Pope Francis Visits Papal Grotto in St. Peter’s Basilica

By Melissa Butz

Accompanied by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis visited the crypt underneath the basilica.

It houses the tombs of several past popes. Pope Francis prayed for and remembered them.

He prayed before the tombs of Paul VI and Benedict XV before he made his way to various chapels. One in particular was the Clementine Chapel, which is closest to the bones of St. Peter buried within the necropolis.

He then prayed before Pius XII and Pius XI. The papal grottoes are one of the most visited places in Vatican City by tourists. It is marked by tombs, sarcophagus, tunnels, art and even models of the Vatican before it was what it is today.

Election Day 2019: Keeping the Faith at the Ballot Box

Currents News Staff

Currents News is joined by Monsignor Guy Massie, Pastor of Sacred Hearts and Saint Stephen Church in Brooklyn, and Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, President of The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, to discuss how voting is influenced by faith.

Americans are Giving Less Money to Charity

By Emily Drooby

As someone who works for Hour Children, Jeffery Smith constantly sees the importance of donations. From the non-profit’s food pantry, to their day care, to their thrift shop; the lifelong Catholic sees giving turn into an opportunity for someone in need.

“That’s really what motivates me, to be able to live the gospel, and to give expression to the gospel in what I do. It’s a great gift,” explained Smith.

The Queens based non-profit helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children. It’s one of over a million non-profits in the country relying on donations to stay afloat but those donations are decreasing. The percentage of Americans giving money to charity has dropped from 66 percent to 53 percent between 2000 and 2016.

“It doesn’t come as a surprise to me. I think the challenge for organizations like us, is to continue to do what we do with passion and with integrity,” said Smith.

Sister Tesa Fitzgerald who runs Hour Children says despite some drop off, they are still in good shape.

Sister Fitzgerald explained, “We are testimony to people’s goodness.”

There’s many different ways to give to Hour Children and one of those ways is through time.

“We have endless, endless amount of volunteers coming from churches, companies, school groups that really make the world of Hour Children happen,” explained Sister Fitzgerald.

The recession and a lack of extra cash among millennials are cited as two reasons for the decrease in giving.

“We are all people, everybody has a hard time everybody struggles and to be able to build other people up, why wouldn’t you do it. Why would you look at another person and say, you’re not worth your time,” said Hour Children volunteer Kaylee Konczal.

The study also points to the rise of the ‘nones’, a nickname for people with no religion. They are less likely than people of faith to give.

“Jesus said very clearly, look to the less fortunate, and not only did he say it, that’s what he did,” explained Sister Fitzgerald.

As the season of giving approaches, Sister Fitzgerald says even giving a little could mean a lot.

Currents News for Monday, November 4, 2019

On the newscast: A hate crime at a Brooklyn parish in Williamsburg. A man went on a rampage, stomping on the statue of Saint Jude; The Iowa Caucuses are getting close. The Democrats are stepping up their attacks on each other; The Pope goes underground in Rome to celebrate Mass in the catacombs of the early Christian martyrs; And the remarkable discovery of the face of a saint. A skilled 3D designer made it happen.

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.

NYPD Charges Suspect in Attack on Brooklyn Church

By Tim Harfmann

The NYPD arrested 34-year-old Michael Gould Wartofsky for an attack on a Brooklyn church, charging him with criminal mischief.

The violence happened before dawn, Sunday November 3 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello is the church’s pastor. He was on his way to Mass when he realized something was wrong.

“I looked on the floor and I saw all the plants were on the floor. I said, ‘we didn’t have a storm last night.’ I said, ‘I wonder what happened.”

That’s when Monsignor Gigantiello checked his security cameras.

“[Gould Wartofsky] actually took the plants, threw them at the rectory door, and started screaming at the camera.”

Monsignor Gigantiello said after that, Gould Wartofsky walked down to the statue of Saint Jude, ripped it off of its pedestal, and dragged it into the street.

Then, he stomped on the statue and left it in the middle of the street.

“A couple of cars went around it, but one guy stopped, got out of his car; and there was someone walking, and the both of them picked up the statue and put it on the pedestal,” said Monsignor Gigantiello.

Despite the attack, Monsignor Gigantiello forgives him.

“We can talk and try to say, ‘why are you so angry at the church?’ and maybe we can make peace,” the Brooklyn pastor said.

Monsignor also wants to acknowledge the passersby who helped.

“If they would just identify themselves, I would like to personally thank them for doing that.”

The statue of Saint Jude cost $5,000 and Monsignor Gigantiello plans on buying a new one.

Catholics Remember All Souls During Cemetery Field Masses

By Tim Harfmann

On this All Souls Day, hundreds remembered those who have returned to the Lord.

“Today you celebrate this special day for all our family and friends. I have to pray, too, for dead people that nobody remembers,” said Miria Castro, a Catholic who attended Mass on All Souls Day.

To make it possible, Brooklyn’s auxiliary bishops celebrated outdoor field Masses at five Catholic cemeteries.

Family and friends were there to be close to their loved ones.

“It’s their bodies: the arms that held you and the lips that kissed you. That’s really what you’re coming back [to] because you know that their souls are in heaven,” said Ann Furlong, who traveled from Long Island with her husband, Wilfrid, to remember his parents. They passed away more than four decades ago.

“It’s moving,” added Wilfrid.

Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez celebrated Mass at Saint John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, on Saturday, November 2.

“We gather with our loved ones and pray that they rest in peace and pray that they are able to intercede for us; as we, the Church on earth, continue to look forward to the Kingdom of God,” said Bishop Sanchez.

Flora Wieczorek visited the cemetery’s mausoleum to pray for her husband, Steve, who lost his fight with cancer five years ago.

“[He was] my husband [for] 22 years. I come here to pray for my husband,” Flora said.

Thinking of her husband during Mass moved her to tears.

“He’s a special man in my life,” said added.

Wieczorek, and everyone at the Saint John’s field Mass, were grateful for the All Souls Day opportunity to pray for the faithful departed.

Currents News for Friday, November 1, 2019

On the newscast: Catholic kids in Queens are honoring all the saints in a special way today. The Church remembers the holy women and men in heaven; Pope Francis is getting ready to celebrate mass in a Roman catacomb tomorrow in memory of All Souls.; President Trump is saying goodbye to New York City. Governor Cuomo has a message for him; A shakeup at City Hall amid the Mother Cabrini controversy.

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.

Cardinal Dolan Weighs in on Biden-Communion Controversy

Currents News Staff

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is tackling the question of Holy Communion for politicians who support abortion.

He told Fox News that he would have handled the Joe Biden controversy differently.

A South Carolina priest refused the Eucharist to the former Vice President.

Cardinal Dolan argues that the episode is a great teaching moment about the sacrament and Church teachings.

The priest, Father Robert Morey, was acting under the Diocese of Charleston policy that prohibits communion for politicians who back abortion.

Biden has said he won’t comment on the issue because it involves his personal life.

Catholic History Comes Alive: Students Celebrate All Saints Day

By Emily Drooby

Voices rang out on All Saints Day as Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Woodhaven, Queens filled with parishioner — and saints — on November 1.

Students from the parish’s Catholic academy also celebrated the Catholic Holiday dedicated to honoring the saints of the Church.

For this annual event, students walk in the shoes of a saint of their choosing by creating costumes in the image of that saint and doing research that all leads to Nov. 1, where they get to perform for their fellow schoolmates, family and friends.

“My saint name is Saint Anthony. He was the one to hold baby Jesus. He was the doctor of the Church,” said Matthew, a student at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy.

Lianellys, another student, learned that Saint Catherine “wanted a room to pray to God.”

Religious leaders in the school say that the saint that come alive are a unique way to impart the important saintly lessons.

“In so many ways the saints guide us still, and there are many people even around them today, who sacrifice for them,” said Father Frank Tumino. “The kids know about sacrifice and love, we just want to make that connection to church to being Catholic and following Jesus.”

“Learning how to be good and kind to people and how to be a peaceful person, I think the saints have a lot to teach us,” added Sister Bernadette Alfieri.

Principal Thomas Piro sees it as an interactive way of connecting students with their faith: a pillar of any Catholic school.

“It helps to see how active the faith can be and that it is not only something they should believe in, but to bring it to the next level,” he said, “and to be able to practice that and share that with others and to show how all of their beliefs can make a difference in the world.”

It’s a way of teaching that seems to be working. One student, Jaiden, took part in the performance three years ago but she still remembers everything she learned about her saint.

“My saint is Saint Gabriel the Archangel. He’s the messenger of God,” she recalled.

The school has been celebrating All Saints Day this way for about 10 year as part of a tradition that will surely continue on.

Pope Will Visit Catacombs of Priscilla to Pray for Dead on Feast of All Souls

By Melissa Butz

Just like each year, Pope Francis is making a special trip to a cemetery on Nov. 2 to pray for the dead on the Feast of All Souls.

He will go to the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome, one of the oldest Paleo-Christian cemeteries in Rome. He will celebrate a Mass at 4:00 p.m. in commemoration of all those who have died.

These catacombs contain frescoes of great importance, which give testimony to the first Christians. It holds the oldest representation of Virgin Mary, a fresco from the third century.

“Let’s go home today with this double memory: the memory of the past, of those of us who are gone. And the memory of the future, the path in which we’re going,” said the Holy Father.

In previous years, Pope Francis visited a cemetery for the unborn, the American cemetery of Nettuno, dedicated to soldiers and nurses who died in World War II, as well as other cemeteries in Rome, Verano and Prima Porta.

During the day, the pope will visit the tombs of past popes. On Nov. 4 he will hold a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for all the bishops and cardinals who died throughout the year.