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A Covenant Between a Parish and its School

Ed travels to Incarnation Parish and speaks with the pastor Father Josephjude Gannon. They speak about the parish school, and about the covenant program that allows families to receive financial support. Ed also speaks with families who have benefited from the program and the principal of the school, Mary Bellone.

Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine ‘Launches’ Free Virtual Tour

Currents News Staff

During the height of the pandemic, one of the most popular destinations for pilgrims, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, closed to the public for the first time in its history, so one entrepreneur used his drone piloting skills to transform the experience, creating a free tour online, where viewers can enjoy the shrine virtually.

The pilot was given rare exclusive access to the shrine while working on the project and was in awe of its vastness.

“When you’re alone in the sanctuary, you feel very small, because it’s very huge,” said Célian de la Rochefoucauld. “And you can’t see how huge is the sanctuary if you’re not alone, I think, in this place. And for a Christian, it was something very exciting and very impressive.”

The tour includes visual and audio guides with historical information about the shrine as well as background information on the rosary and other Marian prayers. The virtual tour is free and available online, just go to youheritage.com or to the Sanctuary of Lourdes app.

 

 

Diocese of Brooklyn Leads the Way as Catholic School Enrollment Nationwide Grows

By Jessica Easthope

After a difficult few years for Catholic education, enrollment is up.

Many Catholic schools are making a comeback in some of the largest dioceses around the country. Among those leading the way, the Diocese of Brooklyn.

At one school in Belle Harbor they’ve seen such an influx, they’re running out of room.

It’s been 20 years since St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy has had these 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.”

New data from the National Catholic Educational Association shows enrollment in Catholic schools nationwide is climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels.

Enrollment this year is up almost 4 percent and the Diocese of Brooklyn is near the top of the list with elementary school enrollment growing 2.4 percent.

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy had 569 students last school year – this year there are 638.

Judy Lindner says her students have adapted seamlessly, watching sometimes through a small hole in their plastic shields.

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 2 classes of say 30 in each class, Mr. Scharbach is able to make the 1st grade into 3 classes,” she said.

As enrollment climbed Principal Scharbach has had to transform the entire school.

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

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 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,” he said.

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

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 2/7/22

After a difficult few years for Catholic education, enrollment is up.

Ukrainian forces are training for urban combat in Chernobyl’s radiation exclusion zone.

Growing violence in the city has bus drivers asking for bullet proof vests.

 

Ukrainians Prepare for War at the Site of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster

Currents News Staff

Ukrainian forces are training for urban combat in Chernobyl’s radiation exclusion zone.

It’s just ten miles from Belarus, where the U.S. says Russia is deploying up to 30,000 troops.

But at the ‘Three Sisters’ border of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, there’s more nostalgia for the past than worry about war.

Leader of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: Our Priests and Nuns Will Stay With Our People

Currents News Staff

As fear and anxiety over a possible Russian invasion continue to permeate Ukraine, Aid to the Church in Need hosted a virtual conference about the Church’s experiences of eight years of armed conflict in the country.

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, described the situation on the ground and explained how the Catholic Church and other religious institutions are responding.

“People very often are trying to see from the Churches some strong orientation: What should we do in such critical conditions? We feel our responsibility toward Ukrainian society and we are trying to project our own plan, especially when a possible full-scale military invasion of Russian troops can happen at any time,” said Shevchuk.

In response to a circulating theory that religious conflict in Ukraine is a reason for Russia’s aggression, Archbishop Shevchuk strongly affirmed that there is no religious war, despite some differing views among the different Churches.

“In the very grassroots of Ukrainian society, between the believers, simple people, there are no divisions. Among the religious leaders in Ukraine, it is very clear that religious peace is a matter of national security. So we are avoiding any kind of conflicts among us and we are trying to foster religious peace in Ukraine as much as possible,” he said.

Another participant in the conference was the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas. He explained that parishes and Caritas staff have a number of humanitarian assistance points along the conflict line, where they provide material, psychological and spiritual aid.

Despite it becoming more difficult to aid in occupied territory, Abp. Shevchuk says a number of priests and nuns continue to serve their people there.

“Those priests who are staying there with our people, they are heroes of our times. I have to say. But that was our policy and will be our policy, even if, God forbid, a new occupation happens. We stay with our people. Our priests, our nuns, will be staying with our people,” said Shevchuk.

Both the Major Archbishop and the Apostolic Nuncio say the people of Ukraine are grateful for Pope Francis’ support and prayers, and they hope he will be able to visit the country soon as a beacon of peace.

Baltimore’s Mother Mary Lange in Line to Become First Black Saint in the U.S.

Currents News Staff

She died 140 years ago this week and is known in Baltimore’s Catholic community for the trailblazing work she did to educate people.

Now for Mother Mary Lange, a community honor may soon be followed by one even greater – to perhaps become the first black saint in the United States.

In honor of the 140th anniversary of her feast day, Archbishop William Lori and the Oblate Sisters dedicated and blessed the chapel in the first new Catholic school built by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in nearly 60 years – named after Mother Mary Lange.

“She’s a great pioneer, great woman of courage, great educator. And I couldn’t think of a better role model or more appropriate person to name the school after,” said Lori.

The trailblazing Catholic black woman was born in Santiago, Cuba and immigrated to Baltimore in the early 1800’s.

“She opened up a little school in her home in Fells Point, by and by founded a religious order and opened-up what is today Saint Frances Academy, and founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence – the only African American community in the world,” said Lori.

Now, Mother Lange is on the path to becoming the nation’s first black saint, and she continues to inspire future generations to follow in her footsteps for years to come.

“It’s very nice to see an African American woman so, to love Jesus and to not let anything stop her, even though all of the adversities that she faced,” said student Jaylah Golder.

Mother Lange’s cause for canonization to sainthood is under review by the Vatican.

In general, two miracles need to be accepted by the church as having occurred through the intercession of the prospective saint — one for beatification and one for canonization.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 2/4/22

Mayor Eric Adams is showing some love to Catholic schools today. He’s visiting St. Brigid – St. Frances Catholic Academy in Brooklyn.

We’re learning more about that U.S. military raid in Syria that ended with the death of an ISIS leader.

Hours before the opening of the winter Olympics in Beijing, Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Mayor Eric Adams Visits St. Brigid-St. Frances Catholic Academy and Emphasizes the Power of Prayer

By Jessica Easthope

Mayor Eric Adams looked out onto an auditorium of Catholic school students and said he’s just like them – a kid born and raised in Brooklyn with big dreams.

“I remember watching the borough and the city and hoping one day I could do something that would make my mother proud of me,” Mayor Adams said.

During his visit to St. Brigid-St. Frances Catholic Academy in Bushwick, Mayor Adams celebrated the diversity of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn and left kids with the hope that they too could one day become a leader and make a difference.

“It made me want to do what he did, it was really inspirational,” said eighth grader Javier Hernandez.

But the mayor said the most important part of their Catholic education is learning how the power of prayer can shape their futures.

“When you pray you start to believe in what’s possible and not allow anything to prevent you from reaching your full potential or dreams. I still pray every day and every night,” he said.

“For our students to hear that the Mayor of New York City also prays I thought that was wonderful,” said principal Marcia Soria.

Mayor Adams’ visit comes a day after his meeting with President Joe Biden on how to combat the violent crime plaguing the streets of New York City.

“That means talk about violence and how we are not going to allow violence to be part of our lives,” said Mayor Adams.

Before leaving Mayor Adams said he hung out with some of the best Catholic school students the city has to offer.