Transition House Helps Brooklyn Diocese Priests Conquer Sobriety

By Jessica Easthope

Joseph Calise is a Catholic priest. He’s also a recovering alcoholic.

“There were some really wonderful, rich experiences,” Msgr. Calise said as he looked at pictures from his younger days, “but they could have been so much richer and I could have brought so much more to them.”

The monsignor hasn’t had a drink in 30 years but he still remembers the pain, the wasted days and the broken promises.

“I set certain standards,” he said. “I will never drink before a certain time of the day and when I did, I would just change the time of the day. I’ll never drive if I’m under the influence and thank God I never hurt anyone but I did drive under the influence.”

He’s not the only one. According to the St. John Vianney Center, 10 percent of all clergy suffer from addiction. A statistic Msgr. Calise has now devoted his life to changing.

“There was a lot of shame, a lot of guilt,” he said. “I really needed to get into an atmosphere where I could overcome that and begin to live some of my own self-respect as a priest and a priest of this specific diocese. That’s what this house is about.”

He’s now helping coordinate Transition House, a unique model designed for something rarely talked about.

“This house provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for any priest in need for time for healing and time for getting ready for whatever God is leading them to,” said diocesan Vicar for Clergy, Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto.

Transition House is run out of St. Stanislaus Kostka’s rectory and serves as a built-in halfway house for clergy in the Brooklyn Diocese who have completed inpatient treatment. But it’s not just for priests who suffer with addiction.

“It really is a house of transition from one period of their life to another period of their life,” Bishop Chappetto said. “Priests can come here for other reasons as well, not only after being released from treatment but for a time of respite, a time of reflection and to prepare for a new assignment.”

Since the program began three years ago, 14 priests have come through Transition House and half of them have been treated for some type of addiction. Msgr. Calise and Bishop Chappetto are not alone in this undertaking. They partner with Msgr. Edward Doran, who is a clinical psychologist and licensed counselor.

“My responsibility in the Transition House is to be available to facilitate a climate of healing and building and a sense of community,” said Msgr. Doran.

A full rectory can prove to be a very supportive community. Yet, with the number of locations slowing down, more and more priests returning from treatment are alone, which makes it harder to conquer sobriety. Msgr. Doran says part of the irony of being a priest is that the busier you are, the easier it is to be swallowed into a life of loneliness.

“The busy-ness that’s part of priesthood is both a blessing and a curse,” he said. “The busy-ness of priesthood is something that will always be there but the challenge is to go up the mountain and spend some time with the Lord and explore what’s going on in our lives.”

The hope is the community Transition House offers will replace addiction in their lives, just like it did for Msgr. Calise.

“They need that chance to find that time and place to feel compassion,” he said, “but to establish the self-respect that says I deserve the compassion I received.”

The goal of the program is simple: to let priests suffering in the shadows know that there is help and more importantly there is a future.

If any priest in the Brooklyn Diocese is interested in receiving treatment or struggling in anyway, they can contact Transition House at 718-326-2185. All calls are confidential.

As Italy Faces “Second Wave” of COVID-19, Evidence Shows A Different Impact

Currents News Staff

Italy recorded a record number of positive COVID-19 tests for the fifth day running on Sunday.

But in a marked contrast to the ‘first wave’, the number of patients in intensive care remains relatively low.

Italy is well into the second wave of coronavirus, though it’s not immediately apparent in Naples, the capital of the Campania region – which has one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Infectious disease specialist Alessandro Perrella says it’s not just about the numbers.

“We have an increasing number of positive people, positive, not an increasing number of patients. It’s very different,” says Perrella.

What’s different is the testing. Earlier this year, only those showing COVID-like symptoms were tested. Now everyone can do it.

The majority of people who prove positive are asymptomatic, isolating until recovery.

The number people in intensive care now approximately a fifth of what it was before.

Day after day Italy is reporting record increases in the number of new coronavirus cases. But Italy is also testing like never before.

At a hospital in Naples every day, seven days a week, around a thousand tests are conducted – quickly, and for free.

Five times as many tests are being conducted now than at the height of first wave in march.

A once unwieldy process, now routine. There’s no air of panic, but there is concern.

The number of new cases is erupting in Italy and the peak of this wave is far off. Better prepared this time, Italy is still bracing for a long, hard winter.

Currents News full broadcast for Fri, 10/16/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this special edition of Currents News:

Will hot spot restrictions on attending Mass be lifted this Sunday? A judge is expected to rule on the lawsuit brought by the Brooklyn diocese.

And the issues important to Catholics – a deep dive into the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.

Mother Cabrini’s statue is unveiled after a yearlong effort led by Bishop DiMarzio.

What Do Catholics Need to Consider When It Comes to the Pro-Life Vote?

Currents News Staff

How do we vote in good conscience? That’s the question many Catholics are asking themselves in the run up to this year’s election.

But just as many people are asking whether the same can be said for President Trump whose stance on issues like the death penalty and immigration has raised concerns.

Christopher Vogt from the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at St. John’s University says this is a moment “where we are called to discern carefully in conscience about what we should do.”

That dilemma has Catholics split down the middle politically. According to Pew Research Center, 48 percent of registered Catholics identify as Republicans, while 47 percent of registered Catholics identify themselves as Democrats. Their views are divided by race and ethnicity.

So what’s a conflicted Catholic voter to do? Experts like Chris think voting your conscience is key. Another, is examining what’s at the core of Catholic social teaching.

“Catholic social teaching comes from both scripture and from the use of reason,” Chris says. “It’s a set of principles and values and proposals really about how the world should be and are meant to engage all people of good will.”

Chris says Catholics also need to dig deep on the reasons why they might vote for a particular candidate because “intention” is essential to understanding the morality of an action. He explains it this way:

“If I’m voting for Joe Biden because he supports abortion rights, that would be wrong from a Catholic point of view. However, if my intention is to protect other very important moral goods that Vice President Biden supports, for example, around migration or around addressing race issues and things like that and I vote for him despite the fact that he is a very strong advocate for abortion rights, that’s a very different thing. Intention matters.”

A voter’s moral obligations can make the choice extremely difficult and although American bishops avoid telling Catholics how to vote, they do try to provide guidance.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote in their document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship that “it is essential for Catholics to be guided by a well-formed conscience that recognizes that all issues do not carry the same moral weight and that the moral obligation to oppose policies promoting intrinsically evil acts has a special claim on our consciences and our actions.”

Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio also weighed in describing conscience in his Tablet Newspaper column as “the prudential judgements we make after we have assessed moral issues, trying to understand, especially in social context, regardless of political parties, what is right and what is wrong.”

Chris says Catholics face a dilemma.

“The dilemma for Catholics who really support all of the church’s social teachings and also support the church’s position on life issues is that we don’t really have a home in American political life,” he says.

It’s a reality that makes clear some of the tough choices ahead for conscientious Catholic voters come election day.

How ‘Spiritual’ First Aid Workshops Help Those Suffering From Pandemic Trauma

Currents News Staff

During this pandemic, it seems everyone has been touched by some sort of trauma in one way or another. Take into consideration the loss of jobs, dealing with sickness and death, to lockdowns, and the closure of schools and churches.

Joining Currents News is Elizabeth Guevara de Gonzalez, the Director of the Office of Adult Faith Formation in the New York Archdiocese. She says she’s trying to help others through trauma workshops that are available online.

Frank Seddio

Frank Seddio, chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, speaks with Msgr. Jamie about his life as a former police officer and his current role as an attorney – all while cooking a delicious eggplant parmigiana!

Currents News full broadcast for Thurs, 10/15/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Will all parishioners in the Brooklyn Diocese be allowed to go to church without the latest COVID restrictions? We’re awaiting a court ruling.

After finally getting a taste of normal with indoor dining, New York City restaurants in the red zone are empty again.

The final day of the Amy Coney Barrett hearings – senators hear stories about her qualifications and dedication.

Looking at People of Praise – Charismatic Christian Group With Ties to SCOTUS Nom Amy Coney Barrett

By Emily Drooby

Since she was announced as Trump’s SCOTUS pick, Amy Coney Barrett’s Catholic faith has been thrust into the spotlight, especially her connection to the People of Praise, a tight-knit Christian community.

Critics say the community puts men before women, rejects gay marriage and abortion, and called women “handmaids,” a practice stopped after the dystopian show and book “The Handmaids Tale” became popular.

Barrett’s long-time friend rejected these claims, calling People of Praise lovely people.

Founded in 1971 in South Bend, Indiana, they’ve grown to 1,700 members in 22 cities. A covenant community that grew from the charismatic movement

“They’re about five percent of the charismatic renewal, but people in covenants are extremely dedicated and extremely dedicated and extremely active,” explained Monsignor Joseph Malagreca.

He got involved with the Charismatic movement back in 1971. He’s close with many members of the People of Praise, who don’t have a branch in New York City.

Monsignor Malagreca explained while there are a lot of preconceived notions about the group, he had found many of them to be untrue.

“Those in covenant communities, they are certainly very educated people and they’re very dedicated to their church and they’re not insular, they’re very open,” he said.

Monsignor Malagreca is also the coordinator of the Hispanic and Haitian charismatic renewal in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and is in the process of opening a retreat center for the renewal in Brooklyn.

There’s over 150 million Charismatic Catholics world-wide. About 10,000 are in Brooklyn and Queens.

Leybi Lima and Carmalito Canillas are two of them. They both say being a part of this movement has greatly deepened their Catholic faith.

“We know the Father and the son but we don’t know the power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit has a power of healing,” said Leybi.

“So, the Holy Spirit also lives within us but the idea is to release it, how do you release it? By renewing again your relationship with Jesus by simply saying, ‘Lord, I want you to be my Lord and savior,'” added Carmalito.

One of the parts of the charismatic renewal that gets the most attention are the charismatic gifts.

“At a charismatic prayer meeting, you’ll hear people praying in tongues, and speaking in tongues,” explained Monsignor Malagreca. “You’ll hear moments where people are speaking as if they were God and giving messages.”

“Sometimes we are misunderstood,” Leybi said.

Father John Gribowich of the Diocese of Brooklyn has had ties to the group himself. He explains that the gifts show a person is open to being a conduit of God’s healing, grace and presence.

“Often God wants us to pray in a very pure way without us getting in the way, and when we pray in tongues, the person who is praying in tongues might not know what is being said, but God knows what is being said,” he explained. “And since it’s coming from the person, it’s a perfect act of praise.”

The renewal calls for true Christianity, prayer, holiness of life, witness to God and community, which is why groups like the People of Praise were formed.

Community doesn’t mean people within the renewal are trying to isolate themselves — instead they’re really trying to make this experience normative for all Catholics.

Owner of Buckley’s Restaurant in Brooklyn ‘Red Zone’ Feels Blacklisted by NYC COVID-19 Map

By Jessica Easthope

Over the last seven months, Jimmy Buckley’s family business Buckley’s in Marine Park, Brooklyn has gone from booming to barely making it.

“I don’t know how much longer we can keep it going, we’re essentially kicking the can down the road,” Jimmy said.

He’s not alone. The restaurants in the more than a dozen “red-zone” zip codes in Brooklyn and Queens are now back to take-out only, after just recently getting a taste of normal indoor dining. At Buckley’s it only lasted a week.

“We have done everything the governor and mayor have asked of us, following the protocols they put in place and it seems like they keep moving the goal post,” Jimmy said.

Business at Buckley’s is down 75 percent, the established family-owned restaurant that’s been around since 1972 is now losing more than $600 a day.

“It’s completely out of our control, we control everything we can keeping our customers and staff safe,” he told Currents News. “And still, in my opinion, we’re punished for other people who are not following protocols.”

Like other business owners, Jimmy’s searching for answers. He says it’s a reflection of the conflicting information he’s being given. According to the city and state’s plan, the latest closures are only to last two weeks, but Jimmy says he knows better than to hang on the words of the mayor and governor. Just this week they have been reporting vastly different numbers about the city’s infection rate.

“The whole process has been confusing from the get-go,” Jimmy explained. “Between the governor and the mayor, you have to sift through the back and forth to find out what’s accurate.”

For Jimmy and his family, a big part of practicing their Catholic faith is giving back. Right now, not having the means to be as charitable as they want to be has been hard on them.

“We were brought up by my mom and dad to give back and right now it’s difficult to do that, which is hard because it goes against everything we were brought up to do because we’re in such dire need of every penny that comes in right now,” Jimmy said.

Though cases in Brooklyn and Queens continue to level off, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will announce whether or not closures will remain in effect on Sunday, October 18.

Springfield Diocese’s Bishop-Elect Shares Five Things You Need to Know About Guardian Angels

Currents News Staff

Currents News is sharing some words of wisdom from the Church’s newest bishop. The Holy Father has named Father William Byrne, a priest from the Archdiocese of Washington, as the head of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts.

That last name — Byrne — may sound familiar to you, since his older sister, Sister Deirdre Byrne, spoke at this year’s Republican National Convention.

But Father Bill is a bit of an internet sensation himself, getting thousands of views on YouTube with his “Five Things” series, which highlights small ways people can grow closer to God.

Bishop-elect Byrne shares five things you need to know about guardian angels.