Queens Street Co-Named After Msgr. John C. Tosi, The ‘Larger Than Life’ Pastor of St. Luke’s Church

Currents News Staff

Cheers as Clintonville street in Whitestone, Queens is co-named Monsignor John C. Tosi Way.

“As pastor, I know at the very bottom of his heart, Monsignor John Tosi’s way was the way of Jesus,” said Father John Costello.

Father John Costello took over as pastor at St. Luke’s Church after Monsignor Tosi passed away last May.

Last Friday, May 21, parishioners gathered to honor the late priest.

“We are at the legendary St. Luke’s for a man who was just as powerful and wonderful as this parish,” said Councilmember Paul Vallone.

Vallone helped to get the street in front of St. Luke’s named after Monsignor Tosi, whom he remembers fondly.

“Larger than life, Monsignor Tosi was larger than life in all ways: physically, passionately, mentally,” said Vallone. “He was there for all of us. He had a say in everything that happened here and he loved St. Luke’s.”

Monsignor Tosi was a lifelong Queens resident and a priest for over 45 years. The last 25 of his priest assignment was spent at St. Luke’s, leading this church community.

“To symbolize him today on a beautiful day with spring birthing and coming to the end of this deadly pandemic, it’s a beautiful way to celebrate spring and his legacy,” Vallone said.

Monsignor Tosi re-built St. Luke’s church and made many renovations to the Queens parish.

Good Samaritan Saves Stranger from Brutal Subway Attack

By Jessica Easthope

As New York City trains rattled past, Sean Conaboy decided to lower the volume in his headphones. He was listening to “Desolation Row” by Bob Dylan. He’d listened to the song countless times, but this time was different.

“And the volume was so low that I was able to hear the victim scream,” he said.

There’s a lyric in Bob Dylan’s song that says “you’re in the wrong place, my friend.” Except last Wednesday, Conaboy was in the right place. He sprung into action in a way that’s become uncommon when these all-too-common attacks happen.

Sean, a native New Yorker and parishioner at St. Michael’s Church in Sunset Park, is being called a Good Samaritan – a term rooted in faith to describe someone who stops to help when others stand by.

“I never imagined it would be so heinous and so violent and so depraved, but that was what I experienced and I had to act,” Sean said. “To not act would be an option, but I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.”

The chilling surveillance video from inside the Union Square subway station showed a man with a knife stalking potential victims. When the man chose a victim, Sean said something in him took over.

“This woman is being fatally assaulted with a knife, I have to stop it,” he said.

Sean said the man wielded the knife in a way that showed he wanted to kill 54-year-old Kelli Daley. The man who put him on high alert even went back for more.

“What’s most horrifying is that once I tackled him and separated him from the victim, he went back for her,” Sean said.

The Good Samaritan says his faith has everything to do with his action that day. It’s because of leaders in the Diocese of Brooklyn that showed him how to put faith into practice. One faith leader who showed him, Sean says, was his former pastor, now Bishop of Paterson, New Jersey, Kevin Sweeney.

“To see Sean respond in that way knowing him as the person of faith that he is, it’s not surprising,” Bishop Sweeney said. “But not everyone does it and I can see his faith coming out in that courageous act he took, willing him to sacrifice himself for the safety of another.”

The attack Sean stopped was the fourth attack at Union Square station in a week. He has a message for New York City officials: use this an example.

“It’s not that long ago, that this was a really safe way to travel and I remember when it wasn’t. So to see it swing back in that direction is heartbreaking.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Sean added. “We’re fighting for our lives down here. That’s the most potent example you’ll ever see.”

The Race For NYC Mayor: Republican Curtis Sliwa Says It’s Time Someone Represents Everyday People

Currents News Staff

The race for New York City mayor – it’s just four weeks to go until primary day. Currents News asked all the frontrunners, Democrat and Republican, to talk about why they should be the next mayor.

Our first guest may is the founder and CEO of The Guardian Angels and is now throwing his “red beret” into the ring. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa joined Currents News to discuss more about his platform.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 5/24/21

Currents News speaks with the good Samaritan who tackled a subway slasher moments after he attacked a woman.

The man accused of pushing over a church’s crucifix and burning its American flag is arrested.

All New York City students will be returning to the classroom for in-person learning this fall.

A street is renamed for the beloved former pastor of Saint Luke’s Church.

Pro-Life Advocates Rejoice as Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Major Abortion Case out of Mississippi

By Currents News Staff

The people who work at the Life Center of New York in Bay Ridge have made it their life mission to save babies: they’ve helped nearly 40,000 women in 40 years.

That’s why, when Executive Director Fred Trabulsi learned the Supreme Court would soon hear a Mississippi case that would challenge a portion of Roe v. Wade, he was inspired.

“We are very hopeful that this will begin our society turning from a culture of death to a culture of life,” Fred said. “As great St. John Paul II said, ‘we have to change the culture.'”

He’s not alone. Pro-life advocates across the country have been applauding the high court for taking on this case.

“This is a watershed moment,” said Kathleen Gallagher. She’s the New York State Catholic Conference’s Director for Pro-life Activities.

The Mississippi law bans most abortions after 15 weeks. Right now, that’s considered unconstitutional because it’s way before fetal viability estimated at 24 to 28 weeks.

“Under Roe v. Wade, any pre-viability abortion ban is unconstitutional, so they would have to tinker with Roe v. Wade to do anything to ban abortion before viability,” Kathleen said.

Kathleen says the ruling could have a huge impact on other laws. Like the “heartbeat bill” recently passed in Texas that bans abortion as early as six weeks.

“About half the states in the country have some kind of abortion ban in place that could be upheld if the court upholds this Mississippi law,” Kathleen explained.

While there’s no way to know how the Supreme Court will vote, pro-life advocates are cautiously hopeful.

“Now we have a different U.S. Supreme Court,” Kathleen said. “The make-up is different, so there is some optimism and some hope that the court might uphold a pre-viability abortion ban.”

Of the 6-3 conservative majority, all six justices have taken positions against abortion in the past. That includes new justice, Amy Coney Barrett, who publicly spoke out against abortion.

Right now, most legal experts say that this case won’t be the final nail in the coffin for Roe, but it’ll be a major step in that direction.

A step in the right direction is a source of hope for pro-life advocates like Cathy Donohoe. Cathy is the president of the Bridge to Life, a support center for pregnant women in the Diocese of Brooklyn. She says she’s “absolutely thrilled” about the possibilities.

“It is our chance to stop abortion in our generation, in our lifetime,” Cathy explained, “all of these cuts, chopping away of the laws is good for us because so many more children can be saved.”

Pope Francis Calls for Prayers for Coexistence as the Conflict Between Israel and Hamas Continues

Currents News Staff

Last Sunday, Pope Francis asked pilgrims to pray for peace in the Holy Land, calling the deaths of children there unacceptable.

“Many people have been wounded and many innocent people have died. Among them children,” Pope Francis said. “This is terrible and unacceptable. Their death is a sign that they are not trying to build the future, but destroy it.”

That same day was the deadliest day in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with 52 people killed last Sunday alone. One priest in Jerusalem, caught in the middle of the airstrikes and rocket attacks, described the situation in the holy city.

“It has been getting worse and worse,” said Juan Antonio Ruiz, from the Spanish Biblical and Archaeological Institute. “We have been hearing gunfire for three nights now, several missiles and bombings, and that is why we are very concerned. We don’t know what’s going to happen. There’s a lot of uncertainty.”

That fear and uncertainty is also felt by the most vulnerable: the children caught in the crossfire.

“It’s ok, it’s not near us, I promise!”

This clip, posted of a ten-year-old girl in Gaza, went viral.

“You see all of this. What do you expect me to do? Fix it? I am only 10,” said Gaza resident Nadine Abdullatief.

I can’t even deal with this anymore. I just want to be a doctor or anything to help all my people, but I can’t. I am just a kid.”

President Biden had a private call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, May 19, where he said he expected “a significant de-escalation.”

And on Thursday, May 20, the president spoke about the conflict.

“I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely, and enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and democracy,” he said.

Over the past two weeks, at least 230 Palestinians, including 65 children, were killed and thousands more were injured. Israel reports 10 adults and two children were killed there.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 5/21/21

The Diocese of Brooklyn is opening churches at full capacity.

Diocese of Brooklyn schools are seeing a boost in attendance, while others nationwide lose students.

Charities teaming up to host a pop-up food pantry– sharing a message of hope and inclusion.

The deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas – a shaky ceasefire now in effect.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams Honors Diocese of Brooklyn’s COVID-19 Emergency Task Force

By Jessica Easthope

First responders and frontline workers put their lives at risk to help New York City fight off COVID-19. On Friday, May 21, the team of people who had the city’s back was recognized.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams honored the Diocese of Brooklyn’s COVID-19 Emergency Task Force. The seven-person team was presented with citations for their tireless efforts. Over the course of the worst days of the pandemic, the task force delivered PPE, hand sanitizer and even pizzas to police and fire departments, hospitals and nursing homes across the state.

The task force’s work were all part of the Catholic mission of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“We didn’t save lives, we helped them saving lives: the first responders, the firefighters, the police officers,” said Vincent LeVien, director of the task force. “I think as the Catholic Church, it goes to show the work we can do.”

As the city continues to get the spread of COVID-19 under control, the task force has shifted its focus from PPE to vaccinations, testing and fighting food insecurity.

“Our faith-based institutions play such a vital and critical role in getting our city back up and operating,” said Borough President Adams. “We can’t thank them enough.”

Answering the Call: Deacon Robinson Olivares’ Story

By Jessica Easthope

Deacon Robinson Olivares has explored all life has to offer: he has gone to school, dated, and had a career.

“I became a technical support engineer and I did that for 20 years,” he said. “I worked in healthcare, providing support, entertainment, business.”

But once Deacon Robinson got to the very core, there was nothing left but faith. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, he was in safe mode. Faith was still a big part of his simple life.

“I grew up very much Catholic, prayed the rosary since little, very family-oriented,” he said. “I loved visiting the countryside where I would spend time with all my grandparents.”

But those joyous moments in an idyllic setting didn’t last: a rude awakening was waiting and that was New York City in the 1980s.

“Every other weekend there was a shootout and candles at the corner for people that were killed,” the deacon said. “I remember, at times, that I had to duck out because there was some shooting going on. I remember being in a Chinese takeout place and there were shots right outside. I was scared for my life.”

As he grew up, his neighborhood changed around him, but the feeling that something was missing never did. It took him a long time to process his call. A few times he found love and thought it would be forever, but says that God was opening a new window.

“I was troubled,” he said. “Then eventually this wonderful girl, she said, ‘you know what, why don’t you follow your heart?’ and I eventually, I had to choose the Lord.

It was his career in IT that proved to him he was good with people and that he wanted to do something hands on. Finally, after going on a retreat with his friend, it all clicked.

“That was the best experience for me ever in my life,” Deacon Robinson said. “Because there I encountered the Lord in a beautiful, powerful way in the Eucharist. I was introduced to Jesus as my best friend and I have since had that relationship with Him.”

Now Deacon Robinson says he can see the clear link between technology and his faith.

“I remember coming up with this prayer, I said ‘Lord, may you set up in me a firewall with the fire of your love so that I may remain close to you and outside influences don’t get at me so that I may not walk a different path,’” he said. “So there’s a connection there.”

The connection might have been slow but now nothing can undo this feeling.

“So now instead of a computer doctor,” he said. “I’ll be a doctor of souls.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 5/20/21

Proclaiming the Good News — churches are reopening to full capacity in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio shares what you need to know to get back to Mass.

A heartbeat bill that’s become law in Texas is banning abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

Reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — but what damage has the fighting already done to children? We speak to a 10 year old from Gaza.

In-person graduations — a Brooklyn Catholic college finally congratulates the Class of 2020.