Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams Honors Diocese of Brooklyn’s COVID-19 Emergency Task Force

By Jessica Easthope

First responders and frontline workers put their lives at risk to help New York City fight off COVID-19. On Friday, May 21, the team of people who had the city’s back was recognized.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams honored the Diocese of Brooklyn’s COVID-19 Emergency Task Force. The seven-person team was presented with citations for their tireless efforts. Over the course of the worst days of the pandemic, the task force delivered PPE, hand sanitizer and even pizzas to police and fire departments, hospitals and nursing homes across the state.

The task force’s work were all part of the Catholic mission of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“We didn’t save lives, we helped them saving lives: the first responders, the firefighters, the police officers,” said Vincent LeVien, director of the task force. “I think as the Catholic Church, it goes to show the work we can do.”

As the city continues to get the spread of COVID-19 under control, the task force has shifted its focus from PPE to vaccinations, testing and fighting food insecurity.

“Our faith-based institutions play such a vital and critical role in getting our city back up and operating,” said Borough President Adams. “We can’t thank them enough.”

Answering the Call: Deacon Robinson Olivares’ Story

By Jessica Easthope

Deacon Robinson Olivares has explored all life has to offer: he has gone to school, dated, and had a career.

“I became a technical support engineer and I did that for 20 years,” he said. “I worked in healthcare, providing support, entertainment, business.”

But once Deacon Robinson got to the very core, there was nothing left but faith. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, he was in safe mode. Faith was still a big part of his simple life.

“I grew up very much Catholic, prayed the rosary since little, very family-oriented,” he said. “I loved visiting the countryside where I would spend time with all my grandparents.”

But those joyous moments in an idyllic setting didn’t last: a rude awakening was waiting and that was New York City in the 1980s.

“Every other weekend there was a shootout and candles at the corner for people that were killed,” the deacon said. “I remember, at times, that I had to duck out because there was some shooting going on. I remember being in a Chinese takeout place and there were shots right outside. I was scared for my life.”

As he grew up, his neighborhood changed around him, but the feeling that something was missing never did. It took him a long time to process his call. A few times he found love and thought it would be forever, but says that God was opening a new window.

“I was troubled,” he said. “Then eventually this wonderful girl, she said, ‘you know what, why don’t you follow your heart?’ and I eventually, I had to choose the Lord.

It was his career in IT that proved to him he was good with people and that he wanted to do something hands on. Finally, after going on a retreat with his friend, it all clicked.

“That was the best experience for me ever in my life,” Deacon Robinson said. “Because there I encountered the Lord in a beautiful, powerful way in the Eucharist. I was introduced to Jesus as my best friend and I have since had that relationship with Him.”

Now Deacon Robinson says he can see the clear link between technology and his faith.

“I remember coming up with this prayer, I said ‘Lord, may you set up in me a firewall with the fire of your love so that I may remain close to you and outside influences don’t get at me so that I may not walk a different path,’” he said. “So there’s a connection there.”

The connection might have been slow but now nothing can undo this feeling.

“So now instead of a computer doctor,” he said. “I’ll be a doctor of souls.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 5/20/21

Proclaiming the Good News — churches are reopening to full capacity in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio shares what you need to know to get back to Mass.

A heartbeat bill that’s become law in Texas is banning abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

Reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — but what damage has the fighting already done to children? We speak to a 10 year old from Gaza.

In-person graduations — a Brooklyn Catholic college finally congratulates the Class of 2020.

Diocese of Brooklyn Eases Mass Restrictions, Churches Can Return to Full Capacity

By Currents News Staff and John Lavenburg

WINDSOR TERRACE — The Diocese of Brooklyn sent a letter to its pastors May 20 that ropes cordoning off pews can be removed, and churches can reopen at full capacity in light of new guidance from the state of New York and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“It’s a good day,” Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said. “We’re at full capacity now, though there are still some restrictions for those who aren’t vaccinated, our churches should be able to accommodate people coming back.”

Under the new diocesan guidelines, wearing face masks at services is still strongly recommended, out of consideration for those who are not yet vaccinated. And social distancing is still required for unvaccinated attendees, except for members of their household.

“When we’re giving out instructions, we still want people to wear masks, the sanitary conditions; all of those things we’re continuing as if everything was still in place,” Bishop DiMarzio said. “We’re not giving up our guard, we think it’s very important.”

The new guidelines will allow the celebration of Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn to more closely resemble the way it was done before the COVID-19 pandemic. Other changes include:

Hymnals and missalettes can once again be used.
Lectors can read from the main ambo or the pulpit.
Extraordinary Ministers of holy Communion may resume their ministry with proper hand hygiene before and after holy Communion.
Collection baskets may resume as normal.
The Offertory Procession with the gifts of the bread and wine can resume.
Choirs with vaccinated members can operate as normal, while unvaccinated members must maintain social distancing.
Altar servers may resume their ministry with proper hygiene procedures.

There are a few protocols that won’t change. Hand hygiene, in general, is still required, and holy Communion is still to be given in the form of bread only. There are no shared Communion cups, and receiving Communion in the hand is still recommended.

The changes to the Mass guidelines come four days after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state would adopt CDC guidelines issued last week that eased mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated people. The diocese’s letter indicates a combination of those announcements, falling COVID infection rates, and rising numbers of vaccinations led to the decision.

More than 50 percent of adults in both Brooklyn and Queens have received at least one dose of the vaccine, at 54.7 and 66.6 percent, respectively, according to New York State data updated 11 a.m. Thursday morning.

As vaccinations rise, the rates of infection in both counties continue to fall. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 related deaths per day has hovered around 10, according to USAFacts, which aggregates data from the CDC and state and local public health agencies.

Speaking about the new mask guidelines, in particular, Bishop DiMarzio said it’s up to parishioners to be honest about their vaccination status.

“That’s going to have to be done by the people themselves,” the bishop said. “The unvaccinated should wear masks. We’re not going to segregate them to certain places, but they have to use their common sense.”

The letter also notes that the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass that’s been in effect since the start of the pandemic will be lifted on June 3. It acknowledges, though, that “those who are ill, or feeling unwell, those who care for the sick and those truly at risk are automatically dispensed from the obligation, as is always the case.”

To accommodate parishioners that find themselves in compromised circumstances, Bishop DiMarzio said livestreaming of Masses should continue.

“It’s very important to have that,” he said. “We’ve learned something new again in the pandemic that we could do that, and it’s not that difficult and for the homebound and those that really cannot get out. It’s a great grace that they can see their own parish.”

Those circumstances aside, he looks forward to once again seeing full pews.

No one will be asked to prove their vaccination status. The Diocese of Brooklyn is encouraging pastors to use their best judgement in determining the best way to get parishioners back in the pews safely.

Dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation will be lifted on June 3 — the Feast of Corpus Christi.

In-Person Graduation Ceremony Thrown for St. Francis College’s Class of 2020 and 2021

By Emily Drooby

After coming to the U.S. from Egypt as a child, Merna Abdelhalem became the first in her family to graduate. The proud occasion was caught on camera.

“Honestly, it’s more for my parents than it is for me,” Merna says.

The moment her parents dreamed of was almost lost forever. As a member of the Class of 2020, her original ceremony was cancelled because of the pandemic. Now, they’ve gotten that moment back.

“It just means that both my hard work, and their hard work paid off,” Merna says, “which is the point of hard work, right?”

Hundreds of other St. Francis College students and their families sacrificed and worked hard to make their dreams come true.

“I mean I’ve had so many parents come to me, crying, tears in their eyes,” explained the college’s president, Miguel Martinez-Saenz. “My heart is uplifted because this is why we do what we do.”

The school held two commencement ceremonies in the same day at the Coney Island Amphitheater. The Class of 2021 graduated in the afternoon and the Class of 2020 graduated in the morning.

The amphitheater is technically outside and social distancing guidelines were in place. With those protocols, it safely gave the students the moment they’ve worked so hard to reach. At graduation, the moment they walked across stage was one that brought parents to their feet.

“My mom was a teacher in India and my dad also has his Masters in Accounting, but then when they came here, they had to start everything again,” explained Class of 2020 Masters graduate Ginal Patel. “So seeing me do it, make it here, it’ a big moment for them too.”

Ginal has already been working in Accounting for a year, but that didn’t stop her from coming back to celebrate her achievements.

“It feels really good,” she said, “and it feels like we got closure from a chapter of our life.”

Amazing Grace: Catholic Teen Battles Heart Disease and Inspires Others

Currents News Staff

When it’s nice outside, you’ll often find Grace Mallgraf in the backyard with her dad practicing her swing. But golf isn’t her only game. You can also catch her with her twin sister Abby hitting the volleyball.

And when she wants to give her wrists a rest, she gives her fingers a workout on the keyboard and plays her heart out. All of it is music to her mother’s ears.

“It’s a miracle!” Lisa says.

You see, Grace’s physical heart almost kept her from doing all of the things she loves.

“I’ve had four open heart surgeries,” Grace says.

That’s four open-heart surgeries before she was even three years old! She was born with HLHS, or Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Grace doesn’t remember any of it, but for mom Lisa, her own heart skipped a beat when she found out her newborn would need surgery.

“I mean it was terrifying and you just didn’t know what was gonna happen next,” Lisa said. “There was a time when we weren’t sure what she would be like as a 12-year-old.”

But Lisa had faith in the surgeon at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

“He did some explanation on paper and then he just looked us in the eye and said ‘I’ll fix your baby’s heart,’” she said.

It was actually her faith in God that was put to the test.

“There was a time though where I questioned the faith and why,” Lisa said, “but I’ve learned through the years, you can’t do that, you have to kinda put your faith in God.”

The Mallgraf family keeps the faith as parishioners at St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport.

“Church was a big piece of it,” she said. “I find that it’s actually like my therapy almost. Sometimes when it’s hard, I just go and like focus and be thankful for what I have and I hate to ask for more, but sometimes ask for a little bit more.”

The seventh-grade honors student at Trinity Regional Catholic School isn’t out of the woods yet. Grace is regularly seen by heart specialists and there’s always the possibility she may need a heart transplant in the future. But that doesn’t get her down.

“I feel fine,” Grace said. “Just like a normal kid.”

But if you ask anyone who knows her, she’s not normal, she’s amazing: Amazing Grace – which also happens to be the name of her team at the annual congenital heart walk. Grace works hard to raise money because her heart is in the right place.

“So that we can help other kids and people like me who have heart defects,” she said.

Grace is a heart warrior and to her mom, she’s a superhero who drives her family to give back to others facing the same challenges.

“We’ve been very involved in that and try to raise as much as we can because the research has gotten us where we are,” Lisa said. “So if it can get us further, can get another kid to this point, it’s all worth it.”

The Long Island Congenital Heart Walk is virtual this year. If you’d like to donate to Team Amazing Grace, just head to childrensheartfoundation.org and search for the team “Amazing Grace.”

If you’d like to join in on the fun, you can participate in the New York City walk. It will be held on Sept. 26 at The Bronx Zoo.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 5/19/21

Enrollment in Catholic schools is plummeting and some are even closing. But that’s not the case in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Most mask mandates and social distance guidelines in New York are gone.

The amazing little girl who went through four open-heart surgeries – and is on a mission to help others.

Brooklyn Food Pantry Fighting Against Hatred and Hunger Days After Vandalism at Local Church

By Emily Drooby

Different religions and ethnicities, but all of the people at a pop-up food pantry held on Wednesday have something important in common: the desire to stomp out hate through kindness.

How? By doing so through a food drive, which was put together by two different religious based-groups. The initiative, which is being run by the Met Council is being called, “Hate Has No Home Here.”

Working towards unity is something Msgr. Alfred LoPinto says is crucial right now.

“The country is falling apart,” the monsignor said. “Division seems to be more prevalent than it has been in the past.”

In the first four months of 2021, NYC saw a 73% increase in hate crimes, including attacks against the faithful.

“We’ve had a mosque vandalized within the last few days,” explained Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez. “We’ve seen a surge, last year, in anti-semitic crimes and this year, in the last few days, we have a few Catholic institutions and other property vandalized.”

The district attorney’s referring to the crucifix torn down in front of St. Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst and a statue depicting the Virgin Mary and her son Jesus, which was defaced in front of the diocesan offices.

“I grew up as a Catholic and to see images of our saints and others being desecrated is heartbreaking,” Eric said.

Asian Americans are under attack too. Hate crimes against the Asian American community has skyrocketed in 2021: five times higher than last year. That’s why the food drive initiative began – to fight against hate.

It’s a partnership between Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and the Met Council – one of the most prominent Jewish nonprofits.

Two different religious groups and volunteers from all different backgrounds, like the Chinese American Planning Council, are coming together to help feed 400 families.

“It’s so heartbreaking to see hungry people standing in line for food in this country, but on the other hand, all these groups coming together to stand up against hatred, brings hope,” explained Robert Newman, the chief policy officer for the Met Council.

Looking out for one’s neighbor – no matter their background – are the first steps in creating a more unified city. While hate might have ‘no home here’, love, acceptance and kindness certainly do.

Diocese of Brooklyn Goes Against the Trend as Enrollment at Catholic Schools Nationwide Plummets

By Jessica Easthope

Space is tight on the walls and in the hallways of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy in Belle Harbor, Queens. That’s because it’s been 20 years since the school had this many students.

“We know that we’ve made great efforts in our diocese in trying to increase enrollment and have people try to see the value of Catholic education here in Brooklyn and Queens,” said Principal Christopher Scharbach.

More than 200 Catholic schools across the country have closed over the past year and nationwide enrollment fell 6.4 percent, but in the Diocese of Brooklyn, registration is up 1,500 students compared to this time last year. At St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, 569 students are currently enrolled and that number will be shooting up to 638 come September.

“We’ve had a very strong enrollment but the interesting thing has been how the enrollment has grown this year during the pandemic,” said Judy Lindner, a first grade teacher at the school.

Judy says her students have adapted seamlessly – watching her over and sometimes through the plastic shields on their desks. Her first graders don’t take up too much space – but next year, there’ll be more of them.

“Because we are growing in enrollment, instead of having two classes of say 30 in each class, Mr. Scharbach is able to make the first grade into three classes,” Judy said.

But it’s not only first grade that’s had to modify. As enrollment climbed, Principal Scharbach had to transform the entire school.

“We’re reusing rooms used for different reasons now as classrooms,” he said. “One thing the pandemic has had us do is really be creative with how we structure a school.”

He says it’s sad to see so many people forced out of Catholic schools by the economic effects of the pandemic – a problem they’ve tried to keep under control at the school.

“We’ve tried to keep tuition as low as possible and not have as large of increases as we’ve had in the past,” Principal Scharbach said, “and we’ve tried to work with families around it and we have a tuition assistance committee for anyone who has fallen on tough times.”

The school’s motto is “anchored in Christ” and staff say that mindset has kept them afloat.

“We are just continuing to put faith first,” Judy said.

So as the school continues to make room, repurpose and squeeze in where they can – Mr. Scharbach says it’s the artwork, prayers and projects on the walls that remind him that a Catholic education is a gift.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 5/18/21

Hate crimes against the Diocese of Brooklyn – clergy asking for police to step up patrols.

San Francisco’s Archbishop has a response to Nancy Pelosi.

No rockets were fired from Gaza overnight but Israel is launching a new round of airstrikes