St. John’s Bread & Life Remains Steadfast for Brooklyn Residents in Need Beyond the Pandemic

By Jessica Easthope

Nearly a year and a half into the pandemic and the lines at St. John’s Bread & Life in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn still stretch the block. As people get back to normal and hope to leave the crisis behind them, Bread & Life is working overtime to make sure those in need are not forgotten.

“Food unites us and whether you’re 90 years old or 30 years old, we all have to eat,” said Sister Caroline Tweedy, the executive director. “And we see a need and really try to live out that Catholic social teaching of doing for the other.”

Over the last year, Bread & Life fed 77,000 people, handed out three-million meals and sustained food pantries in 24 other communities across Brooklyn.

“We never turn anyone away, which is what I’m proudest of,” Sister Caroline said. “We’ve never turned anyone away. Not everyone is called to work here, but everyone is called to do something.”

They’ve mastered the “bread” but what about the “life” part? As the organization moves from crisis to recovery, the people who need Bread & Life for social services are also lining up.

“When they come to us, we’re going to fight 100 percent to get their benefits put in place,” said Mildred Gutierrez. She’s a senior case worker at Bread & Life. “It’s been hard on them, but they come here. We give them as much food as we can and as much help as we can and at the end of the day, they come out winning.”

St. John’s Bread & Life is a one-stop shop. They not only provide food, but also help with benefits, rent assistance and medical needs, hoping to enrich every aspect of life.

“Through your work and your clients, it makes a whole lot of difference. It makes your life worth living actually, helping others,” Mildred said.

The pandemic tested Bread & Life’s mission and challenged its staff. Yet, they proved no one was above pitching-in.

“The first time I saw Sister Marie pushing a pallet jack, I knew we’ve done it,” Sister Caroline said. “The first time I saw our security staff in there packing bags, this is what it’s all about. It’s teamwork because it could be any one of us on that line.”

The operation has tripled – and now there’s no turning back. St. John’s Bread & Life is ready for anything.

Top Students in the Diocese of Brooklyn Honored During Catholic Schools Night

By Emily Drooby and Erin DeGregorio

CONEY ISLAND — Gray skies and rainy, wind-swept weather didn’t stop some of the best and the brightest students in the Diocese of Brooklyn from celebrating their academic achievements at the annual Catholic Schools Night event.

The festivities, sponsored by the diocese, DeSales Media Group, and the Catholic Telemedia Network, took place June 22 at Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Valedictorians and salutatorians from the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic academies and parish schools were honored on the diamond prior to the Cyclones taking the field against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Gina Krainchich, director of educational media services for DeSales Media, the parent company of The Tablet, said the 55 honorees were the highest number of invited eighth-graders in Catholic Schools Night history.

“This is the third year that we’re doing it [Catholic Schools Night],” Krainchich said regarding the return of the event. “We did not do it last year because of the pandemic, so we’re thrilled to be back at the stadium.”

In recognition of their academic excellence, the recent graduates were each presented with a medal and a commemorative Catholic Schools Night t-shirt in front of hundreds of fans.

Michael Sheehan and Kaylie Cruz, this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Windsor Terrace, were ecstatic to be invited to the game.

“It’s really nice that we’re going to be able to meet up, especially after graduation,” said Sheehan, who will be attending Xaverian High School this fall.

Cruz, who is bound for St. Saviour High School, added: “Being able to finally be free without the mask, without the restrictions, without all of these things prohibiting you from doing what you would usually do — and finally being able to go back to the way things used to be — I think that’s just great and very exciting.”

Leeannah Solages, the salutatorian from Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie, credited her family for helping her finish out the school year on a high note.

“My parents and my [older] brother, as well, helped me focus, helped me study,” Solages said. “They’re my biggest inspiration and they helped me throughout the whole year.”

Ann Marie Spies, an eighth-grade teacher and the assistant principal at Divine Mercy Catholic Academy in Ozone Park, came out to Maimonides Park to support her students and fellow colleagues.

“We love doing things as a school and as a family, and it’s just so important that these children are recognized for all the hard work that they put in,” she said.

“It was just really a magnificent show of love and support in a really difficult time,” said Spies, explaining how the school community bonded closely throughout the year. “That’s what children are all about. They are our future.”

Joan McMaster, the associate superintendent for principal and teacher personnel in the diocese, also noted the commitment families and school staff members made to help the students finally reach the end of another school year.

“All of our teachers, principals, and students worked tirelessly all summer so that school could be open for in-person [learning],” she said. “So, being at this point now is unbelievable that we made it. We did it and we all did it together collaboratively.”

Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, the diocese’s vicar for development, echoed McMaster’s sentiments.

“We’re proud of what they have done,” he said. “We want to make sure that they have a great future and that they know they always have a family to come back to.”

Editor Emeritus of The Tablet Ed Wilkinson — who retired from the newspaper staff last September after a 50-year-long career — was also an MVP of the night. Miniature bobbleheads in his likeness were distributed to families who purchased a baseball game ticket as part of the celebration.

“Tonight is the first night that the ballpark is being sold at 100-percent capacity,” he said before throwing out the first pitch.

“It shows that Brooklyn is back and our event is back,” Wilkinson continued. “We’re really happy that we could get as many people in here tonight for this event — to give the kids the recognition that they deserve and also to give a little exposure to Catholic schools.”

Music Is Back in NYC’s Subways After the Program Shut Down for the Pandemic

By Emily Drooby

Through the unmistakable sounds of the morning commute on New York City subways, music can be heard. It’s a welcome sound that has been missed for 14 months.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is finally restarting the Music Under New York Program, which was shut down during the pandemic.

That means a music revival will reopen some of New York’s most populated stages to about 350 performers including Eganam “Égo” Segbefia.

In between performances, Eganam told Currents News that it feels good to be back.

“Coming back here, there’s a different feel,” he said, “and to now to have that option to say, you know I’m going to sign up, it’s something that I’m definitely looking forward to.”

A delicate dance occurs when his fingers move seamlessly across the trumpet. It’s a gift he has been perfecting since the fifth grade. The instrument was his solace after moving to New York from Nigeria.

“I used to get teased for my English,” Eganam said, “and so the band class was the one class that everybody had something to cover their mouth, so no one was teasing me. And it became my safe haven.”

His talents became a safe haven and a beautiful gift that eventually became a job. However, that was threatened when the pandemic hit.

“It was rather tough, especially financially,” he said. “Our industry was literally shut down because we were predicated on being intimate with people.”

He played in Central Park and held livestream concerts for 52 weeks straight. Eganam never gave up on his great love. Now, like the city itself, live music is back, too.

Through his songs, this Christian man is bringing life and a smile to commuters. Hearing performers in the subway system has always been a treat, but now it’s an inspiration and a sign that NYC is healing.

“Music has that way of just bringing us life,” he said.

‘We’ll Be Back in the Courts’ Says Archbishop Thomas Wenski As Foster Care Ruling Declared a ‘Victory’ for Religious Freedom

Currents News Staff

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the former chairman of the United States Bishop’s Committee for Religious Liberty, joined Currents News.

The archbishop from the Diocese of Miami discussed the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling between Catholic Social Services and the city of Philadelphia. He also spoke about what the ruling means for religious freedom rights.

Church Vandalism: Brooklyn Diocese Press Office

Members of the Diocese speak out on the recent acts of vandalism that have taken place. From the toppling of the cross outside of St. Athanasius Church to the destruction of the Rosary garden at the Shrine Church of St. Gerard Majella, each video details the unthinkable crimes and shows the unwavering faith in each parish.

Church Vandalism: St. Athanasius Church

Church Vandalism: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Church Vandalism: Shrine Church of St Gerard Majella

New York City Voters Cast Ballots for Mayor, Comptroller and Public Advocate with New Ranking System

By Jessica Easthope

Voters steadily streamed into the Brooklyn Museum in Park Slope, Tuesday, June 22, citing healthcare, COVID recovery and jobs as the top concerns that brought them to the polls for the primary election. But it was one single issue people agreed the city’s next leader needs to tackle: housing.

“Personally, for me it’s housing,” one voter said.

“Affordable housing is probably the most important issue,” said another.

They call New York City home – so voters want someone who will help them stay.

“You see a lot of them hanging out on the street in front of the buildings where they used to live,” said Nirva Decopain.

Tuesday was the first brush with ranked-choice voting. People were asked to list their five favorite candidates but could opt out and still only choose one. Some voters were taken by surprise.

“I’m a little bit intimidated by ranked choice,” Roshelle Sumner said. “I’ve never really dealt with anything like that before.”

But others came prepared and called the strategy a political game-changer.

“I actually found it to be a pretty easy process and I was happy we had a couple of choices,” said Pat Stortz.

With no presidential race or congressional seats up for grabs, turnout in this primary, to decide who would continue in the races for comptroller, public advocate and mayor, was expected to stay low. In the 2017 mayoral race, only Democrats voted in the primary and just 15 percent of them cast ballots.

But now with heavy-hitting issues like crime, economic recovery and social justice reform facing New York City, voters said they needed their voices heard.

Paul Basista said what he wants out of this election.

“Less crime, better education, more social justice,” Paul said.

And despite Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams leading the polls, voters said he wasn’t necessarily their frontrunner.

“I ranked Maya Wiley first,” said Dan Casey.

“I think Maya has a grasp on it,” Sylvia Dela Pena said.

“As far as criminal justice policy, I voted for Maya Wiley,” said Antoine Morris.

“Maya Wiley has a good idea,” Paul said. “Take some money and put it toward mental health because a lot crime has been done by homeless people who are not well.”

“I’ve always been impressed with Maya Wiley because of her legal position within the de Blasio administration, it’s helpful to have someone who understands from the inside out what needs to change,” said Pat.

Voters can cast their ballots Tuesday until 9 p.m.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 6/22/21

Party primaries – New York City is off to the races, but the results could take some time.

Religious Freedom Week kicks off – Catholics around the world taking a stand for the freedom on which this country was founded.

We are at the ballpark, but Catholic school students are on the mound.