Julie Chen Among Alumni From St. Francis Prep Stepping in to Help Students Make Tuition During COVID

By Jessica Easthope

From the outside St. Francis Prep looks like an ordinary high school, the people who have walked its halls are anything but.

“I am so proud of our alumni and what they are doing for the current population,” said Brother Leonard Conway, the President of St. Francis Prep.

Brother Conway’s job has changed dramatically over the last few months.

“The idea came about because of a number of phone calls we were receiving from parents saying they were already experiencing financial difficulty because of Coronavirus, several have lost jobs,” said Brother Leonard.

That’s when he made decision that would change lives, it did for Allison, a parent with two children at the school.

“It’s a blessing we never thought would happen,” Allison said.

After Allison’s husband contracted coronavirus in March, she found herself not knowing how she would pay the $10,000 tuition to keep her kids in the school they love so much.

“I reached out to Brother Leonard to say we might need a little time, my husband now is out of work, I have a business of 20 years that’s closed down and here we were in 5 weeks our whole world just fell apart,” Allison said.

Brother Leonard didn’t give her time, he gave her something more: he told her don’t worry about it.

“I said to Brother Leonard this phone call you made to me is life-changing and there’s no way to even thank someone for that,” Allison said.

Borne out of the need of so many Prep families came the TerrierSTAR Fund, a way to collect donations from alumni to keep children in the school, even if their parents have lost jobs or are suffering financially. Some donations came in and then one Prep graduate stepped up in a big way.

“I don’t want any kid not being able to return to Prep in the fall because of a lack of funds, that’s just not going to happen,” said Julie Chen, CBS anchor and host of Big Brother.

Julie made an offer that showed she’s never let go of the Franciscan values she learned at Prep.

“I will match every single donation, there’s no cap on this,” Julie said.

Julie said the inspiration to help started back in her Prep days.

“That Good Samaritan story that I first read about and studied when I was a sophomore at St Francis Prep has come full circle now,” Julie said. “And that will always stay with me.”

Trenton, New Jersey’s Bishop David O’Connell Says The Heroes Act Will Put Catholic Schools at Risk

Currents News Staff

A new aid package passed by the House is getting pushback from Catholic leaders. The “Heroes Act” would cut most benefits to Catholic schools.

Trenton, New Jersey’s Bishop David O’Connell has been speaking out against the bill. He wrote Catholics in his diocese about it, saying it has a lot of good things, but also some problematic areas.

Fifty-two hundred Catholics from his diocese also wrote in, state Catholic conferences mobilized around it, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops even helped write to Congress.

This bill isn’t expected to be passed through the Senate. Bishop O’Connell shares his insight on the bill’s pros and cons, and his thoughts on what an emergency relief fund bill might look like.

March of Dimes Restructures Fundraising Walk During Pandemic to Support Research on Premature Birth

By Emily Drooby

The Quaglione Family went out for a walk, not just for the fresh air or exercise, but for babies.

“I like knowing that people are actually raising money and walking around their house for the kids who are born in the NICU like me,” explained their oldest daughter, Natalie.

Back in 2011, Kerry Quaglione was 32-weeks into her pregnancy when she realized something was wrong.

“I picked her up from work, she wasn’t feeling well,” her husband John explained.

The family eventually made their way to the hospital, where Natalie was born later that night. She was eight weeks early.

“Everybody has a baby and two or three days later, now it’s even faster, they go home, so he said she will probably be there for 6 weeks in the NICU,” explained John.

Natalie was in the hospital for 13 terrifying days, but she made it home safely. Soon after John – who’s the deputy press secretary for the Diocese of Brooklyn, came across a commercial for March of Dimes.

John explained, “And I said to my wife that morning, next year I want to do it.”

The march was started by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the late 1930’s. Funds the nonprofit raised led to the creation of the polio vaccine. They eventually shifted their focus to helping women have healthy pregnancies and babies.

The Quaglione family got involved back in 2013. They have raised thousands of dollars through their yearly walk. Eventually, trouble struck again when their second daughter, Olivia, was also born prematurely.

“At first we saw signs that it could have been around 25, 26, 27 weeks which it would have been very dangerous,” said John.

She was born at 36 weeks, only one week early. John credits medicine funded by March of Dimes research for helping save his baby.

This makes the March of Dimes even more important to the family. Despite the pandemic this year, they wanted to continue to support the cause. So, they took part in a virtual walk, where they raised funds online and walked on their own.

Amy Bishop’s family has also been involved with the nonprofit for years. Her twins were born 10 weeks early.

Amy and her family also participated in the virtual walk this year. She says parents of premature babies need more support than ever these days.

“It’s also just letting these women and their families know that they’re not alone and that people have been through it and there’s people there for you,” said Amy.

Both the Bishop and the Quaglione families proving that even a pandemic can’t stop people from supporting a cause close to their heart.

Catholic Headlines for Tuesday, 5/19/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

A Catholic educator is taking action and taking to the supermarkets during the pandemic, delivering groceries in one of New York’s hardest hit neighborhoods.

Millions of Americans are worried about keeping their homes. Tempers were flaring at a virtual hearing on saving the economy.

Should President Trump be taking hydroxychloroquine? He thinks so. We ask the doctor if it’s a good idea.

One man was given another chance at life. His strong Catholic faith helped him though COVID-19, and now he’s on a mission to repay God’s good graces.

Maryknoll Missionaries have survived some of the most dangerous places in the world, only for some to fall to the virus back in New York.

President Trump Is Taking Hydroxychloroquine. Should We? Let’s Ask the Doctor.

Currents News Staff

Social media blew up after President Trump announced he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against the coronavirus.

The drug has a multitude of uses, but the FDA has warned of serious, negative side effects.

The president is in the age group which would be considered high risk for the virus, but his doctor noted that Trump is in very good health, and wrote a letter saying the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went on the attack, and so did many others.

Dr. Robert Tiballi from the Catholic Medical Association joins Currents News to offer his insight on use of this medication during the pandemic.

Former Professional Baseball Player ‘Put It All in God’s Hands’ to Survive COVID-19

By Jessica Easthope

Dan Venezia is not what you picture when you think of someone who could fall victim to coronavirus.

He’s strong, in shape and a former professional athlete, but none of that mattered when Dan contracted COVID-19 last month and was being wheeled into the emergency room, gasping for air.

“After three days of aches and pains I had a 103 fever, a dry cough, shortness of breath, I had just about every symptom you read and hear about,” said Dan.

Pleading with God, Dan made a promise in his darkest hour.

“I want to be able to help more, I want to be able to give more and shine your light on the darkness,” Dan said.

It would be his mission to spread a message of hope and faith, if he made it out.

“I’m very grateful to be able to share this story in an effort to help others who are not only struggling with the disease,” Dan said,” but to inspire others to be closer to God.”

Dan’s faith has always been strong. Having grown up in a Catholic family in Brooklyn and attended Our Lady of Angels, he credits his mother with building his religious foundation. That foundation carried him to see his dreams come true, playing three seasons with the Minnesota Twins.

Now Dan’s getting back to his roots during recovery. Though he says his background as a personal trainer and former pro-athlete, as well as hydroxychloroquine played a role in overcoming the virus, it was his faith and the power of prayer that pulled him through.

“When you put it all in God’s hands you give him every victory and every defeat,” Dan said.

Now he’s living his promise to God. Dan has done countless TV and radio interviews, promoted his message on Instagram and is even writing a book about his experience with COVID-19 and his faith.

He’s calling people to be proud of their belief in Christ and most importantly, come back to the Church.

“I am out there shining a light that the church is a beacon of hope, especially during a pandemic like this,” Dan said.

He told God he wasn’t done shining his light in the darkness, now his work is just beginning.

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.