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Diocese of Brooklyn Shepherd on Priestly Retreat to Assisi, Attends Transitional Diaconate Ordination of Brooklyn Seminarian

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is in Assisi right now on a retreat!

The shepherd of the Brooklyn Diocese traveled with 12 other priests to the central Italian town, where they met the Bishop of Assisi, Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, and visited the exact spot where St. Francis of Assisi received his stigmata, or Christ-like wounds!

For the next 12 days, the group will visit various other sites around Italy and Rome, and will even attend a general audience with Pope Francis!

Bishop Brennan spoke about the trip so far on his podcast, Big City Catholics.

A truly touching moment of the trip so far was when they supported one of their own at St. Peter’s Basilica! They attended a transitional diaconate ordination for 15 men on Thursday, and one of them hails from the Diocese of Brooklyn!

Deacon Paul Salazar graduated from Cathedral Prep High School and Seminary before studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Congratulations to him and all of the new deacons—we will be praying for you as you continue your journey to the priesthood!

Our Lady of Hope Welcomes Back Alum into New Principal Role in Full Circle Moment

By Jessica Easthope

A lot has changed since 1991—clothing, hairstyles, and technology.

But one thing has stayed the same—Kara McCarthy can still be found walking the halls of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy.

“I prayed a lot, just asking God to put me where you need me to be. And ultimately, it ended up right back here,” McCarthy said.

She left, ready to take on the next chapters of her life, not knowing one chapter would bring her right back where she started—not as a student, but as the principal of her elementary school.

“Having been a product of this school and now returning, it’s part of me giving back,” McCarthy said. “My experiences here were so positive. I loved my teachers, I loved my classes, I loved everything about it.”

As principal, she wants her students to graduate with the same feelings she had—nothing but love and gratitude for their school.

“To look back with fondness, to look back with pride, saying that they’re a product of Our Lady of Hope and being able to go forward in life, making this a strong part of their foundation,” McCarthy said.

With an unshakable Catholic identity, McCarthy will be implementing more student Masses and a daily afternoon Angelus.

“The best part about being in Catholic education is that when times are tough, when you need a moment, you can come together in prayer,” McCarthy said. “Remembering those times as a student and now being able to share them, helping the students here today celebrate in the same way and honor our Lord—the reason why we are here—is vital to me.”

McCarthy said Our Lady of Hope is a multi-generational school, with former students now dropping off their children and grandchildren. She has a legacy to uphold—not just as principal, but as the little girl in those pictures.

St. Francis of Assisi: The Inspiration Behind the Name

When Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Square as pope, few expected that the Jesuit would choose the name Francis for his pontificate, in honor of the saint of Assisi.

Along with this gesture, Pope Francis has also shown the values of the patron saint, such as closeness to the poor with the care of the common home.

St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1182. The son of a merchant, he renounced his inheritance to follow the austerity of Christ. He lived in strict poverty, with a simple life. The Pope has tried to apply this lifestyle to himself as well as to the universal Church.

The Pope has actually been to Assisi several times. For example, in 2016, Pope Francis was in the basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. There, he prayed at the place where the Franciscan movement began.

St. Francis is known for having made the first nativity scene in history. It was in 1223 on his return from a trip to the Holy Land. The village, Greccio, reminded him of the place where Jesus was born. Francis visited this village in 2019.

The nativity scene, which St. Francis made for the first time in this small space, in imitation of the narrow grotto of Bethlehem, speaks for itself. There is no need to multiply words here, because the scene that is placed before our eyes expresses the wisdom we need to grasp the essential.

Pope Francis not only tries to model a life of poverty like his namesake, but he also spends time with the poor often. Just last weekend, the Holy Father made an unplanned stop to have breakfast with them while in Belgium.

The Pontiff also established the World Day of the Poor in 2017, which he often commemorates with a lunch alongside hundreds of poor people in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Annual Blessing of the Animals St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day Tradition at St. Patrick’s Church

By Jessica Easthope

As the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment, every year on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, Catholics bring their furry, scaly, and feathered friends to be blessed in a tradition that dates back centuries.

With every sprinkle of holy water, these people hope for good health and long lives—not for themselves, but for their pets.

Canines, felines, reptiles, and even stuffed animals made their way to St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge Thursday for the annual tradition. St. Francis of Assisi started blessing animals back in the 13th century, but newly ordained priest Father Randy Nguyen is doing it for the first time.

“The blessing was very special today because, as St. Francis of Assisi said, animals are part of God’s creation, and we should appreciate and love them just like we love other people,” Father Nguyen said.

Chloe Carnella and her Cavalier King Charles, Cookie, are best friends.

“She always snuggles up in a ball, curls herself around, and looks like a fluff ball,”Carnella said.

Eddie Khzam was excited to talk about everything his bearded dragon, Bella, can do.

“She’s a very good eater, and she’s more active than my other ones,” Khzam said. “Her back feels like a rock. She climbs around her tank, sometimes runs, and sometimes goes underneath the couch.”

Daniel Freeland, a parishioner at St. Pat’s for nearly 30 years, says recently his service dog, Perceus, has been a true companion.

“Well, right now he’s everything. I take him everywhere, do everything with him,” Freeland said. “I lost my wife a year ago, so it’s tough. He makes up for that a little bit.”

Proving that emotional support from a pet comes in all shapes and sizes.

Father Nguyen says if you missed your parish’s Blessing of the Animals, not to worry. You can pray for or even with your pets at home by saying a prayer to St. Francis of Assisi.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 10/4/2024

Today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Catholics around the world participate in blessing their pets, including parishioners at St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge, who held a special ceremony for the occasion.

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is on a retreat in Assisi, Italy, alongside 12 priests. They met with the Bishop of Assisi and visited the sacred site where St. Francis received the stigmata, Christ-like wounds symbolizing his devotion.

St. Francis of Assisi has inspired millions, including Pope Francis, who took his name. The Pope reflects St. Francis’ values of caring for the poor and protecting our shared home, the Earth.

Meet Kara McCarthy, the new principal at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy in Middle Village, Brooklyn. As an alum of the school, Kara is thrilled to return and plans to bring more student engagement through additional student Masses and a daily Angelus prayer. Learn more in the second installment of Currents News’ “Meet the New Principals” series.

Students at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Learn of Italy’s Response During WWII at “Museum of Memory”

by Katie Vasquez

It was the largest and deadliest conflict in human history, but a new traveling exhibit is telling a side of World War II that not many people know about.

“It’s a museum showing what the city of Assisi and the Bishop of Assisi did during the holocaust and helping thousands of jews and making sure that they wouldn’t get killed,” said Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media Group. 

The Pave the Way foundation, an organization that looks to build bridges between faiths, helped to start the exhibit on Assisi’s Museum of Memory.

It was brought to the Diocese of Brooklyn by Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media group, who spoke to principals about bringing it to schools. 

Principal Elizabeth Reilly at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic academy was immediately interested. 

“Italian culture is celebrated here very much as is our catholic identity,” said Elizabeth Reilly, Principal at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy, “we pride ourselves in this school on teaching religion and having that feeling of community and faith.”

“It gives them a better appreciation for, you know, the efforts and the work of people who are the unsung heroes,” said St Francis of Assisi Pastor, Monsignor Ralph Maresca.

And students were excited to see this untold part of history.  

“Even though it is a sad topic, it’s pretty interesting to understand, like what was going on through people’s minds and like why they were doing this and also like how they countered the negatives to this and made it a positive in life,” said 8th grader, Christian Duran.

The kids say the actions of the Catholics in the hill town in central Italy to save the Jewish people, from hiding them in monasteries and convents to making fake ids, make the students feel proud of their faith. 

“There were a lot of people that basically dedicated their lives to helping others and that makes me feel like I’m part of a religion that does a lot for other people and is very beneficial to society,” said 7th grader, Arianna Soberal.

These pictures portray the bravery of a people and inspiring the next generation.

DeSales Media Creates “The Pope Video” for October

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 10/3/2024

Students at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Astoria are engaging in a unique history lesson today with a traveling “Museum of Memory,” which educates them on Italy’s response to refugees, war, and genocide during World War II, following their attendance at Mass.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, has begun, heralding ten days of reflection and repentance leading to Yom Kippur. Bishop Robert Brennan offered the Jewish community heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity during this significant time.

The Diocese of Brooklyn is praying for vocations! Since October is the month of the rosary, the Diocese is dedicating this month to praying for and meditating on vocations.

“We are community.” This powerful message from Pope Francis for October resonates deeply with us. It underscores the unity and strength we derive from our shared faith. You can hear more from the Holy Father in a special video from the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, a production by the Diocese of Brooklyn with the support of NET TV’s parent company, DeSales Media Group.