Brooklyn Bishop Recalls Refugee Roots, Lends a Hand at Venezuela-Colombia Border

By Tim Harfmann

Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros recently met with refugees from Venezuela.

“It was heartbreaking,” Bishop Cisneros said.

He has just returned from the border with Colombia. People are crossing over every day to get out of Venezuela and escape crushing conditions. According to the United Nations, more than four-and-a-half million people have fled Venezuela in the past four years.

“Their faces are empty. What’s the future? What’s coming next?” Bishop Cisneros continued.

Bishop Cisneros led a group from the U.S. bishops’ conference to the border to offer help.

They spent three days touring a children’s center and food bank, where volunteers are doing their best to aid people who have so little.

All across Venezuela, food and medicine are in short supply.

“Children hanging onto their mothers, many of them sick,” said Bishop Cisneros.

The U.S. bishops have pitched in before, sending money to that same food bank two years ago. Now, Bishop Cisneros is looking at what’s needed next.

“We donated previously $50,000 to the food bank; and we’re going to see what we can do now as we come back,” he added.

Bishop Cisneros is a refugee himself, having fled communist Cuba decades ago. He says he understands what the Venezuelans are going through.

“Leaving your home and leaving because you are forced to leave, not because you want to. Leaving everything that is dear to you to an unknown land; and I sympathize with the people,” he said.

President Trump Delivers State of the Union Address

Currents News Staff

President Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union address to the nation from the U.S. Capitol, just hours away from an expected acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial.

He voided any mention of impeachment, and focused instead on topics like the strong economy,

“Our country is thriving and highly respected again,” he said. “I am thrilled to report to you tonight that our economy is the best it has ever been.”

He also highlighted a new trade deal. “Six days ago I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law,” told the country during his address.

Trump also touched on immigration saying, “illegal crossings are down 7 percent since May, dropping eight straight months in a row.”

The Democrats pushed back in their response to the president’s speech, saying the booming economy is not helping everyone,

“It doesn’t matter what the president says about the stock market,” said Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. “What matters is that millions of people struggle to get by, or don’t have enough money at the end of the month.”

Democrats also said not enough is being done in Washington on issues like healthcare, student debt and infrastructure.

“Everyone in this country benefits when we invest in infrastructure. Congressional Democrats have presented proposals to keep us moving forward,” Gov. Whitmer added.

A Little Sister of the Poor Turns 100

By Jessica Easthope and Allyson Escobar

QUEENS VILLAGE — Call it the century-long luck of the Irish: Sister Mary Monica, L.S.P., a member of the Little Sisters of the Poor for almost 80 years and a native of Ireland, will turn 100 on Feb. 22.

“It’s like I’m dreaming,” Sister Mary Monica said on Feb. 4, when she celebrated her upcoming birthday with her fellow nuns and with the staff and other residents of Queen of Peace, a senior living center in Queens Village that’s run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“We are ever grateful to God that He has chosen Sister [Mary Monica] to be one of us, a missionary from Ireland,” said Sister Celine Therese, L.S.P. “She’s led an exemplary life and has been an inspiration to all of us Little Sisters of the Poor, who celebrate the culture of life … Even in her 100 years of life, she has always been very thoughtful, attentive to the needs of one another.”

The celebration in Queens Village started with a Mass in Queen of Peace’s chapel. That was followed by an Irish-themed party, complete with green punch, cake, a bagpiper and Irish dancers. Queen of Peace residents and about 60 Little Sisters of the Poor from across the East Coast joined the festivities. Sister Mary Monica’s little sister Phyllis and her niece surprised her by Skyping from Ireland.

The whole afternoon, Sister Mary Monica, who wears a hearing aid, danced and waved at everyone in her wheelchair.

What’s her secret to a long, happy life?

“Do unto others what you would want done to you,” she says.

Her 100th birthday wish is that “we may all become worthy of the promises of Christ.”

“It was all in God’s plan, His grace, to get to this age. God’s grace. It’s all in His hands,” Sister Mary Monica said.

Sister Mary Monica was born Anne Patricia in Dublin, the fourth of eight children.

She grew up in Dublin in a devout Catholic family, praying the rosary and visiting church every day. At the age of 12, she went to live with her ailing grandmother in Galway, Ireland — her first time caring for a sick and elderly person.

Her grandmother passed when Sister Mary Monica was 19 years old. She then began to work for the Irish Sisters of Charity in hospice care. That was her first exposure to religious life. She remembers an “impactful” moment when a Sister of Charity encouraged her to become a Little Sister of the Poor because “she possessed their spirit.”

In 1941, Sister Mary Monica entered the novitiate of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Dublin. “It’s always been a wonderful community,” she said.

As a novice, Sister Mary Monica cared for sick and elderly sisters in her community. She came to the United States for an assignment at the Little Sisters of the Poor’s home in Newark, N.J.

She then moved to Somerville, Mass., outside of Boston. She lived there for 25 years and became known as the “Begging Sister” for her charitable work. She was then transferred to the Little Sisters’ community in Montreal, where she spent 35 years caring for elderly sisters.

In between her duties as a religious nun, Sister Mary Monica made regular trips to visit her family in Ireland. She has lived at Queen of Peace since 2009, and “has not let age deter her constant service of the elderly and poor,” her fellow sisters say.

Sister Maria Catherine, who works in Queen of Peace’s infirmary, says some of her fondest memories have been caring for Sister Mary Monica. They first met while Sister Maria Catherine was in the Little Sisters’ novitiate, which is next door to Queen of Peace.

“She is always so joyful and upbeat; no matter what,” Sister Maria Catherine said.

“For [Sister Mary Monica], it was always about the will of God, and she finds something good in it. She is so grateful for all she receives, and can find God in all people.

“I think what Sister Mary Monica teaches me: to forget yourself. It takes a great deal to make others happy. And she’s always concerned about everybody else, never about herself. For me, as a young nun, our generation needs to witness that: it’s not able you, it’s about Him. Her whole joy is about belonging to God.”

The Dewey Decimal System is Not Dead

By Tim Harfmann

Roaming the rows of bookcases, non-fiction fanatics at Saint Matthias Catholic Academy in Ridgewood, Queens, are expanding their knowledge and love for reading.

The young students are turning to an old method — the Dewey Decimal System, first published in 1876 — to help turn the page.

The school uses the old-fashioned catalog as a teaching tool.

“I picked out an origami book because I like doing crafts,” explained fifth grader Julia Hutton.

“I like sciences,” chimed in classmate Freddy Cavalli. “It separates them into 10 categories based on what the book is about,” he said about the system.

“In the past, there would be a book about dinosaurs, but then next to it would be a book about a biography, which are not about the same thing,” explained fellow fifth grader Terangel Martinez.

“We want students to be able to see what a traditional card category is, because everything is computerized now, and students have the opportunity to take a look at it,” said the school’s principal, Maria Cuomo.

Saint Matthias does incorporate new technology into other curricula, but students say the old method — not an app — helps them navigate the academy’s library.

“Sometimes when you have technology, there might not be any service, so you might as well come to the library,” explained Treangel

“Technology only gets you so far,” said Freddy. “The extra mile comes from all of the books.”

The academy is taking the extra mile to sign every student up for a public library card, hoping kids find a library and get lost in a good book.

Currents News for Tuesday, February 4, 2020

On the newscast : Big problems are preventing Iowa Democrats from announcing a winner after last night’s vote; A doctor who tried to warn China about the coming crisis from that deadly virus is now fighting for his own life; Chicago’s Catholic schools are getting help in the biggest deal of its kind ever; Pope Francis is getting ready to celebrate a new worldwide Catholic celebration.

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.

Trump Prepares for State of the Union Address Ahead of Impeachment Vote

Currents News Staff

President Trump is in final preparations for a speech that could be crucial to his re-election prospects — the State of the Union address.

But he comes to Capitol Hill under historic circumstances: it’s the night before the Senate is set for the final votes on the two articles of impeachment against him, and no impeached American president has ever run for re-election.

Feb. 5, the Senate will cast their votes on the charges presented by the House: abuse of power, and obstruction of Congress.

Republican senators are expected to guarantee his acquittal, hope he’ll stay away from the impeachment process in tonight’s speech, and instead, talk up his administration’s accomplishments and why he is deserving of another term.

“He’s gonna make a good speech. Let’s just leave it at that,” said Republican Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma.

Jan. 3, after more than a year of campaigning and amidst confusion and chaos in the 2020 Iowa caucuses, candidates took aim at the president.

“Our union is stronger than Trump,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.

“We cannot allow Donald Trump to be re-elected,” presidential candidate Joe Biden said.

The White House says the president’s speech will look at what he has achieved so far.

“He’s going to be talking to the American people about all the things that this administration has accomplished while Democrats have been focused on a very petty, partisan impeachment,” said Marc Short, Chief of Staff to Vice President Pence.

The Democratic response to the speech will be delivered by Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, one of the states that buoyed President Trump to victory in 2016, and one that Democrats want back in their column this November.

U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom: ‘Do With Your Own Soul What You Choose’

By Melissa Butz

The election year is here, with U.S. presidential primary and caucus votes already being cast.

But one bipartisan issue in particular is increasing in global relevance: according to a Pew Research Center report, since 2007, religious freedom restrictions have increased globally.

Whether it is preferring certain religious groups, or the establishment of laws and policies against other religions, restrictions rose more than 44 percent.

Religious persecution is thus stirring greater global concern, and it is an issue that could influence the U.S. presidential elections in 2020.

According to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, every person has the right to safely and freely worship. But Sam Brownback, U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, admits he’s been hearing rising concerns about this “freedom,” and if the amendment still holds true.

“This is a key concern when you’ve got churches and synagogues in the United States being shot up,” he explained.

“Unfortunately, on a pretty regular basis, it happens around the world and people hear about it. You get beheadings taking place in the world because somebody is a Christian. That really stirs people. They’re saying, ‘Look, I’ve had enough. There’s too much of this going on, what are you doing to address it?’”

While a majority of religious persecution is happening outside North America, it’s infiltrating the country little-by-little.

Ambassador Brownback explained how part of his job is to aggressively tackle these issues, both in the states and elsewhere.

For him, having religious freedom supported by both Democrats and Republicans is a key point for the upcoming election.

“It’s going to continue to be, but I think it is an electoral issue,” he said. “The beautiful thing about religious freedom is, to-date, it’s been a strongly bipartisan issue, supported by both parties. We want the topic to stay there, strongly bipartisan, supported by both sides. It’s a basic human right. You should be able to do with your own soul what you choose, as long as you’re peaceful.”

According to a U.S. News World Report, the U.S. ranks as number five in the top 10 countries with the most religious freedom.

It’s topic Brownback said has risen to one of the most important issues for every political party, no matter their beliefs or where they’re from.

It’s enough to agree on the fact that religion should be free.

Religious freedom is more than the ability to worship, it is people’s right to peacefully and publicly live, speak and act according to their beliefs, a right that’s still protected within the United States.

A Palace for the Poor

Currents News Staff

A Vatican palace is now a homeless shelter on the orders of Pope Francis.

The Palazzo Migliori, a spectacular nineteenth century structure, was slated to become a luxury hotel.

This was before the Holy Father visited the temporary facilities in November.

Now, the renovated palace will house about 50 residents as a place where they can sleep, eat and learn.

It’s being dubbed “a palace for the poor.”

Results of Iowa Caucuses Delayed

Currents News Staff

The Iowa caucuses are the first test in the 2020 presidential primary season. However, there’s been a delay in the results.

The Hawkeye State is on hold as officials say there is some issue with Feb. 3’s caucuses, and state officials are combing over a paper trail of results.

“This is being run by the state political party and by volunteers, so no surprise that we’d be running into some problems,” explained senior political analyst Mark Preston.

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential hopefuls have been trying to take matters in stride.

“So, you probably heard, we don’t know the results,” said Democratic presidential candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar.

“It is too close to call, so I’m just going to tell you what I do know,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren, “you won!”

Now, they’re trying to be patient.

“Folks, well, it looks like it’s going to be a long night,” presidential candidate Joe Biden told the crowd Monday night. “But,” he said, “I’m feeling good.”

“I would imagine, have a strong feeling, that at some point the results will be announced,” said Senator Bernie Sanders.

As caucus-goers are waiting to see who won the state, the quest for the White House is rolling ahead.

“We take our message onward, to New Hampshire, which has a way of making up its own mind, to Nevada to South Carolina and beyond to every corner of America,” said candidate Pete Buttigieg.

Currents News for Monday, February 3, 2020

On the newscast: Now the primary season is really underway. Votes are being counted in Iowa for Democrats who want to be President; You’ll meet a missionary sister who tackles everything from snake bites to deadly diseases as part of her everyday mission; A Catholic teen in Brooklyn with amazing talents. His works are onstage, at the age of 14; And inspiration from Upstate New York, where kindness is warming hands… and hearts.

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.