Currents News Staff
When some neighboring Catholic high schools closed at the end of last year, Fontbonne Hall Academy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, took in 60 transfer students, many of them seniors.
In an effort to welcome the new students, the girls decided they would add the closed schools’ emblems onto Fontbonne’s sweaters.
Now they stand side by side, or pocket to pocket. This year the school’s theme is “together, we are one.”
By Emily Drooby
Camp Compass looks just like a normal summer camp with barbecues, arts, crafts and sports. But for campers like Kyaire, it’s more than just fun and games.
Basketball has always been a part of his life because of his mother.
“She’s the one who taught me how to shoot a basketball. I was maybe around four or five years old, and she said, ‘I’m not going to have you sitting around the house no more looking bored. I’m going to teach you how to shoot a basketball, and I’m going to put you on a team and make sure you go to high school, college and the NBA,’” she told him.
That life dream was compromised when tragedy struck his family
“I lost my mom on September 15, 2017,” he explained.
Forced to deal with loss at only 12-years-old, Kyaire said he started acting out and losing focus on his future.
Then he turned to Calvary Hospital’s children’s bereavement programs.
“Speaking about his mother, and speaking about just the relationship he had with her, and speaking about how he can incorporate all the things he has learned from her to move forward with his journey,” has helped Kyaire let go of his anger and focus on his goals, said Rashida Sanchez, his bereavement counselor at Calvary Hospital.
Now Kaire plays basketball at Camp Compass.
“I take my anger and my emotions out on the court,” he said, identifying it as a way to cope with his grief and honor his mom.
Every camper at the week-long camp has one thing in common: they’ve lost someone they love
“Although children are not adults, they still need spaces like this to be able to speak to their emotions to speak to what is going on with them in their grief process. So I love that we are able here at calvary to create that space for them,” Rashida.
The camp, run by Catholics, allows children to have a supportive environment where they can remember and honor their loved ones. There are bereavement activities, projects, and events that include emotional support animals.
The camp is 100 percent free, 100 percent helpful, and most importantly “really fun,” said Clio, another camper. “Everybody, like over 50 people are here, and you can talk to literally anyone.”
That’s something that these children may not have had in a very long time.
By Melissa Butz
Friday morning began the Pope’s final moments in Mozambique.
The Holy Father started by visiting a hospital that cares for patients of HIV-AIDS, a virus that affects 23 percent of the population in Maputo.
This center is run by the Catholic organization Sant’Egidio Community and the project to cure those living with AIDS is called, DREAM.
They offer antiretroviral treatment to the poor. The Catholic institution has assisted in the birth of 130,000 healthy children in Africa.
At the end of the visit, Pope Francis was given a wooden cross made from remnants of cyclone Idai. He brought it with him to Zimpeto Stadium, where he celebrated his final Mass in the country.
More than 60,000 pilgrims joyfully danced and sang, welcoming the pope to the arena. He appealed for forgiveness and reconciliation, despite difficulties and years of conflict within Mozambique.
“No family, no group of neighbors, no ethnic group, much less a nation, has a future if the force that unites them, brings them together and resolves their differences is vengeance and hatred,” said Francis.
He reminded them to follow Jesus’ example and the golden rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Just before lunchtime, Pope Francis was accompanied to the airport in Maputo, where the country’s president thanked him for his visit.
He then boarded the plane to head to Madagascar, where he was received by the country’s president and first lady.
He met privately with the president before greeting the thousands lining the streets on the island just off the coast of Africa.
Pope Francis will remain there until Sept. 10, with a day trip planned to Mauritius for Monday.
By Inés San Martín
MAPUTO, Mozambique – Victims of suffering don’t need intermediaries, Pope Francis told medical personnel who work with some of the most ailing people in Africa on Friday, so much as simple “loving attentiveness” to their cries.
“All of you who, in various ways, are part of this healthcare community thus become a sign of the heart of Jesus, so that no one will think that his or her cry has gone unheard,” Francis said during a visit to a medical center on the outskirts of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique.
Doctors, nurses and other staff at the Zimpeto Center are “a sign of sharing with those in need, and you enable them to sense the active presence of a brother or a sister,” the pope said.
The pontiff also praised the center’s efforts to reduce its ecological footprint, including the use of sustainable methods of energy and gathering and storing water supplies. This concern with environmental impact, Francis said, is a “virtuous mode” and an example to be followed in light of the “urgent situation created by the deterioration of our planet.”
Listening to the cry of the most vulnerable, Francis says, “puts us in contact with another part of our vulnerable world,” meaning the earth herself, “burdened and laid waste.” The planet too, he argued, has been abandoned and maltreated, and she “groans in travail.”
Zimpeto Center, specializing in the treatment of women and children with HIV/Aids, was inaugurated in 2018 in the presence of President Filipe Nyusi and the then-papal representative in Mozambique, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, today effectively the pope’s Chief of Staff as the substitute in the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
During his visit, Francis unveiled a plaque marking the occasion, saw a dance prepared by young children, and greeted some 20 patients before heading privately to visit two of the center’s rooms.
Francis said the situation at the center resembles the Gospel story of the Good Samaritan, and the patients “with despair and anguish, are like the man lying on the side of the road,” while those working in the center have refused to continue on their way like the Levite or the priest in the parable.
Praising the employees, he said they have “heeded the silent, almost inaudible, cry of countless women, so many of them living in shame, marginalized and judged by all.”
In the Hospital Zimpeto, Francis said, God lives among those suffering from cancer or tuberculosis, as well as hundreds of malnourished people, especially children and youth.
The hospital also features a DREAM center for people with HIV/Aids. The “Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means” project was created by the lay Community of Sant’Egidio in 2002 to help people with the virus as well as malnutrition in Africa.
“This centre shows us that there are always people ready to stop and show compassion, who do not yield to the temptation to say, ‘There is nothing to be done’ or ‘It’s impossible to fight this scourge’,” Francis said.
An estimated 100,000 people have been helped through the DREAM project, and as Francis said, are today able to smile because they were cured with dignity in their dignity.
“Having emerged from the nightmare of suffering, and without concealing their condition, they are now a sign of hope for many persons,” he said. “Their willingness to dream can serve as an inspiration to many people lying on the wayside who need a welcoming hand.”
As for those who help those in need, Francis said, they will be repaid by the Lord when he returns. Knowing this, he said, should fill the workers and volunteers with joy.
As the pope noted, thanks to “telemedicine” the hospital and the DREAM project are connected to over five thousand doctors, nurses and technicians who help in the formation of local operators.
The DREAM Center gave Pope Francis a crosier made from trees uprooted during Cyclone Idai in Beira, that killed hundreds in March of this year. It is adorned with small metal crosses, that were made from what was left of the roof of an elderly woman’s home.
After the visit to the hospital, Francis was scheduled to celebrate Mass in the National Zimpeto Stadium, with a capacity for some 42,000 people. Afterwards, he heads to the airport to begin the second leg of his Sept. 4-10 African tour in Madagascar.
Currents News Staff
Hurricane Dorian is still swirling off the coast of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, but the storm has weakened to a Category 1.
Residents of the Carolinas bearing Dorian’s wrath over the past 24 hours faced fierce winds, torrential rain and destructive tornadoes.
“I was outside when I heard the roar and saw things start churning,” said one resident.
Many in the storm’s path woke this morning to devastated homes and businesses after tornadoes sprung up Thursday with little warning.
“I looked outside and the tornado was literally just going through the back, bouncing away across there – debris flying everywhere. I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life,” said Byron Cox from Emerald Isle, NC.
Tens of thousands are without electricity as power lines are down throughout the region.
The good news is that Hurricane Dorian is weakening and moving further out to sea, away from the coast of North Carolina and Virginia.
“Fortunately, we’ll be back open this weekend. The sun will be out, poor people in the Bahamas have years to regroup. But we’ll be all good in a couple days,” said Brett Yearout, a Charleston business owner.
As Dorian continues to track northeast, residents in New York will face beach closures due to rip tides, while parts of Massachusetts are under a tropical storm warning where high winds are expected through much of the weekend.
By Melissa Butz and Angeles Conde
The Pope set aside time for his busy schedule in Mozambique to meet with about twenty young people participating in the programs of the foundation he promoted, Scholas Ocurrentes.
The meeting was in the Holy See’s nunciature in Maputo, and the young people told the Pope how Scholas has helped them foster communities of encounter where they live.
Pope Francis listened to their testimonies and also received gifts, like a capulana, which is a traditional African wrap skirt.
“Do I have to wear it?,” joked the Holy Father.
They also presented the Pope with music.
The Pope was very comfortable among these boys and girls whom he affectionately thanked for his visit.
“I thank you for this visit, which has touched my heart,” said Francis.
One gift especially caught the Pope’s attention for a very personal reason.
“There is one thing that touched my heart a lot – it is the rag ball. When I was a kid I played with a rag ball because at that time they were leather balls, sewn with leather, and they were very expensive.”
Pope Francis explained that neither he nor his friends had money then to buy the other type of ball.
He also suggested an artistic competition related to “rag balls.” He announced that, if it takes place, he himself would deliver the prize to the winner.
Before leaving, he left his signature and drank some mate brought to him by Argentine missionaries.
By Tim Harfmann
On the streets of Brooklyn, religious men and women have one goal: bringing people closer to Christ.
As part of the religious order named the Institute of the Incarnate Word, nearly 40 brothers and sisters traveled from Maryland to serve the Brooklyn Diocese for two weeks, knocking on doors and walking the city streets to invite people to Church.
“What we want to do is share, like Pope Francis said, the joy of the Gospel. So on the street, to show a smile, even just listening,” said Mother Maria Aeiparthenos, one of the missionaries.
The curbside Catholics also handing out flyers with events at Saint Teresa of Avila Church and the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph.
“What I tell them when they, sometimes, feel [scared], ‘We don’t come here to condemn you. We don’t come here to judge you. We come here to tell you that the doors of the Church are always open for you,’” said Brother Simon Magana, another one of the missionaries meeting residents face-to-face.
On September 5 he met Marie Kelly, who was walking her dog, Mimi. Marie admitted that she turned away from the Church in college.
“The Catholic dogma kind of got to me. I know there have been a lot of changes and a lot of improvements, but the message at the time from the Church just wasn’t resonating with me,” she said.
Marie has found Christ again thanks in part to her interaction with these brothers.
“Now that I know that I feel like I need some more spirituality and God in my life, I think that going back to what I was raised with might help me start on the right path,” she added.
Marie’s story reminded Brother Simon of another interaction he had a few days ago, where one woman saw him as a Godsend.
“She’s all like, ‘Every time I need it or I’m going astray, somehow God sends a sign or someone or something; and this time it was you,” she said.
It’s a sign to reinvigorate the pews in the borough of churches.
“St. Teresa’s around the corner from my apartment, so that makes it really easy. We walk by it at least three times a day,” said Marie, who next just might stop in.
If she does, that would fulfill the goal of the missionaries from Maryland.
On the newscast: His pilgrimage of peace. Pope Francis is in war-scarred Mozambique with a message of reconciliation; Dangerous storm surges and historic floods– Hurricane Dorian hammering the Carolinas; There’s a new group of missionaries in Brooklyn– traveling door-to-door with a special invitation; And what would the world look like if every interaction started with “hello”? One Catholic school is doing just that.
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By Melissa Butz
On his first full day in Mozambique, Pope Francis kicked off his morning with a visit to the country’s leaders.
His first words expressed his closeness to those who were affected by cyclones Idai and Kenneth. He is unable to visit them due to the length of the trip.
Then he directed words of peace and reconciliation toward the country, who signed an agreement to end decades of hostility last month, ahead of national elections in October.
“I want also to express my personal gratitude, and that of the larger international community, for the efforts made in recent decades to ensure that peace is once more the norm, and reconciliation the best path to confront the difficulties and challenges that you face as a nation,” said Francis.
He reminded them peace must be sought after, so neighbors can coexist, ensuring a future of hope.
Secondly, Pope Francis met with young people from every religion represented in Mozambique. He began by encouraging them, saying “You are important! You need to know this. You need to believe it.”
Pope Francis advised them to hold on to their joy and be weary of resignation and anxiety, which can ruin a person’s life. He encouraged the Muslims, Christians and Hindus to dialogue together.
His day concluded at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with Catholic religious who welcomed him with singing.
The Pope asked them to renew their vocational “yes,” especially when faced with societal difficulties.
“We are called to face reality as it is. This world can drive you to take a route without real meaning, without direction, without clear goals, and thus thwart many of your efforts,” added the Holy Father.
Pope Francis invited them to seek out silence, especially in moments of intense service and exhaustion.
He blessed the excited attendees before leaving to conclude his first day in Mozambique.
Currents News Staff
Dorian hasn’t made landfall, but it is still wreaking havoc. And the Carolinas are getting the worst of the storm today.
Downed power lines in the streets of Charleston, SC were just one example of the multiple hazards Dorian presents to the Carolinas right now.
“Largely everyone has heeded the warning to stay off the roadways. We still have dangerous conditions present,” said Jason Patno of the Charleston County Emergency Preparedness Division.
The storm has even spawned several tornados. In Little River, just north of Myrtle Beach, residents were startled awake, by a loud noise.
“We just heard the loud, rumbling noise. Kinda sounds like a train,” one local resident said.
In North Carolina the National Weather Service had reports of a possible tornado near Wilmington. And in Emerald Isle, Byron Cox and his father Simon, also rode out a tornado.
“Never saw anything like it in my entire life,” said Cox.
North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper said he’s activated more of the state’s National Guard soldiers, and urged residents to stay alert.
“Get to safety and stay there. Don’t let your guard down,” Cooper urged residents.
In South Carolina, flooding remains a chief concern. Video taken in Charleston shows high water moving quickly in the streets and dozens of roads in the city are closed.
One business owner, Brett Yearout, is hoping for the best, on the other side of the storm, saying “Fortunately, we’ll be back open this weekend. The sun will be out, these poor people in the Bahamas have years to regroup. But we’ll be all good in a couple days.”