Pulse of the Parish: Maura Hili, St. Francis of Assisi

By Christine Persichette

At St. Francis of Assisi Church in Astoria, Queens you’ll often find Maura Hili with a book in her hands, reading to children.

As the school librarian at the Catholic academy and mother of three, Hili also directs the parish’s St. Francis Summer Fun Program — a role she embraces with boundless energy.

“I love it,” Hili said. “I also like to be busy. I always say, ‘Oh, I wish I had a few minutes to relax,’ but when I relax, I’m like — what are we gonna do?”

There’s little downtime in the program. From consoling a crying child to answering curious questions or guiding young sous chefs as they make salsa, Hili keeps the days engaging.

Launched last year, the program helps prevent summer learning loss while building social and fine motor skills in a fun environment for academy students and incoming kindergartners.

Pastor Monsignor Ralph Maresca praised Hili’s talents, noting the program’s popularity forced them to turn families away this year.

“Maura is such a unique person — she has the talent and the capability of pulling anything together and doing a wonderful job,” he said. “It’s all a blessing, and she is truly a blessing to our parish.”

Though Hili didn’t grow up in the area, St. Francis holds deep family ties. Her immigrant family found community and support here upon arriving in America; it was their church and where her mother attended school.

“From the day I stepped foot in the preschool program with my oldest—who’s now 11—it felt like home,” she recalled.A

All three of Hili’s children are hearing-impaired, and the parish has been a steadfast source of support.

“My faith is extremely important. I can’t imagine my life without it, especially when things have… I’ve been dealt different hands, especially with my children’s hearing,” she said.

“I don’t know if I didn’t have my faith and this community how I would’ve come out of that.”

Through the summer program, Hili gives back to the place that welcomed her family.

“This place has made me a part of their family, so you know you always give back to your family no matter what,” she said.

Maura Hili embodies the pulse of St. Francis of Assisi parish—blending faith, fun, and heartfelt service.

TONIGHT AT 7: Pulse of the Parish, St. Francis of Assisi

By Christine Persichette

More often than not you’ll find a book in Maura Hili’s hands, and she’s usually reading to kids.

She runs the Summer Fun program at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Astoria, Queens and is the librarian at the Diocese of Brooklyn Catholic academy – while having three children of her own.

TONIGHT AT 7: Queens Catholic Academy Students Ask Pastor for Faith-Filled Insights

By Katie Vasquez

The Christmas season is a time to spend with family.

Some Catholic academy students in Queens, New York are spending every Friday with a spiritual father: their pastor meets with them to answer any burning questions they have about their faith.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa Visits Gaza City’s Holy Family Parish Before Christmas

By The Tablet and Currents News

(OSV News) – In a sign of closeness as Christmas approaches, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Latin Patriarchal Vicar Bishop William Shomali and a small delegation, arrived in Gaza Dec. 19 for a pastoral visit to the Holy Family Parish.

During his visit, he “will review the current situation of the parish, including the humanitarian response, ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts, and the prospects for the period ahead,” the Latin Patriarchate said in a Dec. 19 statement.

Meeting with the local clergy – led by steadfast pastor Argentine Father Gabriel Romanelli – and parishioners, he is there to “receive briefings on the needs of the community and the initiatives underway to support them,” the patriarchate said.

Greeting parishioners who shelter in the premises of Holy Family since the start of the war in October 2023, Cardinal Pizzaballa said, “First of all, I greet all of you, happy to be once again among all of you,” adding that for the first time since the start of the war he felt “a little bit of relief.”

“I know the situation is difficult,” he said, but emphasized he brings the greetings not just from Jerusalem, “but from all over the world … you cannot imagine how many churches, how many groups, associations, people from all over the world – are united with you at this moment.”

He said the Holy Family community showed during the war “what does it mean to remain … strong in faith during this terrible period.”

“We cannot forget what happened … But now we have to look forward,” the patriarch said, promising the community: “We will rebuild. We will rebuild our schools. We (will) rebuild our houses … our life. We are rooted here and we remain here. We want to be here.”

He said: “Every time I come here also during the war, there is one baptism to do. So there is no Christmas without baptism. It is wonderful, the best way to say that we believe in life and Jesus.”

On Dec. 21, Cardinal Pizzaballa presided over the Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish.

“This visit marks the beginning of the Christmas celebrations among a community that has lived and continues to live through dark and challenging times,” the Dec. 15 statement said.

Despite the ceasefire’s first phase agreement to end hostilities, Israel has continued targeted attacks in Gaza, including the recent killing of a Hamas senior commander.

According to Al-Jazeera, Israel has carried out at least 800 attacks and killed 400 people since the ceasefire began Oct. 10.

In a recent update, Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations’ Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned that despite U.N. efforts to distribute tents, blankets and provisions for the cold winter months ahead, continued restrictions on humanitarian corridors are hampering those efforts.

The Dec. 19-21 visit of the patriarch “reaffirms the enduring bond of the Holy Family Parish in Gaza with the wider Diocese of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and expresses the Patriarchate’s commitment to accompany its faithful in hope, solidarity, and prayer.”

“May the birth of Jesus bring the new birth in our life,” the patriarch, who stayed in Gaza City until Dec. 21, said.

‘Festival of Lessons’ Celebrates the Story of Christmas with Scripture and Song in the Diocese of Brooklyn

By Currents News and Alexandra Moyen

DOUGLASTON — Eighth grader Alyssa Matthews said she was proud to see how months of practice with the St. Clare Catholic Academy Children’s Choir paid off at the diocese’s Festival of Lessons and Carols on Dec. 18.

She said she believes their performance helped audience members reflect on the true meaning of Christmas — “coming together and being with your family.”

St. Clare of Rosedale’s choir joined the Diocesan Choir to perform nine bible lessons and Christmas carols at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.

Interwoven with song, each of the nine lessons was taken from readings from the books of Genesis, Isaiah, and the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, leading them through the stories of Creation to Christ’s birth. The lessons were also read in different languages, including Kreyòl, Italian, and Malayalam, something Father Alonzo Cox, director of liturgy for the diocese, said shows the diversity of the local Church.

“It’s a reflection of who we are as a diocese,” Father Cox said. “We are a diocese that reflects so many different cultures, and tonight was an opportunity for us to give a small reflection of who we are as a ‘Diocese of Immigrants.’ ”

Father Cox, who helped organize the event, said the evening was a time for everyone to come together for reflection.

“Being able to gather as a community to celebrate the birth of Jesus, to be able to gather as a diocese, to be able to come together to really give witness to who we are as disciples of the Lord and to celebrate the season,” he said.

Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto led the event, reading each lesson to the audience, which he said brought him into the spirit of Christmas.

“My favorite song from tonight was ‘The Work of Christmas’ because it talked about when Christmas is over, what do we do?” Bishop Chappetto said. “It really told us that we need to continue the work of Christmas in the way we all treat each other.”

At the conclusion of the event, the Diocesan Choir went to the front of the church to encourage everyone to sing, a surprise for the audience and a first for the choir, according to one of its singers, Sachara Valmè.

“It was amazing, it really felt the warmth and love of Christmas,” Valmè said. “And we love the support of all the people from the different parishes that come out [and] the parents who got to see their children perform.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 12/19/25

Pope Leo XIV has named Father Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Queens, the new bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida.

As Bishop Elect Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez prepares to become the shepherd of Palm Beach, parishioners reflect on his years of ministry serving immigrants, families, and children in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Students from Catholic academies in Queens have joined forces to prepare Christmas care packages for families served by Marguerite’s Pantry.

The Diocese of Brooklyn marked the true meaning of Christmas with its annual Lessons and Carols service at the Immaculate Conception Center in Queens.

Bishop-Elect Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez Is Ready To Serve the Diocese of Palm Beach

By Currents News

“I come as a soldier of the Church determined to join you—dear members of the pilgrim Church in Palm Beach—to walk with you and support you,” said Bishop-elect Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, ready to serve.

Proudly addressing his new flock in English and Spanish during a press conference on Friday, he remembered the place where he has served for more than a decade when talking about his new role.

“I invite you to cast your gaze on the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. In that same spirit I come with the sincere desire to collaborate with all of you in continuing to build bridges,” he said.

The current Queens pastor will be heading down to Florida to serve the approximately 50 parishes and 260,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Palm Beach. He comes without an agenda, but one of his goals is to keep fighting for the unborn.

“I am on the side of life, I am strong for life—my current parish we have monthly pro-life Masses, and we visit abortion clinics,” Bishop-elect Rodriguez said.

And continue welcoming the stranger.

“That’s our purpose—to promote the respect, the acknowledgement of the dignity of all persons, including of course the migrants,” he said.

Bishop-elect Rodríguez’s current shepherd, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan, believes he’s a great choice.

“Bishop-elect Manuel has many, many gifts and talents, he’s very, intelligent, well spoken, logical but he’s also a man of the church, loves Jesus Christ,” Bishop Brennan said.

The Diocese of Brooklyn priest replaces Bishop Gerald Barbarito, a former Diocese of Brooklyn auxiliary bishop.

“One of the things that really pleases me is when I’m told my Brooklyn accent has only gotten stronger since being here,” said Bishop Barbarito.

Bishop Brennan says it’s part of a long-held history between the two dioceses.

“Bishop Barbarito always called Palm Beach the sixth borough of New York,” said Bishop Brennan. “It is interesting isn’t it that that relationship continues, Palm Beach sent us Bishop Daly, we sent them Bishop Barbarito and now we’ll be sending them Bishop-elect Rodríguez.”

The announcement, which the faithful in Florida already feel is a blessing, also came with a blessing from the new bishop.

“May Almighty God bless you and all the members of this wonderful diocese,” Bishop-elect Rodriguez said.

Beloved Queens Pastor Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez Leaving to Lead Florida Diocese as New Bishop of Palm Beach

By Christine Persichette and John Lavenburg

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — As Bishop-designate Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez reflects on his time in the Diocese of Brooklyn, he said it’s the people and their commitment to the faith that he will remember no matter where life takes him.

“These years that I have been ministering in the Diocese of Brooklyn are among the happiest of my life,” Bishop-designate Rodríguez told The Tablet. “Throughout these experiences, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve a diocese that is tremendously gifted about sharing love and sharing the joy of the Gospel.

“I will always keep in my heart everything I have learned from the many members of the diocese.”

On Dec. 19, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop-designate Rodríguez to replace Bishop Gerald Barbarito, 75, as bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida. His episcopal ordination and installation in the Diocese of Palm Beach will be held on a future date at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, according to a Diocese of Brooklyn spokesperson.

Bishop-designate Rodríguez told The Tablet he received a call with the news from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. He said at first he didn’t believe the call was real.

“I started to freak out when I realized it was a legitimate phone call,” he said. “It was a big surprise. Never in my wildest dreams [did I think] I would be leaving Brooklyn.

“I’m a Brooklyn priest, and so happily so, but when the Church calls, you have to answer.”

Almost a week after the call, Bishop-designate Rodríguez said he is still in shock.

He said relocating to the Diocese of Palm Beach will be a “process of discovery and engagement” that will begin with conversations with Bishop Barbarito and the local faithful to determine the diocese’s most essential needs.

“I’m going there with a very open mind, first of all to listen and to engage and to discover the joy,” Bishop-designate Rodríguez said.

Of the appointment, Bishop Robert Brennan credited Bishop-designate Rodríguez for the wonderful job he’s done as a priest in the diocese, specifically noting that his focus on staying close to the hearts of the people will serve him well as a bishop.

“He’s very, very intelligent. Very well spoken. Very logical. But he is also a man of the Church. He loves Jesus Christ,” Bishop Brennan told The Tablet. “As a pastor, in some ways, he’s bigger than life. He’s a big person physically, but the exuberance he brings is refreshing, and it’s all about love of Jesus Christ and love of the Gospel.”

A native of the Dominican Republic, Bishop-designate Rodríguez was ordained into the priesthood on July 3, 2004, in Santo Domingo, and became affiliated with (incardinated into) the Diocese of Brooklyn on June 29, 2012.

He is a canon lawyer with extensive experience in penal canon law and pastoral leadership. Besides his parish responsibilities, he serves the Diocese of Brooklyn in senior judicial roles, including as the promoter of justice and as a delegate of the diocesan bishop for penal cases. He is also fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and French.

Bishop-designate Rodríguez has served four parishes in the diocese.

He was parochial vicar for St. Michael Parish in Sunset Park from 2009-2011, pastor of S.s. Peter and Paul Parish in Williamsburg from 2011-2014, pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Jamaica from 2014-2020, and pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Corona from 2020 until his appointment to Palm Beach.

Bishop-designate Rodríguez said two things he’s learned in the Diocese of Brooklyn that he will bring with him are the importance of teamwork and the need to commit to the youth as the future and present of the Church’s mission.

“Working with different teams of committed members of the Church, both clergy and lay persons, has been one of the most important learnings for myself ,” he said. “I always try to be part of the team and be part of the process of discerning together what is the real Lord’s call, so I will bring that with me always to Palm Beach.”

As for the youth, Bishop-designate Rodríguez noted that “the centrality of the relevance of the youth is something essential that this diocese has never missed.”

He also highlighted the diversity of the Diocese of Palm Beach, which covers five counties in southeast Florida, and has more than 260,000 Catholics. It has a strong Haitian, Creole, and Asian presence, as well as a growing Hispanic population.

In fact, estimates from the University of Florida indicate that by 2035 Hispanics and African-Americans will combine to make up slightly more than half of Palm Beach County’s population.

“I look forward to working with all of them because we are one Church,” Bishop-designate Rodríguez said. “We need to be together and work together and continue listening to the Lord, too.”

Queens Catholic Academies Pack Bags of Essentials for Families in Need at Marguerite’s Pantry

By Jessica Easthope

Students and staff from several Catholic academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn came together to prepare holiday bags for families facing hardship.

“We want to make sure that those families know we care about them. Please make sure we put Christmas cards in each and every bag,” said Agnes Mosejczuk, principal of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Academy.

“The things that we put in these bags were soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste…” said Melissa Chay, an eighth-grader at St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy.

“Blanket, coffee, hot chocolate. It’s for what they need,” said Max Borja of St. Leo Catholic Academy.

“There’s some people who can’t afford to, like, get stuff like this that are like the basic needs,” Chay said.

“Our kids today are like Santa checking lists and checking them twice. We have the donations here, everyone was so generous. We want to just make sure that no one goes without this season,” said Diane Gorman, principal of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy.

“So we founded this project several years ago and we’ve been adopting families each Christmas,” Mosejczuk said. “Sister Ann Marie, a Grey Nun sister, told us that the need is much greater this year and we reached out to other schools, to St Leo’s or St Bart’s, Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Fatima to collaborate with us. And I’m so grateful to those schools for saying yes. They’re families within our community so for them to give back, it means a lot,” she said.

“I see many people myself, like who are in need. They just, they live in poverty and this is just a chance to give back to the community,” said Nicholas Reyes, an eighth-grader at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy.

“People deserve a chance to have everything that they need to survive, you know?” said Saba Usman, an eighth-grader at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy.

“Some people don’t have the stuff that we have. And I’m really grateful for what I have, especially in my Catholic school,” said Thiago Valdiviezo-Doychev, an eighth-grader at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Academy.”

Some families live in shelters. This may be the only Christmas tree they might have this Christmas. So yes, it is important for me to make it perfect for them. I think it teaches the kids the importance of appreciating little things in life,” Mosejczuk said.

“We reached over 150 hearts today. You know, that’s what Christmas is about. It’s not about receiving. It’s about giving,” Valdiviezo-Doychev said.

“On Saturday morning, we will be ready to go and distribute 150 bags to families in need. It’s all about service. It makes us who we are,” Gorman said.

Currents News Holiday Specials: Year in Review, New Saint & Pope Leo XIV

By Currents News

As we celebrate Christmas and head into the New Year, Currents News has a lineup of special programs you won’t want to miss. From our 2025 Year in Review to features on Saint Carlo Acutis, newly ordained Brooklyn priests, and a special on Pope Leo XIV, join us for meaningful stories airing Dec. 26 through Dec. 31.