By Katie Vasquez
Hundreds of thousands of people have poured into the nation’s capital united in a message: they are demanding lawmakers protect the unborn and mothers, especially in states like New York which is considered the abortion capital.
Parishioners from the Diocese of Brooklyn are there now to protect the right to life.
The 2026 March for Life begins in Washington with the National Prayer Vigil for Life, as crowds gather to pray and reflect at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Thousands will march through the nation’s capital, following a route from the National Mall past the U.S. Capitol to the Supreme Court.
A Brooklyn mother shares how faith and the support of a pro-life organization helped her choose life during an unplanned pregnancy.
Catholics in the Diocese of Brooklyn filled the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Altagracia.
By Currents News
President Donald Trump conceived the “Board of Peace” as part of the oversight of the Gaza ceasefire plan.
He has invited more than 60 countries to participate in the council. Among them is the Holy See. This news was announced by Cardinal Parolin during a recent event.
“We have also received the invitation to the Peace Council for Gaza; the Pope has received it and we are seeing what to do, we are looking into it in depth,” he said. “I believe it is an issue that requires some time to be considered and to give a response.”
Each country would have to contribute one billion dollars to secure a seat on the council. And although the Holy See has received an invitation, Cardinal Parolin made it clear that the Vatican will not make financial contributions.
“We are not even in a position to do so,” Cardinal Parolin said. “Obviously, we find ourselves in a different situation from that of other countries, so it will be a different assessment, but I believe the request will not be to participate financially.”
The invitation comes in the midst of growing tension between the United States and Europe. Cardinal Parolin emphasized that the Holy See’s primary role would be to open paths of dialogue on the controversial points.
By Jessica Easthope
Tens of thousands of pilgrims arrived in Washington, D.C., for the 53rd annual March for Life, and this year feels markedly different.
While the legal landscape has shifted since the Dobbs decision returned abortion policy to the states, pro-life leaders emphasize that the fight is far from over — it has simply changed shape.
Outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a prayerful and reflective atmosphere set the tone.
Pilgrims — many of them young people, parish groups, and families — stepped off buses holding rosaries and signs, quietly making their way inside for the National Prayer Vigil for Life.
The vigil serves as the spiritual foundation of the entire week, a moment to pause, pray, and remember the deeper reason for gathering in the capital.
The momentum has not faded; if anything, it has intensified in new directions. With abortion policy now fragmented across states, attention has turned to federal action, medication abortion, and executive agency decisions.
Advocates stress the ongoing need to protect life not only in law but in culture—through support for mothers, families, and practical help for those in difficult circumstances.
A major flashpoint remains the Hyde Amendment, which for decades has prevented federal taxpayer dollars from funding most abortions through programs like Medicaid.
Pro-life leaders view it as a fundamental principle: taxpayers should not be forced to pay for abortion.
Recent efforts to weaken or eliminate Hyde have raised alarms, with concerns that its removal would significantly expand abortion access, particularly for low-income women.
The March for Life route will begin with a rally and concert on the National Mall grounds.
Participants will then process past the United States Capitol to the Supreme Court of the United States — symbolizing both the eventual overturning of Roe v. Wade and the continued mission to maintain a strong pro-life presence in the nation’s capital.
With candlelight and quiet reflection, the message is clear: the battle for life endures, and prayer remains its most powerful weapon.
New polls show many Latin Americans approve of the U.S. capturing Venezuelan leader Nicholas Máduro, including some of the millions who fled the country because of poverty and repression. Now, one Catholic school teacher in the Diocese of Brooklyn says she can finally see herself returning
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan joined the Carmelite Sisters in the Diocese of Brooklyn to honor the life of their foundress, Venerable Mother Mary Angeline Teresa.
In Queens, you’ll find New York City’s largest Indian community – it’s also where you’ll find the Bollywood dance club at St. John’s Prep Catholic high school.
By Katie Vasquez and Paula Katinas
ASTORIA — Kanika Singh admitted that she was a little nervous when she entered St. John’s Preparatory School in Astoria as a freshman last year. As an Indian American, she was aware that very few students shared her nationality.
“Maybe I might not fit in,” Kanika recalled thinking.
However, to her surprise and delight, the school’s Bollywood Dance team allowed her to fit right in. “I was so excited because it’s finally a chance for me to share my culture and also find a sense of community,” she explained.
Now a sophomore, Kanika said she loves the dance team, especially helping other students with hand gestures and foot placements that are foreign to them but familiar to her. She said she also enjoys the music’s upbeat energy.
Among the five boroughs, Queens has the highest concentration of Indian residents, representing 57.1% of the total Indian population, according to the Asian American Federation.
Debra Befumo, who has been teaching dance at St. John’s Prep for 40 years, said the Bollywood Dance Team is in line with the school’s mission to offer extracurricular activities that appeal to its diverse student body.
“We have a very diverse student body, and we like to offer them as many choices as we can when it comes to clubs,” she said, noting that the school also has Irish, Italian, French, Chinese, and Polish clubs, among its choices.
The Bollywood Dance Team was founded in 2012 by two students who loved Bollywood’s vibrant, high-energy blend of traditional Indian folk dances and contemporary jazz and hip-hop moves, and wanted to share their passion with others.
RELATED: Fordham University’s Latin Dance Group Sparks Inclusivity, Culture
The team meets every Friday to learn such things as mudras (intricate hand gestures) and thumka (a classic Bollywood movement in which the dancer moves with one hand on the hip and the other on the head).
The dancers perform about three or four times a year — at venues such as St. John’s Prep’s annual spring showcase, Immaculate Conception Church, LIC Springs (a street fair in Long Island City), and at the Ninth Avenue Food Festival in Manhattan.
Guiding the team every step of the way is Antara Saha, an Indian American and a 2011 graduate of St. John’s Prep, who is trained in Indian dance disciplines like bharatanatyam (an ancient temple dance), kathak (a dance known for fast spins and intricate footwork), and kuchipudi (a blend of dance and drama).
Saha said she enjoys coming back to her old high school once a week as a Bollywood instructor. Being of South Asian heritage, she noted, “Bollywood was always a kind of overhanging presence” in her life.
Saha said her goal isn’t to produce the next Bollywood star. Instead, she seeks to boost dancers’ self-esteem.
“I wold definitely say the first thing is self-confidence, being very much comfortable in their skin and who they are as a person,” she explained. “If this gets you out of your shell a little bit, I think I’ve done the best thing in the world.”
That happened to Tseyang Lhamo, a senior who joined the team as a sophomore.
“I got better, and I got more confident, especially performing onstage,” she said.
In addition to learning dance moves, the Bollywood Dance Team gives students a chance to learn about Indian culture, said Ariana Yepez, a senior who has been a member for two years.
“I love it because we are dancing, so it’s like a physical activity combined with actual knowledge you can learn about the culture,” she said. “All of our dances have a certain type of meaning that is connected to the culture.”
For Kanika, the best thing about the team is the friendships she has formed. Through Bollywood, she said she has found “a sense of community, like-minded people of kids who like to dance and really enjoy Bollywood music.”
By Katie Vasquez
Thousands of New York City nurses are striking for a second week, demanding safer staffing, better pay, and improved working conditions as contract negotiations remain stalled.
The Department of Justice launches a civil rights investigation after anti-ICE protesters disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Vatican officially closes the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope by permanently sealing the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in a private ceremony.
By Jessica Easthope
New York City is experiencing biting cold temperatures this week, but on the picket line outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Morningside Heights, nurses say their work is on freeze until they get a fair contract. Safer staffing practices, comprehensive healthcare, more protections against workplace violence and better pay are what they’re asking for.
Catholic nurses say this is a matter of human dignity for both nurses and patients.
“If you or a family member were to go to the hospital, God forbid, would you want your nurse to be taking care of five patients or 15 to 20 people? Obviously, the answer is five,” said Christian Infante, a registered nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital.
“As a Catholic, honestly, we were always taught that helping each other is number one,” said nurse Angeli Marcus. “We need a place where God should be the center, but sometimes we don’t feel that because of the harshness and hardship of the work.”
“We’ve had patients come and are yelling and screaming and swearing at us as we’re trying to save their lives and after we save their lives,” said Melissa Jelinek, a registered nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital. “Colleagues on our unit have been kicked in the head and had to go on leave because they’ve been concussed so badly and had to see neurologists. It’s got to stop. We love our jobs, we are called to do these professions, it’s a calling and we just want to take care of our patients. But we have to be able to do it safely.”
The nurses have already been to the negotiating table with hospital executives, but an agreement wasn’t reached. They say they plan to remain on strike until they can get a contract that reflects their worth to the healthcare system.
By Jessica Easthope
Thousands of New York City nurses remain on the picket lines for a second straight week, calling for better pay, safer staffing levels, stronger workplace protections, and improved healthcare benefits. Currents News is on the ground at Mount Sinai Hospital, where nurses say they won’t return to work until their demands are met.