By Katie Vasquez
Three teenagers from Long Island have been working to to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, as members of Jamaica’s Ski Team. And this year, one of them is on the slopes representing the Caribbean country.
Currents News takes an in-depth look at the man now called to lead the Archdiocese of New York as Archbishop Ronald Hicks prepares to begin his ministry at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
From his roots on the South Side of Chicago to his years serving orphaned children in El Salvador, Archbishop Hicks shares the personal faith journey, missionary heart, and pastoral vision that shaped his call to shepherd 2.8 million Catholics across New York.
This special newscast includes:
By Currents News
Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York gives his first homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as the newly installed shepherd of the Archdiocese of New York.
By Currents News
Archbishop Ronald Hicks of Illinois becomes the 11th shepherd of the Archdiocese of New York. Watch live Mass coverage and in-depth reporting from Currents News.
By Currents News
He’s just celebrated his first Sunday Mass as the new shepherd of the Archdiocese of New York — here’s a special look back at Archbishop Ronald Hicks’ installation Mass, from the first knock to the last hymn at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
By Currents News
Thousands of Haitians seeking refuge in the United States are breathing a sigh of relief after a federal judge blocked a motion to end their Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Parishioners gathered Tuesday at St. Jerome Church in East Flatbush to celebrate the decision, offering prayers in Creole. Temporary Protected Status allows immigrants from designated countries to live and work legally in the United States until it is deemed safe for them to return home.
An estimated 350,000 Haitians currently benefit from the program. The Department of Homeland Security first designated Haiti for TPS in 2010 following a devastating earthquake. Those attending the Mass said conditions in Haiti remain extremely unstable and that many fear what would happen if they were forced to return.
“There’s no security — they’re kidnapping, they’re raping, they’re killing,” said Jean Nelzy Solages, a parishioner at St. Jerome Church. “We don’t want to see the people go back at this time.”
Pierre Kesnel Elisee, a parishioner at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, echoed those concerns, describing widespread violence and instability. “They’re burning houses, they’re kidnapping,” he said. “Fourteen-year-olds are being recruited by gangs to commit atrocities.”
Michele Guerrier, a member of the Haitian Apostolate, called the situation in Haiti “unimaginable” and said it goes against basic Christian values.
Following the court’s decision, many churches across the Diocese of Brooklyn plan to hold Masses of thanksgiving for the temporary stay, including St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in East Flatbush.
By Currents News
A statue of the Virgin Mary was smashed at St. Gertrude’s Church in Far Rockaway, marking the second act of vandalism at the parish in recent months.
According to the pastor, Father Francis Shannon, the damage occurred sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. He said a vandal appears to have thrown an object at the head of the statue, smashing the back of it and causing the statue to topple to the ground.
Father Shannon believes the same individual may be responsible for both attacks on the parish. In an interview with Currents News, he expressed concern that the suspect could be dealing with more than just mental illness, describing the act as deeply troubling.
The parish is now working closely with police as the investigation continues. Father Shannon said plans are underway to repair the statue and place it inside a protective glass case in hopes of preventing future vandalism.
By Currents News
On the evening before the Installation Mass, The Most Reverend Ronald Hicks presided over vespers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Watch the full live stream here.
By Katie Vasquez and Paula Katinas
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN — One day ahead of his installation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York offered a hint of his priorities during a wide-ranging press conference on Feb. 5.
He emphasized the importance of evangelization, offered a message to the city’s immigrants, and noted that he looks forward to working with Mayor Zohran Mamdani “for the common good.”
Archbishop Hicks said his installation Mass will be a family affair, with many of his relatives in attendance and four of them bringing up the gifts before Communion.
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“I have hit the lottery with my parents, my family,” he said. “We’re close. They’re going to be there with my friends who have journeyed along the way.”
His nephew, Grant Hicks, will also perform a reading at the Liturgy of the Hours on the evening of Feb. 5 at the cathedral, which Archbishop Hicks will preside over.
He also noted that there will, of course, be Catholic hierarchy gathered at the installation, but to quote Pope Francis, there will also be “todos, todos, todos.”
As for his pastoral priorities, Archbishop Hicks said evangelization is at the top of his list.
“One of my focuses is going to be evangelization,” he said. “How do we actually be disciples who make disciples? People who have been a part of the Church, but not so much — how do we engage? How do we pass the faith on to the next generation? How do we be a Church that is thriving and relevant?”
RELATED: A Timeline of Archbishop Ronald Hicks
Archbishop Hicks’ message for immigrants emphasized the Church’s teachings on social justice and human dignity. He asked, “How do we see each other as brothers and sisters and use that as a foundation for everything else?” He also noted that he requested that the liturgy at his installation also be said in Spanish.
Asked about Mamdani, Archbishop Hicks said the two have not yet met.
“I look forward to meeting him and getting to know him,” he said. “What I’d like to do as archbishop, here, is understand that in politics, in government, (there) are going to be things that we disagree on, but I’d also like to make sure we pay attention to what are those things we can work on together for the common good.”
In some lighter moments, Archbishop Hicks joked that while he has already fallen in love with New York, he remains a Chicago Cubs fan. He also said that he remains partial to Chicago-style deep-dish pizza over New York’s, noting that he has “never met a pizza that I don’t like. So, I am looking forward to continuing that debate.”
Most Reverend Ronald Hicks shared his vision for evangelization, unity, and service as he prepares to be installed as the 11th archbishop of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
St. Gertrude’s Church in Far Rockaway is working with police after a statue of the Virgin Mary was vandalized.