With Queens Hard-Hit By Coronavirus, Catholic School Educators Provide Families With Groceries

By Emily Drooby

Cereal, toilet paper and noodles were all part of donations and help going to the homes of families whose children attend Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy is located in Corona, Queens, one of the neighborhoods hit hardest by the coronavirus. Principal Cristina Ann Cruz and teachers are stepping in to help those in their school community that have been affected.

As of when this report was filed, City data showed about 49% of people tested positive in that neighborhood’s zip code, the largest number anywhere in New York. Many of the surrounding Queen’s neighborhoods that the school services also had high numbers.

The school has had at least 90 students and family members who’ve come down with the disease, and at least 70 percent of their families have lost at least part of their incomes.

“In times of crisis, I would hope and pray that someone would step up to the plate,” Cristina told Currents News. “It’s paying it forward, giving without asking for anything in return. It’s knowing your kids, it’s knowing your community.”

Cristina and her staff did step up to the plate, organizing an ongoing food drive. They used teachers who were already communicating with families because of school to figure out what the need was.

“She told us to check to see if anybody has a need, so we went to them privately and they let us know what is going on and that they did have the need, which is hard,” explained teacher Maureen Sheehan. “A lot of people have such pride, but we have to help each other.”

The school accepted monetary donations through a crowdfunding site, and raised about $5,000. They also have been accepting food and money donations from local businesses, non-profits and individual donors.

They’ve been holding their food drive twice a week. Staff risks their own health to come build and deliver the boxes to their students.

“It’s very personal, personal is the only word I can use, it’s very personal to us now it’s helping this community, which is our community,” said Sheehan.

It has become more than just a box of food. It’s hope. It’s a sense of community. It’s love.

“I am feeling so happy, because I see them so happy and, say, Thank you, thank you,'” explained teaching assistant Viviana Jerez said,

Since March, the school has handed out hundreds of boxes.

Catholic Headlines for Monday, 5/18/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Classes are online, but that doesn’t mean virtual classrooms are full in New York City. What Catholic schools are doing to get kids connected and bridge a digital divide.

Pope Francis is leading the way as Italy gets back to business early.

New developments coming out of a U.S. laboratory – coronavirus vaccine trials are showing new promise.

Georgia is one of the first states to reopen. As churches are about to welcome people back to the pews, Atlanta’s new archbishop shares what precautions his diocese is taking.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens delivers almost 20,000 meals in just one day, getting food to those in need.

How Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer Is Preparing for the Reopening of Churches

Currents News Staff

Some good news is coming from the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Pentecost Sunday, otherwise known as the birthday of the Catholic Church, will also mark the day churches there open their doors.

The move by their leader, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, comes almost two weeks after he was installed in a less than orthodox ceremony.

Catholics have been wanting to return to Mass for some time, including priests in Archbishop Hartmayer’s own archdiocese.

While priests have sent a message to the faithful, Archbishop Hartmayer has released guidelines for the churches preparing to swing upon their doors.

He joins Currents News to share what it’s been like taking on this role during the virus crisis, and his hopes for the future for the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

As Italy Reopens, Churches, Restaurants and Businesses Are Facing Challenges

By Melissa Butz

Italy sped up its reopening by two weeks with restaurants, bars, hairdressers and shopping welcoming clients. Masses in the majority-Catholic country have also re-begun.

St. Peter’s Basilica is open once again, following Italy’s measures to resume Mass. Volunteers from the Order of Malta measure pilgrims’ temperatures, before they enter the nearly empty basilica.

Public Mass wasn’t held at the Vatican, but other churches in the country saw many changes.

Sanitation measures meet faithful at the door. Communion is also different. Priests in masks and gloves, are encouraged to walk person-to-person to give out the Eucharist.

Despite these changes, Catholics are overjoyed.

“I’m thrilled to return to Mass and to pray the Rosary,” said churchgoer Riapertura Mattino.

“As soon as I entered the church, I gave thanks to God and cried tears of joy,” added another.

Store and restaurant owners, desperate to resume their work, have a different experience. They say “normal” won’t return until there are tourists.

“In one sense, there’s hope to re-begin, but in another, it’s very sad,” explained store owner Nichola. “It’s terrible to see this street, which is usually alive with tourism, so empty.”

Barbers, on the other hand, are full of work, but are finding the new rules and masks a bit difficult.

“On a couple of clients, I accidentally cut through the elastic and cut off their mask. It’s horrible,” added Andrea, a barber in Rome.

Each store owner said they can only afford one or two employees working at a time. In more than 70 days of lockdown, many said the government has not delivered the promised financial help and they are struggling.

What Italians really want is for tourists to return to their country. Flights within the E.U. are expected to start at the beginning of June, allowing at least Europeans to visit Italy for part of the summer.

Internet Inequality Impacts Millions of NYC Students During Distance Learning, But There Is Help

By Jessica Easthope

According to the Mayor’s office more than one quarter of New York City’s eight million residents are not connected to the internet.

Only a few weeks ago, Aidan and Alyssa Osorio were part of that population.

“It’s been okay, but It’s also been tough,” said 12-year-old Alyssa.

The siblings were using devices that didn’t have the bandwidth to connect them to their classes at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in South Ozone Park, Queens, and were missing school.

“I was worried about how we were going to be able to spend a little extra on iPads if we needed, but I feel like our prayers were answered when we got that email from the teacher,” said Jessica Medina, Aidan and Alyssa’s mom.

Jessica said a weight was lifted when she got that email offering her kids iPads. Aidan and Alyssa’s iPads come from a device grant from DeSales Media Group, NET TV’s parent company. They even come with internet access free of charge.

“We don’t want any child to be left behind because they don’t have a device,” said Gina Krainchich, the Director of Educational Media Services for DeSales Media.

Over the last three years, the device grant has allowed her to give out more than 10,000 iPads and tablets.

“Even if they do have internet and a computer, we’re still finding there is difficulty for everyone to get on and do what they need to do during this crisis,” Gina said.

The latest date from the city Comptroller’s Office shows low income families struggle disproportionately with lack of internet access, a problem that existed since the debut of the world wide web and exacerbated by the pandemic.

504,000 households across New York City have no internet subscription, and more than one third of families making less than $20,000 a year have no access to internet at all.

The latest data from the Mayor’s Office shows the number of people in New York City without a broadband connection at home is equivalent to the population of Houston, Texas.

Currents News reached out to the Department of Education about its plan to close the gap in internet access but the request was not answered, leaving many worried what will happen come September.

But, that worry is behind those in Catholic Schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens. DeSales Media set out on a mission to give every student in need an iPad to learn with, and is close to accomplishing that goal.

“If they don’t have the device in their hand, they’re missing that connection,” Gina said.

With their devices in hand, the Osorio family is keeping that connection with their school community and their faith.

Catholic War Vet Sings ‘God Bless America’ Moments Before Dying of COVID-19

Currents News Staff

Tom McDermott was a pretty amazing guy.

He survived polio, nearly became a priest and worked on nuclear submarines. Recently, the 84-year-old Alzheimer’s patient contracted COVID-19.

His family said their final goodbyes. He was on comfort measures, and there was no expectation he was communicating.

His lungs were overwhelmed by the virus. His family said he never spoke again. Instead, he sang.

Tom’s family was at home watching a Mass when a call came in from the hospital — his last words were carrying a tune: “God Bless America.”

Catholic Headlines for Saturday, 5/16/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

When his brother’s heart suddenly stopped beating, a Boy Scout stepped in with his scout skills to save his sibling’s life.

Patients in New York hospitals must now test negative for COVID-19 before being discharged to nursing homes, but one grieving woman says the governor’s new mandate comes too late.

Tens of thousands are watching livestreamed Masses during the pandemic, but will they return to the pews once church doors are open again?

Researchers are hard at work working to find a COVID-19 vaccine, but the process has given way to an ethical issue for Catholics.

Dying of the coronavirus, an 84-year old man’s last words to his family left them in awe, but filled with hope.

http://netny.tv

Is the Kawasaki-Like Illness Spreading Among Children Related to COVID-19? We Ask the Doctor

Currents News Staff

It’s been weeks, and we’re still learning new things about the coronavirus.

The unknown can cause fear and anxiety. That’s why on Fridays we ask the doctor to get answers to your questions about COVID-19.

There has arisen a huge concern for parents: there’s a mystery illness that’s spreading among kids which is related to COVID-19. What is known about this disease, and what should parents be looking out for?

When it comes to coronavirus antibody testing, there are different types of tests. What is the most accurate test being offered? And when you test positive and you have the antibodies, what exactly does that mean?

Can you still be a carrier and spread the virus? If the virus mutates, do the antibodies work for all the mutations? Can you donate your plasma if you test positive?

To help Currents News answer some of these questions and debates is Dr. Robert Tiballi, an infectious disease expert with the Catholic Medical Association.

Send Currents News your questions about the coronavirus at [email protected]. And tune in on Fridays – the doctor could have an answer.

Catholic Headlines for Friday, 5/15/20 (Currents News full broadcast

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

While other parts of the country and state are opening up under a new normal, New York City remains shut down for at least another month.

One Catholic high school principal is going above and beyond to let her graduating seniors know that they haven’t been forgotten during the pandemic.

In Rome, efforts are underway to make sure hundreds of churches in the city are safe for reopening.

A mystery illness related to COVID-19 is spreading among kids. We ask the doctor what signs PARENTS should be looking out for?

When he saw cars lined up at a mobile food pantry, a retired police officer showed up to offer a big and unexpected gift to those in need.

Rome Is Sanitizing Hundreds of Churches in Preparation for Resuming Public Masses

By Melissa Butz

Public Masses will resume in Italy on Monday May 18, after more than two months on lockdown. Before that though, a complete disinfection of every church in Rome is taking place.

Cleaners, decked out in masks, gloves and hazmat suits, worked alongside soldiers and priests to get priests to get the parishes sterilized.

“We are beginning to sanitize inside the 337 parishes in Rome at the request of the Vicariate of Rome,” said Virginia Raggi, Rome’s mayor.

Inside and outside the churches, disinfectant is sprayed as part of the requirements before Masses can resume.

“We have 80 teams and from them, nine are working in Rome,” explained General Domenico Ciotto. “All are specialized in environmental remediation.”

Every surface is sprayed, with products made from either chlorine, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Once dry, seats are blocked off with signs, to ensure the three-feet distance required for liturgical celebrations.

“Our sanitizing and daily cleaning consists of cleaning pews, the altar, and any areas people touch with their hands,” explained Katia of De Simone Pietro Cleaning Service.

The Vatican is also preparing for reopening day May 18, cleaning inside the basilica and placing yellow tape where pilgrims should stand before entering St. Peter’s.

A top priority is to keep senior citizens safe from the coronavirus. The most at-risk group represents a big part of many Italian congregations.

A 2018 study in the country showed 2.5 million Italians aged 75 and older attended weekly Mass, making them the largest age group going to Church.

Hand sanitizer at the door, distancing, masks, and gloves are required for everyone who enters a church. It is the only way Italy’s government agreed with bishops to open the churches back up.