It’s Summer Christmas For Catholics as Birthday of St. John the Baptist Was Celebrated on June 24

You’ve heard of Christmas in July, but did you know there’s a Summer Christmas for Catholics?

It marks the birthday of St. John the Baptist, who is one of only three people, besides Jesus and Mary, whose birthday is celebrated in church liturgy.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist falls on June 24, exactly six months before the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, which is why it’s sometimes known as Summer Christmas.

While it isn’t usually celebrated with presents, some countries observe “St. John’s Eve” with a bonfire, fireworks, or a candle-lit procession in honor of the saint who “was not the light, but came to testify to the light.”

Pilgrims From NY and Ireland Pray Together Through Portal Connecting the Two Countries

Thirty young people took part in a Portal Pilgrimage on Saturday, June 22.

The giant circular screens allowed the young people to gather near the Flatiron Building and pray the rosary in real-time with a group from Dublin, Ireland.

The Manhattan portal was unveiled in May as one of the first in a global network of identical portal sculptures created by a Lithuanian artist.

The organizer of the Manhattan rosary plans to return to New York on the 22nd day of each month for more rosaries.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 6/24/2024

The Scholars’ stunning victory over the Collars highlighted a thrilling Catholic Schools Night at Maimonides Park, featuring an epic softball clash between priests and principals.

As part of a unique portal pilgrimage in New York City on Saturday, young pilgrims prayed the rosary in real time with a group from Dublin via giant circular screens.

Two years after Roe v. Wade, U.S. bishops reflect on victories and challenges in the ongoing fight for life.

Just five days before the athletes get on their bikes, a delegation from the Tour de France visited the Vatican. They presented Pope Francis with two jerseys worn by competitors in the world-famous bicycle race.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 6/21/2024

A fierce competition is about to get underway at Maimonides Park, but we’re not talking about the Brooklyn Cyclones. We mean the Collars versus Scholars, the softball rematch between priests and principals of diocesan schools.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul just signed two groundbreaking bills to safeguard kids online, targeting predatory activities and making the digital world safer for minors.

In a stunning twist, the Vatican summons Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano to face schism charges for denying Pope Francis’s legitimacy and rejecting the Second Vatican Council.

Unearthing a 3,000-year-old shipwreck, archaeologists discover one of the Mediterranean’s oldest maritime secrets from the 14th century B.C.

Pilgrims Headed To National Eucharistic Congress Make It To West Virginia

There’s less than a month to go for pilgrims walking to Indianapolis for the first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years.

Among them is Zoe Dongas, who works in the Office of Young Adult Outreach in the Archdiocese of New York.

Dongas made it to West Virginia, where she reflected on the blessings of her journey.

With less than a month to go before reaching Indianapolis for the National Congress, here’s a progress update on the four routes the pilgrims are taking.

Down south, the Saint Juan Diego Route has reached Alabama. There, the pilgrims, along with some 550 people, processed with the Blessed Sacrament through downtown Mobile.

The St. Junipero Serra Route out west continued a decades-long tradition in Nebraska.

The Diocese of Lincoln has celebrated this field Mass for over fifty years on the site of a 1720 battle, where a Catholic priest and 43 others were killed.

This year, it coincided with the pilgrimage.

In the Northern Marian Route, pilgrims visited with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The nuns greeted the Blessed Sacrament and the perpetual pilgrims and sang the Blessing of St. Francis.

In the eastern St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route, pilgrims stopped for lunch in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bishop David Zubik gave them a blessing before they continued on their journey.

All four routes are traveling 6,500 miles, leading to the National Congress in Indianapolis.

Salve Regina Catholic Academy Shuts Its Doors

by Katie Vasquez

There were cheers kicking off the last day of school at Salve Regina Catholic Academy but the joy is fleeting as this is the final time the teachers, students and parents will see each other.

“I’m going to say goodbyes and just pray and hope that everything works out well,” said Sherice Martin, a parent at Salve Regina Catholic Academy. “I’m going to miss all my friends,” said Shemar Celestin, a 2nd grader at Salve Regina Catholic Academy.

The Diocese of Brooklyn announced in March that four schools will close their doors at the end of the school year.

Along with Salve Regina, it includes St Matthias Catholic Academy in Ridgewood, Visitation Academy in Bay Ridge, and St Catherine of Genoa-St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Academy in Flatbush.

Most of the students have found new schools and some of the staff will move on to other positions.

“There’s no coming back. There’s no looking back in the school, and that in the hallway, nothing, nothing. It hits really, really, really hard. So it’s been a heart wrenching day for all of us,” said Salve Regina Catholic Academy parent and school aide, Aneta Jaimangal.

But what happens to all the items inside the school? Desk, chairs and books will be offered to other diocesan schools.

Religious statues and paintings will stay with the church affiliated with the school.

Staff will have until July 15th to pack up everything else.

“We have to box up all the student records. we have to box up the admin files and everything, and then all that gets sent out to archives. so we will be here for the next few weeks doing all the paperwork that has to get done for the diocese,” said Salve Regina Catholic Academy principal, Michelle Donato.

Holding on to all the memories of the school before the doors close permanently.

“It’s just very fond to our hearts. We have so many things that, you know, we’ve experienced here,” said Salve Regina Catholic Academy parent, Joselyn Vasquez, “it’s just, you know, a hard place to replace.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 6/20/2024

School’s out for summer, but it’s a bittersweet farewell for Salve Regina Catholic Academy in East New York, closing its doors for good.

Louisiana’s new law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, signed by Governor Jeff Landry, sparks nationwide debate.

In New York, a state appellate court reinstated a proposed constitutional amendment for abortion rights on the November ballot, reversing a lower court decision, with opponents planning to appeal to the state’s highest court.

Join us as we catch up with pilgrim Zoe Dongas on her journey along the Seton Route to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

St. Francis De Sales School for the Deaf Models Inclusivity With New Accessible Playground Makes Strides

By Jessica Easthope

The sounds of a playground are unmistakable.

Even though the children playing hear nothing but silence, at St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf in Crown Heights, recess is access.

“It’s beautiful because you’ll see children in wheelchairs, children with canes,” said Jodi Falk, executive director at St. Francis de Sales. “You’ll see sign language. You’ll see picture exchange, communication books, and iPads, all the multiple ways that our students communicate.”

This playground, which opened this spring, took five years of work, research, and compassion to get off the ground.

Falk said it’s made of soft bouncy material suited for all types of walkers and rollers.

“One of our core values is independence,” Falk said. “Whether you’re in a wheelchair, you’re a walker, or you are deaf, blind, everything is accessible to the students to go independently.”

The structure, which was partly funded by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant, has features for every St. Francis student – deaf, deaf-blind, and deaf-disabled.

Dawn Welters, supervisor of instruction and operations at St. Francis de Sales, said she wishes she had this when she was a kid.

“They don’t have any barriers, and they can do whatever they want,” Welters said. “And that’s something I want for all deaf children, all deaf-blind children, and deaf-disabled children. All barriers are broken down here.”

But for the kids who do play here, they enjoy it, in some cases, more than they could ever express.

“I like the swings, yeah, I like the swings the most. So that’s fun,” said Wilber Sandoval, a student at St. Francis de Sales. “And the playground makes me feel good. And I’m smiling. And I have lots of fun there.”

“I like the playground. And I like the merry-go-round. That’s my favorite one,” said Zaira Ramroop, a student at St. Francis de Sales. “Yeah. I love playing with my friends on the playground.”

Not only was St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf intentional about the design of the playground, they were intentional about the color for students who are also visually impaired. One area colored in blue and yellow signifies a place to play, while another area colored in red signifies a place to walk.

“It’s been part of the strategic vision of the school to become state of the art,” Falk said.

It’s still a climb to get to true, universal inclusivity, but St. Francis de Sales covers new ground every day.

“I do have hope for what the world looks like in the future,” Welters said. “The students can start the work, and they become advocates themselves. And that’s the kind of environment we have here. So, yeah, Saint Francis would be very proud of the development and relationships established here.”

“We are a safe haven for the students and their families,” Falk said. “And we are a model for what it should be.”

In addition to the new playground, St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf has also created a very real way to teach independence.

This is Activities of Daily Living – a mock apartment where students can learn how to complete basic household tasks like washing clothes, making a bed, and using a TV.

Before students use the brand new space, they will set goals and work toward them with their therapists in an effort to create lifelong skills that will allow them to live more balanced and independent lives.

If you want to help St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf on their mission of inclusivity, you can donate at sfdesales.org/donate.

Man With ALS Fulfills Lifelong Skydiving Dream

By Jessica Easthope

It started with a surprise from a good friend. It’s been a life of love for aviation for 66-year-old Mark Johnson.

“I used to fly an airplane when I was a kid,” said Mark Johnson. “I always wanted to jump out of one.”

Johnson is living with ALS. He was given two to five years to live, but that was 24 years ago.

Since then, he’s been fighting. However, in mid-April, he was moved into hospice care and was asked if he could do one thing, what would it be. He said he would like to jump out of a plane.

“I’m very excited,” Johnson said. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to do it.”

So on Friday, June 14, Mark suited up.

Johnson said he hopes he’s an example of why folks fighting ALS should never give up.

“A lot of people don’t know much about ALS,” Johnson said. “It’s very devastating.”

He credits his courage on this day.

“That has to do with the people I have around me today,” Johnson said. “They gave me that hope and courage. Live one day at a time and live it to the fullest. My father was an airline pilot. I’ve always loved to fly. I think it’s a sense of freedom with all of God’s creations out there. Beyond amazing.”

Johnson actually learned to fly a plane before he had a driver’s license and has always wanted to skydive throughout his life.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 6/18/2024

Compassion and accessibility intersect in Crown Heights. We’ll show you the new inclusive playground at St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf where children who are deaf, deaf-blind, and deaf-disabled play together without limits.

President Joe Biden is expected to announce a new immigration policy that would protect undocumented spouses of US citizens from deportation.

Details of the president’s discussion with Pope Francis at the G7 summit are being released. The two leaders met about the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and peace in Sudan and the Congo, according to a White House statement.

Pope Francis condemned the persecution of Christians in the Congo. The Holy Father said there’s a climate of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Christians in Congo have faced ongoing oppression since 2014, with armed groups targeting individuals and destroying dozens of churches. Pope Francis has called on the international community to help stabilize the area.