Omega Psi Phi Brothers Serve Food Pantry as Their Form of Protest in Wake of George Floyd’s Death

By Jessica Easthope

Since the pandemic began the Holy Innocents Food Pantry in East Flatbush, Brooklyn has fed more than 34,000 people, but the coronavirus posed unexpected challenges for its volunteers, like a shortage of PPE.

“One place actually told me you’re not an essential service so we can’t give it to you,” said Joseph Grannum, the Executive Director of the pantry.

Joseph said that before the pandemic most of his volunteers were over 65. When he couldn’t get his hands on masks for them, he was forced to make a heartbreaking call: he shut down the pantry for the month of April.

“It did pain me, but I always believe God has a plan for everything,” he explained.

Little did he know, God did have a plan that would change the pantry’s entire operation, it started with a call from Clyde Cole.

“When it comes to the fraternity and how we do things, service is a very important part of that,” said Cole, who serves as the Social Action Chairman for the Epsilon Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Clyde said the need was eye-opening. Though new COVID-19 cases and deaths are going down, many who were left unemployed by the virus may never return to work.

“People are in a position where they have to think about where their next meal is coming from because of joblessness,” he added.

The fraternity brothers volunteer at the pantry twice a week. They help sanitize, unload deliveries, pack bags and sort through food. They said as outrage over George Floyd’s death is expressed across the country, for them, this is their protest.

“Getting yourself out of your bed every morning to make sure these people have food to eat, and they see a smiling face and someone that resembles them doing work in their community is really how we protest and show our community we care,” said Omega Psi Phi brother Deion Hicks.

The brothers say they won’t let their frustration over Floyd’s death distract from their work in the community.

“We have elected to respond to this issue, our entire, our fraternal lives as well by doing service,” said Clyde.

Through helping their neighbors, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi believe their calls for justice will always be heard.

Catholic Headlines for Monday, 6/01/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

More protests and more violence from coast to coast. American leaders are struggling to quell the fury and chaos. In the Diocese of Brooklyn, pastors are answering the call to help restore calm.

Desecrated on Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is marked with graffiti. Cops are searching for the vandals.

Massive looting in Chicago has left a Catholic bookshop destroyed. Nuns there feared for their safety. One of the sisters is speaking out to Currents News.

The Sacrament of Confession in the Covid-19 pandemic. How a Brooklyn Church is getting it done.

Daughters of Saint Paul Bookstore Faces Economic Impact of Protests and Pandemic

Currents News Staff

Many small businesses are being targeted by looters, many of which have already taken a hit during the pandemic. The protests and pandemic are taking an economic toll across the country.

One of the Chicago businesses that was hit by looters during city protests on May 30 is Pauline Books and Media, the bookstore run by the Daughters of Saint Paul. Sister Tracey Dugas is one of them, and was there when the shop was broken into. It was scheduled to reopen on June 5.

While she and the other sisters are alright, she joins Currents News to describe what happened on Saturday night, and what they saw.

Brooklyn Diocese Pastors Call for Unity Amidst Protests Following Death of George Floyd

By Jessica Easthope

There weren’t any protesters at Barclays Center the afternoon of June 1, but it has been a central place in Brooklyn for thousands of demonstrators. Unfortunately, some protests have turned violent and stores in the Prospect Heights neighborhood have been looted.

Pastors in the Brooklyn Diocese think they know a way peace and unity can be achieved, they’ve been here before.

“Are you angry?” asked Currents News.

“Very, it’s a horrible feeling,” said Father Alonzo Cox, the Pastor of St Martin de Porres Parish in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

Fr. Cox, who serves as the leader of the Ministry to African American Catholics in the Diocese of Brooklyn, has frustrations of his own.

He doesn’t condone property damage, but believes the destruction that has taken place in cities across the country is a reflection of the deep frustration felt by the black community he serves.

“We can’t make a comparison between the loss of a building and the loss of a life,” said Fr. Cox.

These clashes bring back memories of Civil Rights demonstrations in the 1960s, before Father Cox’s time, but something Monsignor David Cassato remembers well.

“I remember those days very clearly,” Msgr. Cassato explained. “This brings back those memories of the 60s in my mind, and I can say we need to work to create peace among all people,” the Deputy Chief Chaplain for the NYPD added.

He says right now, police across the city are serving and protecting while fearing for their lives.

“I don’t think there’s any problem with a peaceful protest, my issue is with people that incite violence,” said Msgr. Cassato.

Both Msgr. Cassato and Fr. Cox are on a mission themselves. They’ve been reaching out to the parishioners and officers they serve with a message of peace and encouragement.

Both pastors say the Church can and historically has played a role in deescalating social conflicts.

“I think of Dr. King,” said Fr. Cox. “When can we all live in harmony and peace?”

Nashville Residents Join in Rebuilding, Prayer After Vandals Damage City During Protests

Currents News Staff

Nashville, Tennessee, residents are pitching in to clean up after vandals left their mark.

Volunteers aren’t only showing love for their city, but also for their police officers.

With nail polish remover and rubber gloves, Andrea Richardson hit the streets cleaning up graffiti and handing out water, wanting to send a message that the damage isn’t what she stands for.

“Simply just wanted to show that that’s not okay,” she explained. “We don’t support that. You can’t treat Nashville this way.”

She wasn’t alone. Gianna Grondona, who has lived in the city for about two years, said she loves Nashville, too.

“I love living here and the last thing I want is to see graffiti on places. That I think are some of my favorites.” she said.

She showed that love by also stopping to pray over police officers she met.

Some were almost moved to tears, and others gave handshakes and hugs.

“There’s transformation coming to our city and that’s going to start with us coming together as a family and as a unit,” said Andrea, “and that’s what we’re about. That’s what the protest is about.”

Andrea said May 30’s peaceful protest was a great show of solidarity, but wants there to be a lasting message.

“I want people to know that people who tried to hijack the protest from yesterday, you don’t get a chance to do that because this, our city, is going to defend itself,” she said, “and say, ‘This is our home, this is our city, this is our place.’

Brooklyn and Queens Catholic Youth Day Goes Virtual

By Jessica Easthope

Every year, Brooklyn and Queens Catholic Youth Day is when young people from across the Diocese celebrate their faith together.

This year because of the coronavirus, the event went virtual and young women and men embraced their new sense of community online.

“I want to welcome y’all to our very first virtual Brooklyn Queens Catholic Youth Day,” said Brandon Morel, who enthusiastically opened the event as the emcee.

Youth Day was streamed live Saturday, May 30 on the diocese’s evangelization YouTube channel, and countless parishes tuned in. Hundreds of participants shared their thoughts in the comments section, a common way young people communicate with each other during the pandemic.

“Although things are a little different this year, our faith, our enthusiasm, our joy and our love for Jesus remains,” said Father James Kuroly.

The virtual Youth Day had all the staples of celebrations in years past. There was music, prayer, a presentation of cultural foods from around the Diocese and the latest social media trend, TikTok.

Before the virus shook the diocese, the keynote speaker at this year’s Youth Day was supposed to be Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay. Fr. Jorge passed away of COVID-19 in March.

“There was a particular priest who we want to dedicate this whole thing to. Brooklyn Queens Catholic Youth Day was scheduled to be a live event, and he opened his doors to us and we know what’s been going on,” said Brandon

Father Henry Torres, the Parochial Vicar of St. Sebastian’s Parish in Woodside, Queens gave the keynote address instead. He told the young men and women that God entered their hearts at baptism, and called that a privilege they should cherish throughout their lives.

“That is the greatest gift you and I have ever received was our baptism, it is through that gift that I am honored and blessed to call God father,” said Fr. Henry.

From the comments on the live stream, the very first virtual Youth Day was a success.

George Floyd Protests Spread Nationwide

Currents News Staff

An afternoon of protests gave way to another night on Saturday.

Officials in cities across the country urged people to stop the violence that played out friday night.

That plea, especially important in the Twin Cities, where Minnesota’s governor says protests have lost their initial focus.

Coast-to-coast protests in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, took a quick turn from peaceful to not peaceful.

Demonstrators Saturday blocked traffic in Austin, Texas.

Cleveland police say they saw a mix of lawful and disorderly crowds.

And protesters came as close to the White House as Secret Service would allow. While in Florida, President Trump and Vice President Pence watched the first launch of astronauts from U.S. soil in nine years.

“As the president has made clear, we will honor the memory of George Floyd. Justice will be served,” said Pence.

At the protests’ core, the death of 46-year old George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police Monday.

One officer has been arrested and charged. Charges against the other three officers involved are likely to come.

Our Lady of Angels Parish Offers Socially Distant Parking Lot Confessions

By Emily Drooby

A long-time parishioner of Our Lady of Angels parish in Bay Ridge, Karen O’Neill was emotional as she prepared to confess her sins on May 30.

“Such a blessing that they do this for us,” she told Currents News.

The Brooklyn church has been offering parking lot confessionals during lockdown.

When asked why this was so important to parishioners, Karen explained, “I think you don’t realize how much you depend upon it until it’s gone and you don’t have it. So, we are just really blessed that this has resumed, that they’ve given this for us. It’s a blessing, it really is.”

The clergy is doing all they can to keep everybody safe, wearing masks and staying six feet apart.

Their pastor, Monsignor Kevin Noone, says his church has always had a large amount of faithful who frequently take part in the sacrament of confession.

“It’s been a sacrament that’s appreciated in this Parish,” he said. “We sin from time to time, and in this sacrament, we can find the peace of soul and peace of heart and mind to know that when Christ does forgive through the ministry of the priest, that person is truly forgiven.”

When churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn shut down for safety during the pandemic, he and his fellow priests knew they needed to come up with a plan B. So, back in March, they converted the parking lot into two confessional booths.

People came from all over New York City to confess their sins. They even had to stop offering it for a few weeks to let the crowds die back down, so that everyone could remain socially distant and safe.

The reopening of Diocese of Brooklyn churches does permit confessions and private prayer in the initial phase. Still, Our Lady of Angels is going to continue the sacrament outdoors for now. They’re offering it on Saturdays between 11am and noon and between 3:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

Catholic Headlines for Saturday, 5/30/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Many of the shuttered churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn are now open inviting all to come for private prayer.

The story of priests and their communities memorializing loved ones–in an effort to take that first step forward.

And could the silver lining to this pandemic be a baby boom? What pro-life advocates are doing to get ready for the blessing.

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Catholic Headlines for Friday, 5/29/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

The ex-Minneapolis cop seen with his knee pinning George Floyd to the ground is under arrest, charged with murder.

Floyd’s death sparked riots in Minneapolis where troops are on patrol. In New York City, cops clashed with demonstrators, leading to dozens of arrests.

A new President Trump tweet about looting and shooting is getting flagged by the social media giant as a violation.

A date is being targeted for the reopening of New York City.

A diner in Queens is offering a family night out – in it’s parking lot. Social distancing rules are being kept and workers are back on the job.

The doctor is in. Could all this sanitizing actually weaken your immune system. He has the answer.