A Camp Tradition: Bishop DiMarzio Celebrates Mass for Boy Scout Campers

By Emily Drooby

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, a former Boy Scout and scout leader before he entered the seminary, traveled 120 miles to Ten Mile Island Boy Scout Camp on Aug. 3.

The scout’s motto is be prepared – and they sure were. They welcomed their guests with the perfect camp meal: sloppy joes, tater tots and chocolate pudding.

Boys and girls at Ten Mile River Scout Camps are enjoying a classic wilderness lunch and a visit from the bishop of Brooklyn.

“I’m really grateful for that, because he traveled all the way over here to see us and to be with us,” said Girl Scout Victoria Pena. “So it’s just amazing.”

This is Victoria’s second year here. She first came in 2019 – the first year girls were invited.

The bishop celebrates Mass at the campsite every summer. Except last year, when the pandemic kept them closed. He calls it a great program.

“It’s a leadership training program for the most part,” Bishop DiMarzio said. “It teaches young people how to lead and how to find ways to improve their lives.”

When he was a scout, the bishop earned the rank of “Life,” the second-highest honor.

The highest is Eagle Scout–– that’s camper Cory Van Huele’s dream–– and this week-long camp gets him one step closer.

“It’s been very fantastic for the past two or three days, so far I have been getting my merit badges up to date,” Cory said.

Cory also came all the way from Queens, New York.

Typically, this camp receives roughly two thousand kids. That number will be lower this year because of COVID. But, it’s still the place to be for Boy and Girl Scouts all over New York city.

If you are interested in joining the scouts or enrolling your child, you’ll need to find a meeting near you. Just go to BEASCOUT.SCOUTING.ORG

Simone Biles Wins Olympic Bronze Medal for Balance Beam

Currents News

The 24-year-old took home bronze in the women’s balance beam competition.

Her performance marked the celebrated gymnast’s return to the floor after she withdrew from most events during a disappointing showing during a team event last week.

Biles, who is often called the greatest female gymnast of all time — said she had a case of the “twisties.”

That’s a term gymnasts use to describe a condition where they lose track of where they are while spinning through the air. Many fans and experts lauded her for prioritizing her mental health over competing.

Biles has now won seven Olympic medals overall. She can’t add to that total until 2024 because the balance beam final was the last event in Tokyo she had qualified for.

Gymnasts from China took home the gold and silver in that event.

NYCHA Repairs Gompers Houses Resident’s Kitchen After Currents News Coverage

By Jessica Easthope

The everyday racket of a kitchen are sounds this NYCHA resident has been praying for.

“I felt like it was amazing. It took a lot of stress off I was able to put things in order, I just think it’s long overdue but I appreciate the help,” she said.

For more than a year and a half this woman, a mother of two who doesn’t want to be identified didn’t have any cabinets to slam or drawers to put things in – until Currents News covered the story. We met while doing a story about conditions in New York City public housing and how so many people are living in squalor.

“There was something – it just felt right, and I’m glad I did let you in,” the woman said, explaining she let faith guide her that day.

We found out she had submitted countless work order tickets to NYCHA, but the agency told her they lost them.

“Within 24 hours of your visit I had my kitchen sink back, so I am overjoyed, I am very grateful,” she said.

Overjoyed, but she said deep down she’s underwhelmed and frustrated it took publicity to get NYCHA moving.

“If you guys would have never came, I’d still be waiting,” she said.

It’s only a small win. The cockroach infestation in her apartment is getting worse by the day and her bathroom is crumbling around her. But now she says she’s advocating for herself and even for others.

“I’m going to continue to talk to my neighbors and tell them, being quiet isn’t helping you it’s only helping them,” she said.

NYCHA said it’s coming back on August 11 to fix the other issues. She loves her new kitchen, but what she loves even more is her new voice.

[CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR ORIGINAL REPORT]

Currents News Update for Monday, 8/2/21

New details on a story we first brought to you – a NYCHA nightmare exposed. A woman was living in a roach infested apartment, with no gas, no kitchen cabinets and no sink. But when our story aired, she got the changes she wanted.

U.S. bishops are applauding the federal government as they evacuate and relocate thousands of Afghans who helped U.S. troops over the past two decades.

Gang warfare on the streets of Queens – this time outside a laundromat – a coordinated attack caught on video, injuring ten people standing on a corner in Corona.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 7/30/21

10 million meals: that’s how many breakfast, lunch, and dinners Catholic Charities of New York has distributed to people in need since the start of the pandemic.

After the CDC released new guidance saying masking may be required indoors, even if you’re vaccinated.

Can the next mayor, whoever he is, save NYCHA?

Catholic Charities of New York Hits 10 Million Meal Distribution Milestone During the Pandemic

By Emily Drooby

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York hit a major milestone on Thursday, July 29: the organization handed out their 10 millionth meal to the people of New York during the pandemic.

Three-hundred meals were distributed outside of Sacred Heart School in the Bronx. Much of the product came from Goya.

While it was a celebration of a big accomplishment, it was also a sad reminder of just how hard the pandemic has hit the city.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York was on hand to give out food to those in need. Speaking to Currents News, he explained why helping feed the hungry is a very Catholic thing to do.

“To help them, to feed them, to house them, to serve them, to heal them, it’s what Jesus asked us to do,” explained the cardinal. “This isn’t some hobby, this isn’t some nice idea, this is a sacred duty.”

Claudie was in line to receive food along with her grandmother.

“I think that this is a really good action that they do for us, for the people who really need thing kind of thing,” she said.

Along with the food distribution, they had other key services, including social services and vaccination opportunities.

Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of New York explained while this was a big moment for them, it was bittersweet.

“Sad that the pain and the suffering was real,” Msgr. Sullivan said. “Proud that we were there.”

He also told Currents News that while the need is still higher than pre-pandemic levels, it has gone down recently because of other programs like the child tax credit. Because of this, they will begin to scale back some of their food distribution, but will use those resources to help the community in other ways.

Currents News Update for Thursday, 7/29/21

It’s a big day for Catholic Charities of New York. The agency is providing its 10-millionth meal since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Knights of Columbus have set up a GoFundMe to raise money to replace two statues at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills that were destroyed by a vandal.

The official image of the 10th “World Meeting of Families” has been unveiled!

Gov. Cuomo Issues New Mandate For Healthcare Workers to Get Vaccinated

Currents News Staff

The personal incentive to get the vaccine shot here in New York City? A cool $100 dollar bill if you get the vaccine at a city run site starting Friday. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the incentive to get more New Yorkers motivated, calling vaccination “the solution.”

And a day after he announced all city workers have to either get the shot or get tested weekly, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued his own mandate.

“In New York and upstate hospitals, all patient-facing healthcare workers must get vaccinated,” Gov. Cuomo said. “There will be no testing option.”

Vaccinated or not, don’t lose the mask! This announcement comes after an about-face from the CDC.

“We must take every step we can to stop the Delta variant,” the agency said.The CDC is now recommending everyone, including the vaccinated, wear masks inside if they live in an area with high or substantial transmission.

On the CDC website, there’s a color-coded map that shows the red and orange zones where masks are recommended. Brooklyn and Queens are in the orange zone. Both Cuomo and deBlasio say they’ll review the CDC’s new guidelines.

The ever-changing rules from the agency have caused a lot of confusion, and division, especially when it comes to donning a mask.

Health experts explain that the recommendations have changed because the virus has changed.

“We have the Delta variant now and behind it, the Lambda variant,” said Dr. Robert Tiballi of the Catholic Medical Association. “That’s one that’s ravaging South America right now and it will likely be here in the not too distant future.”

St. Joseph’s Seminary Offering New Online Masters Program

By Jessica Easthope

St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie is helping you in mastering an online degree. The new master’s and post-baccalaureate programs are available for both laypeople and religious. Students will Zoom into live classroom lectures at three locations.

An array of subjects will be offered ranging from morality to the history of the Church. Seminary staff says it’s what new-age evangelization looks like.

“People want to learn more about the faith and what this enables them to do is to do so in a very convenient way and within the context of the representation of the entire church,” said Father Matthew Ernest, the academic dean at St. Joseph’s Seminary.

“We’ve been able to broaden our audience and teach on a larger stage and to me that is so great,” said associate academic dean, Donna Eschenauer.

Applications are being accepted through September 7. You can apply online at dunwoodie.edu

Currents News Update for Wednesday, 7/28/21

A personal incentive to get the shot here in New York City? A cool one-hundred-dollar bill if you get the vaccine at a city run site starting Friday.

Vaccinated or not you might want to get ready to mask up again – the CDC is recommending everyone, including the vaccinated, wear masks inside if they live in an area with high or substantial transmission.

The White House is considering a mandate requiring federal employees either get vaccinated or get tested for COVID weekly.