Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 2/26/20

On the newscast: Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio brings a message of hope and comfort this Ash Wednesday to a Brooklyn parish whose parishioners are worried about the coronavirus; Hope for treating the coronavirus as the U.S. starts testing a new drug; A place that helps pregnant women choose life may be facing an uncertain future; And how teachers are learning new ways to help children grow in their Catholic faith.

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Hope on Ash Wednesday at Chinese Parish Amid Coronavirus Fears

SUNSET PARK — At one Chinese parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn, the start of Lent came with a message of hope amid concerns about the coronavirus.

“At a time of great concern over the coronavirus, I thought it would be good to support our Chinese community and to offer prayer and solidarity as we begin the Holy Season of Lent,” Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said in a statement that was released on Feb. 25, the day before Ash Wednesday, when he celebrated Mass and distributed ashes at St. Agatha Parish in Sunset Park.

Earlier this week, government health officials warned about the likelihood of coronavirus, or COVID-19, spreading in the U.S. As of Feb. 26, the virus has killed more than 2,700 people, most of them in China.

During his homily at St. Agatha’s, Bishop DiMarzio read from a pastoral letter he wrote in light of the worldwide epidemic. In the letter, Bishop DiMarzio encouraged hope and expressed the urgency of conversion during Lent, a time of reflection and repentance in preparation for Easter. Overcoming evil in the world, including deadly viruses, is an invitation to dialogue with God, he said.

Parishioners received a copy of the Bishop DiMarzio’s letter in Mandarin.

Bishop DiMarzio told The Tablet that he came to the parish in solidarity with Chinese immigrants and their families, especially as the community faces xenophobic attacks in New York and around the world because of the coronavirus, which originated in the Hubei province in central China.

“It’s a time people need comfort, hope and encouragement,” Bishop DiMarzio said. “On Ash Wednesday, we say, ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’

“We face the prospect of death itself … Ash Wednesday is a good time to take stock and see where we’re going, especially in the journey towards Easter,” he said. “We don’t dwell on death as an end, but as the beginning of new life. So we pray for those affected by this coronavirus, especially for countries in disarray that don’t know what to do. This is a time we need to pray, to be calm and to do the right thing.”

Father Vincentius T. Do, the pastor of St. Agatha’s, and Fathers Shengjiao Lin C.M., and Juan Angel Pichardo, both parochial vicars at the parish, concelebrated the Mass.

Father Do said parishioners are concerned about the coronavirus, but continue to be faithful, attending daily Mass and Holy Hour and reciting the rosary to pray for a cure.

“As soon as we heard the news, our parishioners have been in constant contact with their family members in China, and we are very much aware of the danger of spreading the virus; [we’re] taking all the precautions,” Father Do said. “It’s not just a Chinese crisis, it’s a human crisis. Just like the flu, as long as we are careful, we can overcome it. At the same time, we are telling people to be careful, but [we] don’t want people to be panicky. We turn to prayer, put our trust and faith in God and hope that everything will be okay in the end.”

Lizhen Zheng, a parishioner, said she’s encouraged by Bishop DiMarzio’s message of fasting and prayer during Lent.

“We are very prayerful, and I know God hears our prayers,” Zheng said.

Religious Education Goes High-Tech in Brooklyn

By Christine Persichette

Through prayer, conversation and a lot of note-taking, on Feb. 25 educators learned how to help children grow in their faith.

An annual gathering, held this year at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Queens, brought together hundreds of Catholic school teachers, directors of religious education and catechists from throughout the Brooklyn Diocese to share ideas and learn new ways to allow young Catholics to become more faithful.

Their mission, according to Ted Musco who oversees catechesis programs in the Brooklyn Diocese as the Secretary for Evangelization and Catechesis, is to go out and make disciples.

“The takeaway for tonight is that people will leave here renewed and enthused about the mission of the Church,” he explained. “As catechists they have an opportunity on a weekly basis or a monthly basis to convey the true faith to young people, as well as their parents and other family members.”

Participants used books from Sadlier’s Publishers to do that. To connect with students today, those books have gone high-tech with a new program– called “Christ In Us,” which helps catechists reach out to the next generation of Catholics.

“It’s a K through 6 program,” explained Deacon Matt Halbach, Sadlier’s Executive Director of Catechesis. “It’s very technology rich and deep. It allows access online to very integrated, intentional resources that pair with the print lessons.”

Those lessons can be accessed from anywhere on phones, tablets and computers. This allows children to share the resources with their family members, which these catechists find so important.

“I feel it’s a very dynamic program,” said Sister Ancy Jacob, the Religious Education Director of Saint Michael’s Church in Flushing, Queens. “I really wanted our parents involvement in our parish as well as our children. We can’t do it alone, anything, we need the support of the parents.”

How Catholic Students Learn Confidence Through Comedy

By Emily Drooby

Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School student Kaelyn Bishop would tell you, “I’m very shy and like I don’t speak in front of big crowds.”

But now, she’s standing up to practice stand-up as part of the school’s comedy club run by the non-profit “Stand Up! Girls.”

Kaelyn joined the group to grow, and after 8 weeks of classes, she did.

“It has helped me open up more,” she explained. “It has helped me speak up more. Like, I am not as afraid to speak up to the crowds as I was before.”

That’s the goal of Stand Up! Girls: teaching young women from underserved communities the communications skills they need to succeed in life and at work, especially in male-dominated offices.

The organization was inspired by president Holly Weiss’s experience as a woman in the legal field.

“You see huge changes,” she said. “I mean, just during the show, very very scared the day before the show, and they’re prepping. Then they get up and do it, and it’s this supercharged confidence. Like, ‘I just did something I never thought I could do, and I did it well.”

“It has been so amazing to see them come out of their shell or just foster what was already there,” said teacher Katie Brennan. “And just having them in the classroom as well, I have seen so much growth, just believing in themselves and knowing what they’re capable of.”

Founded in 2018, the club is offered for free at Cristo Rey and several other New York City schools. Students learn from and work with a professional comedian.

At Cristo Rey, students practice with Dara Jemmott, where all of their hard work leads up to their final performance.

“I have had teachers come up and say, ‘I can’t believe that that student got up there and did that, because I can’t get them to speak in my class,” Dara said.

This course is teaching comedy, but most importantly, confidence.

To learn more about Stand Up! Girls visit their website: www.standupgirlsnyc.org

Presidential Candidates Talk Catholic Issues, Professions of Faith

Currents News Staff

Looking at the Feb. 25 Democratic debate from a Catholic lens, is Saint John’s University’s political professor, Brian Browne.

The topic of racial injustice came up often among the presidential candidates in South Carolina, and the U.S. bishops have long fought against racism. In their videos on faithful citizenship, they highlighted bringing justice to victims of racism.

Another big topic, gun control, was also covered during the debate. The U.S. bishops have spoken out on the issue as well.

After the shooting in Dayton, Ohio last August, they said in a statement, “The conference has long advocated for responsible gun laws and increased resources for addressing the root causes of violence. We also call upon the President and cCongress to set aside political interests and find ways to better protect innocent life.”

Senator Bernie Sanders, in particular, was targeted for his votes on gun rights.

Among the candidates, there were actually a few professions of faith.

According to the Pew Research Center, 78 percent of adults in South Carolina are Christian.

Brown offers his view on whether these were just a bid for election, or actual shows of faith.

A recent poll by EWTN showed who Catholics would vote for if the general election were to happen today, with the highest percentages given to Biden and Sanders.

Brown shares his take on if either candidate can win South Carolina and, looking forward, Super Tuesday.

Pope’s Ash Wednesday Message to Coronavirus Victims

Currents News Staff

As a precaution amid the coronavirus epidemic, the Holy Father’s Ash Wednesday General Audience was held outside in St. Peter’s Square.

The pontiff’s ride around the square in the popemobile was faster than usual. However, that didn’t stop a group of pilgrims from Mexico from giving Pope Francis an enthusiastic message:

“We pray for you. We pray for you, Holy Father. We pray for you.”

Although the popemobile didn’t make any stops, before beginning his catechesis, Pope Francis greeted a little girl.

In the square, there were several people wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. Pope Francis directed a message to the sick during his catechesis.

“I want to express, once more, my closeness to the sick infected by the coronavirus, as well as to medical workers caring for them, civil authorities and everyone working to treat the sick and contain the spread,” he said.

In his catechesis, Pope Francis reflected on the beginning of Lent. He alluded to Jesus’s 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. He explained Lent is a time to practice silence in one’s heart.

“When I was a little boy, there was no television. However, it was customary to not listen to the radio during Lent. It’s the desert. Lent is the time to renounce, to disconnect from our cell phones and connect to the Gospel,” he explained. “It is the time to renounce empty words and gossip.”

During Lent, the Holy Father asked Christians to practice charity and to not let themselves fall into verbal violence.

“Today, insults are used as natural as ‘Good morning.’ We’re submerged in empty words of publicity and subliminal messages,” Pope Francis said. “We are used to hearing everything about everyone. We run the risk of being submerged in a reality that damages the heart.”

Pope Francis also spoke of the need to care for the people around us. He invited Christians to fast from superficial things and instead contemplate the essential parts of life.

Annual Catholic Appeal in the Brooklyn Diocese

Currents News Staff

The Annual Catholic Appeal begins Feb. 27 and runs through June.

Joining Currents News to highlight where the funds go, how to donate and this year’s important goals is Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, Director of the Office of Parish Giving and Vicar for Development for the Brooklyn Diocese.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 2/25/20

On the newscast: An urgent warning tonight from CDC officials saying the American public should brace for an outbreak of the Coronavirus; A preview of tonight’s Presidential Democratic debate- front runner Senator Bernie Sanders will most likely come under fire from the other candidates, We’re celebrating Black History Month with a tour of a hidden gem right here in Brooklyn; Plus a World War II hero finally getting a long-overdue honor.

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.

Brooklyn’s Role in Freeing America’s Slaves

By Emily Drooby

Weeksville, Brooklyn was one of the first communities for free black Americans in the nation.

Now, this almost 200-year-old neighborhood is preserved for all to experience – at Weeksville Heritage Center in Crown Heights.

The historic houses have been basically untouched by time.

“It’s a piece of history that’s still alive, that’s still there. It’s tangible, you can see it, you can touch it,” explained Anita Warren, deputy director of the Weeksville Heritage Center.

The original Weeksville community was established in 1838, 11 years after slavery was abolished in New York State.

“John Lefferts of the Lefferts family dies, and his heirs find out that he is land-rich but cash-poor, so they begin a process of starting to sell parcels of land to make money,” said Rob Fields, the center’s executive director.

Some sold to James Weeks, who helped create Weeksville. It was a safe haven for freed black Americans — created during a time when slavery was still legal in many areas – and slave catchers were still a threat.

This safety fostered success: the neighborhood produced influential members of society, like the first black female doctor in New York.

The community thrived too: it had a school, its own newspaper and three Christian churches.

“Weeksville represents black people trying to live out the American dream, trying to be self-sufficient, trying to be entrepreneurial,” explained Fields.

The Weeksville Heritage Center now protects this important history and teaches it to others, conducting tours on Saturdays during Black History Month and creating more opportunities to introduce the world to this hidden historical gem.

Around the World, Coronavirus Pushes Mass Online, Cancels Ash Wednesday

Currents News Staff

Catholic churches around the globe are taking major precautions amid concerns for the coronavirus.

In Hong Kong, churches are celebrating Masses online and Ash Wednesday services have been suspended.

In Italy, several dioceses have cancelled Ash Wednesday services and suspended public Masses, where more than 150 reported cases have been reported, mostly in the northern region.

A top Vatican archbishop is from that area and, according to one report, his siblings have been quarantined.

Public events in Italy, such as the Venice Carnival, have also been suspended.

Churches are also enforcing measures including no physical greeting during the sign of peace, shorter funeral services, weddings celebrated only with close relatives and removal of Holy Water from fonts. Parish dining rooms will also have food in to-go containers.

Masses and Ash Wednesday services have not been cancelled in the Brooklyn Diocese, though Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has suspended distribution of the Precious Blood over concerns for both the coronavirus and the flu.

If the epidemic continues around the world, Holy Week may be impacted.