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Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 2/12/2025

One in every 36 children has been diagnosed with autism, according to the CDC. Despite advances in autism awareness, stigma and challenges remain, even within the Church. A Catholic family shares how faith helps them navigate life with non-speaking autism.

Catholics worldwide are eagerly joining the 2025 Jubilee Year, with over a million already participating.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens honors Black History Month with a hands-on tribal mask workshop.

Larry Miles, a 91-year-old veteran, has dedicated over 30 years to teaching Black history through his bookstore and museum, enriching his community with cultural knowledge and artifacts.

Catholic Charities Celebrates Black History Month With Art Lesson

By Currents News

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is celebrating Black History Month by teaching adults how to create their own African tribal mask.

The Narrows Older Adult Center in Brooklyn made the coverings out of plastic bottles while adding their own artistic spin with vibrant colors and different faces.

Tribal masks are typically worn across west, central and southern Africa for harvest celebrations, funerals, rites of passage, and weddings.

TONIGHT AT 7: Catholics With Non-Speaking Autism Use Letterboard Tech to Share Faith Experience

By Currents News

Charles and Anthony Esposito learn and process information just like everyone else, but non-speaking autism has prevented them from sharing their thoughts with the world – until now. Jessica Easthope is reporting on how Spelling to Communicate technology has allowed the two men to use a letterboard as their voice and give their opinions on autism, faith, and how the two collide.

Brooklyn Catholic Academy Slated to Close at End Of Year

By Katie Vasquez

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy has been serving Sunset Park, Brooklyn, since 1903.

The school has educated the youth of the Diocese of Brooklyn for 122 years and celebrated thousands of graduates. But now the class of 2025 will be its very last, creating a harsh reality for current students like Tiffany and Edison Jing.

” It’s sad,” Tiffany told Currents News, “because I like this school.”

“Just sad,” echoed her brother, Edison. 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help has a long history in Sunset Park, first opening its doors in 1903 as St. Alphonsus Catholic Academy. Now, the surrounding community is gearing up to say goodbye.

“It’s a shocker because, you know, it’s been here for a really long time,” Sunset Park resident David Kelly said in response to the announcement of the school’s closure. “My whole life I’ve been seeing it around.”

It’s also been a few couple of days for students and staff.   

“I know there was a great deal of tears. I’m sure that the tears continued as the children were home with their families,” Kristen Lavelle, the school’s principal, explained. ” I know that the staff and other people involved have been very upset. But I think this is something that has brought us together and made us even stronger and sort of further proves the resiliency of this community.”

Enrollment at the school declined 36% over the last five years. Only 85 students were registered for the upcoming school year.

 “I think that the staff has done a really good job of preparing lessons and making sure that they were able to facilitate good conversations with the students,” noted Lavelle. 

Activities and events will continue through the end of the school year, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy’s doors will close permanently at the end of August. Until then, those involved with and in the school will lean on each other to get through. 

“I know in the face of such sadness they’ll continue to come together and and help each other through this time,” said Lavelle. 

The diocesan schools office is hoping to ease the transition for students by transferring them to a local Catholic school.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 2/11/2025

A funeral was held in Brooklyn for Jonathan Campos, one of the pilots of the American Airlines jet involved in the mid-air collision that occurred in Washington, D.C. last month.

After more than 120 years of providing Catholic education in Sunset Park, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy will be closing at the end of this school year.

Pope Francis has written a letter to U.S. bishops on immigration, expressing support for their efforts to uphold the dignity of every human person.

American Airlines Pilot Laid to Rest in Brooklyn

By Katie Vasquez

Family and friends feel Jonathan Jay Campos was taken too soon. The pilot from Brooklyn died in a mid-air collision over the Potomac River in late January. 

At his funeral mass at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights his loved ones prayed for his soul and grieved the young life lost.  

Those who knew and loved Captain Jonathan Jay Campos looked on as his casket was brought into the church on Feb. 11. 

It was a fond farewell for a man who family, friends, and Deacon Edwin Rivera called a hero. 

“God will see the good nature in him and reward him for it,” said Deacon Rivera, from St. Mary Star of the Sea parish in Brooklyn, told Currents News.

American Airlines flight 5342 plunged into the Potomac river on January 29 with 60 passengers and four crew members, including Jonathan. It was traveling from Wichita, Kansas to Washington D.C. 

The plane and a military helicopter collided in mid air as the flight was approaching the runway. Everyone on board died.

His girlfriend of 10 years, Ashley Childress, spoke at his funeral.

“I will hold firmly to the memories of what it’s like to have and love that person,” she told those present in the church. 

The airline says the Brooklyn-born pilot left a lasting impression on everyone. 

“We are better for the experiences he gave us and for the way he made us feel,” said the president and CEO of PSA Airlines, Dion Flannery. 

The 34-year-old captain enjoyed traveling and had a passion for aviation.

His family says he made others smile with his mischievous grin and goofy sense of humor. 

Now, those close to him have to learn how to live without him.

“I always knew I would love you forever,” said Childress. “I’m not sure how to face the days ahead without my soul mate.”

Jonathan was buried at St John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, alongside his late father who was a New York City police officer.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 2/10/2025

A Catholic high school student is using his science smarts to work towards a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Members of the NYPD’s Holy Name Society traveled to the Vatican to celebrate the Jubilee with Pope Francis.

Young Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans came together for an inter-religious meeting to encourage dialogue and understanding.

In honor of Black History Month come with us to take a tour of Seneca Village, an African American community that was once located in what is now New York City’s Central Park.

Central Park Offers Limited Opportunity to Learn About Seneca Village, Abolitionist History in NYC

By Currents News

During Black History Month we are showing you an unknown part of American and New York history that is hidden inside the City of New York’s most iconic landmarks. 

The Central Park Conservatory is hosting a tour teaching visitors about Seneca Village, which existed before the landmark from 1825 to 1857. It was home to the largest community of free African American property owners in pre-civil war New York. 

The tour highlights the lives of its residents and the contributions they made to the abolition movement. However, the exhibit is only temporary for the moment, at the park until October of 2025. 

To get your tickets, go to centralparknyc.org “Seneca Village tour.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 2/7/2025

A new study shows that Mass attendance at Catholic churches around the U.S. is back to pre-pandemic levels.

Hundreds gathered for the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn’s annual dinner to raise money for a scholarship program benefitting high schoolers in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Bishop James Johnston of Kansas City has a lot riding on this weekend’s Super Bowl: he’s placed a friendly bet against Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia.