In Wake of Hurricane Sally, Alabama and Florida Parishes Face Building Damages, Power Outages

By Emily Drooby

At least one person is dead and another missing after Hurricane Sally ripped through Alabama and Florida.

“The winds were high. It was whistling like I’ve never heard before,” one Gulf Shores, Alabama resident, told a Currents News.

Areas are still plagued by downed trees and powerlines, and many homes are still floating in flood waters caused by record-breaking rainfall.

In Alabama, rescue and recovery continued on Sept. 17, with many roads and bridges still impassable.

“Our state is reeling, just as our people are hurting,” said the state’s Governor, Kay Ivey.

The Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama closed their schools and offices in preparation for the storm, leaving them unreachable.

In Florida, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee had some damage to some of their structures, including Little Flower Catholic Church and the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel.

Many areas in their diocese have been left without power, and several of their parishes have suspended Masses and services until they can reopen.

The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is trying to regroup, while still being left in the dark. While plans have yet to be formalized, they’ll be helping their local churches as soon as they can.

Also in Florida, hundreds were rescued from high waters with aid from 500 Florida National Guard soldiers.

“We had 30 inches of rain, 30-plus inches of rain, which is four months of rain in four hours at some point, so it is very bad and severe,” explained Chief Ginny Cranor of the Pensacola, Fl. Fire Department.

Sally may have passed through, but the danger isn’t over, Florida’s governor warning any body of water in Northwest Florida could see a rise in levels over the next few days.

Catholic Charities of New York Boosts NYC Census Turnout in What They Say Is a Matter of ‘Fairness’

By Jessica Easthope

Every 10 years the census aims to count the entire U.S. population, but it’s not an easy task.

It’s estimated that four million Americans won’t be counted in the 2020 census. Even though legislative representation and billions of dollars in federal funding are at stake, Catholic Charities of New York is looking to close that gap.

“This is the way government structures are funded and now more than ever the way New York was hit, we want to make sure we get the COVID support three, five, 10 years down the line,” said Eddie Silverio, the Division Director of Communities Services for Catholic Charities of New York.

On Sept. 16 Catholic Charities joined forces with several community organizations in the Highbridge section of the Bronx to boost census turn out. In the Bronx, just over 60 percent of households have filled out the census. Organizers say that’s a failing grade, but by making their presence known they drew in people like Kelly Woods.

Kelly used to be homeless, but after landing on her feet she understands how important the census is, and is participating for the first time.

“It’s important to us, it can better us, our lifestyles, our jobs, our environment, basically everything in life that we’re working on,” Kelly told Currents News.

Low census turnout isn’t only a problem in the Bronx — it’s citywide. In the Diocese of Immigrants, 60.6 percent of Queens households have filled out the census and Brooklyn has the worst numbers in the entire city, with 56.6 percent.

Areas with high numbers of undocumented immigrants have historically low turnouts. Organizers say it’s because they fear it will impact their immigration status. That was the case for Matilde Gonzalez.

“I think it’s very important especially for Spanish people, we’re always behind the door, scared to do things but now is the time that we stand up and we count,” Matilde said.

Not only is the census a matter of getting proper funding, organizers say it’s a Catholic issue.

“For us as Catholics it’s an issue of fairness and participation in civic life,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of New York.

“We as Catholics always want to do right by people and do right by our neighbors, and this is the way to do right by our neighbors,” said Eddie Silverio.

Catholic Charities expected to get 350 new households to fill out the census on Wednesday. The deadline to complete it is September 30.

‘Million Dollar Listing’’s Bianca D’Alessio on Why New Yorkers Are Leaving Manhattan During COVID-19

Currents News Staff

The real estate market in Manhattan took a big hit because of the pandemic with many who decided to move out of such a crowded borough. The trend might be that the coronavirus crisis had the opposite effect on another part of the city- Brooklyn.

Joining Currents News is Bianca D’Alessio, a New York City-based real estate agent. She’s part of the show “Million Dollar Listing” and part of Ryan Serhant’s nest seekers international real estate team.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 9/16/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Caught in the act – the search for a man who desecrated a statue of the Blessed Mother at a church in Brooklyn.

How Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens is going that extra mile for parents and students adapting to the new way of learning this school year.

The fury of Hurricane Sally – the powerful storm slams into Alabama and Florida bringing widespread damage and flooding.

The remarkable story that began in Brooklyn forty years ago and one this couple says they will never forget their roots.

Diplomatic Pact Between Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain Signals Change, But Impact Unclear

Currents News Staff

Israeli military jets attacked targets in Gaza after Palestianian militants fired rockets from there, injuring two people. This occurred less than 24 hours after leaders from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed a landmark deal at the White House, normalizing relations with the state of Israel.

“These agreements will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive peace across the entire region,” said President Donald Trump.

The so-called “Abraham Accord” establishes ties with much of the Arab world including embassies, enhanced security partnerships, increased business deals and travel.

The agreement is a win for the Trump administration and Israel’s longest serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who marked it as the “dawn of the new Middle East.”

“Let us rise above any political divide. For long after the pandemic has gone, the peace we make today will endure,” Netanyahu said.

The Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani expressed his support for ongoing dialogue, urging other Arab nations to move beyond the divisions of the past.

“For too long, the Middle East has been set back by conflict and mistrust,” says Al Zayani, “I’m convinced we have the opportunity to change that.”

Before the signing, Israel only had diplomatic ties with two other Arab nations, Jordan and Egypt. This agreement opens the door for other countries to come on board.

“As is often the case with complex situations,” Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the National Jewish Center Learning and Leadership, says. “We don’t really know all the angles, but that shouldn’t keep us from trying.”

While many of the details are still unknown, experts say the alliance against Iran has been strengthened – and while the Palestinians have rejected it – the agreement has far reaching implications for the entire Middle East region.

“The implications of new peace between two Gulf states and the state of Israel could be a complete gamechanger for the region,” says Rabbi Brad, “especially if these are the opening two volleys in a larger strategy that include Saudi Arabia, which is the single most important government in the Saudi Arab world.”

For now, Israel will halt plans to annex Palistinian land in the West Bank as the Trump administration tries to bring Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Palestinians are calling the deal a “betrayal.”

While Waiting For COVID-19 Vaccine, U.S. to Face These Three Major Challenges This Fall

Currents News Staff

The coronavirus is known to have infected more than 6.5 million people in the United States over the past six months, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director Richard Besser called it “the worst public health crisis in our lives.”

And the next few months may be even more difficult.

“It just makes me sick to see, to know what we could have been as a nation and what we are today,” said Peter Hotez at Baylor College of Medicine.

Health experts say in addition to COVID-19, the U.S. is facing a triple-challenge of the upcoming flu season including colder weather, which drives people indoors and increases risk of spread, and outbreaks as more students return to schools.

“We see around the globe countries successfully getting this under control and getting people back to work, and public health knows the path to get there but we’re not doing that,” says Richard Besser.

As the U.S. is currently averaging about 35,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, drug maker Pfizer is working on phase three trials for a coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS’s “Face the Nation” show that the drug-maker may know by the end of October if it works.

President Donald Trump says Americans are “rounding the turn” from the virus.

“Now having a vaccine is good, but we’re rounding the turn regardless, we’re rounding the turn and it’s happening, it’s happening, you’ll see,” he said.

In the meantime, people are still advised to wear masks, and to maintain social distancing.

“As we’re waiting for a vaccine we know what we can do,” says Jodie Dionne-Odom at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Other countries have done it. We should too.”

Police Hunt for Vandal Who Toppled Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue

By Paula Katinas

CONEY ISLAND — Police are asking the public to help them find a man who brazenly climbed over a fence outside the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace and threw a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the ground on Sept. 11.

Cops, who are investigating the incident as a case of criminal mischief, released a video of the man committing the act.

Remarkably, the statue remained mostly intact — but suffered damage to the face, hands, and base — after the vandal threw it on the sidewalk.

Many parishioners cried when they were told about the vandalism, according to Father Javier Flores, the administrator of Our Lady of Solace.

“Our parishioners are very sad. Everyone is shocked,” Father Flores told The Tablet. “Neighbors saw what happened and called the police but the man fled very quickly.”

Parishioners are determined to raise money to repair the statue, Father Flores said.

The video released by the NYPD captures images of the man standing in front of the church and talking to another person. The suspect can then be seen climbing over the fence and toppling the statue before throwing it to the ground.

The suspect then proceeded to nearby Mermaid Avenue and fled on foot, police said.

Volunteers picked up the statue and brought it into the church, according to Father Flores.

Father Flores said the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace purchased the statue three years ago for $4,000. On Sunday, Sept. 13, he announced during all Masses that the statue had been targeted by vandals. Parishioners immediately started digging into their pockets to help.

“We want to raise the money for the statue by Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” Father Flores said.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, named Patroness of the Americas in 1999 by St. John Paul II, is venerated by Mexicans and Latinos. The statue outside the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace is important to the whole Coney Island community.

“People would stop walking, stand in front, and pray to her. It’s like she watches over the whole community,” Father Flores said.

Police described the individual as a light-skinned male with a beard. He was last seen wearing a gray cap, a black shirt with the word “Brooklyn” on the front, and black shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the New York Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

The Sept. 11 incident wasn’t the only time vandals have targeted a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

In July, a suspect defaced a Virgin Mary statue outside Cathedral Prep School and Seminary in Elmhurst. The vandalism was discovered by staff members at 7:30 a.m. on July 10, according to police, who said a video captured an image of a person approaching the statue and defacing it by writing the word “IDOL” on the front.

The statue was cleaned within days of the vandalism. Father James Kuroly, rector and president of Cathedral Prep, led a ceremony to re-dedicate the statue.

St. Anselm’s Church

Join us as host, Anthony Mangano takes the audience on a tour of the history of Bay Ridge Brooklyn. Then after visiting famous landmarks, he heads down to St. Anselm’s Church to interview Msgr. John W. Maloney to discuss the history and architecture of the church.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 9/15/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

It’s a decades long tradition – the opening prayer service for United Nations General Assembly – we’ll take you inside as they celebrate a milestone.

Plus, 400,000 undocumented immigrants could be forced out of the United States because of a new court ruling.

The Vatican’s secret deal with China. An agreement that could help millions of Chinese Catholics practice their faith.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy Puts a New Spin on the Hybrid Model

By Jessica Easthope

As schools in the Brooklyn Diocese began reopening, it was obvious there was no “one size fits all” plan.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens opened under a hybrid model, but with their own spin on it: parents can choose whether or not they want to send their kids into school every 30 days.

“It just accommodates the parents because they’re going back to work, and it’s wonderful, and they know they can bring their kids to school,” said Principal Dr. Cristina Tancredi-Cruz.

The school’s model is a reflection of Corona’s 15 percent unemployment rate. For the parents who are now back at work after being unemployed for months, the only option is to send their kids to school. Right now, about 60 percent are doing in-person learning.

“I’ve delivered food, I’ve gone into my own pocket to get food for a family in need,” said Jeanette Felix, the school’s administrative assistant. “There are still a lot of families in hardship and we want to make sure they can feed their families.”

Parents who opted for in-person learning say they’re breathing a sigh of relief.

“God forbid she gets sick, I have the option to keep her at home and every 30 days I can change it. I can work around my work schedule and still keep her educated,” said Anna Estrella as she dropped her daughter off on Sept. 15.

Kindergarten teacher Stacy Nieves has most of her class in school with her. Though the hybrid model has been challenging , she says she pushes though for the sake of her kids.

“The first thing that we need is patience,” Stacy said. “I make sure my class comes first and my kids are okay and we’ll move on.”

As for the parents who are still helping to teach their kids at home alongside their virtual classes, they’re asking for the same.

“It’s all about having a little more patience and understanding,” said Kathy Duran who keeps her 5-year-old daughter, Sofia, at home.

Kathy’s parents are visiting from the Dominican Republic, which means when Sofia is asked if there are any visitors at home before she’s let into school, she would have to answer yes. She would then be sent home.

Even though teaching her daughter is a lot to take on, Kathy keeps her home for the safety of her family and everyone at school.

“Other schools are doing it – all in or nothing – so they’re doing an excellent play on that because sometimes it doesn’t work out for you, but you have that option of switching it up,” Kathy said.

Our Lady of Sorrows is expecting 80 percent of students to return to school by October 1.