Pope Francis Observes Good Friday With Service in Front of Socially Distant Audience

By Jessica Easthope

Pope Francis walked into St. Peter’s Basilica for Good Friday service in complete silence, prostrating himself and observing the most solemn day of the liturgical year.

Good Friday is the only day of the year when Mass is not celebrated. Last year, COVID-19 had Italy in its grasp and the Basilica was empty for Good Friday service. The country is now back on lockdown, but around 200 people stayed socially distant for service, Friday.

Good Friday service is rare in that Pope Francis does not give the homily, but during the solemn intercessions he did pray for victims of the pandemic and the world during this difficult time.

“All mighty, ever-living God, only support of our human weakness look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children who suffer because of this pandemic relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died and throughout this time of tribulation grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love,” Pope Francis said.

After Good Friday service, the Pope prayed a version of the Way of the Cross written by a group of young people from a parish in Rome. This year’s meditations highlighted the struggles of children. The prayer featured drawings made by children from foster families and people who are assisted by the Church. The Pope prayed the Way of the Cross in St. Peter’s Square. Only the children who wrote the prayers were there.

Priest’s New Song Celebrates the Triumph of Easter Amid the Pandemic

Currents News Staff

Easter is a celebration of hope triumphing in the face of despair. This year, it’s also an opportunity to grow in faith during a spiritually challenging time.

That’s what inspired Father Mark Baumgarten of the Archdiocese of Perth in Western Australia, to write the song “Easter Sunday Morning.”

The musician-turned-priest says it was during the first series of lockdowns that he noticed the connection between the challenges of the pandemic and the story of Easter.

“It was just during Holy Week and I was starting to be struck by the similarities between us being stuck behind closed doors in a sense, and with some of the, I guess you could say, bad headlines of recent years,” Father Mark said. “And we’ve come to a bit of a pounding in some ways, that there are some parallels with the Apostles after the Crucifixion when they’re kind of behind locked doors with their heads hung low.”

Some of the lyrics include: “It’s Easter Sunday morning but the sun has yet to rise. If the Lord is up to something, he’s tremendously disguised.”

The song conveys the sense of worry and confusion shared around the world during the early stages of the pandemic, only to suggest that hope is waiting just over the horizon.

For Fr. Mark, music is more than storytelling. It’s a way to capture life’s powerful moments.

“If there’s an event or something going on in my life that’s fairly prominent, I’ll think ‘There’s a song in this’ and I’ll try to capture it down,” he said. “A little bit like how you’d take a photo or journal to capture a memory or an emotion, that songwriting became something a bit like that for me.”

The lyrics continue with: “There’s light on the horizon, the atmosphere is clean on Easter Sunday morning.

It can be difficult to articulate what it was like living through the lockdowns. It’s like an experience that may only be able to be expressed through music.

“We are body and soul and so those things that stir our bodies and our minds and our souls—music is a bit of an intersection of that,” Father Mark said. “Where you can have both lyrics as well as sometimes mysterious properties that the musical melodies and the chords can have on us.”

“Easter Sunday Morning” is the first single from Fr. Mark’s upcoming album. It’s also a song to console and uplift those facing challenges this Easter season.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper Marks Beginning of the Easter Triduum

By Emily Drooby and Erin DeGregorio

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — The Mass of the Lord’s Supper, held during the evening of Holy Thursday, commemorates the institution of the Eucharist as the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and the institution of the priesthood.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio — who celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on April 1 — spoke about how important this night was for Christians. He also discussed the significance of the feet-washing rite, which was not performed this year due to the pandemic.

“There’s a certain connection to baptism and what Jesus did by washing the feet of his disciples,” Bishop DiMarzio said during his homily. “It was not only a sign of humility but also it showed them that they could be cleansed, they could be forgiven.”

“By tradition, he starts with Judas’s feet first, the betrayer — not Peter, the head of the apostles. Peter, however, protests as we heard in the Gospel, which gives Jesus the occasion to say that ‘you must be cleaned and washed all over’— which is the necessity of baptism itself,” the bishop continued.

“Tonight, our ritual presentation of Jesus’s action teaches us a lesson of humility and solidarity with one another, as we are one in the church.”

Foster Gonsales, who splits his time attending the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier in Chelsea, Manhattan, said he attends a majority of the Masses and services during the Easter Triduum. “I can not imagine a reality without going into church during the Holy Week,” he said.

Similarly, Norma Felix, member of the National Center of the Haitian Apostolate, said the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is one of her all-time favorite Masses. “That’s the anniversary, the birth of Eucharist for me,” she said. “I never miss it.”

Felix said that not being able to attend Mass at the beginning of the pandemic was particularly difficult for her because she missed receiving communion.

“It is like a nourishment — something you cannot even see, but you feel it, you live it, [and] it becomes part of you,” she explained. “To keep myself at least in the position to receive communion … is [like] the Super Bowl, and I have the win.”

Keith Alphonso, who also attends Masses in Manhattan and Brooklyn, said the return to church has been a step towards normalcy for him.

“It feels good to be here,” Alphonso said while at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. “I know we’ve passed the hard part of the pandemic, and coming here is almost … a feeling [like] you want to give thanks.”

The Mass concluded with Bishop DiMarzio carrying the covered Blessed Sacrament to the repository. Parishioners had the opportunity to continue the Blessed Sacrament’s Adoration, kneeling nearby and silently praying in the dim-lighted cathedral.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 4/1/21

Easter Triduum – three days, the summit of the liturgical year. We have exclusive coverage.

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Why Some Catholic Churches Veil Statues During Lent

By Emily Drooby

Have you ever walked into a church during Lent and seen purple veils on their statues? No? Well, you’re not alone.

The practice isn’t a requirement, so not all churches do it. That is why it might not look familiar to some Catholics. They do partake in veiling statues at Holy Child Jesus Church and St. Benedict Joseph Labre Church in Richmond Hill, Queens. Both are run by the same administrator, Father Christopher Heanue.

“The foundation is from the quote in scripture, where it says Jesus went and hid himself from them” he told Currents News, “so we in turn hide or veil the statues as a way of relating to that.”

He explained that in 2001, a decision from the U.S. bishops was made to let each parish choose if they want to take part in the veiling of statues. That decision breathed new life into the tradition.

“Since 2001, you’ve kind of seen a little bit more and more growing movement to veil the statues again,” Father Heanue said.

The bright purple cloths are put up on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, in time for the last two weeks, which used to be called the “Passiontide.”

Some parishes just remove the statues all together.

The practice is a way to heighten the focus on the passion and suffering of Jesus Christ during that time, when Lent is intensified.

Parishioners of St. Benedict Joseph Labre Church tell Currents News that it’s working.

The veils remain up until the Easter Vigil when they’re uncovered, during the part of Mass where they sing “Gloria,” if possible.

“And the Gloria is just a time of great excitement,” explained Father Heanue. “We are singing for the first time after 40 days, ‘Glory to God in the highest,’ the bells are ringing, the lights are turning on in the church.”

He brought the practice back to these churches and he finds it prayerful.

“We miss it when they’re gone,” he said. “I miss looking at the statue of our Blessed Mother. I miss looking at the cross. We veil it all. So in that emotion, I think we can unite ourselves even more to the journey of Lent.”

It’s a special way to remind parishioners all that Christ has done for them.

Sharing the Gospel Means Embracing the Cross, Pope Francis Says at Chrism Mass

By Currents News Staff and Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Living and preaching the Gospel always involves embracing “the cross,” whether it be in the form of misunderstanding, hostility or outright persecution, Pope Francis told Rome priests gathered for the chrism Mass.

In the life of Jesus and in the lives of his disciples today, “the hour of joyful proclamation, the hour of persecution and the hour of the cross go together,” the pope said at the Mass April 1 at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis did not celebrate a chrism Mass last year because Italy, and much of the world, was in the midst of the first huge wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But even with vaccines being distributed and death rates dropping, Italy was under a modified lockdown, so only about 75 priests representing their confreres in the Diocese of Rome were able to attend the Mass with their bishop, the pope.

At total of about 200 people, including three dozen cardinals, were present for the liturgy. The principal concelebrants were Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the new vicar for Vatican City, and Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar for Rome.

The chrism Mass has two unique characteristics: the blessing of the oils used for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, ordination and the anointing of the sick; and priests renewing the promises they made at ordination.

Deacons brought the oils in large silver urns to the pope, who prayed that God would bless them and the people who will be anointed with them.

Then the priests present vowed that they were “resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him,” and that, out of love for Christ, they renewed the promises they “willingly and joyfully pledged” on the day of their ordination.

The liturgy also includes the bishop asking the faithful present to pray for their priests and for him. Pope Francis slightly altered the text of the second prayer, asking the congregation, “Pray for me — I need it — so that I may be faithful to the apostolic service entrusted to me and so that in your midst I may be made day by day more the image of Christ, the priest — simply that — good shepherd, teacher and servant of all.”

In his homily, Pope Francis acknowledged how many obstacles a priest can encounter as he teaches, preaches and celebrates the sacraments.

Click here to read Pope Francis’ full homily at the Chrism Mass.

The story from Luke’s Gospel of Jesus reading the Scriptures in the synagogue at Nazareth, arousing both admiration and anger, the pope said, shows how “Jesus’ words have the power to bring to light whatever each of us holds in the depths of our heart, often mixed like the wheat and the tares.”

“The preaching of the Gospel is always linked to the embrace of some particular cross,” Pope Francis said. “The gentle light of God’s word shines brightly in well-disposed hearts but awakens confusion and rejection in those that are not.”

That conflict is seen repeatedly in the Gospels, the pope said, noting how, for example, “the tender love of the merciful father irresistibly draws the prodigal son home, but also leads to anger and resentment on the part of the elder son” or how “the generosity of the owner of the vineyard is a reason for gratitude among the workers called at the last hour, but it also provokes a bitter reaction by one of those called first, who is offended by the generosity of his employer.”

The cross, including misunderstanding, rejection and persecution, is present in the Gospel from the very beginning of Jesus’ life, the pope said. “The cross is not an afterthought, something that happened by chance in the Lord’s life.”

And, he told the priests, “it is true that the cross is present in our preaching of the Gospel, but it is the cross of our salvation.”

“We are not scandalized” by the presence of the cross — “the large crosses of humanity and the small crosses in the lives of each of us” — he said, because “Jesus himself was not scandalized by seeing that his joyful preaching of salvation to the poor was not received wholeheartedly, but amid the shouts and threats of those who refused to hear his word.”

“We are not scandalized because Jesus was not scandalized by having to heal the sick and to set prisoners free amid the moralistic, legalistic and clerical squabbles that arose every time he did some good,” the pope continued.

“The Lord always gives us what we ask for, but he does so in his divine way,” Pope Francis said. “That way involves the cross. Not for masochism. But for love, love to the very end.”

The Catholic Secret Inside a Candle Company Supporting Palestinian Women During the Pandemic

Currents News Staff

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we have the story of a candle-making workshop for women in Palestine that’s helping them support their families during the pandemic.

But it’s what’s “in” their candles that’s really getting people’s attention.

Osama Hamdan is the coordinator of The Hospitable Bethany Project. Osama joined Currents News to discuss the history behind the candles and how the project brought people of different faiths together.

They’re working on a new website right now, but if you’d like to buy one of the Bethany workshop candles, you can contact them through their Instagram page at @Lavender.Store9 and send them a direct message.

Even After Women’s History Month, the Fight for Women’s Rights Continues Around the World

Currents News Staff

Millions of women around the globe are making their voices heard. From the United States to countries like Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and all the way to Australia and beyond, women are demanding equal representation, equal pay, and a life free of violence.

“There is no question that women and girls are enduring a great tragedy,” said Lisa Kristine.

Lisa Kristine is a humanitarian photographer whose work has been blessed by Pope Francis. She spent her career documenting the lives of the downtrodden, using her lens to capture their stories.

“There’s a tremendous curb of violence against women, equally,” said Lisa. “There’s a form of violence in perpetual forced labor. People on the move that are being forced to flee their country, whether it be for political reasons or violence, war, famine, or a lack of water, or health and safety.”

COVID is making it worse and the United Nations is sounding the alarm. One in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Fourty-seven million women are living on less than $1.90 a day and 80 to 100 million girls are ‘missing’ as victims of gender-based violence.

In the United States, women are also at risk.

“The sad thing about that is that you could be in the presence of slavery,” Lisa said, “and not have any idea that the person who is serving you and who you’re paying and giving a tip to actually has no control over their lives, nor are they cared for properly or paid.”

Domestic violence is also on the rise. Professor Barabara Koziak with St. John’s University says while gender violence dropped over the past 30 years, the pandemic is reversing that trend.

“Women have been disproportionately affected by COVID because of the uptick in domestic violence,” Barbara said. “Because of their increased labor in the home, they have been much more vulnerable in various ways across both the economy and the home.”

And while domestic violence is up, women’s employment is down. Women usually make up 49 percent of the workforce, but now account for 55 percent of the jobs lost since the pandemic began. Jobs lost include women-centric industries like leisure and hospitality; education; health and retail; and government jobs at the state and local level.

There is hope the impact will be temporary.

“I think they will rebound as long as the economy grows,” Barbara said. “What I think is hopeful here – is that COVID has really reinforced and highlighted how much paid employment is wrapped up in what’s happening at home.”

As for the continuing rise in gender based violence, Lisa believes that raising awareness is key to finding a solution.

“To me, awareness is just so important,” Lisa said. “Seeing is believing and as Archbishop Desmond Tutu says ‘none of us are truly free until all of us are finally free.’

Pope Francis personally signed some of Lisa Kristine’s photographs to be later auctioned off for charity. The Holy Father has called violence against women a “desecration of God.”

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 3/31/21

A special report on how the pandemic has impacted women’s lives and livelihoods.

New York State legalizes marijuana for recreational use, but members of the clergy are not happy.

The Diocese of Brooklyn holds its Chrism Mass and priests renew their vows.

Police make an arrest in the brutal and horrific beating of a 65-year-old Asian woman on her way to church.

A Catholic school delivers food to Saint Kevin’s pantry in Queens, helping people hit hardest during the pandemic.

Oils Are Blessed, Nearly 200 Diocese of Brooklyn Priests Renew Their Vows at Annual Chrism Mass

By Jessica Easthope and Paula Katinas

The brotherhood of priests and their common devotion to Jesus Christ was a thread running through the Chrism Mass that took place Holy Tuesday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

“Our priesthood is what joins us together,” Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio told the priests who gathered at the co-cathedral for the Mass.

The purpose of the Chrism Mass, which takes place every year during Holy Week, is for the bishop to bless the holy oils to be used throughout the year in the Diocese of Brooklyn for baptisms, confirmations, ordinations of priests, anointing of the sick, and other events in the life of the church.

The blessing was the centerpiece of the Mass, which was attended by approximately 200 priests, deacons, and laypersons, a larger crowd than last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the celebration to be postponed to June 19 and reduced the number of attendees.

Bishop DiMarzio has traditionally used his homily at the Chrism Mass to deliver an important message to his priests and this year was no exception.

“Priests need people as much as people need priests,” he said, urging them to “never forget what your sacred mission is all about.”

That includes evangelization. “We need to do new things. We need to keep growing,” he said.

The bishop, who marked his 50th anniversary in the priesthood last year, talked in his homily about past milestones in his life and also touched on his future. “Fifty years is a long time and a short time,” he said.

He recalled various homilies he delivered at important Masses throughout his life as a priest, including his first Mass in 1970, his 25th anniversary in 1995, his elevation to bishop of Camden in 1999, and his appointment as the seventh bishop of Brooklyn in 2003.

Bishop DiMarzio also offered a strong hint that his time as bishop of Brooklyn may be coming to an end. He turned 75 in 2019 and bishops are requested to submit their resignation to the pope on reaching that age.

“I have come to know and love all of you,” he told priests. “You must prepare to meet a new bishop. Welcome whoever comes.”

As they do at Chrism Mass each year, priests and deacons of the diocese renewed their promise of obedience to the bishop.

In addition, the Chrism Mass has also served as a salute to jubilarians — priests who are celebrating milestones in their priestly lives. There are priests in the diocese marking the anniversaries of their ordinations, including the 70th, 65th, 60th, 50th, and 25th anniversaries.

Father Félix Sánchez, pastor of St. Pius V Church in Jamaica, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary this year, said he relishes the brotherhood with his fellow priests. “We are nothing without each other. A priest alone is nothing. We depend on each other,” he said.

Father John O’Connor, director of Liturgy for the diocese, said the Mass gave priests the chance to reunite after the pandemic kept them apart.

“We haven’t seen each other. We’ve been isolating just as other people have been isolating. And while we’re been praying for each other, this is the first time we’ve been gathered in over a year. The priests are enjoying each other’s company. They haven’t seen each other in a while. It’s time to catch up. It adds to the promise of Easter,” he said.

Father Christopher Bethge, director of Vocations for the diocese, has been a priest for five years. He said it was a wonderful feeling to be back at the co-cathedral again after missing last year’s Chrism Mass. “I was ordained a priest in this cathedral. Anytime I can come and renew my vows, it’s a special feeling,” he said.