The Chair is the joyful story of the Catholic Church in America; our rich history, the sublime beauty of our cathedrals, and the inspiring ministry of our modern-day apostles. This episode explores the Diocese of Grand Island, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the ministry of its eighth bishop, Joseph Gerard Hanefeldt.
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The Chair: Covington, KY
The Chair is the joyful story of the Catholic Church in America; our rich history, the sublime beauty of our cathedrals, and the inspiring ministry of our modern-day apostles.This episode explores the Diocese of Covington, its Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, and its 10th bishop, Roger Joseph Foys.
The Chair: Brooklyn, NY
Explore the history of the Diocese of Brooklyn, known as the Diocese of Immigrants and the diocesan Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of St. James and the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. Experts and historians discuss the impact of the Bishops of the Diocese, including Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the 7th Bishop of Brooklyn.
The Chair: Fargo, ND
The Chair is the joyful story of the Catholic Church in America; our rich history, the sublime beauty of our cathedrals, and the inspiring ministry of our modern-day apostles. This episode explores the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, St. Mary’s Cathedral., and the ministry of its 8th bishop, John Thomas Folda.
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The Chair is the joyful story of the Catholic Church in America; our rich history, the sublime beauty of our cathedrals, and the inspiring ministry of our modern-day apostles.
An Inside Look: Currents News on Cabrini Red Carpet
By Christine Persichette
The stars were out in Manhattan Monday night, walking the red carpet for the New York premiere of the movie “Cabrini”.
It tells the story of Mother Cabrini, who came to New York City in 1889 to help the poor Italian immigrants.
Cristiana Dell’Anna, who portrays the Catholic icon on the big screen said she didn’t know much about her before this film.
But now she often asks herself, ‘What would Cabrini do?’
“Every time I find myself in a situation where I don’t know what to do, what to say, I’m just thinking, ‘What did I say in that scene?,’” Dell’Anna said. “Oh, actually that’s very helpful, because,yes, she was a strong willed person who inspires me every single day.”
An inspiration for not only fighting to help the marginalized, but also with faith and fearlessness, going toe to toe with the men in power to achieve her mission.
David Morse portrays the Archbishop of New York.
“She doesn’t try to preach or anything, she’s out there doing the work,” Morse said. “She’s standing up to everybody and she still gets it done.”
Building an empire of hope, in the Diocese of Brooklyn and beyond, creating orphanages, schools and hospitals, despite tremendous odds.
“You can live your life in despair or in hope and she lived her life in hope,” said Alejandro Monteverde, Director of Cabrini.
Although the story of Mother Cabrini, the patron Saint of Immigrants, is more than 100 years old, it’s a timely one.
Producer Jonathan Sanger from Brooklyn, said he hopes it stirs discussion about the current migrant crisis.
“I really think this is a movie where people will leave it thinking ‘what can I do, what can I do to make a difference because everybody can make a difference,’” Sanger said.
Francis Xavier Cabrini accomplished all she set out to do, despite being in poor health.
In her 67 years, she helped found 67 institutions to care for the poor, the sick and the uneducated.
Mother Cabrini became the first American saint in 1946.
The movie officially hits the big screen on March 8, International Women’s Day.
Queens Store Owner Claims He Was Trying to Help Migrants Found in Shop Basement
By Katie Vasquez
Eighty-seven migrant men were discovered living in the basement of this furniture store in Richmond Hill.
The owner tells Currents News he was only trying to help after seeing the plight of many migrants in the city. The Department of Buildings has issued Sarr’s Wholesale Furniture Store a vacate order.
DOB inspectors were called to this scene to investigate reports of illegal conversion of the two-story, mixed-use building on Monday, Feb. 27.
In their statement to Currents News, they say they found the first floor and the cellar had been made into sleeping quarters, with 14 bunk beds and 13 beds packed tightly together.
The store’s owner, Ebou Sarr, provided this video of what that basement looked like.
Sarr said the men, who were mainly from Senegal, left their home countries plagued by political violence in the hopes of a better life in America.
But instead, he said they dealt with a broken system.
“When I saw how they’re kicking the people out, giving them 30 days, why are you throwing them outside?” Sarr said. “I mean, what’s the reason? Why are they going to leave after 30 days? For me, it doesn’t make sense. Maybe it makes sense to them, but I don’t know why.”
Sarr says he didn’t initially set out to help such a large group; he only provided shelter to his cousin who came over in October; then he says his phone started ringing nonstop with migrants needing help.
He claims he offered them shelter in the store’s basement with strict rules, such as no e-bikes and no cooking to prevent a fire. However, officials say e-bikes were on the property. The FDNY was called about a complaint about e-bikes in the rear yard.
In a press conference Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams said he worries that there is not enough housing for the influx of migrants and fears it could create desperate situations.
“We’re going to do our best to investigate them, give them the appropriate shelter system,” said Adams. “But the reality is with 180,000 people entering the city also looking for housing, over 65,000 currently in our system, if we don’t build more, we’re going to be building more problems.”
Two violations were issued to the landlord of the property for illegal work without a permit and occupying the building contrary to city records.
Those migrant men were transported to a shelter in the Bronx.
Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 2/27/2024
The stars were out last night in Manhattan, walking the red carpet for the New York premiere of the movie “Cabrini”.
There are reports that 87 people were found living in a basement in Richmond Hill, Queens.
St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church marked its 100th anniversary over the weekend with a Spanish Mass.
Lenten Pilgrimage: Students at St. Luke’s Taught Adoration
Monday’s Lenten Pilgrimage stop included a lesson about the body of Christ, as students at St. Luke’s Church in Whitestone, Queens, learned about adoration.
Pastor Father John Costello explained to the kids that the monstrance was holding the Eucharist and why Catholics pray before the body of Christ.
They then joined Bishop Brennan and the visiting pilgrims in adoration.
Each grade also repeated a special prayer, asking Jesus for love, forgiveness, and guidance.
Hundreds of students will soon take part in the Lenten pilgrimage Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Kids from across the Diocese of Brooklyn will head to Holy Family Church in Flushing to join a junior high school rally, which will be held at 10:30 am. on Wednesday, Feb. 28,
Be sure to tune into Currents News for full coverage.
Brooklyn Dad Leaves Behind a Life of Crime to Follow Jesus
by Katie Vasquez
When Johnny Chavez walks around South Williamsburg, he’s reminded of another life.
He grew up here with his parents and two sisters, but his life turned upside down when his parents divorced in his teens.
“I had to find some sense of gratification, some sense of belonging. and my friends were my, my refuge,” said Johnny Chavez, a member of the Neocatechumenal Way.
Johnny got involved with a gang, started selling drugs, and at 17 was arrested for armed robbery. Johnny was going down a bad path, and his godfather, Eduardo Mendoza knew he needed help.
“I saw that Johnny was suffering,” said Mendoza in Spanish.
Eduardo invited him to a mass for the Neocatechumenal Way, a spiritual movement that aims to deepen the faith of its members through ongoing formation.
Eduardo has been a member of the Neocatechumenal Way for three decades, and he says this community sparked something for Johnny.
“He looked at this and said this is the family, this is a family and that is what he wanted to continue,” said Mendoza.
Allowing God to open the door for Johnny to find a new life.
“Some of them were talking about drugs, about alcohol, nobody was judging them,” said Chavez, “So I felt like I belonged there.”
Johnny is now also part of the Neocatechumenal Way, raising his 8 kids in the Catholic faith.
His former pastor, Father Manuel Rodriguez, says Johnny’s growth is a powerful testament.
“Before knowing the church, before experiencing his conversion, you know, thinking of him like a father of eight children, it was something that he would never even dare, you know, to to to to to consider,” said Rodriguez.
Johnny also devotes his time to showing others the right path, through catechesis.
“We help them so that this, calling, which is very fragile, can maintain a sense of spark so they don’t lose a spark,” said Chavez.
it’s a calling some say he is specially equipped for,
“Since he has this background, he sees things that we are not able to see, you know,” said Rodriguez.
“It proves the power of God,” said Mendoza.
Despite that past, Johnny says he has no regrets,
“So if you ask me, what would you want to change of your life? I would say nothing. because if i was to tell you that if my parents could be together, that means that i wouldn’t. I would have missed the encounter of Christ.”
Because he knows it was all part of his journey, and God is with him every step of the way.