New Pastor Vows to Fight COVID-19 Alongside Parishioners of Hard-Hit Queens Parish

By Jessica Easthope

As the new pastor, Father Manuel De Jesus Rodriguez isn’t wasting any time when it comes to ministering to the parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Corona, Queens, a vibrant community that’s been devastated by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We are also as a parish committed to keep serving this community in light of the coronavirus pandemic in this community which has been horrible between infections and deaths it’s been without precedence, we want to help with the overcoming of this ordeal,” said Fr. Manuel.

Before taking over at Our Lady of Sorrows, Fr. Manuel spent six years as pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica, Queens, another neighborhood hit hard by the virus. Now his new assignment brings more challenges, overcoming the pandemic will be a long road for the people of Corona.

According to the New York City Department of Health COVID-19 has killed 3,026 people in Queens, nearly 80 of those deaths were in Jamaica, whereas in Corona there have been 442 deaths.

The parish was shaken when its previous pastor, Monsignor Raymond Roden, contracted the virus. His recovery took a toll, and he wasn’t able to resume his duties as the church’s leader.

“He couldn’t reopen on May 26 because he himself was very challenged because of his health, and the reopening required a huge effort,” Fr Manuel explained. “But he left the parish ready for reopening, and I’m very grateful for that.”

Now Father Manuel is coming in at a time when the neighborhood is still struggling to conquer coronavirus, but the heavily hispanic community is once again leaning on its faith. Compared to other churches where parishioners are hesitant to return, at Our Lady of Sorrows more than 1,200 people attended Mass last weekend.

“These particular people here in Corona, they really adore and revere this parish and they are committed to it and the resuming of the coming back from the virus closure. It’s been really positive and outstanding,” Fr. Manuel said.

Fr. Manuel is gentle with his parishioners. Though he towers over most of them, but when it comes to fighting the virus alongside them, his promise is to be fierce.

Wordnet Productions

A visit to the broadcasting studios of Wordnet Productions – the Catholic Voice of Southern California.

New Accusation Surfaces Against Former U.S. Prelate McCarrick

Currents News Staff and Rhina Guidos

A firm that has filed previous legal complaints against former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick and church entities added another complainant July 21 against the laicized prelate, leveling a new accusation that he allegedly abused its new client as a boy at a beach house in Sea Girt, New Jersey, in the early 1980s.

In a July 22 news conference via Zoom, Jeff Anderson of Jeff Anderson & Associates of St. Paul, Minnesota, announced a new lawsuit he said was filed in Middlesex County Superior Court in New Jersey. He said his client, named only as John Doe 14, was groomed by a priest and “procured” for McCarrick when he was bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey.

Anderson said the new complaint identifies at least seven children who were “groomed by others for McCarrick,” and in addition to McCarrick it names several Catholic entities as defendants including the Diocese of Metuchen, the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, and Essex Catholic Boys High School, which closed in 2003.

The suit alleges that at age 11, the boy began to be sexually abused in 1978 by a priest at a New Jersey parish and the abuse continued at the hands of another cleric at the Catholic high school he attended, and then with McCarrick in 1982.

“While we have not yet received the complaint, our prayers are with all survivors of abuse, today and always, and we stand with them in their journey toward healing and hope,” said Anthony P. Kearns III, spokesperson and chancellor for the Diocese of Metuchen in a July 22 statement.

“With God’s grace, all survivors of abuse, particularly those wounded by members of the church, will continue to heal and move forward,” Kearns said. “Our diocese renews our commitment to prevent these types of abuse from ever happening again.”

The diocese also encouraged anyone harmed by clergy in New Jersey to notify law enforcement.

The Archdiocese of Newark, in a statement July 22, said it would not discuss or comment on matters in litigation.

“The Archdiocese of Newark remains fully committed to transparency and to our long-standing programs to protect the faithful and will continue to work with victims, their legal representatives and law enforcement authorities in an ongoing effort to resolve allegations and bring closure to victims,” it said.

Last November, when the U.S. bishops met for their annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Boston’s Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley gave the U.S. prelates a brief update about the status of a report that may reveal what the Vatican knew about the ascent to power of now-disgraced former U.S. cardinal. He said that it was taking longer than previously believed because it involved various dioceses and that perhaps it would be made public by Christmas, or the New Year, but that has not happened.

McCarrick was dismissed by the Vatican from the clerical state in February 2019 following an investigation of accusations that he had abused children early on in his career of more than 60 years as a cleric and that he also had abused seminarians as a bishop.

“We made it clear to Cardinal (Pietro) Parolin at the leadership of the curia that the priests and the people of our country are anxious to receive the Holy See’s explanation of this tragic situation, how he could become an archbishop and cardinal, who knew what and when,” Cardinal O’Malley said of meeting with the Vatican secretary of state in early November.

NYPD Removes ‘Occupy City Hall’ Protestors Before Dawn, Clean Up Continues

Currents News Staff

Protesters are no longer “occupying” City Hall Park. Early Wednesday morning police cleared out the park where protesters have been camped out for weeks and started cleaning up what they left behind.

City sanitation workers spent the day cleaning up the park and removing the anti-police graffiti that’s covered the sidewalks. Protesters set up camp in the park some three weeks ago. They have also been cleared out.

“We are horrified by what we see here,” said protestor Taylor Banning.

Taylor didn’t camp there, but did join the protests. She called it disturbing that the NYPD showed up at 3:00am and forced the protesters to leave.

“This is a disrespect to black lives, a disrespect to the movement, to every single person who’s been out here showing love, showing protest, showing freedom to assemble,” she said.

The so called “Occupy City Hall” protesters assembled here, calling for the police to be defunded. Mayor Bill de Blasio says over the last few weeks the gathering got smaller, with fewer protesters and more homeless people.

“We do always respect the right to protest but we have to think about health and safety first and the health and safety issues were growing… so it was time to take action,” said de Blasio.

The mayor was asked about the slow response in removing the anti-police graffiti here, but quick response to cleaning up the vandalized Black Lives Matter murals.

“Each situation is different and this was a particularly complex situation down here. Look, I made very clear that graffiti on those public buildings in this area is being cleaned up right now as we speak it’s not acceptable it will be gone,” de Blasio continued.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea says he couldn’t be happier with how his cops responded overnight, with no injuries and no real use of force.

“A number of individuals did not want to leave,” he said. “The result was one arrest for attempted assault when a brick was thrown at an officer. Luckily that officer had a shield and I’m told it left a dent in that shield, but nobody was injured.”

The clean-up could take several weeks, and the mayor says Homeless Services has been making efforts to get those who were in the park and are homeless into shelters.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 7/22/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

New York’s City Hall Park is cleared of protesters after they’ve been camping out there for weeks.

Christopher Columbus was knocked down but he’s not out. Baltimore’s Knights of Columbus is creating a new – and better – monument.

There’s word about a COVID-19 vaccine that could be out by year’s end.

Photographers’ ‘10,000 Headshots’ Initiative Offers Free Headshots to Unemployed During Pandemic

By Jessica Easthope

The coronavirus pandemic has left an estimated one and a half million New Yorkers out of a job. But some feel they’re still not out of that big city luck, and that maybe a headshot could give them the head start they need to get back to business.

“We don’t only uplift their chances and their hopes for employment, but also the spirit that they lost during the pandemic,” said Rom Matibag, the CEO of Romp Studios.

Rom was working hard July 22, taking professional headshots with the “10,000 Headshots” initiative. 200 photographers in locations across the country are taking headshots free-of-charge to help people gain a job and some self-esteem.

“This is a great idea of how to give back, especially us photographers who have been there and been unemployed as well,” he said.

Rom knows the feeling well of being lost and sometimes having to reinvent yourself. He was once in the seminary, preparing to be a Catholic priest. Now he’s fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic as a nurse and photography is his passion.

This month, New York City’s unemployment rate rose to more than 20 percent. Nationwide, around 11 percent of people are out of work.

The quick click of a headshot can be costly: a set can average from $400 to $500, making this opportunity a godsend for people like Persefoni Anastasopoulos, an architect who was laid off.

“What we put out there is very important, and definitely having a professional photo makes a world of difference in the presentation you put forth,” he told Currents News.

According to LinkedIn, people who have a professional headshot on their profiles get 21 times more views, and nine times as many connection requests as those who don’t. But some who came down Wednesday worry their jobs won’t exist after the crisis ends.

Carmen Corzo is an event planner, and she thinks the industry may never fully recover.

“It’s going to be a really slow comeback and a lot of us are going to venture out to different fields and have completely different jobs and that’s why I was grateful to get this photo and be able to update my resume,” she explained.

The goal is 10,000 headshots in one day, but what Rom and the other photographers are really hoping to accomplish is a boost in confidence.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 7/21/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Lifting spirits in troubled times – a Catholic leader is on a mission.

The Big Apple’s top cop is warning there’s no easy fix to gun violence but he’s upbeat about the future.

New details tonight about a young Catholic man gunned down inside his home. His mom is a federal judge.

Rising up from the ashes – a cathedral is open again after being attacked by missiles.

Catholic Communities Mourn Tragic Death of Daniel Anderl, Son of Federal Judge Esther Salas

By Currents News Staff and Rhina Guidos

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Schools and a Catholic parish in New Jersey expressed pain but also offered prayers following the killing of 20-year-old Daniel Anderl, son of a federal judge, who was a student at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

He was fatally shot in the heart when a gunman entered the family home in North Brunswick Township, New Jersey, July 19.

Mark Anderl, the husband of District Judge Esther Salas of U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and Daniel’s father, also was shot during the attack but is in stable condition.

The New York Times reported July 20 that federal authorities are looking at lawyer Roy Den Hollander as the suspected shooter. Den Hollander, who has described himself as “anti-feminist,” was found dead near Liberty, New York, a day after the shooting and authorities believed he killed himself, news outlets reported. He had argued a case before the judge.

The family is said to be part of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish in Kendall Park, New Jersey, in the Metuchen Diocese, and Daniel Anderl attended the parish school there.

“It is with a heavy heart, and with much sadness that we regret to inform you that Danny Anderl, class of 2014, went home to be with the Lord yesterday,” St. Augustine of Canterbury School said in a July 20 post on Facebook with a graduation photo of Daniel as a child.

“Danny attended St. A’s from the First Grade, and he and his family were parishioners, as well,” the post said. “Please keep Danny, his dad, and his mom, Judge Salas, in all of your thoughts and prayers at this sorrowful time. May Danny rest in peace in the loving arms of our Lord, for all of eternity. We will miss you Danny; Heaven’s newest Angel.”

The Diocese of Metuchen also expressed sorrow over the killing and said Bishop James F. Checchio asked the various Catholic communities to which the family belonged to join in prayer for them.

“Our hearts are heavy with the tragic loss of Dan Anderl, son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas and the injury of his father, Mark Anderl,” the diocese said. “Bishop Checchio asks us all to join together in prayer with the parish and school families of St. Augustine of Canterbury, where the family worships and where Dan went to elementary school, and also St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, New Jersey, and The Catholic University of America.

“We pray and mourn for the family and friends of the victims affected by this senseless tragedy. May they feel Christ’s healing presence and find comfort and peace in the Lord.”

Daniel Anderl was set to start his junior year in college in the upcoming weeks, and John Garvey, Catholic University’s president, said in a statement he was “shocked” to hear the “tragic” news of the killing.

“We all mourn and grieve this loss to our university community,” Garvey said, adding that the university’s chaplain, Father Jude DeAngelo, would celebrate Mass July 20 for the family.

Those who knew them told stories of the family’s generosity. A former schoolmate said the family had taken him into their home when his house was damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and were active members of their church, known for their kindness. A neighbor told The New York Times how the older Anderl brought over supplies to help clean after a snowstorm.

News reports said that a man dressed in a Fed Ex uniform approached the house before opening fire.

Salas, the first Latina to serve as a federal judge in New Jersey, was confirmed as a district judge in 2011, and is overseeing a case involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself last year while awaiting a trial over the sexual abuse of minors.

Salas, whose court is based in Newark, New Jersey, had been assigned the case brought by the New York State Department of Financial Services, which accused Deutsche Bank of not detecting various suspicious transactions made by Epstein. The judge’s husband is a criminal defense attorney.

Daniel was their only child.

Father Christopher Heanue to Bike 100 Miles to Raise Money and Hope for Holy Child Jesus Church

By Jessica Easthope

Father Christopher Heanue is in the saddle and pushing himself to the limit, gearing up for a physical and spiritual challenge he couldn’t shy away from. He’s on a mission to uplift his parishioners at Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill, Queens.

“These have been difficult months the coronavirus has taken a lot of hope away from our parishioners and our world and I think by participating in this 100 miles I want to inspire others and myself that we can do all things through Christ,” said Father Heanue.

Next week he’ll be embarking on a century ride, for those not up to speed, that means he’ll be biking 100 miles.

“From here Richmond Hill Queens out to East Hampton Long Island, it was our intention to go to Montauk but that’s about 150 miles,” said Father Heanue.

Throughout the pandemic donations have kept Holy Child Jesus’ food pantry up and running, the church has even been able to help some families out financially, Father Heanue is riding to keep that wheel in motion.

“What a great feat that would be for our parish to continue doing the great work that we do,” Father Heanue said.

Father Heanue took up cycling more seriously during the pandemic, but says he doesn’t consider himself much of an athlete, that’s partly why he’s calling the ride ‘100 Miles of Hope.’

“We’re going to need prayerful support, I’m going to need them certainly but I just want to use this as a way to inspire hope,” said Father Heanue.

But he won’t be setting out on the ride alone, he’s going with two friends, one is Paul Cerni the head of parish operations at Holy Child Jesus.

“We’ve been gearing up for this and this time I think we’re ready,” said Cerni.

The men say they’re not stopping short of their goal of helping families in need.

“When you’re thinking about a goal like this raising money for the parish, for outreach, for the community it motivates you and we put our trust in God that we’ll find the strength,” Cerni said.

The riders are planning to make the whole trip with only short stops for food to give them energy, it’s expected to take close to 10 hours.

To donate visit:

https://www.facebook.com/101381568093938/posts/167331028165658/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/100-miles-of-hope

Text ‘miles’ to 718-550-6525.

Kanye West Talks Abortion and Harriet Tubman During Emotional Speech at South Carolina Rally

Currents News Staff

Kanye West claims to be running for President and he gave an emotional speech about abortion at a rally in South Carolina on Sunday.

The rapper wore a bulletproof vest when he told the crowd his dad wanted him aborted.

West went on to accuse the well-known abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, of trading slaves. The crowd jeered him over that comment.