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Italy Residents Face Mixed Emotions as Phase Two of Lockdown Lift Begins

By Melissa Butz

After 55 days of lockdown, Italy’s long-awaited “phase two” of reopening has begun, marked by obligatory masks, open parks, restaurant take-out and of course, social distancing.

Masks and gloves are Italy’s “new normal” as it enters into phase two, allowing four million people to return to work.

Public transportation has changed, as the metro has certain areas blocked off and buses are allowed only half the normal number of riders.

Restaurants are now open for take-out service for the first time in two months.

Italians, deprived of their morning ritual for so long, drink their morning espresso in the street.

While happy to serve, restaurant owners say they feel abandoned.

“I’m angry, upset and demoralized,” one told Currents News. “We weren’t told how to sanitize, what to do, what products to use, both for us and our clients. We don’t know anything. We have been left in the dark.

Athletes, on the other hand, are overjoyed as parks have reopened. Young and old alike now pass alongside those who cut the overgrown grass 

“It’s a sense of freedom!” explained one park-goer. 

But freedom doesn’t mean tranquility in the face of the coronavirus, or agreement with this new phase.

“I’m honestly more worried than I was before the lockdown,” one Rome resident admitted. “I hope it will be better.” 

“With all these people out, maybe we haven’t understood it’s like phase one, but with a few differences,” said another. 

During the lockdown, tourism dropped 68 percent in Europe and 96 percent in Italy. 

It’s estimated that from July to September 2020, no travel bans will cost 25 million tourists, making Italy’s financial situation even tighter.

It should get slightly better as shopping, museums and exhibits reopen May 18 and restaurants and hair salons on June 1. 

While it’s not how Italy was before the lockdown, it’s a slow and steady step in the right direction.

How the Sacred Heart Institute Is Helping Priests Find Spiritual Strength During the Virus Crisis

Currents News Staff

We have seen priests around the country embrace new forms of evangelization because of the coronavirus. 

Online masses, drive through confessions and videos for catechesis are just some of the ways that they’re on the frontlines in their own way.

Giving priests the spiritual strength to face the coronavirus pandemic head-on is the goal of “A Shepherd’s Care,” a program by the Sacred Heart Institute which provides videos for the clergy during these times.

The program offers advice to priests on how to communicate digitally, and even hosted a virtual retreat during Holy Week with Brooklyn’s own Monsignor Thomas Caserta. 

The director of the Sacred Heart Institute, Father lachlan Cameron, joins Currents News to discuss how the program is helping priests in their ministry. 

Unemployed NYC Family Doesn’t Have Enough Money Left to Move to State Where There Is Work

By Jessica Easthope

Unemployment in the United States is the highest it’s been since the Great Depression. Tens of millions of people have lost their jobs. In New York City, those who are undocumented are unable to collect unemployment benefits and are fighting to survive.

“It’s been hard for her especially with money because the owners want their money now and they don’t want to wait and sometimes food runs out and she doesn’t know what to give us,” Marlene Sanchez, translating for her mother Viridiana, told Currents News.

Viridiana and her husband have been unemployed for months. They’re struggling to pay rent and provide for their three children.

“I have two younger siblings as well,” Marlene said. “The smallest one is three, and he doesn’t understand when there’s no food and there’s nothing left to give him.”

The family, who attends Basilica of Regina Pacis in Bensonhurst, doesn’t know where to turn.

“We were planning to move in two weeks to move to Minnesota, but we need to have a certain amount of money to go. So, now we’ve moved it to September. Over there they’re still giving out jobs, and and the rent is less over there. They would be doing farm work,” Marlene said.

More than one million New Yorkers have filed for unemployment since the pandemic began.  Though many qualify, the Department of Labor has been flooded with applications and some have been denied. That’s where the New York State Bar Association is stepping in.

“In these dark and desperate times the New York State Bar Association is fulfilling one of the highest obligations of the legal profession which is provide legal assistance for those people who cannot afford an attorney,” said Hank Greenberg, the President of the New York State Bar Association.

Greenberg says someone whose claim has been denied has a better chance of getting it appealed if they’re represented by an attorney. He says the more than 1,500 lawyers who have completed online training to help people for free are offering much more than legal advice.

“For many people who are suffering the opportunity to speak to a thoughtful and sensitive person to willing to listen to their concerns and help them through a difficult and vitally important legal issue is very valuable,” Greenberg explained.

People like Viridiana and her family have been finding that comfort in the Catholic-run food pantries and soup kitchens in her community and their faith.

“From this experience her faith has been growing stronger,” Marlene said of her mother. “We didn’t pray together as a family and now we’ve been praying every day.”

Josh Gallo

Firefighters are amazing cooks, right?! Josh Gallo joins Msgr Jamie in his kitchen to defend the reputation of firefighters’ everywhere with his delicious oregano chicken and polenta!

Pop-Up Pantry in Elmhurst Offers More Than Food Thanks to Catholic Charities and St. Bartholomew’s

By Jessica Easthope

Food is the most basic of necessities, yet during the coronavirus pandemic, so many don’t have enough.

Luis Espinoza has been unemployed for more than two months, which is why he came May 1 to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens’ pop-up food distribution at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in Elmhurst, Queens. He says he’s been missing stability, but he’s also been missing something else.

“We don’t work right now, so we needed some food for my kids,” he explained. “We come every Sunday here to church, but now church is closed, so it’s been hard too.”

Like Luis, thousands of others in the hardest hit communities like Elmhurst feel that same spiritual need as well as a desperate and growing need to provide for their families.

“We will run out of food today,” Richard Slizeski, Senior Vice President for Mission of Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens told Currents News. “We packed for 1,200 bags. There’s probably easily 700 more people in line after that, so the need is great.”

Catholic Charities and St. Bartholomew’s worked shoulder to shoulder to feed the body and nourish the soul.

“Today we’re doing the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,” Father Rick Beuther, the church’s pastor, explained. “We’ve given out 2,000 rosaries to people online, and it’s a reminder that while we need to be socially distant, Jesus is not socially distant to his people.”

Fr. Rick says so far, more than 60 of his parishioners have died from coronavirus, a loss he’s taking especially hard.

He also got sick himself.

“I myself had the virus,” he said. “Thank God it wasn’t too serious, just loss of taste and smell, and lots of extra sleep.”

Catholic Charities filled and gave away 1,200 bags of food Friday. Every few minutes, hundreds of people would make it in and out with days worth of food.

 It’s a service designed to help those in need turn a corner.

“Feeding the hungry is something at our core in terms of feeding the human dignity of every person.” Richard explained.

In addition to food and comfort, people were also given information on where to find help. Lists of additional food pantries and where to get mental health services were handed out to everyone in line.

Currents News full broadcast for Friday, 5/1/20

On the newscast:

– Crime is up underground despite record low ridership on New York CIty’s subways.  MTA workers are speaking out, saying it’s the ‘Wild West’ down there and they’re left to fend for themselves.

– Catholic education around the country is facing a crisis.  How will out-of-work parents pay tuition?  The Diocese of Brooklyn has some answers.

– There just may be a silver lining to this pandemic.  Families are gathering around the dinner table again.

– The doctor is in!  We’re asking him about a coronavirus vaccine and what to do if it’s produced using tissues from abortions.

 

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

What If the COVID-19 Vaccine Is Derived From Aborted Fetal Tissue? We Ask the Doctor

Currents News Staff

With many states reopening the question on when a vaccine to combat the coronavirus will be available needs to be answered sooner than later.

There’s been talk about a second-week crash with this virus. A person could think they’re getting better, and then they get worse. 

Many are also concerned about their pets with news of dogs and cats testing positive for the virus. 

A study has shown that in humans, the drug remdesivir improves patients’ recovery times, and there are reports the FDA plans to announce an emergency-use authorization for it.

There have also been conflicting reports on the drug hydroxychloroquine. The most recent study says it can help coronavirus patients.

But, while everyone is hoping and praying for a vaccine, the question of how it will be developed may also be a troubling one for many Catholics.

What if a vaccine is produced using tissues from abortions?

On Currents News, we’re trying to answer your questions in our weekly segment, “Ask the Doctor.” As an infectious disease expert with the Catholic Medical Association, Dr. Robert Tiballi joins us to offer his insight on treatments and potential vaccines. 

Queens Catholic School Students Find Colorful Way to Thank Essential Workers

By Jessica Easthope

You’ve heard the cheers and applause at 7 p.m. every night thanking those on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, but now a younger generation is showing its gratitude to first responders and essential workers in its own way.

Sandra Paz is a fourth grade teacher at Our Lady’s Catholic Academy in South Ozone Park, Queens. Her latest class project was inspired by a social media trend started thousands of miles away.

“I had read an article about how these rainbows in windows kept popping up in Italy as a result of COVID-19,and then somehow it had come over to Brooklyn,” she explained. “The little slogan that went with them in Italy was ‘tutto andare bene,’ everything will be alright.”

“We were looking for lessons that were going to be engaging and relevant, but you have to make it somehow fun for them,” she explained. “I did more research, and it had a name: ‘the Rainbow Connection.’”

For 10-year-old student Shawn Ortiz and his parents Manuel and Jasmin, the Rainbow Connection project is extra special.

“It makes me sad because I love them, and I don’t want them to get it, but i’m proud of them too,” Shawn told Currents News. “They’re doing a good job saving people from the virus.”

His dad Manuel works for the city, and his mom Jasmin works at a hospital. They’re forced to wear masks all day at work and now at home, in an effort to keep their family as safe as possible.

“On the average I’m working a 12 hour shift,” said Manuel. “We talk on a video chat and not even being able to kiss them anymore, something as simple as that, it’s very difficult.”

Jasmin says she’s seen the worst of what coronavirus has done to the people of New York City.

“There’s times when I just break down because it’s so much,” she said. “And we rely on our faith because that’s all we can turn to right now, and just pray and hope it disappears.”

But what won’t disappear are the rainbows. In fact, more are popping up every day.

“When I’m outside and I see the rainbows, I think, ‘Wow, someone’s actually thinking about me,’” Manuel explained. “That a kid took the time to draw that to thank us, it means a lot.”

Currents News full broadcast for Thursday, 4/30/20

On the newscast:

– Rainbows are popping up all over the Diocese of Brooklyn.  Catholic school children are giving signs of hope and thanks.

– A Queens religious sister is providing a lifeline to those trapped at home.  She is helping them through the anxieties of the pandemic.

– New York’s subway system is going to grind to a halt overnight.  There’s a good reason.

– Fox News Channel anchor Ed Henry is helping the Church after making the ultimate donation of the gift of life.

 

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