Sharing Goods Not Communism But ‘Pure Christianity,’ Pope Francis Says

By Currents News Staff

For the second consecutive year, Pope Francis visited the church of Divine Mercy in Rome, April 11. Here he celebrated Mass in commemoration of Divine Mercy Sunday, which was established by John Paul II.

The church holds an image of Jesus as He appeared to Saint Faustina Kowalska. It was during these visions that the Polish nun came to better understand the Mercy of God.

Pope Francis stated that Christians who do not accept God’s mercy and who are not merciful to others live their faith half-heartedly.

“This is the starting-point of our Christian journey,” the Holy Father said. “But if we trust in our own abilities, in the efficiency of our structures and projects, we will not go far. Only if we accept the love of God, will we be able to offer something new to the world.”

The pontiff recalled how in His first apparitions after the resurrection, Jesus freed the disciples of their remorse. With His message to them he did not take away their problems, but he gave them hope.

“As far as God is concerned, no one is useless, discredited or a castaway,” Pope Francis said. “Today, Jesus also tells us, ‘Peace be with you! You are precious in my eyes. Peace be with you! You are important to me. Peace be with you! You have a mission. No one can take your place. You are irreplaceable. And I believe in you.'”

Due to restrictions from the pandemic, few people were admitted to the Mass. Among them were prisoners from different jails in Rome, patients from a nearby hospital, and other pilgrims.

These were whom the Holy Father chose to spend his day with.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 4/9/21

After Easter comes Eastertide – church leaders are using this time to fill up the pews.

A pop-up vaccination site is helping a Queens neighborhood hit hard by the pandemic.

A prominent doctor gunned down – the community now remembers him as a man of faith.

Prince Phillip passes away at 99 – Catholic leaders offer their condolences.

Coney Island Amusement Parks Reopen and Spark Hope After Long Pandemic Shutdown

By Emily Drooby

It has been a roller-coaster of a year for Coney Island. The pandemic forced amusement parks to stay closed. After 13 months, they’re back.

“The opening of Coney Island is a metaphor for NYC,” said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer to a group gathered on the boardwalk “We are getting back in business.”

Sen. Schumer was on-hand along with Mayor Bill de Blasio and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. They were all there to re-open Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

“And the comeback begins here,” said Lt. Gov. Hochul, “it begins here today.”

It’s a comeback that will affect the entire neighborhood. Last year, the neighborhood lost $100 million in revenue due to the closure of the two parks, aquarium, amphitheater and Brooklyn Cyclones field.

Alexandra Silversmith with the Alliance for Coney Island says when these cornerstone places close, it affects the whole area.

“They are all really important to each other and that’s sort of how Coney Island survives and thrives,” Alexandra said, “if they’re all open and operating.”

The pandemic has been tough for local businesses and for the parks. The partly-Catholic family who owns Deno’s dipped into their savings to keep the park afloat.

“It was a devastatingly hard time,” said the park’s Marketing Director Kenneth Hochman. “The family, however, was committed to making sure the park would be here for post pandemic. And that’s why you can see the roller-coaster Phoenix, rising.”

The new ride is rising – just like Coney Island. It’s something the parks have done before.

Dennis Vourderis, who co-owns Deno’s, explained the neighborhood’s economy.

“The economy of Coney Island has shown to be very resilient and bounce back very quickly,” Dennis said. “Take Hurricane Sandy for instance. Coney Island rebuilt, reopened and entertained millions of people once again.”

After the 36th Annual “Blessing of the Rides,” the park was officially open for business for their 100th season, since last year was canceled.

Front-line workers, like Carmen, rode for free. She has been coming to the park since she was a kid. However, this visit was special because it made her hopeful for the future.

“It’s refreshing,” Carmen said. “It’s rewarding, it’s encouraging and I think that’s one of the things we need as people right now.”

That leaves a spark of hope, for many, that not only is summer coming back, but New York City is too.

Father Cedric Pisegna’s New Book Offers Spiritually-Based Solutions to Harmful Addictions

Currents News Staff

As many of us can relate, the pandemic has been a source of stress in our lives. But coping with that stress has caused some to turn to drugs and alcohol.

Father Cedric Pisegna C.P. says, “there is a solution.” He joined Currents News to talk about his latest book on recovery and addictions, “There Is a Solution.”

If you would like a copy of “There Is a Solution,” head on over to www.frcedric.org.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 4/8/21

Students use their spring break for good – to restore a family’s home.

Cardinal Dolan has a message to Catholics this Easter season – come back to Mass!

President Biden unveils sweeping plans to combat gun violence in America.

A behind the scenes look inside the reconstruction of the beloved Notre Dame Cathedral.

A Behind-The-Scenes Look Inside Notre Dame Cathedral’s Reconstruction Two Years After Fire

Currents News Staff

Two years after a devastating fire blazed through the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, specialists are still working hard on its restoration.

It’s not unusual for cathedrals of this size to take decades or even centuries to build.

Its vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and elaborate columns – so much of what makes Notre Dame one of the world’s most exquisite gothic wonders stands tall, almost miraculously.

When construction on the French church started in 1163, it wasn’t completed until 1345.

The construction of the cathedral may have taken 182 years from when it began in 1163, but it took the fire in 2019 just a matter of hours to compromise its stability. The work of the last two years has been all about ensuring that the cathedral stayed upright.

“We had to be sure that the structure is solid by taking a lot of measures consolidate,” said Notre Dame reconstruction chief Jean-Louis Georgelin. “We don’t want to make reconstruction without being reassured.”

The iconic North Tower, at one point, had been threatened by the flames on the night of the fire. In the end, they were put out before it could collapse. But it was there where the most devastating part of the fire took place. It was there that the famous Notre Dame spire once stood.

As the world watched, the spire – which had been under renovation – collapsed and broke through the vaulted ceiling which then crashed into the nave.

The scaffolding that had surrounded it – 40,000 tubes of metal – twisted into the structure. It had to be carefully picked through and removed.

“This is the place where the spire collapsed, you know, this is center of the drama,” Jean-Louis said.

Now that the scaffolding for the renovations is ready, Jean-Louis says the work of rebuilding Notre dame’s vaulted ceiling and its spire will begin before the end of the year.

Outside too, the cathedral’s iconic gothic facade stands as a testament to a construction that has proven as sturdy as it is delicate.

Catholic Ministry Helps Women Who Have Had Abortion Cope With Loss, Find Healing Through Retreats

Currents News Staff

A local ministry is helping women who have had abortions, offering retreats to help them with the pain and isolation they feel as they search for forgiveness and healing through Christ.

Theresa Bonopartis is the co-founder of “Entering Canaan,” and joins Currents News to discuss how women and families are impacted by abortion, and how it moved her to the service she offers.

If you’d like to learn more about the “Entering Canaan” ministry, just log on to enteringcanaan.com.

The next retreat is on June 5. Call 877-586-4621 to register.

Xavier HS Students Spend Spring Break Building Home for Christian Frontline Worker

By Emily Drooby

Xavier H.S. students are rolling up their sleeves to spend their Spring Break doing manual labor under the hot, Long Island sun.

They’re giving back and helping healthcare hero Nickesha Medley.

“I was praying and praying because where I live right now, it’s not livable,” Nickesha told Currents News. “I live in the attic. There’s no hot water in the shower.”

The Christian woman’s prayers were answered when Habitat for Humanity picked her for a home. She’s a nurse’s aide who worked on the frontlines during the pandemic.

Xavier H.S. junior James Joyce and his fellow classmates are using their time off from school to build what Nickesha calls her “forever home.”

“It feels good to know that I’m helping someone to have a house,” James said.

The student-volunteers are offering much needed assistance since they’re the first school group back to help since the pandemic.

“We actually closed down for 6 weeks last year and we haven’t really had any other volunteer groups come out,” said Walter Mackey, who works for Habitat for Humanity.

Walter explained that they were stuck just using their staff to keep projects going. While they made it work, he said it’s nice to have the extra help.

He knows firsthand how important what they do is.

“I am a Habitat home owner,” Walter said.

He received his home in 1999 and shortly after, he got a job offer.

“I usually say, it’s like winning the lottery,” Walter said. “It’s just the relief of knowing where you’re going to put down roots for the rest of your life. Where your kids are going to be graduating school and where your life starts.”

Roots – just like the ones these students are helping to create for Nickesha and her daughter.

“I’m so grateful to those students because I mean, it’s their break,” said Nickesha. “Where a lot of kids would be home doing other things, they come and they help me – a total stranger. And they come and give me and my daughter a gift, a big gift.”

Xavier H.S. also helped out at this site back in February. For the Jesuit school students, it’s the perfect way to do God’s work.

“When we learn of Ignatius of Loyola and his teachings, he believes in work through service as well as St. Francis Xavier,” said Alexander Eriquez. “We see God. We find God in all things and service is one of those ways in which we can see God.”

Right now, they’re in the demolition phase of building, but this home should be ready for Nickesha and her daughter to move in by the end of the summer.

This isn’t just a free home. Nickesha has been putting in what they call “sweat equity” or volunteering her time for other projects.

She’s paying it forward – just like the Xavier H.S. students are doing for her.

Gun Control: What’s Biden’s Plan?

By Currents News Staff

Today President Joe Biden will lay out the first part of his plan for gun control, with six executive actions in the works.

“I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps that will save the lives in the future,” said President Biden.

It’s a commitment the President made after the recent mass shootings in Atlanta and in Boulder.

The White House says Biden will lay out six initial actions today:

A rule that tightens restrictions on so-called ‘ghost guns’ which are handmade or self-assembled firearms that don’t have serial numbers.
A rule restricting pistol stabilizing braces which make weapons more stable and accurate.
Suggesting “red flag” legislation for states.
Money for community violence interventions
An annual report on firearms trafficking.
Nominating a gun control advocate to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

From here, it’s up to the Justice Department which has between 30 and 60 days to write the rules for ghost guns and stabilizing braces, and the suggested red flag laws.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 4/7/21

Honoring the sacrifice – one hospital is remembering the healthcare workers they lost to the pandemic.

New York lawmakers allocate funds for undocumented migrants and rent relief.

President Biden has differences in opinions from other Catholics on the Equality Act.

A horrific home explosion – the man inside is alive thanks to the quick thinking of one Good Samaritan.