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Groundbreaking Begins on CCBQ’s 13-Story Affordable Housing for Seniors in Brownsville

by Katie Vasquez

The shovels are in the ground and construction has started on a building along Livonia Avenue that will serve low-income seniors in Brownsville. 

“We’re not just breaking ground but actually moving the project along,” said Bishop Robert Brennan. 

The project, which includes 141 sustainable apartments, has been 10 years in the making with community residents coming together to voice the need for affordable housing. 

“They identified the needs, what they would like to see here on the city owned land that was underutilized and just vacant,” said Tim McManus, Senior Vice President of Catholic Charities Progress of the Peoples Development Corporation. 

According to Live On NY, a non profit that helps older New Yorkers, the number of people over the age of 65 in homeless shelters has never been higher, increasing from 5 percent to 8 percent over an eight year period.  McManus along with the affordable housing arm of Catholic Charities said the organization has seen that need first hand with a project in Astoria.  

“Of the 102 units, we had over 26,000 applicants,” McManus said. 

The Gail P. Duke senior residence will also include a 10,000 square foot senior center with supportive services, hot meals, fitness classes and other amenities.

 It is named after this woman who works with Catholic Charities. She is eager to see seniors living a healthy lifestyle.

“Getting out and finding some of these benefits are difficult and so we’re bringing all this to them,” said Gail Duke, treasurer of Catholic Charities Progress of the Peoples Development Corporation. 

Getting seniors their own place to live is a priority for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“We’ve always carried on the torch,” Bishop Brennan said.  “and the need is getting greater and greater as you can see, more and more of our people are being pushed out of their neighborhoods.”

This project is expected to be completed in mid 2026.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 9/19/2024

Construction has begun on a 13-story building in Brownsville that will provide affordable, sustainable housing for low-income seniors. Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens broke ground on the Gail P. Duke Residence Thursday, which will offer over 140 fully electric apartments.

Since the 1980s, Medjugorje in Bosnia has been a major pilgrimage site following reports of alleged Marian apparitions. Now, the Vatican has cautiously acknowledged the devotion taking place there.

St. John’s University has unveiled a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center with virtual reality and patient simulation labs. The fully energy-efficient building offers students cutting-edge technology for hands-on learning.

St. Michael’s Catholic Academy celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, China’s second-largest holiday. With a student body rich in Asian culture, the Queens school marked the occasion with Mandarin-language dance and song performances.

St. John’s University Unveils New Health Sciences Center

by Katie Vasquez

Ariana Milom is getting her blood pressure checked, but she’s not a hospital, she’s at the new patient simulation labs at St John’s University. 

“I feel like it really helps us to expand our education and really get hands on knowledge when it comes to nursing care,” said Milom, a junior at St. John’s University. 

The facility is part of a new St. Vincent Health Sciences Center where students can work on mannequins with human-like characteristics.

“They have pulses. We’re able to take blood from them. We can catheterize them. We can start IVs on them, we can code them,” said chair of the Nursing Department at St. John’s University, Francine Laterza. 

The Catholic college officially opened its $106 million health sciences building Wednesday. It is fully energy efficient and outfitted with the latest technology including virtual reality.

“That’s what we want to produce here at St John’s, health care professionals who serve those that they serve with love, respect and with an appreciation for the individuality and the background of those whom they serve,” said St. John’s University President, Father Brian Shanley, OP. 

The nursing program only started here in the fall of 2022. Giuliana Fusco was excited to be part of the first group.

“I have a lot of family members who are nurses and I’ve always been super inspired by them and really just always wanted to help people,” said Fusco. 

The chair of the department says it’s a stark contrast from her time in nursing school. 

 “It was a textbook, our notebook and our brains. So all of this technology which has evolved, has, you know, is so important for the students of today, students are very technology based,” said Laterza. 

And these students feel they are better prepared to enter the real world.

“Once you step in here, I feel like you really get into that mindset and environment of what a hospital would be like,” said Milom. 

“I also have always loved science and I’m just super excited to help as many people as I can,” said Fusco.

Diocese of Brooklyn Holds Bi-Annual Convocation, With Meeting of Priestly Fraternity

The topic of addiction was discussed at a recent meeting of Priestly Fraternity.

More than 150 priests gathered at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens, on Tuesday for their bi-annual convocation. Clergy from across Brooklyn and Queens meet every spring and fall to discuss their ministries.

This meeting focused on becoming happy, holy, and healthy priests, including a talk on addiction by “Guest House,” a Midwestern treatment center for priests.

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan emphasized the value of this information for the men of faith. The next Diocese of Brooklyn convocation will take place in May.

New DeSales Media Webinar Series to Take Our Faith to Next Level

A new webinar series created by DeSales Media aims to take our faith to the next level in the most effective way possible.

It all began with a study showing that one in five Catholics are not comfortable discussing their faith.

The web series will address that and more.

Dave Plisky, Director of Product and Innovation at DeSales Media Group, joins Currents News to talk more about it.

To check out the web series visit: Religiontoreality.org.

Rectory Provides Road to Sobriety and Hope for Priests at Transition House

By Katie Vasquez

There are good memories from Monsignor Joe Calise’s life, but there were also dark days, as he battled alcohol addiction for more than ten years. 

“You know, when I look back on those days, I remember a lot of pain and I remember a lot of sadness,” said Transfiguration-St Stanislaus Kostka Parish Pastor, Monsignor Joe Calise.  

His story is not unusual. According to the Saint John Vianney center, 10 percent of clergy suffer from addiction but only about 2 percent seek treatment. 

The Queens pastor is now 34 years sober and about 7 years ago he decided to help other priests struggling to stay sober. 

“We do live very isolated lives. You know, not only do we have a lot of priests who are in their rectory by themselves, but even within a rectory, there comes a time at night where everybody is in their own room and that’s it,” said Monsignor Calise. 

He created “Transition House” which is run out of the St Stanislaus Kostka rectory, as a built in halfway house for clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn. 

18 people have come through since it started, a third with addiction issues while others are there for various reasons. 

 “It’s really become a haven for priests who need a place to stay while whatever the complication is, whether it’s a visa, a problem with some type of an addiction, or even just a need to get out of the rectory that they were living in,” said Monsignor Calise. 

There’s no medical staff or therapeutic personnel but the men who stay have to put in the work. 

“We do hold them accountable. If it takes them three months, four months, two months, that’s fine. The only thing we would challenge would be if someone doesn’t seem to be doing anything for their recovery,” said Monsignor Calise. 

As difficult as it is to talk about this low point in his life, Monsignor Calise thinks if it helps even one person, it’s worth it. 

“You know, bring a message of hope to so many other people but it’s because of what I went through that that message is credible,” said Monsignor Calise.

For a list of resources please visit: DIOCESEOFBROOKLYN.ORG/ADDICTION-RECOVERY-MONTH

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 9/18/2024

September is National Addiction Recovery Month, highlighting that addiction can impact anyone, even priests. The Diocese of Brooklyn supports recovery through “Transition House,” a program started by a pastor who overcame alcohol addiction after a decade-long struggle.

Priests from the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered at the Fall Convocation for a day of prayer and reflection. Addiction recovery experts from a Midwestern treatment center spoke on “The Key to Becoming Happy, Holy, and Healthy.”

DeSales Media has introduced a new webinar series to help Catholics strengthen their faith and feel more confident sharing it. The series aims to address concerns highlighted by a study showing one in five devout Catholics struggle with discussing their beliefs.

2028 International Eucharistic Congress To Be In Australia

Over the weekend, the International Eucharistic Congress in Ecuador concluded, but plans for more family and fraternity at the next one are already underway.

The next Congress will take place in Australia in 2028.

The Archbishop of Sydney said they have been in negotiations with the Vatican for several years to be a potential host, as it will be an opportunity to revive the faith. The year 2028 will also mark 100 years since Australia last hosted the International Eucharistic Congress.

CCBQ to Hold Back to School Fair for Parents

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is helping kids get back to school.

CCBQ is holding a resource fair designed to provide every family with everything they need for a happy and healthy year.

Plenty of local organizations and Catholic Charities ministries will be there to answer any questions you may have.

Just go to the basketball court behind PS 105, The Bay School, on Tuesday, September 24th. The address is 420 Beach 51st Street in Far Rockaway.

The event will be held rain or shine, and space is limited, so be sure to arrive on time when the event kicks off at 2:30 p.m.