NYC Passes on Erecting Monument Honoring Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

By Allyson Escobar, Wandy Felicita Ortiz and Tim Harfmann

BENSONHURST — New York City’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, is facing backlash after ignoring public calls for a monument to be built in honor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patroness of immigrants who once lived in Brooklyn.

Calls for a statue of St. Cabrini, commonly known as Mother Cabrini, began as part of the She Built NYC project, a public arts initiative that aims to increase the number of statues of women in New York City.

More than 320 women were nominated online, and Mother Cabrini received 219 votes, the most of any nominee.

Only five of the current 150 statues throughout the city pay homage to women. She Built NYC aims to erect monuments throughout the five boroughs that will bring that number to an even 50 percent male-female ratio.

The project is being spearheaded by McCray, who last summer called upon New Yorkers to name influential women they would like to see honored citywide.

Even though Mother Cabrini received the most votes, McCray didn’t choose the saint among the seven women to be honored with a statue in the first phase of the initiative.

The new monuments will be built using about $5 million in taxpayer funds.

“I am dismayed by a seemingly undemocratic process for arriving at these choices,” City Councilman Justin Brannan, a Democrat from Bay Ridge, wrote in a letter to McCray’s office.

[Read Councilman Brannan’s letter here.]

“I feel the will of the people was denied. Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, who received more nominations from New Yorkers than any other woman during the process, has been completely ignored,” Brannan wrote.

“Many people involved with the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Frances Cabrini, a church in my district, organized and sent in nominations. They are very disappointed. My simple question is this: why open this up for a public vote and then ignore the results? I would hate to see a wonderful campaign undermined by a process that tries to appear to value public opinion without actually doing so.”

Mother Cabrini moved to New York City from Italy in 1889, and established 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages throughout the U.S. She died in Chicago in 1917 at the age of 67 and was canonized in 1946.

Father Guy Sbordone, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church, Bensonhurst, told The Tablet that his parishioners were “very disappointed” and “taken aback” to hear that Mother Cabrini wasn’t chosen.

“If [McCray] opened it up for public voting, and we took the process seriously in terms of asking people to nominate and vote for St. Frances Cabrini, why is it not being honored if she got the most votes?” Father Sbordone said. “They’re thinking about their vote and what it meant and why it isn’t being honored.”

Father Sbordone said that his grandmother was also personally taught by Mother Cabrini in the early 1900s.

“All that she did is still very relevant for our city, and that’s why we felt that she would be someone who built New York, helped build New York and continues to have an influence in New York,” Father Sbordone said.

Joseph Sciame, president of the Sons of Italy Foundation, said that Mother Cabrini is “the heroine that New York City needs. She was one of the first in the city’s history to bring to the forefront the matter and concern of immigrants, not just for Italian-Americans, but for all who are migrating at the time.”

The Italian-American fraternal philanthropic organization, part of the Older Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, joined in a resolution to petition Mayor Bill de Blasio to look further into the matter.

“Letters and pressure must be exerted to convey to the mayor the importance of having Mother Cabrini so honored with a statue in our great city of New York … especially as she received the highest number of votes in the data collected,” Sciame said. “The people of the City of New York know of her importance and contribution/s to the entire issue of immigration.”

In Brooklyn, Mother Cabrini opened St. Charles Schoolin 1892 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary-St. Stephen Church, Carroll Gardens.

Dorothy Day, another prominent Catholic and a native of Staten Island, also wasn’t chosen. She received the eighth most votes.

The city-run Women.nyc, which is leading the statue project, and the mayor’s office didn’t immediately return requests for comment.

FDNY Tests 300 Foot Ladder Outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Currents News Staff

The New York Fire Department is taking action after the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The FDNY unveiled a ladder truck outside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral this weekend.

It has a 300-foot tower that can fight fires high above ground.

In the Holy Week blaze at Notre Dame, the roof of the landmark burned for hours, threatening the entire structure.

New White House Immigration Rule to Face Court Challenges

Currents News Staff

Although the Trump administration has taken several steps to address the number of migrants congregating at the southern border seeking asylum, the immigration crisis in the U.S. appears not to improve.

Now, a new White House rule would prevent legal immigrants from getting a green card or a visa if they rely on taxpayers for financial assistance. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has strongly condemned the new rule, which they say will undermine families.

Charles Wheeler is the director of training and legal support at CLINIC, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.

He joins us from California to discuss how the tightening of immigration legislation will ultimately prevent low-income and working class people from obtaining a green card, and what steps those affected can do to protect themselves.

Queens Parish Thrives During Summer Months

By Tim Harfmann

Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Church love summertime Masses — especially when the celebration is conducted on the sands at Rockaway Beach.

“Saint Francis is truly the center of Rockaway, especially here for the parish,” said Father Bill Sweeney, pastor of the Belle Harbor, Queens church.

He believes the beach Masses are great for connecting with parishioners.

“It’s a wonderful way of bringing people together, celebrating in a special way on a Sunday. The crowds love it.”

At a time when summer vacations cut into attendance and donations at other parishes, St. Francis de Sales is thriving on the shore and in the church.

“If it’s a beautiful Sunday, the 7:30am and the 9am Masses are packed,” said Father Sweeney. “If it’s raining, we’ll get more at the 5:30pm or noon Masses. So, people work out their schedule depending on whether they’re going to the beach or not.”

With the Church bringing the liturgy to the water’s edge, the Sunday collections at St. Francis de Sales have remained steady throughout the summer, averaging $10,000.

Another big help with contributions, according to Father Sweeney, is online donations so parishioners, who are on vacation, can keep giving.

“We have a lot of people using that. You know, try to keep up with the times.”

As for worshipping God on the beach, parishioner Lorraine Agoglia explained on Sunday, August 18 what she appreciated most.

“My [15-year-old] daughter was even saying, ‘wow, how cool is it that in our whole neighborhood knows where everybody is going right now with their beach chairs as they’re walking down the street? Where are they going? They’re all coming here to gather,” said Agoglia.

There’s something else the St. Francis de Sales community is doing to keep the summer hot. Over 1,000 kids are playing hoops in the Church’s annual Summer Classic Basketball Tournament.

“I can go to the church. I can play basketball, my favorite sport; and I get to go to the beach,” said Joseph O’Grady, a tournament participant.

“Having the Summer Classic keeps everybody connected to the Church during the summer,” said Keith Goldberg. He is the organizer of a tournament that’s making a difference. “Because on Sunday they go to Mass, Monday through Friday they’re here in the schoolyard watching the games.”

“All I have to do is walk over to the schoolyard on a Monday or Tuesday night, and I run into three quarters of the parish,” said Father Sweeney.

Combining the blacktop, the sun, and the surf is proving to be a perfect way for evangelizing and growing the Catholic faith.

“It’s the generations that have lived in this community who know how special it is,” said Agoglia. “I’m hoping my kids know and realize, and that they’re going to take it over one day. Because that’s the only way.”

And it’s a way that is very successful.

Currents News for Friday, August 16, 2019

On the newscast: Someone left 3 rice cookers around Lower Manhattan, prompting mass evacuations. Police are investigating; Firefighters say their final farewell to a Catholic brother who died after working a 24-hour shift; Reduce, reuse, recycle– the age-old mantra is taking on a new look in Vatican City. Big plans there to clean up Mother Earth; And Bishop DiMarzio makes a visit to a Boy Scout camp.

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.

Suspicious Packages Found in New York City Subway Station

Currents News Staff

The nation’s busiest subway system came to a halt after three suspicious packages were reported during the morning commute on August 16

Police in New York City have said that ultimately the packages — three rice cookers — were not a threat, but the incident did cause trouble.

Now they’re looking for the man caught on video leaving two of the packages at the scene.

“Because of the timing and the placement and the items, we’re carrying this now as a hoax device,” explained NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, John Miller.

According to the New York City Transit Authority, about six million people ride the subway every day.

Their travel had interrupted, delayed and at times halted during the ongoing investigation.

By comparison, nearly three years ago pressure cooker bombs injured at least 30 people in the New York City neighborhood of Chelsea. Officials ruled it an act of terror.

Officials ruled it an act of terror, and a shootout lead to the suspect being arrested and later convicted.

“We reviewed the video at the scene. He places the pressure cooker on the upper level, and then on the lower level, so there’s a person of interest. Obviously we would like to speak to this person,” said Miller.

The New York City Transit Authority is now reminding everyone of the slogan, “see something, say something.”

Husband of El Paso Shooting Victim Invites City to Wife’s Funeral

Currents News Staff

Tony Basco loved only one person in the world: his wife, Margie Reckard.

Now, she’s gone.

They met in Omaha, Nebraska in a bar. “It was love at first sight,” Tony said.

“I don’t know what she saw in me sometimes. We had wonderful years. The best years in my whole life.”

He had no other family members besides his wife. And while he did have just a few of her own, but none in the El Paso area.

Attendance at her funeral was expected to be minimal, and least until the Internet took over.

An overwhelming response to support Tony resulted from media, tweets and a Facebook posting from the funeral home that read, “Mr. Antonio Basco was married 22 years to his wife Margie Reckard. He had no other family. He welcomes anyone to attend his wife’s services.”

People from all over the United States have contacted the funeral home as well as Tony to say they plan to attend Margie’s funeral.

“There are going to be hundreds of people here from throughout the country! It’s nice to see people really caring about people,” Tony said.

He recalled how his life had been very difficult prior to meeting her, and remembered her as “a caring loving, the most beautifulest person.”

Every day now, he goes to the memorial site next to the Wal-Mart and takes exquisite care of her memorial, making sure the flowers and the wind chimes she always loved so much look the best they can.

He still wakes up each morning in disbelief that she is gone.

“She made me the happiest man in the world and the luckiest. no one is luckier than me in the whole world,” he explained.

“I sit on my table looking at the front door waiting for her to walk in. I even tried calling her on the phone.”

At the memorial site, Tony tells Margie he will meet her someday in heaven, asking, “So what you’ve been up to? What do you do up there? I wish you would tell me sometime.”

Tony is now beginning a new life alone, but for at least one day at Margie’s funeral, he won’t be.

Vatican Moves to Cut Down on Plastic Waste

Currents News Staff

As the smallest state in the world, the Vatican produces 1,000 tons of trash every year.

Meanwhile, according to the European Union, world plastic production has gone from 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 322 million tons in 2015.

That same year, Pope Francis published his Encyclical on the Environment, Laudato si.

Now, the Vatican City State is following his written words: “Education can encourage ways

of acting which directly affect the world around us, such as avoiding the use of plastic.”

The effort within the smallest country in the world is being organized by Rafael Tornini. He explains the goal is to eliminate all plastic that cannot be recycled and differentiate between the rest of the trash.

“We seek to follow the Holy Father’s words in Laudato si; that to rebuild or safeguard the common home, and we must reuse or recycle waste, maximizing their efficient use,” said Rafael.

“What we are trying to do is stop the sales of single-use plastics. That means cups, plates, straws, and anything that’s not recyclable,” he explained.

With the rest of the recyclable plastic remaining in the Vatican City State, it will go in their Ecological Island, which was created in 2016.

This storage point for recyclable waste within the Vatican Gardens helps ensure plastic is reused to make other products.

In the United States, 35 billion plastic bottles are trashed each year, with only a quarter going to recycling. The amount of plastic waste Americans produce is enough to circle planet Earth four times.

Currents News for Thursday, August 15, 2019

On the newscast: It’s the Feast of the Assumption– and the Holy Father is giving 6,000 gifts to Syrian Catholics; Israel is barring 2 U.S. congresswomen from entering the country; Top brass in Philadelphia says the only reason some of his officers are alive tonight is because of divine intervention; He left high school to go to war. Now he’s graduating at the age of 93.

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.

World War II Veteran Receives High School Diploma

By Emily Drooby

In Joseph Quinlivan’s Brooklyn home sits a plaque that reads, ‘Freedom is Not Free,’ something the World War II veteran understands well.

At just 16 years old, Joe left high school to help his family get through the great depression. Two years later, in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy.

“It’s a great country, and you should serve it. Where I lived, everybody, everybody went into the service,” Joe said.

“There were a couple air raids, but the planes got stopped before they reached where we were,” he remembered of his time being stationed in the Pacific.

During the two years he spent fighting for his country, Joe was awarded many medals for bravery.

In that time, there’s one recognition he had never received: a high school diploma.

“My father worked very hard his whole life, he worked any overtime he could get to provide us with what he needed, and it was hard for him because he didn’t have those degrees,” said Joe’s daughter, Margaret Quinlivan.

That is, until now.

Margaret and her family surprised now 93-year-old Joe in a very special way this past Father’s Day.

“We just put the cap and gown on him. He didn’t know why and then my brother presented him with the diploma and read it, and he was very happy. And his first comment was, ‘Well maybe I can get another job now that I have a high school diploma’” she said.

The family used a national program called Operation Recognition, which allows World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans to earn high school diplomas if they left school without graduating.

Margaret said it was pretty easy to complete the process, and based on Joe’s reaction, one that was well worth it.

“I was surprised,” said Joe, “and I was glad. So it was nice, you know?”

Education and the Catholic faith have always been pillars of the Quinlivan family. Several of Joe’s kids even became Catholic school teachers, making the honor even more special.

“Looking at his diploma he just kept saying he never through he would graduate high school and it was just a nice moment for him, because he made sure all of us graduated high school and he wanted all of us to go onto college, and to have an easier and better life,” said Margaret.

In cap and gown, Joe shows that you’re never too old to receive your high school diploma.