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Safe Haven Baby Box Saves Newborn in Lubbock, Texas

By Jenna MacDermant

Richard Stewart, Lubbock Fire Rescue Chief, said, “I don’t know your situation or pain, but I do know in your darkest moment you had the courage and love for your baby to give them an opportunity at life.”

Stewart says the mother’s courage brought her baby somewhere safe, protected, and well cared for. Within one minute of being placed in the box, the child was in the arms of a firefighter.

Councilwoman Christy Martinez Garcia said first responders “immediately got in control and put all the lessons that they’ve learned about this into action.” She added, “One of the things that was also profound for me was when they picked up the baby. At first it cried, and it went back to sleep. Isn’t that awesome? That’s how safe that little one felt, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Under Texas’ Safe Haven laws, a parent in crisis can safely surrender an unharmed infant 60 days or younger to an employee at any hospital, fire station, or EMS station. With Safe Haven Baby Boxes, parents can now do so with complete anonymity.

As a former surrendered baby herself, Safe Haven Baby Box CEO Monica Kelsey understands the weight of this mother’s decision. “This baby wasn’t abandoned,” Kelsey said. “This baby was lovingly, legally, anonymously, and safely surrendered into a baby box by a parent that wanted something more for them.”

The baby was taken to the hospital for treatment and is now under the care of Child Protective Services. Kelsey says most are in their forever home within 30 days and formally adopted within six months.

Councilwoman Dr. Jennifer Wilson says access to one of these boxes can mean the difference between life and death. It is something Lubbock has been working toward since approving the first in early 2024 and installing it just months later.

“I wanna commend you guys, everybody — this is an amazing thing for our city,” one speaker said at the installation. Another noted that Lubbock became “the second city in the state of Texas to provide this much needed service.”

Now, more boxes are being opened across Texas, helping mothers in need. Kelsey said, “Texas is the number one state in America right now for infant abandonment, and we have to change that. And so, the more boxes that are being put in, the more we can work in communities educating our first responders, educating the schools that this is now available anonymously.”

Outrage Grows in Minneapolis After Fatal ICE Shooting

By Christine Persichette

“It’s so sad, it’s like you have to do something, you can’t just sit back on the sidelines.”

Grief and outrage are spreading after an ICE agent fatally shot a 37-year-old woman in her vehicle in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said, “There is every reason to believe that Renee Nicole Goode lost her life trying to help the most vulnerable neighbors in her community.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agent and claimed the woman tried to run him over, saying the shooting was done in self-defense.

“When they demanded and commanded her to get out of her vehicle several times, she did not,” Noem said. “This is an experienced officer who followed his training, and we will continue to let the investigation unfold.”

But Minnesota Governor Tim Walz referred to the events as a “brazen use of force.”

“We have learned that the Trump administration has now denied the state that ability to participate in the investigation,” Walz said. “Minnesota must be part of this investigation.”

Walz called on federal authorities to work with state and local officials to de-escalate tensions in the community and urged protesters to remain peaceful.

The Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis, Bernard Hebda, also called for peace, saying in a statement:

“We continue to be at a time in this country when we need to lower the temperature of rhetoric, stop fear-filled speculation and start seeing all people as created in the image and likeness of God. That is as true for our immigrant sisters and brothers as it is for our elected officials and those who are responsible for enforcing our laws.”

Pope Leo XIV Appoints NYC Bishop John Bonnici as New Leader of Rochester Diocese in New York State

By Currents News

Pope Leo XIV has named Auxiliary Bishop John Bonnici of the Archdiocese of New York as the next bishop of the Diocese of Rochester.

A New York City native, Bishop Bonnici attended Cathedral Prep High School and Seminary in Manhattan before earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy from St. John’s University.

Ordained in 1991, he served in multiple parishes for over 30 years and taught as an adjunct professor of theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie.

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of New York in 2022.

Following the announcement, Dennis Poust, Executive Director of the New York State Catholic Conference, praised the selection: “The Holy Father has made an excellent selection. Bishop Bonnici is a wonderful priest and bishop, with a pastor’s heart and a sharp intellect. The Catholic faithful of Rochester will love their new shepherd, I am certain.”

NYPD Jazz Band Brings Epiphany Joy to St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Queens

By Currents News

St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst welcomed a special guest performance from the NYPD Jazz Band.

On Jan. 6 the musicians delighted Queens students with a lively show, getting everyone singing along to classics like “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Following the concert, the school community celebrated Mass in honor of the Feast of the Epiphany.

To mark the occasion, the NYPD provided gifts for the students, delightfully distributed by three young scholars dressed as the Three Wise Men.

The event combined music, faith, and festive spirit for a memorable day at the academy.

Venezuelans in the Diocese of Brooklyn Share Hope for Country’s Future Following Maduro’s Arrest

By Jessica Easthope

Sharing a meal at a restaurant with his family isn’t lost on Frank Eliett. He remembers very vividly the days when this simple pleasure was out of reach.

“The salary is like three dollars a month, it’s nothing,” Elliet said. “That’s that’s why I like this country, if you work hard, you can have anything.”

11 years ago Frank, now a parishioner at St. Matthias in Ridgewood, Queens decided he was no longer willing to live under Venezuela’s political violence and extreme poverty. He came to the United States with temporary protected status — and hasn’t been back since.

“People start going to the streets to protest, and they start killing people,” he said.

But for the first time in years, Frank, who worked in travel for both American Airlines and Chevron, sees a glimmer of hope for his country following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

“We have been waiting for this for about 26 years,” Frank said.

Maduro and his wife were taken from their home by U.S. forces during a nighttime raid and were arraigned in New York federal court on narco-terrorism and conspiracy charges.

Unlike Frank, 17-year-old Mariamne Viscuna doesn’t remember the days before Maduro’s control, which was a continuation of former President Hugo Chavez’s socialist agenda.

“I have family there, and. And I have friends,” Viscuna said. “My mom tells me a lot about how Venezuela used to be. And I didn’t get to know that Venezuela.”

Far removed from the protests in Caracas on Margarita Island, Mariamne wasn’t untouched by oppression.

“The government, it wasn’t easy to live there. It was pretty but wasn’t easy.” Mariamne said.

Mariamne arrived in the United States two years ago under the Venezuela immigration parole program which was terminated in June of last year. Maduro’s volatile political regime and economic collapse has forced 8 million Venezuelans to leave their home country — one of the largest displacement crises in history. Hundreds of thousands have settled in New York City. Mariamne says the future is uncertain for her family here and at home in Venezuela, but she hopes change is on the horizon.

Mariamne hopes an opportunity to get to know Venezuela again will come.

“I really hope so, because I think we all deserve to to know,” she said. “The people that they didn’t get to know back then because we weren’t born – we deserve to know that Venezuela.”

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 1/7/26

As Catholic and secular leaders are working towards peace in the country of Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelans living in New York City are concerned that there is no clear path forward back home.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered the end of solitary confinement in city jails. Some faith leaders believe it’s a step toward preserving human dignity, but critics warn it could fuel more violence in facilities.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed a new shepherd of Rochester, New York – and he’s a New York City native.

New York City Mayor Moves to End Solitary Confinement in Jails

By Katie Vasquez

ASTORIA — Solitary confinement, a long-controversial practice used for years in New York City correctional facilities such as Rikers Island, is set to be eliminated under a new executive order signed this week by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Correction officials have historically argued that solitary confinement helped separate violent offenders from the general jail population. However, critics — including Catholic leaders and the late Pope Francis — have long condemned the practice as inhumane and harmful to human dignity.

On Tuesday, January 6, Mayor Mamdani signed an executive order directing the city’s Department of Correction to fully implement a 2024 city law that effectively bans the use of solitary confinement in New York City jails.

The law had previously faced resistance from former Mayor Eric Adams, who warned that limiting solitary confinement could lead to increased violence inside Rikers Island. Despite those concerns, Mamdani says the city must now comply with its legal and moral obligations.

In a statement, Mayor Mamdani said the previous administration’s handling of jail conditions contributed to ongoing problems at Rikers.

“I was elected because of my values, and my promise to always be honest with New Yorkers — and now is a moment for blunt truths,” Mamdani said. “The previous Administration’s refusal to meet their legal obligations on Rikers has left us with troubling conditions that will take time to resolve.”

Catholic leaders have long opposed solitary confinement, citing its psychological toll on inmates. Pope Francis was especially outspoken on the issue during his papacy.

In 2014, the pontiff addressed delegates of the International Association of Penal Law, describing solitary confinement as a form of torture that violates human dignity. He also referenced studies showing that prolonged isolation can cause severe psychological harm and urged governments worldwide to end the practice.

Advocates say the mayor’s action reflects those moral concerns while aligning the city with modern correctional standards.

Under the executive order, Mayor Mamdani has instructed correction officials to submit a compliance plan within 45 days, by February 19, outlining how the city will meet Board of Correction mandates regulating jail conditions without the use of solitary confinement.

Currents News Special: ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ — the 2025 Jubilee 

Currents News is taking a look back at the 2025 Jubilee year. We’re celebrating how Catholics from Brooklyn, Queens, and around the world became pilgrims of hope, spreading faith and fellowship wherever they went.

This special newscast includes:

  • The origins of the Jubilee and what it meant for Pope Francis to open St. Peter’s Holy Door in December of 2024.
  • How Catholics marked the beginning of the Holy Year by taking to the streets of Brooklyn and proudly proclaiming their faith.
  • What it was like for pilgrims from the Diocese of Brooklyn to see Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, at the Vatican.