Future Vatican Diplomats Will Dedicate One Year to Missionary Work, Says Pope Francis

By Melissa Butz

Pope Francis believes missionary work is a useful experience for young priests aspiring to be pontifical representatives.

It hasn’t even been one week since the Church received Pope Francis’s exhortation on the Amazon Synod, “Beloved Amazon,” and concrete change is already taking place in the formation of priests who are hoping to work as diplomats for the Vatican.

From now on, priests who want to be pontifical representatives around the world must dedicate an entire year of their formation to Catholic missionary work, in a land other than their own.

The suggestion was given to Pope Francis in writing during the Synod.

“Tn the curriculum of Diplomatic Service, that young priests spend at least one year on mission land. But not doing internships,” explained Pope Francis. “Not doing internships, as is done in nunciatures, which is very useful, but simply to be at the service of a bishop in a mission area.”

The pontiff believes it is an advantageous experience for young priests, particularly those desiring to be formed as nuncios.

He hopes they obtain not only their priestly and pastoral formation, but the practice of evangelizing in a culture different than their own.

Pope Francis hopes other priests throughout the world will also adopt this missionary year, saying, while it will benefit the men, more importantly it will sustain each church involved in the collaboration on a global scale.

Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen Visits Brooklyn Diocese

By Emily Drooby and Jorge I. Domínguez-López

FLUSHING — Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen visited the Diocese of Brooklyn last weekend to meet with Chinese Catholics of Brooklyn and Queens.

His visit also coincided with the continuing coronavirus epidemic in China and was part of his broader worldwide tour to advocate for religious freedom in the country.

“I like to visit any place where there are Chinese Catholics because we belong to a special family,” Cardinal Joseph Zen said at St. Michael’s Church in Flushing, where he celebrated Mass on Feb. 16. Hundreds of the faithful, almost all of them Chinese, were in attendance. The Mass was celebrated in Mandarin. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Father John E. Vesey, the pastor of St. Michael’s, as well as parochial vicars Father Lianjiang (Peter) Bai and Father Jaime Hernandez, concelebrated.

“I think those who are far from their motherland feel the need to remember their brothers and sisters, especially now that the situation of the church in China is really miserable; it is under harsh persecution,” he said. “We have this freedom here in this wonderful country, we can pray together, so this is an opportunity for us to console each other.”Cardinal Zen, 88, was Hong Kong’s bishop from 2002 to 2009, and is a leader for many Chinese Catholics around the world. His visit to Queens marked the first time a Chinese cardinal celebrated Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Bishop DiMarzio’s Pastoral Letter

At the end of the Mass, Bishop DiMarzio spoke to the faithful about the coronavirus epidemic and how the Chinese community of the diocese is suffering from it. He announced that he has written a pastoral letter in solidarity with them. Father Bai then read the pastoral letter in Mandarin.

In the letter, which will be officially released on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 26), Bishop DiMarzio wrote that during times of epidemics, “we see people looking to blame others.”

In contrast to that attitude, Bishop DiMarzio tells the story of a man who used to bring a present to his grandmother every year. When he asked why, she told him that during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1919, that man, who was still a child at the time, lost both his parents to the flu, and she was the only person in their building willing to prepare their bodies for burial.

The fear now in the Chinese community is palpable. “I have never seen them affected so much for anything like the fear of coronavirus,” Father Vesey said. “Last Sunday I walked through the street in the evening just to see what was going on in our restaurants, and I would say 95 percent of our restaurants had no people and this is the center of Chinese cuisine. People stay at home. [They] have quarantined themselves out of fear.”

The Fight for Religious Freedom

As part of his “religious freedom” tour, Cardinal Zen received the 2019 Wei Jingsheng Chinese Democracy Champion Prize in Washington on Feb. 13. It was awarded by the Washington-based Wei Jingsheng Foundation and was presented to Cardinal Zen by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The cardinal’s trip takes place at a complex moment for Hong Kong, China and Chinese Catholics. After seven months of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong —in which the cardinal participated — the situation in the semi-autonomous city remains tense.

“For many years, even as a colony, we enjoyed freedom,” Cardinal Zen told The Tablet. “They promised there was going to be ‘one country, two systems,’ they promised we were going to have a great degree of autonomy. But then they back off on their promises, so now we are in danger of becoming just one more city in China.

“They are pressing on us to make us renounce our autonomy,” he added.

“They want to take away our freedom of speech and that is terrible, so we are really fighting. We really hope our leaders would remember all the promises. What is happening is simply foolish. We hope God will wake them up.”

In his homily, Cardinal Zen reminded his audience that Chinese in the United States should thank God for their religious freedom. “You can go to church every day and pray,” he said in Mandarin, “but those who are in the mainland cannot do so, especially in recent days, when there is no Mass due to the coronavirus epidemic.

“We need to pray for those who are affected,” Cardinal Zen said. “Do something to help them — that’s the way we love each other.” Meanwhile, persecution of Christians in China continues. While the government has been somewhat tolerant of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, established in 1957 by Communist authorities that didn’t recognize the authority of the pope, the members of the underground church, faithful to Rome, have been targets of unrelenting harassment, imprisonment, internment in forced labor camps and worse. Both communities have suffered together and collaborate with each other.

“It is not a question of the two communities becoming more united,” Cardinal Zen told The Tablet. “There are no problems [between them]. The problem is the government. How can we be united? United in our faith? Okay. But they want them to be united in that schismatic church. Just an independent church, no more Catholic Church — that’s the problem. You cannot force unity from outside the church.”

An agreement in September 2018 between the Vatican and the Chinese government — the content of which has never been revealed — aimed to unite the faithful and rebuild the communion of all Chinese Catholics with Rome. Reportedly, the Vatican agreed to recognize seven bishops of the Patriotic Association who had been excommunicated, while the Communist authorities agreed to recognize the authority of the pope to accept or reject future candidates for episcopal ordination.

But the repression of Catholics and other religious communities has become worse since the agreement was signed. Cardinal Zen has always underlined his personal fidelity to the pope and the pope’s closeness to him. But he has criticized the current diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the Holy See and the Chinese government.

“A totalitarian regime doesn’t compromise,” he said. “They want complete surrender.”

Asked about the future of the church in China, Cardinal Zen said: “We never despair because we believe in God, we believe in the intercession of Our Lady, so you can endure any kind of difficult situation provided that we pray we are united among ourselves. And we hope better times will come.”

Masses Suspended in Hong Kong Amid Coronavirus Epidemic

By Melissa Butz

Seated and wearing a mask, Cardinal John Tong Hon suspended Masses in Hong Kong until Feb. 28. He asked Catholics to follow them online, including during Ash Wednesday.

The only exceptions for Mass will be weddings that were already scheduled, and funerals. This precautionary measure has been taken in response to the coronavirus epidemic.

“At this difficult time, everyone should not panic,” said Cardinal Tong. “We must deepen our trust in God and implement our Christian love for our neighbors and all people.”

During Feb. 12’s General Audience, Pope Francis asked for prayers for the citizens of China, saying, “Let us also pray for our Chinese brothers and sisters who suffer from this illness, so cruel. May they find the path to healing as quickly as possible.”

In the midst of the outbreak, the World Health Organization convened a research forum to mobilize international action in response to the coronavirus that has so far infected more than 60,000 people and has claimed more than 1,100 lives.

‘New York Encounter’ Conference Draws Thousands, Including Pope’s U.S. Ambassador

By Tim Harfmann

The “New York Encounter” conference was a three-day gathering of dialogue and fellowship in order to bring people closer to Christ.

The event drew thousands of people of all ages, including Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Holy Father’s U.S. ambassador.

“This event is a gathering of people who are looking for the truth, who are looking for God,” Archbishop Pierre said.

A memorial Mass was celebrated Feb. 16 in honor of Father Luigi Giussani, who founded the international movement ‘Communion and Liberation.’

The group sponsored the ‘New York Encounter’ at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Pavilion, which featured exhibits, panel discusses and testimonies.

“It’s like a reunion every time I come,” said Julia Bolzon, who attended the annual event the past five years. “[It’s] something very inspiring: all the different talks, the witnesses.”

“What they say, what they leave, their witness is good for the Church,” added Archbishop Pierre. “It has been good for me. It has helped me in my own life, and I think it could be good for others.”

Pope Francis even sent a letter with his best wishes to those in attendance.

“My wish is that all events in the Church may be great moments for some people to discover, you know, ‘who is Christ, the son of God?’ and to become his disciples,” said Archbishop Pierre.

The ‘New York Encounter’ conference is one way of making the archbishop’s wish come true.

Currents News for Friday, February 14, 2020

On the newscast: Some of America’s biggest corporations getting together in Washington, D.C. to promote faith in the workplace. We are there with them; Protecting the planet is so important, not doing so could be considered a sin. Bishop DiMarzio talks about it; On this Valentine’s Day, we hear from a couple who credits faith for everything; And woman’s best friend is so excited that a record-setting astronaut is home.

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.

Fortune 100 Companies to Bring Faith into the Workplace

By Emily Drooby

A person’s ability to bring their whole self to work, faith and all, is an issue that people face every single day.

America’s top companies are doing something about it.

Sue Warnke experienced a powerful moment when an employee of her company, Salesforce, thanked her following an interfaith event held after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting.

That employee was a family member of one of the victims.

The event was run by Faithforce, Salesforce’s interfaith employee resource group.

Faithforce helps bring kosher and halal food to the office, holds interfaith events and promotes a safe place to pray and meditate at work.

It’s just one of many faith resource groups popping up at some of the largest companies across the country.

On the new frontier in diversity, their presence is growing.

Employees from many corporations met Feb. 14 at a conference organized by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation.

“This conference has shown the world now that faith is welcome inside of corporate America,” explained Brian Grim, president of the organization.

The big goal? Provide best practices to everyone there, like Father Greg McBrayer, chaplain and chief dispatcher of American Airlines, which has policies similar to Faithforce.

“We find our faith at the foundation of who we are,” he explained, “so to be able to bring that into the workplace where we deal with anxieties and stresses of our jobs and our professions, is absolutely needed.”

The Anglican priest wears a collar to work and feels like he can be his true self while at his job.

The groundbreaking conference, co-hosted by the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, has been an inspiring sight for students.

“It gives me so much hope as a young business student to know that one day maybe I can go out and work for one of these companies, and I don’t have to be worried about wearing my crucifix to work every day,” said Madeleine Naleski, a student at the business school.

Hope was not in short supply at this conference, but one thing is apparent: when it comes to religious inclusion in the workplace there’s still so much work to be done.

Still, from here, the future looks bright.

Pope Francis Speaks Out on Response to Amazon Document

Currents News Staff

It was a prayerful visit to Rome by U.S. bishops, who were met by a frustrated pontiff. Pope Francis expressed his feelings about the reaction to his Amazon document.

“He kind of expressed, not surprise but he expressed that some people were disappointed because it didn’t address the issue of viri probati or married priests,” explained Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, Florida.

He, along with several other U.S. bishops, spent close to three hours Feb. 13 with the Holy Father yesterday as part of their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican.

During the meeting, the pontiff’s Apostolic Exhortation, which was just released that week, was brought up.

“He said we were there to talk about the issues of the Church in the Amazon,” said Bishop William Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fl. “Other people wanted me to talk about celibacy they made that the issue… that wasn’t the issue of this Synod… he said it would be sad if that was the one thing that they focused on, because they’re not going to be happy.”

Many Catholics around the world were waiting to hear the Holy Father’s thoughts on married priests and women deacons, which was not in the pontiff’s document.

Pope Francis told the bishops he’s accused of not being courageous or not listening to the Holy Spirit, when he says or does something someone disagrees with.

“He also clarified that a Synod is not a parliament where people take majority votes on a whole bunch of issues,” said Archbishop Wenski.

“If it’s a real Synod, the only way it can be is if the Holy Spirit is at work and there’s an honest effort at discernment,” said Auxiliary Bishop Joel Konzen of Atlanta, Georgia.

Human Trafficking Exposed: Part Five

By Tamara Laine

There is power in truth, and when the truth finds light through the strength of voices rising up, anything is possible.

The journey from human trafficking victim, to survivor, to advocate is unique to each brave soul who is able to break the bonds of modern-day slavery.

Rachel, Tiffany, Yolanda and Adriana are all survivors of trafficking who are now speaking their truth to help others.

It’s advocacy work that begins with finally understanding their incredible worth.

Deserving to feel special, deserving to have a voice, and what it feels like when you actually feel that is “an incredible feeling,” explained Tiffany.

“I think it’s because a lot of the time you don’t feel right… but being able to take that to a whole other level and into advocacy and really explain certain things,” is something she values.

“I don’t fear talking about human trafficking, or my family’s experience and effects, because speaking is empowering,” said Ingrid Johnson, whose daughter was trafficked when she was 13.

“That, I think, is the power that you’ve learned… to be able to advocate for this issue,” added Rachel Lloyd, who is the founder of the survivor advocacy group GEMS.

When survivors do break free and expose the realities of their experience, it’s liberating.

“That was a magical thing, actually,” said Ansa, a survivor of a fraudulent marriage, describing the moment she got her voice back.

“I was nobody and now I have been brought to a huge, huge platform – the United Nations platform – to speak about my experience and to be a voice for all these other people,” she explained.

“I could not believe it but somehow I had that courage to speak my heart,” Ansa continued. “Here was something inside me who was really so strong, and wanted to speak in the moment.”

Sometimes, that kind of advocacy begins at home.

Tiffany explained her experience with her family by saying “I had to really sit down and explain to my family, ‘So this happened to me at a point in time in my life. I couldn’t come to you guys. What if I did do something wrong and felt like if I went to see you all, you guys would judge me? You probably deserve for that to happen.”

She went on to say that in disadvantaged neighborhoods, “boys get recruited to be drug dealers very young, and then they drop out of school, and girls get recruited into the commercial sex industry.”

But the road to recovery is a hard one. A road Ingrid knows well, as she described the challenges she faced trying to get her daughter to feel like a normal teenager again after she was rescued.

“Her journey was difficult,” Ingrid said. “Although she successfully completed high school in four years, it was a struggle. But I think the best thing and the best gift that I could have given my daughter was to bring out honesty,” Ingrid explained.

Honesty and the understanding that being a survivor means acknowledging past victimization, and then moving forward in the fight to put an end to slavery around the world.

“You struggle with your identity,” said Adriana. “With the balance between being a victim, and what a survivor looks like… acknowledging that you are right and understand that it wasn’t your fault… I’m not the one to blame for this.”

“Even if somebody else doesn’t understand,” added Yolanda.

“Okay, so this did happen to me,” said Tiffany. “I didn’t actively make this choice… for you to fully understand that and really believe it is a big step, a major step, because then it’s moving forward.”

“Ultimately, we need to be able to empower each other,” said Adriana. “I need you all to know that as women, we are dope in so many different ways.”

“That is my next fight,” said Ansa. “I want to be the support, the voice for others and tell them like there is nothing to be afraid of. You have to be strong.

From the Right to Vote to the Right to Life: Remembering Susan B. Anthony

Currents News Staff

Feb. 15 would have been the two-hundredth birthday of one of America’s most famous suffragettes: Susan B. Anthony.

Anthony fought for a woman’s right to vote, was a major proponent in the movement to abolish slavery and also stood up for the right to life.

Sister Maryann Lopiccolo, the Episcopal Delegate for Religious in the Brooklyn Diocese, joins Currents News to discuss Susan B. Anthony’s legacy and what Catholics can learn from her role in history.

How These New York Nuns Are Helping the Homeless

By Christine Persichette

Joyce Clark was just 23-years-old —a single mom of two —when she found herself homeless.

“It was very overwhelming. I felt like I was failing,” she said. “You have to smile for the kids and inside it’s a very overwhelming feeling. You feel really dark.”

But that darkness turned to light when she was placed in Bethany House. The homeless shelter on Long Island for women and children was founded by Sister Aimee Koonmen in 1978.

“At first I didn’t want to go,” Joyce recalled, “but I didn’t have a choice. But after going there, that’s when all the weight got lifted off my shoulders.”

“The whole purpose is to love you back to life,” explained Sr. Aimee. When talking about their mission, she refers to Isaiah 58: “We ask that you share bread with the hungry, you shelter the homeless poor, and do not turn your back upon your own so we have a special mission to women and children.”

Women and children feel right at home at each of Bethany’s five houses.

“You have your own room, you have your own space,” said Joyce. “You have dinner every night, you have people who smile at you, you have staff who take care of you and are very welcoming…it’s a wonderful experience, it is.”

But there are rules and expectations, Sr. Aimee explained. “We have an expression- at Bethany you either grow, or you go.”

Joyce said she grew while at Bethany House.

“They taught me structure… they taught me to grow, that growth is fine…that sometimes you can get knocked back, but you pick yourself back up.”

And Joyce did get back up. She now lives in her own apartment, but she still comes back to Bethany House to pay it forward, help the new women there and share her story.

“I’ve had a lot of challenges in life. I can sit all day and tell you about them, but…I’ve been in the fire. I came through the fire, and you know at times you may feel like you’re still in the fire,” she said. “But I believe in God. I have faith, so I’ll be fine.”

Help is also coming from the healthcare organization Pro-Health, which just donated $100,000 along with clothing, toiletries and diapers, to Bethany House. It’s all to help keep the welcome mat out and the door open.

“When we started we said our job is to work ourselves out of a job,” said Sr. Aimee. “We felt that if we could really get hold of this problem we could make a difference. I do believe we make a difference every day, but the problem keeps growing… it’s much, much bigger than we are.”

But their faith helps them go on and move forward.

“Wherever God leads us, the pathway will open,” Sr. Aimee said.