Currents News Staff
It’s not just clergy who are on a mission. The international pilgrim Virgin statue of Fatima has made its way to the city of Lviv with a message of peace.
The statue comes at the request of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s leader who hopes to ask for intercession for protection and peace.
In addition to daily prayers, the Shrine of Fatima has offered financial assistance to the eastern European country. The shrine is providing refuge to 35 displaced Ukrainian refugees.
Currents News Staff
St. Adalbert’s Parish in Elmhurst, Queens has already raised thousands of dollars for the cause. Parishioners donated $14,000 dollars for Ukrainians in need.
$10,000 dollars was collected during Masses and more than $4,000 dollars were donated online. That money will be heading to the Fransican friars who are serving refugees in Ukraine and on its borders.
By Jessica Easthope
Gun shots and blasts thunder through the streets of Skadovsk. Ukrainian citizens were protesting the detention of their mayor when they faced-off against Russian forces.
“This is a terror tactic. Grab local officials. Depose local governments.They’re also likely to systematically kidnap local officials and replace them with puppets,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Again, this has already begun. The mayor of Melitopol was grabbed off the street several days ago and released yesterday in a prisoner exchange. The mayor of another city in southern Ukraine was also kidnapped. He hasn’t yet been let go.”
The United States State Department confirmed an American citizen has been killed by Russian shelling in Chernihiv. The advisor to Ukraine’s interior minister identified the victim as 67-year-old James Whitney Hill from Minnesota. Hill was among several people killed when Russian artillery opened fire on civilians.
“We don’t know where my brother’s body is,”said Katya Hill, sister of James Whitney Hill, “…that kind of closure the family won’t have right now.”
After U.S. intelligence reports that China is showing openness to aid Russia in their invasion of Ukraine, President Biden is now set to speak with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Friday.
“This is a conversation about where President Xi stands,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. “It’s up to the Chinese to decide where they want to stand, where they want to be, as the history books are written.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Feast Day March 18th
“The wider our contemplation of creation, the grander is our conception of God.”
Bishop of Brooklyn Robert Brennan celebrated Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and delivered the homily.
Pope Francis had a video conference with Russian Patriarch Kirill to discuss the war in Ukraine.
The NYPD’S new anti-gun unit has made its first arrest.
By Jessica Easthope
The pipes and drums have a deeper purpose and what the green symbolizes is rooted in faith.
Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan said everyone celebrating in style on Fifth Avenue has the power to be like St. Patrick.
“Parades and processions are literal expressions of what you and I should be doing and are doing every day – bringing our faith into the streets, into the community,” said Bishop Brennan.
Before he was a saint, St. Patrick was a slave, working in the fields in Ireland. He eventually escaped, but when the Irish people needed him – he returned as a priest bringing with him a foundation of faith that became part of his legacy as a great evangelizer.
“He spent himself, he learned the language, he learned the vocabulary he took in the culture he became one of them, know how much the world needs you because it needs Christ and you are faithful witnesses,” Bishop Brennan said.
Outside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral people were thrilled to be celebrating once again. This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade coming almost two years to the day since New York City shut down because of the coronavirus.
Marching front-and-center was Mayor Eric Adams who this week encouraged all Irish-American New Yorkers to honor their heritage loud and proud.
“In the spirit of the Irish Americans who played a major role in this city, building the Brooklyn Bridge, our MTA system, law enforcement, you look at the success of New York you see the Irish contribution to it and you should be proud to be Irish today and proud to be New Yorkers and Americans,” Mayor Adams said.
Though people celebrate and wear green today – there’s a lot to be learned from St. Patrick every day.
Currents News Staff
On the 22nd day of war in Ukraine, Russia’s invasion continues to move into unthinkable territory.
“I think that Putin has crossed all the red lines possible,” said Ukrainian Parliament Member Marian Zablotskyi.
In Mariupol, warnings came in white lines outside a theater. Civilians spelled out in Russian the word “children” to indicate where 1,200 women and children were sheltered inside, according to Ukrainian officials. It did not stop an attack Thursday as survivors began to emerge.
“It’s really devastating when the Russians kill civilians and they kill pretty much, well, they spare nobody,” said Tata Marharian, Manager of Public Policy and Governance Projects at Kyiv School of Economics.
The fighting did not spare what officials say were 21 people killed in Merefa, a school and arts club that was destroyed. It didn’t spare a man’s wife and two children who were killed earlier this month trying to flee. The father and husband found out that his family died only because of social media.
“Yes, I’ve managed to bury everyone,” said Serhiy Perebyinis.
Serhiy remains resolute.
“We will not leave Kyiv,” he said. “We will stay here [until] the end.”
Millions have fled. More than 1.9 million entered Poland in recent weeks. In comparison, since October, about 700 Ukrainian refugees have come to the U.S., according to the state department.
So many are seeking safety anywhere, coming from a country where President Zelensky says everything now is a target.
St. Patrick
Feast Day March 17th
“I am certain in my heart that all that I am, I have received from God.”
By Jessica Easthope
For 5th graders at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy – it’s just another day of science and math problems. But 11-year-old Theodore Gaynullin’s problems have gone far beyond this classroom.
“I am afraid of the war [in] Russia, it’s dangerous, it was boom and ‘psshh’ when we were on the train,” he said.
This time two weeks ago, Theodore was walking with his mom Ellen and thousands of other Ukrainians through endless villages along the western border – hoping to make it safely to Poland – not knowing what the future would hold.
“It was a lot of hurt, and right now Russia is bombing on all of Ukraine. School is broken, home is broken, houses broken, in Ukraine people are dying and in Kyiv,” said Theodore.
“I was praying to escape from the country and I knew everything was very dangerous because no one knew what would happen next minute, next hour, maybe they would close the line,” Ellen said.
With just the clothes on their backs and one bag for both of them, Ellen and Theodore walked nearly 15 miles from Lviv to the border. Ellen, who lived in Brooklyn for 17 years, had one dream for her son. That vision kept her feet moving.
“I made the decision when Theodore was back in Kyiv. I made a decision when he’s back, I’m going to enroll him here. My friend asked me what school and I said this nice Catholic school,” she said.
St. Athanasius Principal Diane Competello says the school has welcomed Theodore with open arms.
“How could you say no? God sent them here. If we say we’re for everybody’s kids, that’s who we are,” Diane said.
Knowing that Theodore and Ellen have been through a lifetime of trauma, their new school and new church want to make their home in Brooklyn a safe haven.
“We offer them hope in the midst of conflict and we offer them the greatest gift, God’s love, which I’m sure they need right now,” said pastor, Msgr. David Cassato.
For now, Theodore says he’s excited to be living the life of a normal fifth grader – far away from the terrors of war – here he’s happy for it to be just another day.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed a heartbreaking, graphic video to members of Congress.
The Mayor of Kiev is asking the Pope to visit.
A Ukrainian mother and her son are now in Brooklyn. The sixth grader has enrolled at St. Athanasius Catholic Academy.
A big congratulations to the eighth-grade robotics teams at St. Saviour Catholic Academy in Park Slope!