholic Mass for more than 20 years since he met his wife Jen Faith Brown-Montgomery, a singer, actor and performer and the cantor at St. Sebastian. The two had a cinematic meet-cute.
“My car broke down and Greg stopped to fix it,” Brown-Montgomery said. “I really just fell in love with him instantly.”
At the time Greg was recovering—he had broken his back in combat.
“I did six in the Navy, six in the Army, six in the Air Force,” he said. “Wind up breaking my back in my 18th year.”
“A lot of those children had birth defects, that were in his particular unit because of the exposure to the chemicals in the Gulf War,” Brown-Montgomery said. “So we knew we wanted to adopt.”
They adopted and when Damian came—so did Greg’s “come to faith moment.”
“The mother chose us,” Montgomery said. “She had OD’d on Percocet with heroin and Damian was born three months early, he died twice in the NICU. But kept coming back. Kept fighting. And he’s walking and talking.”
Damian was baptized Catholic. After experiencing all the blessings and fielding all the challenges of having a child with cerebral palsy—Greg wanted their faith to match.
“It’s hard to see, like he’s excluded from some birthday parties or kids don’t want to play with him,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think you could do it without faith.”
At the Easter Vigil Greg will receive his sacraments and officially become Catholic.
“He has been one of our best models for the other people in our class,” said Karin Sweeney, OCIA coordinator at St. Sebastian Church. ”
And he has done so much for our parish. We need people like Greg.”
Greg’s life has been an adventure—but soon a new one begins and he can’t wait for the sequel.
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan will lead a series of Holy Week and Easter liturgies at St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn, with all major services broadcast live on NET-TV.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, March 31 — Chrism Mass at 4 p.m., during which Bishop Brennan will deliver his annual message to the priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Holy Thursday — Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday — Way of the Cross at 10 a.m., followed by the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m.
Holy Saturday — Easter Vigil at 8 p.m.
Easter Sunday — Six Masses will be celebrated throughout the day:
9 a.m. — Creole
11 a.m. — English (ceebrated by Bishop Brennan)
1:30 p.m. — Spanish
4 p.m. — Italian
5 p.m. — Polish
6 p.m. — English
Viewers can watch the Easter Vigil and other Holy Week services live on NET-TV.
JFK AIRPORT — Imam Essam Mahmoud wept suddenly while telling a story from the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Quran.
Imam Mahmoud, the Islamic chaplain at John F. Kennedy International Airport, described how Mary was pregnant, afraid, and confused. In desperation, she fled from her family to a secluded place.
But Mary, while camped at the trunk of a palm tree, gave birth to a son. She was soon visited by the angel, Gabriel, who explained that God had sent her the gift of a “pure son.” Despite her fears, she expressed obedience to God and resolved to love and care for the child.
Her example sparked an emotional response from the imam.
“She is fully human,” he said, dabbing tears from his eyes. “Yes, she’s experiencing human stress and emotions, and yet she makes a decision to trust God. We can say Mary is like a Bible walking in the street. Or, we can say a Quran walking.
“Because now we see that God is walking in front of us. And it is not something we hear; it is something we know.”
Imam Mahmoud spoke with The Tablet on March 14 at the JFK office he shares with Father Cezariusz Jastrzębski, the airport’s Catholic chaplain.
The imam explained that reverence toward Mary — called “Maryam” in Islam — is shared by both religions, which might surprise some Christians.
The Quran mentions her more than 30 times by name, more than any other woman, Imam Mahmoud said. He reiterated Islam’s regard for Mary on March 16 at JFK during an “iftar” — the evening meal to break the daily fast during Ramadan.
Bishop Robert Brennan, the special guest, was accompanied by Father Jastrzębski, Deacon Vincent Lino, also a Catholic chaplain at the airport, and Father Michael Lynch, vicar for ecumenical and interreligious affairs for the diocese.
“Moments like this remind us that our communities share more connections than divisions,” Imam Mahmoud said. “When we come together — whether to pray, dialog, or simply share a small meal — we strengthen the bonds of peace and mutual understanding.”
He added that a “beautiful example” of this relationship is “our shared respect” for Mary.
“We cannot say Mary or Maryam without saying ‘peace be upon her,’ ” Imam Mahmoud said. “She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran.”
Father Lynch is also the pastor of St. Athanasius-St. Dominic Parish in Bensonhurst. He told The Tablet on March 17 that interfaith dialogue is a tenet of “Nostra Aetate (In Our Time)” — a landmark 1965 declaration from the Second Vatican Council.
Promulgated by Pope Paul VI, the document emphasized unity, interfaith dialogue, and respect for non-Christian religions, including Islam.
“The document,” Father Lynch added, “lists several areas of agreement between Muslims and Christians.”
Included, he explained, are the doctrine of God, the one revealer and merciful; the eschatology of judgment and resurrection of the body; and the practices of prayer, fasting, and alms giving.
“But then it says that Jesus’ mother is honored by Muslims as a virgin, and at times Muslims even call on her with devotion,” Father Lynch said.
He said Christians believe Jesus is the son of God, while Muslims say he is among the greatest prophets. Still, the shared belief that Mary is the Virgin Mother of Jesus is an opportunity for fellowship and dialogue.
And when people are talking and sharing ideas in good faith, they aren’t brawling.
“We Christians call her the ‘Queen of Peace,’ ” Father Lynch said. “I think that’s important for us to think about that as a bridge, as we think about ways to dialogue.”
The iftar drew nearly 200 airport employees to the buffet set up in a conference room near JFK’s four chapels in Terminal 4.
Bishop Brennan thanked Imam Mahmoud and the airport’s Muslim community for their invitation and “constant friendship.”
He said Catholics can trace the interreligious dialogue between Christians and Muslims back to St. Francis of Assisi, who died 800 years ago in 1226.
But, seven years earlier, at the siege of Damietta during the 5th Crusade, St. Francis crossed enemy lines to meet the Sultan of Egypt, Malik al-Kamil, to preach the Gospel.
He simultaneously demonstrated appreciation for the Sultan and his faith. They did not convert each other, but they did establish mutual respect, and St. Francis was given safe passage back to the Christian battle lines.
“St. Francis’ great prayer is so well known by people all around the world, not only by Christians,” Bishop Brennan said. “It is the prayer for peace — ‘Make me an instrument of your peace.’
“So, when I look at our friendship, this is the icon of friendship, that we are people who are rooted in our faith, connected deeply to the Lord God, and striving for peace, but doing so as friends.”
A statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Gertrude Church was vandalized for the second time in 2026, suffering what parish leaders describe as irreparable damage.
The New York Police Department reports the incident occurred sometime between Saturday night, March 14, and Sunday morning, March 15.
The suspect smashed the statue’s head and toppled it over.
Father Francis Shannon, pastor of St. Gertrude Church, expressed deep concern over the repeated attacks on the more than 100-year-old image.
In an interview with Currents News, he said the destruction felt particularly painful given the statue’s age and significance to the community.
He added that while the parish is grieving, they are moving forward with practical steps to prevent future incidents.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.In response, St. Gertrude’s plans to install new security cameras next week and is obtaining estimates to replace the damaged statue.
The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten Pilgrimage reached its 27th stop March 20 with services at two parishes, one dedicated especially to young adults.
In Williamsburg, pilgrims gathered at the San Damiano Mission for a day of prayer focused on young people.
The schedule began with Mass celebrated by the pastor, Father Cristiano Pinheiro, and ended with Mass led by Bishop Robert Brennan, followed by Holy Hour and Benediction.
At the same time, other pilgrims visited St. Vincent Ferrer in East Flatbush.
The parish hosted a full lineup of Lenten services, including morning Mass.
The dual Brooklyn stops allowed the faithful to deepen their Lenten journey through prayer, Eucharist and reflection across different communities in the diocese.
Security has been reinforced at St. Peter’s Basilica following a recent act of desecration beneath Bernini’s Baldachin that drew widespread attention online.
The incident raised concerns among pilgrims and visitors about safety and protection at one of the Catholic Church’s most sacred sites. In response, Vatican officials have installed a new movable barrier around the Altar of the Confession to prevent further intrusions, while maintaining the basilica’s artistic and architectural integrity.
It’s St. Joseph’s Day and this feast day starts the way every feast day starts – with Mass. In Bensonhurst at St. Dominic Church, Deacon Anthony Mammoliti and members of the Italian Apostolate have adopted a Sicilian tradition that’s brought the community together.
“St. Joseph is what we call the strong silent type,” Deacon Anthony says during his homily.
He was a father, husband and provider—but the Bible doesn’t record a single spoken word from Joseph of Nazareth.
“In that silence is great strength, strength of character for us to emulate,” says Deacon Anthony.
After Mass the preparation begins. Joseph brought great faith to the table – and what the ladies of the Italian Apostolate bring to La Tavolata is a reflection of theirs. Meatless food of all types are presented before a statue of St. Joseph to be shared with the community—but not before 96-year-old Caterina Lionetti, the matriarch of this group, has her say.
“First it was a few people now it’s a lot of people, everybody loves St. Joseph,” Lionetti said.
The women make it look easy but so much work goes into La Tavolata every year and there’s more to learn about the sweet treat that’s at the center of it all.
On Lorimer Street in the heart of Williamsburg Nino and Bilena Settepani crank out St. Joseph pastries by the hundreds at their bakery, Settepani. There’s a sign on the door that lets everyone know the tradition is alive and well. St. Joseph pastries are sold in bakeries across New York City—but it’s the history that adds a bite to even the lightest pastry dough.
“St. Joseph pastry has very ancient history, they precede Christianity. Legend says when St Joseph the Virgin Mary and Jesus escaped from the Holy Land to Egypt in order for St Joseph to survive he was selling fried dough and bread to make a living,” said executive chef Nino Settepani.
You might prefer sfinci or zeppole, but the Settepanis say their deep faith is the not-so-secret ingredient in both.
“We’re one of the oldest bakeries in this neighborhood and for us it’s always important to keep our faith and our tradition alive,” pastry chef Bilena Settepani said.
From sweet to savory, back in Bensonhurst at Pastosa Ravioli on New Utrecht Avenue owner Joseph Ajello says if you’re looking to recreate the taste of 9th century Sicily in 2026, you’re in the right place for all things pasta con sarde. Ajello says those who are making the dish for St. Joseph’s Day should be just as seasoned on its origins as their sauce.
“We make a fresh bucatini pasta, sardines, raisins, pignoli nuts, fresh fennel, the breadcrumb is supposed to represent the sawdust of the carpenter, Joseph,” he said.
The final stop is the Co-Cathedral of St Joseph in Prospect Heights. St Joseph’s story begins with a challenge. When he discovered Mary was with child but the baby wasn’t his, he planned to divorce her quietly until an angel confirmed Mary had conceived through the Holy Spirit. He was up against seemingly insurmountable odds but he put his trust in God.
“We can look to him for courage, we can look to him for the ability to realize no matter what difficulties we face in life God is always with us,” said Deacon Anthony.
If you find yourself up against it this St Joseph’s Day, you can share your table, remember your faith, and put your trust in God—just like St Joseph did.
Catholics across the Diocese of Brooklyn are marking Saint Joseph’s Day by gathering for Mass, sharing traditional foods, and honoring Italian customs tied to the saint.
Pope Leo XIV will make his first major papal trip to Africa with visits planned in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
Many have been wondering whether Pope Leo XIV cast a ballot in the Illinois primary, but officials say he is no longer registered to vote there.
More U.S. dioceses are reporting a rise in adults preparing to join the Catholic Church this Easter.
March 19 marks the feast of St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. In homes, restaurants, bakeries and churches across the Diocese of Brooklyn, faithful are honoring the saint who trusted in God and allowed faith in Him to guide his fatherhood journey.