Celebrating Their History: Church Remembers 100 Years and Life-Long Parishioner

A church in Queens celebrated their history on Sunday, Aug. 11.

Bishop Brennan led the procession and liturgy in honor of St. Clare Church’s 100th anniversary.

The Rosedale parish was created in 1924 for the growing Catholic farming community.

Its masses were first celebrated at a firehouse that was rented by the parish. Possibly attending some of those first masses was a soon-to-be life-long parishioner who was also in the pews during the anniversary mass, 100-year-old Theodora Pyle.

Pastor Father Daniel Kingsley honored the centenarian at the end of the celebration, pointing out that for as long as Miss Pyle has been alive, there has been a St. Clare Church.

New Vatican Document Breaks Down Church Teachings on End-of-Life Issues

Five European countries have legalized euthanasia, and in the U.S., assisted suicide is legal in nine states and Washington, D.C.

As of June this year, voluntary assisted dying is legal in every Australian state.

The Vatican has published a document to explain its teachings on end-of-life issues amid the growing legalization of assisted suicide around the world.

‘Small Lexicon for End-of-Life’ breaks down important words and phrases dealing with topics like euthanasia, the vegetative state, and assisted suicide.

Written by members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, its goal is to reiterate the Church’s traditional stance on these topics and avoid misinterpretations.

For example, the document clarifies three circumstances where it is morally acceptable to stop artificial nutrition and hydration:

When they are no longer clinically effective, meaning when the tissues are no longer able to absorb the administered substances.

When they are unavailable in the healthcare setting.

And when they cause the patient ‘excessive burden or significant physical discomfort’ due to the instruments used.

The new Vatican document ends with a form where a person can outline how they wish to approach healthcare treatments in the face of illness, disability, and death.”

“In sickness, patients desperately need help making sense of their tremendous suffering, going beyond mere human reasoning and emotions, with a perspective that encompasses the entire spiritual and transcendent dimension of the person,” said Gabriella Gambino, Under-secretary for the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

This guide builds on a document the Vatican released four years ago that emphasized the importance of dialogue between patients and providers.

A Pillar for the Persecuted: Mayor Starts Organization to Help African Children

More Christians are killed in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined and one Texan decided to do what he could to help people facing this violence.

The Mayor of Blanco, Mike Arnold, founded an organization called Africa Arise in 2019 to bring support, both physical and spiritual, to these Christians.

“When they pick up their Bible to walk to church on a Sunday, they realize it might be the last thing they do. And they do it. That’s amazing. That’s where faith is put to the test,” Arnold said.
“Faith is real to them. They live it and they experience it in ways most don’t because it’s real to them.”

Another pillar of Africa Arise is working to improve the lives of internally displaced children. And it began at the request of one woman who escaped to a shanty town after her village was massacred.

“I asked her, my heart went out to her, and I said, ‘I wanna tell your story. And if people wanna respond, how can we help?’” Arnold said. “I thought she’d say running water, lodging, a house, food, clothing, healthcare, sanitation, you name it. And she said one thing. She said, ‘Help me teach these children.’”

From there, the organization founded two schools, offering classes to more than 500 full-time students. And they have broken ground on a third school.

Arnold says Africa Arise will continue to provide aid and education to the more than 5,000 children present in three camps in Nigeria.

If you want to donate to Mayor Arnold’s organization, just go to LetUsRiseAfrica.org.

Catholic Olympians Ledecky and Mead Lead the Way as Flag Bearers for Team USA

The Olympics came to a close on Sunday, and leading the way for Team U.S.A. were two history-making Catholic Olympians.

Swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead were the flag bearers for the U.S. during the ceremony.

Ledecky, who is the most decorated American female Olympian ever, is a devout Catholic who often prays a Hail Mary before her races.

Nick Mead, who made history as a member of the first U.S. men’s four rowing team to win a medal since the ’60s, is also a devout Catholic.

His parish church, St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan, congratulated him and Ledecky online for the honor.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 8/12/2024

The Vatican weighs in on the rising debate over end-of-life care, emphasizing Church teachings amidst global shifts.

Pope Francis urges peace for Ukraine and the Middle East while remembering victims of a tragic plane crash in Brazil.

In a gripping turn of events, seven priests have arrived at the Vatican, fleeing the unrest in Nicaragua, shrouded in mystery and tension.

St. Clare Church’s 100th anniversary Mass became even more special with a double celebration—its centennial and a beloved parishioner’s 100th birthday!

Catholic Musician and Composer Inspired by Faith

by Katie Vasquez

Karl Kilb IV plays these notes effortlessly, because he’s been playing them for as long as he could remember

“I sometimes have a melody in mind, but it’s more visual for me. So I’ll think of something or think of a memory. I think of just visualizing the future,” said Kilb.

Even though Karl had been playing since he was 5, he says it was in Ms. Hudson’s class at Saint Ignatius Loyola school on the Upper East Side, that his passion for music was allowed to thrive.

“Karl always had a love for music and he’s such a talented musician. innately musical,” said Emily Hudson, a music teacher at Saint Ignatius Loyola School.

Ms. Hudson remembers hearing the teenage boy play, and being amazed at his talent.

“It was like having a professional musician in the jazz band,” said Hudson.

As Karl’s piano playing skills continued to grow, so did his belief that someone was helping guide his hands.

“It definitely sparked a curiosity for learning about my faith and putting and also learning music,” said Kilb, “and those are the two constants in my life, music and faith.”

After graduating from NYU in May 2024, Karl says his future is already looking bright.

“Right now, I’m actually doing music therapy, and I’m also composing for films and shows. and I’m releasing my own music,” said Kilb.

Music inspired by the songs he hears at mass.

“Just knowing that I can, you know, puts a little bit of positivity into people’s lives through music and faith. I think that’s what I’m going to try to continue to do,” said Kilb.

He believes music and faith share one universal language.

Kilb said, “The piano, wherever I go in the world, it has 88 keys and wherever I go in the world. the mass is the same depending on the language.”

If you would like to listen to some of Karl’s music, you can check it out on Apple music and Spotify.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 8/9/2024

Karl Kilb’s faith has been the steady beat driving his musical journey from Saint Ignatius Loyola School to composing success.

Pope Francis commends the Knights of Columbus for their pro-life advocacy and global charity at their annual convention in Canada.

The Vatican has approved devotion at India’s famed Marian shrine, a 16th-century miracle site drawing 20 million pilgrims annually.

A year after Maui’s wildfires, the historic Waiola Church rises from the ashes, keeping the island’s faith unbroken.

11-Year-Old Catholic Headed to College

by Katie Vasquez

Joe Petraro is enjoying the summer while he can,on the surface he looks like a regular 11-year-old, interested in basketball and video games. Unlike other 11-year-olds, he isn’t getting ready for middle school, he’s going to college this fall.

“It was easy,” said Petraro.

It all started a few years ago, Joe was attending Holy Name of Mary School in Valley Stream, he was struggling, almost put in special education until he was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause uncontrolled rapid movements and vocal sounds.

“I’ll be thinking about something and then I’ll be like, okay doing that. all right, all right. and that would take a while, cause then like, I would tighten up the hand like my arms,” said Petraro.

The school soon realized Joe was actually a genius, with an IQ of 168. He would go on to graduate middle school and high school in two years.

“Yeah. I can’t believe it. I’m proud of him. I just can’t believe it. That’s like I’m still dreaming,” said Ozzie Petraro, Joe’s Father.

While school was easy for Joe, life outside the classroom was not.

Having Tourettes made him a target for bullies, but the altar server at St Joseph church in Hewlett says his time in mass helped him during dark times.

“It would just calm me down and like, it always takes my mind off of everything,” said Petraro.

Joe knows studying isn’t the only thing that got him into Louisiana State University.

“I think the guiding force is God, because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t know,” said Petraro, “that I’m smarter or like, meet all these good people.”

Joe plans to study sports leadership, attending classes fully remote, ith the dream of being a sports broadcaster.

Brooklyn Students Shoot for the Stars with ‘Our Galaxy System’ Book Launch

By Jessica Easthope

It’s the first look they’ve been waiting for, a glimpse into outer space, as told by them.

These fourth graders at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy in Sunset Park are finally seeing “Our Galaxy System,” a book they wrote, illustrated, and published.

“I was thinking, I wonder how it will be like when people read the book that my class wrote, and how proud my parents will be of me and how proud my teacher is of me and of my class of writing the book,” said Sabrina Seweryn, a 4th grader at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy.

“You just feel like you accomplished something,” said Israel Gomez, a 4th grader at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy.

It took three months for teacher, Nichola Seteratne, to assign topics, for the students to conduct research, and to actually start putting pen, not pencil, to paper, something Israel Gomez was nervous about.

“You need to make no mistakes to write the things on the paper with a pen,” Gomez said.

Israel wrote about the first man on the moon. The book covers more than a dozen other topics, from the power of the sun to extraterrestrial life.

“It’s not just like ELA or math, like theoretical work or practical work they need to know, but they need to know about the outside world too,” Ms. Seteratne said.

Once the final draft was in, Ms. Seteratne sent it to Student Treasures Publishing. Now, each student has their own copy to treasure for life.

“They will always remember, even if they go to middle school or the upper grades, there will be something they will always remember about their fourth grade,” Ms. Seteratne said.

Their passion for outer space is still burning bright.

“It was fun to research,” Seweryn said. “There are many different things in the galaxy, and there are new things to come there, like the Andromeda galaxy system, and there’s all different planets to learn about.”

“There are different kinds of planets to see. And there are nebulas, which is like a cloud in space, but it’s like a gas,” Gomez said. “Because they say space is infinite, so we have a lot to learn about space, but we still have a lot because we only explored a little bit of it.”

Now that the book is finally in the hands of her 4th graders, Ms. Seteratne is looking to put it in the hands of anyone else who’s interested by publishing it on Amazon.

If you want to send your children to Catholic school, just visit catholicschoolsbq.org or call 718-965-7380 for more information.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 8/8/2024

Meet Joe Petraro, an extraordinary 11-year-old from Long Island. Unlike his peers who are heading to middle school, Joe is embarking on a unique journey to college at Louisiana State University. His unwavering faith has been a guiding light in his remarkable journey, showcasing the power of belief in achieving one’s dreams.

Explore the cosmos through the eyes of fourth graders from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy in Brooklyn. These young authors and illustrators have just published their book, Our Galaxy System, and it’s a stellar achievement you won’t want to miss.

A significant development in New York’s abortion debate: Manhattan’s Planned Parenthood, the only clinic in the state offering abortions after 20 weeks, is no longer performing the procedure past that time frame. Learn more about this significant change and the closures of other clinics in the state.

Students and teachers from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis had the thrill of a lifetime, rallying behind their alum, Cole Hocker, as he competed in the 2024 Olympics.