Pope Francis’ World Day of the Poor on Sunday Includes Listening, Helping

Currents News Staff

Sunday, Nov. 14, is the fifth World Day of the Poor.

Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. Some 2,000 poor people will be in attendance. After Mass, the Vatican will distribute lunch to those present.

In past years, there have been many more people, but the pandemic has forced the Vatican to limit attendance. It was Pope Francis’ idea to designate a day dedicated to people in need. The pontiff usually finds support in local businesses that offer concrete aid to the poor.

For example, a chain of Italian supermarkets will donate five tons of pasta, one ton of rice, about 265 gallons of oil and nearly 800 gallons of milk to shelters for families in need.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 11/8/21

The fate of a NYC chapel at LaGuardia Airport is still up in the air, but airport chaplain Father Chris Piasta isn’t giving up the fight.

The U.S. is open to international travelers after a 20-month shutdown.

After eight people were killed at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, the community came together in prayer.

LaGuardia Airport Chaplain Makes Push for Chapel After Talks of Religious Services were Grounded

Exclusive Story

By Jessica Easthope

Beyond the doors of a quiet chapel at John F. Kennedy International Airport is the flurry and commotion of the fifth busiest airport in the country.

Sixty-one million people travel through here a year. Father Chris Piasta, the airport chaplain, says many of them, whether it be in their travels or in life, are lost and looking for direction.

“They’re looking for signs. They’re looking for something. That is the exact common denominator and in that sens, so much needed,” said Father Piasta.

But if one of those passengers in need flew into LaGuardia Airport instead, those signs are nowhere to be found.

“I have to take it upon myself, the chapel, and put it on my shoulders and walk through the airport because that’s where I’m going to meet people,” said Father Piasta. “Not necessarily in the chapel but it is a significant and important focal point.”

For a long time, Father Piasta, was saying Mass in an unused conference room at LaGuardia, but his last service was years ago. Since then, he’s been asking for an official chapel that all faiths can use, but his plea has fallen on deaf ears.

Father Piasta was told by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the group in charge of the hub’s $4 billion-dollar redevelopment, that a chapel would not exist in the newly renovated airport. Instead there would be a “meditation room.” The only problem: no religious symbols or services allowed.=

Now Father Piasta refuses to be grounded. He’s bringing his pleas to the top – the CEO of Delta Airlines. It’s not just for Catholics, it’s for all believers.

“We would speak with not just one voice, but several individuals who not only know the need for that. But we know how much of a change it makes in the life of an airport,” he said referring to the group of religious leaders of all faiths who are gathering to make a pitch to the airport.

Both airports fall within the bounds of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Vincent LeVien, Director of External Affairs for DeSales Media Group, the communications and technology arm of the diocese, also reached out about the chapel.

“It’s an attack on religion,” said Vincent. “It’s crazy that we’re having this discussion in 2021 that they don’t think religion, any religion, is important at an airport and that we have to fight for our rights to have a chapel where, again billions of dollars was spent on this airport.”

Despite the obstacles, Vincent spoke with the directors of government affairs from Delta and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and says he’s optimistic about an outcome.

In the meantime, Father Piasta says LaGuardia’s travelers and airport workers are suffering. Everyone from victims of natural disasters to refugees stranded for weeks need faith and right now they’re all doing without it.

“You go to those famous airports all over the world, they have pools, they have golf courses,” said Father Piasta. “And I think that the spiritual level, it’s just as important as anything else.”

Crisis in Ethiopia: State of Emergency Declared as Troops Approach Capital

Currents News Staff

The crisis in northern Ethiopia shows no signs of improving. On Nov. 2, the government declared a state of emergency after the People’s Liberation Front of Tigray announced the capture of two key cities. The situation on the ground worries the United Nations (U.N.)

“Our humanitarian colleagues there report that access to the northern part of the country remains challenging,” said U.N. Secretary-General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

“As we’ve been mentioning repeatedly, people there need urgent humanitarian assistance. In Tigray, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate due to the restrictions imposed on the delivery of humanitarian supplies in the region via the only route, and that is through Afar; and that is the Semera-Abala-Mekelle road.”

The conflict between the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia and the central government worsened toward the end of 2020. The intensity of the violence has not diminished since then, in a country that was already burdened by famine.

It is very difficult for humanitarian aid providers and journalists to reach the area. It is estimated that there are more than five million displaced people, and those who remain trapped in the conflict zone have been abandoned to their fate.

Astroworld Festival Victims Remembered During Vigil at Houston Catholic Church

By Currents News Staff and Bill Miller

HOUSTON— A prayer vigil was held Sunday at a Catholic Church in downtown Houston, Texas, for eight fans of rapper Travis Scott who were killed in a crowd surge at his Astroworld Festival concert Friday night, Nov. 5.

A handful of people gathered in the Church of the Annunciation to pray for the victims, who ranged in age from 14 to 27. Some were Texans, but others had traveled from out-of-state to see the show. One was still unidentified Monday morning.

According to The New York Times, seven of the eight victims were:

Franco Patino, 21, from Naperville, Ill., who was studying mechanical engineering at the University of Dayton, Ohio.
John Hilgert, 14, a high school freshman in a community just outside Houston. He reportedly was the youngest of the victims.
Brianna Rodriguez, 16, who attended Heights High School in Houston and aspired to be a dancer.
Rudy Peña, 23, of Laredo, who traveled to Houston from his home in South Texas to see the concert.
Danish Baig, 27, who was from Dallas.
Jacob Jurinek, 23, who was from the Chicago area and studied art and media at Southern Illinois University.
Axel Acosta, 21, who was a computer science student at Western Washington University. His family told local media the Scott performance was the first time Acosta attended a festival-sized concert.

Although the Sunday-evening prayer vigil was lightly attended, it was promoted on Twitter Saturday by local furniture-store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale.

He tweeted: “We pray for those taken away too soon, the injured and the family members who lost someone last night at the Astroworld festival.”

An estimated 50,000 people attended the festival, authorities said. Police and fire department officials expressed concerns leading up to the event because Scott, a Houston native, was known for urging concert audiences to react physically to his performances.

Scott, however, posted a video on Instagram Saturday to express sorrow over the deaths. In a voice laced with anguish, the rapper said he was cooperating with authorities, and he encouraged others to do the same.

“We’re actually working right now to identify the families so we can help assist them through this tough time,” Scott said. “My fans really mean the world to me and (I) always just really want to leave them with a positive experience.”

Scott said that, whenever he’d see things get out of hand at his shows, he’d stop the shop so that fans in peril could “get the help they need.” According to media reports, witnesses said that didn’t happen on Friday.

“I’m honestly just devastated,” Scott continued. “I could never imagine anything like this just happening. We’ve been working closely with everyone to get to the bottom of this — HPD and the Fire Department — you know, everyone to help us figure this out. So if you have any information, please just contact your local authorities.”

Currents News Update for Thursday, 11/4/21

With Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s retirement right around the corner, a Brooklyn church is saying goodbye with prayer.

A breakthrough in treating COVID patients — Great Britain has authorized the first “pill” that reduces symptoms and speeds up recovery.

It appears New Yorkers don’t care who their mayor is. Less than a quarter of voters in the Big Apple cast their ballots.

Diocese of Brooklyn Students Thank and Bid Farewell to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Ahead of Retirement

By Jessica Easthope and Bill Miller

Students of St. Athanasius Catholic Academy became ambassadors for all parochial school students in the Diocese of Brooklyn Thursday as they bid a special goodbye to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who retires on Nov. 30.

The students filled St. Athanasius Church across the street from their school for the “thank you and goodbye” prayer service on behalf of all schools in the diocese. The parish’s pastor, Msgr. David Cassato, presided. He is also vicar of Catholic Schools.

During his 18 years guiding the diocese, Bishop DiMarzio was a champion for quality and affordable Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens.

To show appreciation, diocesan Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tom Chadzutko announced the creation of two Angel Scholarships in Bishop DiMarzio’s name. The awards will pay the annual $1,500 tuition for two students, one in Brooklyn and the other in Queens.

“Wonderful,” is how the bishop described the awarding of the two scholarships.

“We’re trying to make our schools affordable to everyone,” Bishop DiMarzio said after the service. “There has to be some ‘buy in’ from the parents, but for most of them, they can’t afford the whole thing. So we subsidize it and that’s excellent.

“I always give a scholarship myself, but then to have one in my name is really very enlightening and really appreciated,” he said.

Diane Competello, principal of St. Athanasius Catholic Academy, led students in presenting several keepsake gifts to Bishop DiMarzio.

“I think it’s fitting that we had an opportunity to bring the children of St. Athanasius together and all the children of the diocese to give him an actual farewell for all he’s done,” the superintendent added.“When we put the event together, we really wanted to do something from the children,” Dr. Chadzutko said. “All of his 18 years here with the diocese, Catholic education was always (Bishop DiMarzio’s) priority. He always spoke about praying with the children, listening to the children, getting the children to laugh.

Bishop DiMarzio smiled broadly throughout the service and expressed profound gratitude for the students’ appreciation. He urged them to never forget what they’ve learned in Catholic schools.

“Catholic education is so important,” he told the students. “It’s important to me, it is important to you, to your parents, to our Church and to our world. Because here you really learn well; you have academics here, but also you have good values that we share.

“You understand your faith, because that faith is what gets us through this life,” Bishop DiMarzio said. “If we have no faith, life can be very hard, very difficult. By being good students and by working hard in school, we’ll make sure you have a great future as you’re growing up in this difficult world.”

Hope On the Open Ocean: How One Catholic Priest Rescues Fleeing Migrants Crossing the Mediterranean

Currents News Staff

This is what Father Luigi Usubelli saw: a wooden boat carrying 70 migrants including four children and six women floating in the Mediterranean sea.

“You can’t just stand by when you see that,” Father Usubelli said. “You can’t just watch. You have to act.”

Father Usubelli jumped into action helping to pull them onboard a boat used by the Spanish non-profit “Open Arms”.

“This was a very special experience,” Father Usubelli said. “Being in the middle of the sea and seeing firsthand the boldness of these people who hop on a boat, without resources, and wait in the middle of an agitated sea, is a powerful experience.”

The humanitarian agency helps to rescue those who are abandoned in international waters trying to flee wars, persecution and poverty. But it says thousands of them are dying trying to reach a safe shore.

That’s why Pope Francis visited Lampedusa in 2013 shortly after his election. The island off the coast of Sicily is a primary destination for migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia seeking entry into Europe.

The Holy Father’s concern for migrants has been at the center of his pontificate ever since. Every year, he celebrates a Mass to commemorate the visit and talk about the conditions refugees face once they make it to shore.

“You can’t imagine the hell they live there in those detention camps,” Pope Francis said. “These people came with only one hope of crossing the sea.”

Seven years after the pontiff’s visit to Lampedusa, a global coalition of non-profits has designated July 8 as “International Day of the Mediterranean Sea” in an effort to raise awareness about the plight of migrants and refugees.

Currents News Update for Wednesday, 11/3/21

After being sent back down by the Supreme Court, a New York court is reconsidering a mandate for insurance coverage for abortions by religious groups.

The Supreme Court is taking up another big, constitutional issue and this one looks directly at gun rights in the State of New York.

Kids ages five to 11 are already rolling up their sleeves for the COVID vaccine.

Supreme Court Orders N.Y. Court to Reconsider Ruling That Forces Catholic Dioceses to Cover Abortions

By Jessica Easthope

Another victory for religious freedom in the fight for life. This week the United States Supreme Court sent a case back down to the New York appellate division asking it to reconsider a ruling.

“The First Amendment rights of individuals and organizations are getting a greater hearing these days from the Supreme Court so that is very encouraging,” said Director of Pro-Life Activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, Kathleen Gallagher.

The case brought against New York State by the Diocese of Albany and other religious groups challenged a mandate that would require employers to provide abortion coverage in their employee health insurance plans. The decision comes based on a Supreme Court decision earlier this year over religious liberties in another case – Fulton vs Philadelphia.

“To have the court say so definitively,‘take another look here because we just ruled in the Fulton case and you should reread that case,” said Kathleen.

The mandated abortion coverage was placed on insurers in 2017 by the New York State Department of Financial Services. It did, at the time, make room for a religious exemption – however it was only for those primarily serving people of their own faith and not institutions with any kind of outreach ministry.

“Under their very narrow definition of religion, Jesus Christ wouldn’t even qualify because he served people of all faiths and no faith at all,” added Kathleen.

The appellate division will now have to rehear the case and decide if the Diocese of Albany and other groups will be exempt.

Sending the case back down showed promise for religious leaders like Albany Bishop Edward Scharfenberger who said in a statement:

“We are gratified and grateful that the Supreme Court has recognized the serious constitutional concerns over New York State’s heavy-handed abortion mandate on religious employers.”

If the appellate division rehears the case and still rules against the plaintiffs, it’s possible the case could go to the Supreme Court.