Bishop Brennan Gave Homily For Student Mass at St. John’s University Celebration

Bishop Robert Brennan returned to his alma mater this week as part of a celebration of St. John’s University’s Founder’s Week.

The bishop gave the homily at Sunday’s student Mass at St. Thomas More Church on the Queens campus.

The Mass is part of a series of events celebrating the school’s Vincentian heritage.

Founder’s Week coincides with the September 27th feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul, from whose work the university draws its mission.

Bishop Brennan graduated with the Class of 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.

He received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology in May of this year.

Centennial Celebration: Mass For Sister of Charity 100th Anniversary

A Centennial Celebration Mass for the Sisters of Charity was held Sunday at Resurrection-Ascension Parish in Rego Park.

The parish was selected for the 100th-anniversary event because some of the Sisters of Charity live in the convent and are active in the parish. However, the order first arrived at Our Lady of Angels in Brooklyn a century ago, and from there, they spread throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, opening schools and other ministries.

Today, the sisters serve in many social service and educational programs.

Bishop Brennan joined the congregation and expressed his gratitude for the presence and ministries of the Sisters of Charity in the Diocese of Brooklyn and beyond.

Harris Won’t Attend Al Smith Charity Dinner, Trump Expected at Fundraiser

Closer to home, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has announced that she will not attend next month’s Al Smith Charity Dinner in Manhattan.

Instead, the Democratic presidential candidate will be campaigning in a battleground state on October 17th, three weeks before the election.

Her opponent, former President Donald Trump, is expected to attend the historic Catholic fundraiser.

The gathering is sold out, with an estimated 1,500 guests attending the black-tie affair.

The event is named after New York Governor Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential nominee for a major party, who lost to Republican Herbert Hoover in 1928.

Prayers For Peace: Lebanese Cardinal Calls for End to Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

Prayers for peace in Lebanon as Israeli strikes against Hezbollah continue.

Residents in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley are fleeing amidst the ongoing military bombardment.

In his Sunday homily, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai expressed sorrow over the devastating loss of life.

The cardinal is calling on the United Nations Security Council to intervene and put an end to the ongoing conflict, describing the attacks as “unprecedented and devoid of humanity.”

More than 270 Lebanese have been killed in the barrage, marking the deadliest attacks since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

Pope Cancels Meetings, Despite Illness Pontiff’s Trip Still Scheduled

It was just three weeks ago when the papal plane touched down in Indonesia, marking the beginning of Pope Francis’ longest and farthest trip of his pontificate.

Upon his return to Rome after a 12-day visit to Asia and Oceania, the Holy Father resumed his agenda less than 24 hours later, showing no signs of health issues before, during, or after the trip—until now.

Pope Francis canceled his planned Monday audiences due to what the Vatican described as a mild flu, calling it a preventive measure ahead of his upcoming trip to Luxembourg and Belgium.

On Thursday, the Holy Father will head to Luxembourg, where he will meet with the prime minister, other authorities, and the Catholic community at the Luxembourg Cathedral of Notre Dame.

Then, on Friday, Pope Francis will travel to Brussels, Belgium, where he is scheduled to meet with civil authorities, religious leaders, and university students. In Belgium, where roughly half of the 12 million citizens identify as Catholic, the Pope will celebrate Mass at a stadium on Sunday before returning to Rome.

The 87-year-old pontiff has been using a wheelchair for two years and has battled several health issues, including colon surgery in 2021 and a hospital stay in 2023 for a respiratory infection.

As a young man, he had part of one lung removed due to a similar infection. Despite these challenges, none of it has slowed him down. He continues his apostolic journeys, always asking those he meets to pray for him, saying, “I pray for you. I pray for you. And don’t forget to pray for me.”

When Pope Francis returns to the Vatican, he will have a busy autumn ahead. Immediately after his trip to Belgium, the Holy Father will preside over a three-week Synod of Bishops focused on the future of the Church.

Conversation and Prayer: Diaconate Convocation Held in Douglaston

The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Diaconate Convocation was held this Sunday.

Bishop Robert Brennan led a prayer service for the deacons and their families at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.

He thanked the deacons for their service in both parishes and diocesan offices.

Bishop Brennan also asked for their support in the coming year as the diocese begins discussions on a year of reciprocal partnership among parishes.

He emphasized that change is a way of life in the Diocese of Brooklyn, stating, “As we adapt to the needs of parishes and change, we build up the strength of Catholic life here in Brooklyn and Queens.”

A total of 75 deacons and 40 wives were in attendance.

Queens Student Returns to School After Battling Cancer

By Katie Vasquez

Gratitude was the focus of Mrs. McMahon’s class in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy on Friday, a lesson that Jimmy O’Neill, a 7th grader at the school, has learned the hard way.

“I know to not to take life for granted and just be thankful for everything you have in life,” O’Neill said.

Unlike some of his peers, he was thrilled to be back in school for 7th grade an experience he’s missed out on.

“Very, very exciting. I mean, I haven’t had a first day of school since third grade,” O’Neill said.

In May 2021 at 8 years old, he received a devastating diagnosis when a tumor was found on his kidney.

“They came back and they said, ‘ Jimmy, you have cancer.’ I was kind of shocked because I thought this would be very rare for a kid to get cancer,” O’Neill said.

The 11 year old missed part of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade as he received chemo and had his kidney removed. Unfortunately the tumor returned and he went through more radiation before a stem cell transplant in 2023.

“Wow, you’d rather be in school than just stay in a hospital all day long,” O’Neill said.

During that period, his family says faith held them together.

“I wholeheartedly know that all the prayers and us remaining faithful and positive is what healed Jimmy. I know he is a miracle. And you have to believe in them because God gives them and he, Jimmy’s an example of that,” said Kerri O’Neill, Jimmy’s mother.

And the parishioners of St Francis de Sales Church say there were signs from the Lord that got them through.

“On March 27th of 2024, we had scans which were clean, which ironically was the same date that we first walked into Sloan-Kettering. So I feel that these are signs for us that God is telling us everything is going to be okay,” Kerri said.

Jimmy has had clean scans since then.as he prepares to think about his future, he’s learned to appreciate every day that comes.

“So just always be kind to the people you’re close with, and even if you’re not close with, just be kind and love everyone,” O’Neill said.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 9/23/2024

Seventh grader Jimmy O’Neill returns to St. Francis de Sales after beating cancer, sharing his inspiring journey of resilience.

Deacons and their families gathered at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Diaconate Convocation for a day of prayer and meaningful conversation led by Bishop Robert Brennan.

Pope Francis, experiencing mild flu-like symptoms, plans to continue his scheduled travel to Belgium and Luxembourg later this week despite canceling meetings due to illness.

Vice President Kamala Harris will skip the Al Smith Charity Dinner to prioritize her campaign, while former President Donald Trump still plans to attend the Catholic fundraiser.

TONIGHT AT 7: St. Francis de Sales Student Beats Cancer, Finally Gets to Go Back to School

While most kids may have dreaded saying goodbye to summer and heading back to school, one seventh grader at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy in Belle Harbor couldn’t wait to enter his classroom. That’s because Jimmy O’Neil hasn’t been in school full time since the third grade, after being diagnosed with cancer. Well, Jimmy is now cancer free! Currents News’ Katie Vasquez has the inspiring story tonight.

Sisters of St. Joseph Provide Groceries and Hope to Community in Camden

By Jessica Easthope

Camden, New Jersey, consistently ranks among the most dangerous cities in the country. But the crime here is no match for their compassion.

“It’s not that we’re brave, but we’re loving boldly and trying our best to enhance our ministry by inviting many people into our mission and ministry.”

Sr. Bonnie McMenamin runs the show here at the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Center. The sisters and their volunteers are called to feed the hungry—and in Camden, there are many.

The latest data from the New Jersey Department of Health shows 11.3 percent of the population is food insecure. However, more than one-third of residents live in poverty.

“If they have jobs at all, it’s very low-paying jobs. I would just say that most of our parents cannot feed their families.”

On the third Wednesday of every month, hundreds come to Christus Lutheran Church. They take a number and wait inside as the sisters and volunteers set up their food pantry.

Jennifer LaRosa has been volunteering for years. Now, as the Director of Servant Leadership at St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton, New Jersey, she brings students to help.

“It’s living out our faith in action, which is really, really important, and I say that to our students all the time—that while we’ll be doing a lot of the work and the heavy lifting, we end up getting back way more than we give.”

The food that’s given out ranges from fresh produce and protein to bread and sweets. It needs to cover all the basics because Camden has the largest food desert community in the state.

“Education is a huge part of it, and why, you know, giving them a balanced diet, it’s a balanced meal.”

Here, the people who come to shop at the food pantry are called neighbors.

“As Sisters of Saint Joseph, we always refer to them as dear neighbors. The idea is that each person we meet is our neighbor, and we see God within each person we meet.”

Linda Nieves, a neighbor who has been coming since the pantry’s inception, says a community has formed around the center.

“It was bad with the crime and neglect, but it has improved because there’s been more help for the people in the community. You know the Lord. And there’s always a way—He will make a way, no matter what. So if you have faith, there’s hope.”

Feeding the hungry in Camden is a heavy lift, but the hope the center dishes out is slowly replacing the struggle.

If you’d like to help the sisters with their mission, just go to ssjnc.org/wishlist.