A Lasting Imprint: How a T-Shirt Biz is Changing Lives

By Tim Harfmann

C.J. McCoy is one of many men pressing and printing his way to success. He works at “Reconnect Brooklyn,” which helps men ages 17 to 24 keep busy and out of trouble.

“This is a start for anybody who hasn’t been on the right track or who just hasn’t had the right guidance,” C.J. said.

A priest, Father Jim O’Shea, founded the nonprofit nearly a decade ago.

“It started, essentially, to try to figure out a way to work with good, young people who were getting involved with negative activities,” he explained.

The Passionist priest made it his mission to instill values through Reconnect Brooklyn.

Located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, young men work at the business 20 hours a week for three months and receive regular evaluations.

The hope behind this business model is that the art crafts their futures.

“This gave me a place to start, to get a feel for everything, so I get out there more and do what I have to do,” C.J. explained.

Father Jim says more than 200 men have gone through the program in the last decade.

There’s a 90 percent graduation rate, and over 80 percent of alums are still employed.

Edwing LaChapelle is one of them.

“It helped me learn responsibility. It also helped me finish school because this mentorship is phenomenal,” he said.

The 24-year-old earned his high school degree and landed jobs in both security and fitness.

“I could’ve just gotten into trouble and done certain things,” he explained. “It just molded me into the young man I became.”

Now, Reconnect Brooklyn is now looking for a bigger space where it can impact more lives.

Italian Businesses Feel Impact of Nation-Wide Coronavirus Lockdown

By Melissa Butz

With 60 million Italians under quarantine, the usually busy time of Lent is being lived in a different way at St. Peter’s.

Businesses surrounding the Vatican are already feeling the negative effects of the lock-down.

One street leading up to St. Peter’s Square is normally full of pilgrims, but now few remain with the Vatican closed until April 3.

“It’s a very dramatic moment for all businesses and obviously for tourism. We’re all realizing now how fundamental tourism is for our economy,” explained Emmanual, whose store sells religious items. As of two of the lock-down, they had sold nothing.

“We’re all losing money, but we’re open in hopes that a few people pass by,” he said.

Sen, another store owner, also hoped for pilgrims at his tourist stand right in front of St. Peter. Over the past 20 years, he has grown to have 63 of them all around Rome. He said this is the first time, he will close.

“Today I see there are no people. Tomorrow, I’m not coming here. For which people are we working? We are working with the tourists,” he explained.

Many tourists in the country are looking to leave as soon as possible, but flights are also being canceled.

Grocery stores, pharmacies and some restaurants are remaining open, allowing a few people in at a time.

Workers at selected locations have masks and gloves, but the vacancy remains, as most Italians are following the rules and remaining inside.

Each year, the Vatican attracts millions of tourists especially during the time leading up to Easter, which this year is April 12.

While the country-wide lock-down is being enforced until April 3, many are concerned it will be extended to this religious holiday, if coronavirus numbers do not go down.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 3/10/20

On the newscast: Our exclusive coverage of the disaster in Nashville tonight looks at a Catholic man who lost such but he’s relying on God to see him through; A heartwarming story neighbors in Tennessee helping a woman regain her freedom once again; The National Guard is being deployed to New Rochelle. Ground Zero of the coronavirus outbreak in New York; And big changes are happening with Saint Patrick’s Day parades.

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Missing Mass as a Coronavirus Precaution? Make a ‘Spiritual Communion’ Instead

Currents News and The Tablet Staff

WINDSOR TERRACE — The Diocese of Brooklyn has issued guidelines to parishioners to help prevent cases of coronavirus at Mass.

Please see list below for the specific recommendations and practices that churches in the diocese are following in light of the coronavirus, which as of March 6 has infected more than 100,000 worldwide, including 233 in the United States.

The virus has killed 14 in the U.S., and there are 33 confirmed cases in New York state.

The diocese said it is monitoring the virus by staying in touch with state and city officials and with emergency health officials.

For more information in general about how to safe during this period when coronavirus is spreading, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Protection at www.cdc.gov.

Church Safety Measures

>> Communion: It is strongly suggested that Communion be received in the hand at this time. All involved in the liturgy should disinfect their hands before the distribution.

>> Precious Blood: The distribution of the Precious Blood has been suspended. This policy has been in place all flu season.

>> Sign of Peace: The exchange of peace with a handshake has been suspended for now.

>> Holy Water: Holy water fonts may be empty. You should not feel obligated to use holy water upon entering or leaving church.

>> Greetings: It is highly recommended that you avoid a handshake when greeting the celebrant or one another before or after Mass.

>> Illness: It is important that Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens use common sense when deciding whether to come to Mass. If you are not feeling well, you should stay home.

Click here to read a letter to the Faithful from the Office of the Vicar General regarding precautions being taken at Mass throughout the Brooklyn Diocese:

Catholic Universities and Colleges Close, Hold Class Online Amid Coronavirus Concerns

By Tim Harfmann

Students at Saint John’s University are packing up and heading home as the university has canceled classes on all of its campuses as a precaution over the coronavirus.

“It’s been really hectic Everybody’s on the phone with their mom saying coronavirus is canceling school. It’s been crazy,” explained Kaitlynn Gatto, a student at the school.

Lessons will be learned online beginning March 12, until at least March 27.

“It’s like a ghost town, like no one’s here,” said another student.

“I didn’t even know the classes were canceled today, actually.” said freshman Javeigh Young-White. “So I was just going to my acting class. I went in the theater, and the entire theater was dark. I was like, ‘Hold up. Something ain’t right.”

While Javeigh is lucky he travels to Queens from Brooklyn, other students like Esmeralda Nieves have a much longer commute.

She’s leaving the Queens campus and driving back to Richmond, Virginia.

“I just wish they did it sooner, because I was here for one day.”” she explained.

Classes just resumed March 9 following spring break.

“It’s pretty frustrating,” said Esmerelda. “I feel like it was foreseen, and it could’ve been announced earlier.”

Saint John’s is one of several Catholic universities and colleges in the New York area putting plans in place.

Fordham University, Mount Saint Vincent and Manhattan College have canceled classes, too.

Students understand the precaution.

“Just because it’s New York City, there’s so many people that they have to be safe,” one student said.

“You can’t ever be too safe, but there is a lot of overreacting,” added Esmerelda.

Diocese Of Brooklyn and Christ The King High School Announce Settlement

Currents News and The Tablet Staff

The Diocese of Brooklyn and Christ the King High School have announced, and agreed upon, a resolution that allows both a charter school and day care to continue operating on the high school campus in Queens.

Under the terms of this settlement agreement, both Middle Village Preparatory Charter School and Christ the King Community Day Care will remain operational on the Christ the King campus. The agreement also ensures that most of the property will continue to be used by the Roman Catholic high school. It details how the Diocese of Brooklyn will have one member on Christ the King’s board.

A March 10 statement released by both the high school and the Diocese of Brooklyn, underlines that “the heart and center of the property is Christ the King High School that has been providing a high-quality Catholic education for more than 50 years.” The statement continues, “This is positive news for the Diocese and the Middle Village community.”

Both parties have said they are looking forward to “keeping alive the Catholic Church’s mission” as they foster both the educational and spiritual growth of students and their families.

Click here to read the statement released by the Diocese of Brooklyn:

Catholic Who Lost Home in Nashville Tornadoes: ‘It Will Never Be the Same’

By Emily Drooby

Germantown, one of the Nashville neighborhoods hit hardest by the deadly tornadoes, was a sobering sight for Nick Spiegl.

His beloved neighborhood has been reduced to rubble.

“You know, it’s really affected so many lives here,” he said. The Catholic man was in his home when the storm hit. He said after he heard the sirens he only had seconds to react.

“It was just a roar, and it was an explosion, just like a bomb went off, the sound of a freight train coming through,” he explained. “I thought we were dead…I just thought we were dead”

The minutes that followed are ones that will stay with Nick for the rest of his life.

“The patio door, the big 60-70 pound patio door is flying through our living room, so my wife goes from the bed to the bathtub,” he recalled. “I went. I followed her and I tried to go out the other door to the living from the bathroom, instead of from the living room. She pulled me back. That probably saved my life.”

They were minutes that created so much destruction.

His apartment complex has been condemned – extensive repairs are necessary and the future is uncertain, displacing Nick and over 500 others.

“On the top part of the parking garage… the cars have been just strewn around…just like toys,” Nick observed.

Luckily no one was seriously injured. He and his wife stayed at a temporary shelter for an evening, and now they’re in a hotel.

“Everything is ruined,” he said, “there’s so much water damage and glass.”

Nick is slowly rebuilding his life, but he said it’ll never be the same.

“I feel like we’d had a blessed life, a blessed experience here, and it’s gone for good, it’ll never come back,” he said.

Nick isn’t alone. 395 homes and 184 commercial buildings were seriously damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes according to Nashville’s mayor, John Cooper. Among Germantown, some of the areas hit hardest include north Nashville, east Nashville, and Donelson.

All Eyes on Michigan for Super Tuesday Two

Currents News Staff

It’s Super Tuesday Two and six states are up for grabs, including a very important one in the Great Lakes.

Voters in six states head to the polls March 10, but one state is drawing extra attention: Michigan — and more specifically its 125 pledged delegates — plays a pivotal role in Tuesday’s race.

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s decisive win in South Carolina last month basically kept his presidential hopes alive.

And now on Super Tuesday Two, Senator Bernie Sanders pretty much needs to pull a Biden in Michigan, a state Sanders narrowly won in 2016.

“Does anybody really think that that is going to be campaign of excitement and energy that’s going to grow the base that we need to defeat Trump? I don’t think so. I say that honestly as a friend of Joe’s,” said Sanders.

Biden, who just got endorsements from two former candidates, Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, has a comfy lead in Michigan, according to the latest Monmouth University poll.

“If you want a nominee who’s going to beat Donald Trump, keep the House of Representatives, win back the United States, join us!” said Biden.

As of Tuesday morning, fewer than 100 delegates separate Biden and Sanders, with California numbers still in flux.

The other five states taking part in Super Tuesday Two are Washington State, Idaho, North Dakota, Missouri and Mississippi. Combined they account for 227 delegates.

As Italy Urges Staying Home, Pope Tells Priests to ‘Get Out’ to Comfort the Sick

By Melissa Butz and Crux Staff

ROME — As Italy promotes an aggressive “stay at home” campaign in an effort to combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the country, Pope Francis is urging at least one group not to take the message completely to heart, imploring priests March 10 to “get out” to bring comfort to the sick and to support health care workers.

“May priests have the courage to get out,” the pontiff said during his Tuesday morning Mass, “going to the sick to bring them the comfort of God, [and] to bring them the Eucharist” as well as to show solidarity with health workers scrambling to combat the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Holy Father’s words came the morning after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced sweeping new measures to combat the spread of the virus, following new data showing Italy has surpassed South Korea with the second-highest total number of cases in the world after China, with 9,172, and remains the second-number of deaths, with 463.

Conte said Monday night the entire country is under a strict travel ban as of this morning, with movements between regions limited to reasons of work or family and health care emergencies. Museums, theaters, cinemas, gyms and public pools, as well as all schools and universities, are closed until at least April 3, and restaurants and bars have been ordered to close at 6:00 p.m. every day.

In response to the virus, Italian celebrities and politicians have been promoting a social media campaign under the hashtag #iorestoacasa, “I’m staying at home,” directed primarily at Italian youth who may be tempted to go out despite the restrictions.

The campaign has drawn wide support, including from Italian soccer player Ciccio Caputo of the Sassuolo club. In the last game played in Italy’s top-flight Serie A championship Monday night before the suspension went into effect, Caputo scored a goal in a stadium empty of fans and then ran to a TV camera to display a hand-written message reading: “Everything’s going to be fine. #stay at home!”

In that context, Pope Francis began his daily Mass on Tuesday expressing concern for all those suffering as a result of the virus, urging priests to continue to get out to visit the sick.

As part of the restrictions on public assemblies, Italy’s Catholic bishops have suspended all public Masses, weddings and funerals until at least April 3. Those restrictions, however, do not prevent priests from making private calls upon individual persons, providing the usual precautions are taken, including maintaining a meter of distance from other persons and avoiding unnecessary physical contact.

In his homily Tuesday morning, Pope Francis warned against the spiritual temptation of vanity, saying it incudes a sinner to “close in upon himself” and to “hide himself,” rather than “bringing his sins to God.”

Vanity, the pontiff warned, is “poisonous,” using the example of the Gospel description of “doctors of the law” to suggest it leads to a “hard heart.”

The pontiff’s Mass was livestreamed on the “Vatican News” web site and the Vatican’s Youtube channel. It was celebrated before a small congregation, composed mostly of religious sisters and laity who work in the Casa Santa Marta, the residence on Vatican grounds where Pope Francis lives.

Rather then being delivered in front of a live audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father’s General Audience March 11 will be livestreamed from the library of the papal apartments in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, once again to avoid forming crowds with a heightened risk of transmission of the disease.

Currents News full broadcast for Monday, 3/9/20

On the newscast: The Port Authority chief has been confirmed positive for the coronavirus; The Pope is taking special precautions because of the disease; The number of women working at the Vatican is going up; One town in Italy got water instead of wine, but it’s not necessarily a miracle.

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