How a Hospital Harpist and Volunteer Are Giving Each Other Hope During the Pandemic

Currents News Staff

Even if we’re still healthy and able bodied, we’ve all lost something: a routine, a sense of purpose.

Everyday routines have changed since the coronavirus pandemic, and trying to get back to a sense of normal will take time.

But one Boston man has figured out how to keep his routine going and found a friend in the process.

For many years, Bill Brennan, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in two weeks, has cheered up patients at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital with stickers and a smile.

Nancy Kleiman is the harpist at the Brigham, where she encountered Bill almost daily.

“Everybody loves her, everybody loves her,” Bill said of Nancy.

“He’s just pure love,” added Nancy, “we’re like buddies.”

And then suddenly, along with the music, those encounters stopped.

Now, “part of my life is gone,” explained Bill.

“Oh my goodness, it’s life,” Nancy agreed. “That’s why you can imagine how I feel being at home right now.”

“I was feeling so sad, and then I got an email,” she explained.

It read, “‘You don’t know me but my father loves your harp.’ And then it just happened, ‘Would you FaceTime him?’” the note asked.

One call became two, and then became an everyday occurrence.

“There’s this feeling of somebody’s going to call you at five, and somebody cares about you, somebody loves you,” said Nancy.

“She brings me back as soon as she starts to talk,” said Bill. “I come right back. That whole day of sitting around doing nothing, it’s all gone.”

What was lost has been found, and is once again in perfect harmony.

“That’s what Bill and I give each other every day, that little shot in the arm” said Nancy.

The friends say they will keep calling each other every day until the COVID-19 state of emergency is over in Massachusetts.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 4/22/20

On the newscast: A world renowned composer who is a priest has written a hymn of hope to help get through the Coronavirus pandemic; New fears that a second wave of the the deadly disease could be coming; Maryknoll missionaries in upstate New York are being hit hard by the outbreak; Caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s is even harder these days. A doctor offers expert advice.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.

How Those With Alzheimer’s or Dementia Could Be Impacted by COVID-19

Currents News Staff

If you’re a caregiver for someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, life was challenging enough before the coronavirus.

Now, the crisis is making an already scary situation even more complicated.

Joining Currents News is Dr. Anafidelia Tavares, the Director of Programs at the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to discuss the unique and specific challenges Alzheimer’s patients face with regards to the coronavirus.

Priest Who Served Seven Churches, Father Adnel Burgos, Remembered for Making It ‘Cool to Follow God’

By Emily Drooby

Father Adnel Burgos was a young man, only 57-years-old, when he passed away from heart failure, possibly related to coronavirus complications.

Born in Puerto Rico in 1962, the priest was ordained in 1989 and served at seven churches in the Brooklyn Diocese.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio remembered him as an inspirational priest, saying “I was taken by a comment from a young priest, Fr. Joseph Dutan, who told me that he credited Fr. Burgos for being his inspiration to the priesthood. We ask the Lord to give Fr. Burgos the reward of his goodness.”

Father Joseph Dutan met Father Burgos when he was a student at St. Teresa in Woodside.

He says Father Burgos was gifted at reaching young people – he mentored some 156 altar servers at St. Teresa.

“That also tore my heart a little bit, this was the man who inspired me to the priesthood, the man who showed me that following God is cool. Helping us find Jesus in the culture that were in with the music, especially the rap, with the graffiti,” said Dutan.

The priest was a talented artist, something Ana Sencion remembers well. She was part of Our Lady of the Cenacle’s youth group in Richmond Hill when Father Burgos was assigned there.

“He had a very huge desire for people to revere the body of Christ, the temple the body,” said Sencion.

Father Burgos also ministered at Borough Park’s St. Catharine of Alexandria – where he met Jonathan Herskovic and his family. They grew a connection so strong – the priest was Jonathan’s Confirmation Godfather.

“He showed a lot of passion and with that passion, came love and he was always real,” said Herskovic.

‘On Eagle’s Wings’ Composer, Father Mike Joncas, Gives the World New Hope With ‘Shelter Me’

By Jessica Easthope

Many are familiar with the song “On Eagle’s Wings,” but not the man behind it. That man is Father Michael Joncas – and he’s written a lot of songs many Catholics are familiar with.

“Lots of psalms and other pieces for particular times of the year, all together probably about 300 pieces of music,” said Fr. Mike. “The one that everyone knows is On Eagles Wings.'”

In his 40 years as a priest and world-renowned composer, he has never had to look too far for inspiration.

“I know the liturgical texts through and through and I also, as a priest, am trained in scripture so the psalms are the background to nearly everything I do,” he said.

The same goes for his latest piece of music, “Shelter Me.”

“It was just about a month ago. I was awakened by my subconscious at about three in the morning, and there was this little germ of an idea for a song to respond to the coronavirus pandemic that we’re in,” said Fr. Mike.

The lyrics take the listener through the same stages the world has gone through over the last several months.

With lines like “the way ahead is dark and difficult to see,” it’s mirrored in a psalm that’s close to Fr. Mike’s heart.

“The idea was simple, it was basically to take Psalm 23 which I have been praying forever, and adapt and paraphrase it to talk about our present-day experience,” he explained.

The song talks about wanting intimacy with God during this hard time. Fr. Mike says he hopes the song is used as a way of bringing the world together.

“If it’s anything like ‘On Eagle’s Wings,’ it will go beyond the Catholic world and beyond the Christian world, and it will be something that many people of different faith traditions will use during prayer,” he said.

Fr. Mike decided using his gift of music wasn’t enough. He’ll also be waiving a copyright and license fee for the song. It will be free to download and use in church for the next year.

Shoemaker Stays in Business During Pandemic by Making Crosses

The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge economic impact. Some companies have gone out of business, and others are in jeopardy.

One of them is Al’s Shoe Service in Illinois.

Larry DeAngelo is not only talented in music, he’s also the business’s owner. Al’s has been in operation for 83 years, first in Franklin Park, and now in Mount Prospect.

With the shelter in place, there’s no shoe to fix and no money to stay afloat.

They’re hurting like a lot of places are these days, but they came up with an inspiring idea to adapt to the crisis and hopefully stay afloat.

Larry’s daughter came up with an idea based on a cherished childhood gift he’d made them – a cross. Now, Larry’s making them in his store.

“We remembered this cross and we knew how much we loved it and it’s one of a kind,” his daughter said. “It’s made out of love from him.”

“We take a sole, the leather s-o-l-e, and I transform them into a soul experience, s-o-u-l,” Larry explained. “This is something that is coming from my heart. That’s the way I play music, and that’s the way I fix shoes.”

The cobbler crosses cost 20 dollars. Within 24 hours of posting the crosses for purchase on the Mount Prospect Facebook page, the response has been incredible.

“The pride in owning this and carrying on my father’s legacy is the primary reason I’m still here,” Larry said. “I’m going to do this.”

“This is something that is coming from my heart,” he said. “That’s the way I play music, and that’s the way I fix shoes.”

“I think that’s why we are receiving the response we are is because he’s made such an impact on so many people,” his daughter said.

Mother Cabrini Foundation Donates Millions to COVID-19 Emergency Response Agencies

By Emily Drooby

For years, Mother Cabrini tirelessly helped immigrants, orphans and the sick. Now her legacy of lending a helping hand lives on through the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

They’re stepping up in a big way to help out New York communities impacted by COVID-19, dedicating $50 million dollars in grants as support for nonprofit organizations.

“We could not stand-by without doing something immediately to help those most in need,” explained their chief programs and grants officer Deborah Konopko, who says the money will help those who have been most affected by the pandemic.

“We are going to cast a very wide net, and give grants out as soon as we can to help people in this really difficult situation we are encountering in ny right now,” she added.

Catholic Charities, health care providers and food banks are just some of the programs the money will help, and it’s badly needed.

As of last week, nearly 800,000 New Yorkers had applied for unemployment.

The need for food assistance is surging. Normally, about 2.5 million city residents turn to charitable food banks for help. Experts are predicting that number could double or triple.

At the same time, senior citizens are afraid to go outside these days, and they’re relying on services like ‘Meals on Wheels’ to stay fed.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn Queens can really use the help. They’ve been working non-stop to make sure people are fed.

With so many jobs lost because of the crisis, over the past few days, Catholic Charities has had two pop-up food distribution operations in Corona, Queens.

More than 1,700 bags full of food were handed out, each one with enough to feed a family of three for three days.

Catholic Charities could have distributed even more – that’s how great the need is right now.

Currents News full broadcast for Tue, 4/21/20

On the newscast: The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is donating millions of dollars to help New York in the coronavirus crisis; A Brooklyn Catholic family feels forgotten when, only days before adopting their foster daughter, the court shutdown; President Trump plans to halt immigration in the United States to protect American workers; Some states are reopening for business; New York’s first bi-lingual testing facility is now in operation.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.

New York City Opens Bilingual Walk-In Testing Site for Coronavirus

Currents News Staff

Non-english speakers can struggle when receiving health care, as the language barrier can confuse an already complicated situation.

The first bilingual walk-in testing site for coronavirus has opened in New York City. The facility is in Washington Heights and will have the ability to test large numbers of New Yorkers per day.

Doctor Ramon Rallaj is one of the medical professionals trying to help them here in New York City. He is the chairman of Somos Community Care, which serves more than 650,000 patients in largely under-served communities.

He joins Currents News to discuss risk factors these communities face, as well as how the city’s health system can improve on reaching them with the vital information and healthcare they need during this crisis.

Currents News full broadcast for Mon, 4/20/20

On the newscast: The Blessed Sacrament is on the streets of the Diocese of Brooklyn bringing hope to neighborhoods; Protests against stay-at-home orders grow across the United States as workers struggle to make ends meet; The light of Christ fills a Cathedral as Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection; Seminarians are getting ready to join the frontlines in the virus fight; Keeping your finances safe in these troubled times.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.