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Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 9/4/2024

Bishop Robert Brennan warmly welcomed back students at Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village this morning. Across the Diocese of Brooklyn, 65 Catholic elementary schools and 15 high schools opened their doors today for a fresh year of learning.

Deacon Kevin McCormack, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, joins Currents News to share his hopes for the new school year, discuss special education services at diocesan schools, and reveal what they look for in a Catholic school principal.

Fontbonne Hall Academy is excited to launch its new middle school Visitation Program, named in honor of Visitation Academy, which closed earlier this year. About 25 of the 35 students enrolled are from Visitation.

During his visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis met with local authorities and religious leaders and spent time with around 200 young people. The Holy Father was full of energy during his meetings, even having a light-hearted moment with his translator.

Diocese of Brooklyn Apostolate Celebrates Papal Trip As Pope Arrives in Indonesia

By Jessica Easthope

The Holy Father touching down in Jakarta marked the third Pope to visit Indonesia.

The last visit was St. John Paul II in 1989. Father Aloisius Albert wasn’t born yet, but his parents and church community told stories that inspired him.

“The history is there, it was so beautiful! Our parents, our relatives are also like that’s really to strengthen our faith, and that, like, helped me a lot, especially in my way of my vocation.”

Father Albert, a priest on temporary assignment in the Diocese of Brooklyn at St. Joseph Patron of the Universal Church in Bushwick, said the Pope’s trip could be the spark for other young Catholics.

“I think it’s an inspiration for the young to join in the congregation and also to become a priest.”

While in Indonesia, Pope Francis will explore the relationship between the Catholic minority and the Muslim majority. Catholics make up just 3% of the population.

“Even though I’m not in Indonesia right now, I’m in New York. I can feel the hype, I feel the people, they’re really happy.”

Pierre Tambuwun is the President of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Indonesian Apostolate. He said interfaith relations in Indonesia serve as a global example of how to live together peacefully.

“I went to the mosque too. I pray with the Muslims because of the society and everybody, it’s normal,” Tambuwun said. “And then they go to church too to celebrate with us, it’s normal for us, it’s just unity.”

“And the relations between Catholic and Muslim Indonesia are quite harmonious. We’re living together in harmony and high tolerance.”

Father Paul Rahmat, a temporary priest assigned to Queen of Angels Church in Sunnyside, was a seminarian when St. John Paul II came to visit. He remembers the excitement to this day.

“My personal experience was very exciting with the visit of Pope John Paul II,” Father Rahmat said. “In our place, in our residence in Flores, I was a student at the time, and the seminarians and I sang in the choir.”

These men say Pope Francis is a unifying figure for people everywhere.

“He’s not only the leader of the Catholics, but also the messenger for humanity. Now we need to work hand in hand. We need to make the world like a community of real love and peace.”

“They can feel it. They can experience it. Maybe they are gonna feel different. They can feel the calling too.”

Their hope is that the Holy Father leaves Indonesia with a deeper appreciation for interfaith relations and what can be possible all over the world.

Bishop Brennan Prays With Parade Goers During West Indian Day Mass

While Pope Francis was traveling this Labor Day weekend, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan was praying with parade goers.

Bishop Brennan celebrated Mass at St. Matthew Church, which is located on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, right along the West Indian Day Parade route.

Every year, the parish celebrates Mass before joining the parade.

Bishop Brennan Supports Athletes in Mass Celebrated For Catholic Youth Organization

Bishop Robert Brennan also supported some athletes over the weekend.

The shepherd of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated Mass for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) at the Church of St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor.

Brooklyn’s CYO program focuses on the athlete—not the sport—promoting participation and sportsmanship.

The kids were invited to wear their uniforms to the Mass and took part in a pancake breakfast afterward.

Bishop Brennan Along With Several Thousand Take Part in Catholic Charismatic Renewal

Thousands of faithful from the Diocese of Brooklyn went to Stony Point on Sunday, September 1, to take part in a Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Bishop Brennan joined the annual gathering of the diocese’s Hispanic Catholics, as more than 3,200 people from over 50 different parishes traveled to the Marian Shrine upstate.

The day featured music, a youth rally, and Mass, but Bishop Brennan was most excited to simply spend a day with his flock.

Schooled on Faith: Archbishop Molloy Freshmen Attend One-Day-Retreat

Ahead of their first day of class, hundreds of new high schoolers in Queens started to build the most important relationship they’ll have over the next four years—not with each other, but with Christ.

430 Archbishop Molloy freshmen gathered last Thursday, August 29, for a one-day retreat.

Over the summer, upperclassmen were trained on how to run the retreat alongside the school’s Campus Ministry.

The day’s activities were based on the five pillars of Marist identity: presence, simplicity, family spirit, love of work, and ‘in the way of Mary.

The new Archbishop Molloy “Stanners,” which comes from the school’s former name, St. Ann Academy, will start school on Wednesday, September 4th.

St. John’s University Welcomes Freshmen From 44 States and 43 Countries on Move-In Weekend

Labor Day marks the end of summer for students across the nation, and thousands of college freshmen are already getting started at St. John’s University after a busy move-in weekend.

Around 2,600 students arrived at the Jamaica, Queens campus, marking 25 years since the residence halls first opened there.

The incoming freshmen class comes from 44 states and 43 different countries.

New Play Space Proposed at Park Slope School

By Katie Vasquez

School may start on September 4th for students at Saint Saviour Catholic academy, but for staff preparation has been going on for much longer and new principal, Mr Matt Artigas, is leading the way.

“I’ve actually never attended a public school,” said Matt Artigas, principal at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. “It’s been catholic school, kindergarten all the way through my doctoral program. So it really, Catholic education is very important to me.” 

His new role is one of the changes happening at the Park Slope academy ahead of the new year.

Recently Saint Saviour switched to a new model of education that along with a principal, involves a school president rather than an assistant principal.

Dean Fusto is filling that role, taking on outreach and enrollment efforts. 

“The principal has an incredible amount on their plate,” said Dean Fusto, president at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. “It’s constant, and we want to be able to make sure that he or she’s always focusing on the kids, on the program, on the curriculum and all those pieces. Another new addition are plans for a 4,000 square foot rooftop play space.”

The project has been in the works since 2017.

Saint Saviour so far has raised $2 million for it and still needs a little more fundraising to meet their goal.

Some of their plans include a basketball hoop, room to play soccer and a classroom.

“For those who want to do something, reading during their their break rather than running around. and then there’s also another smaller passive recreation, they will call it, that we envision perhaps life sized chess or even chess tables,” said Lenae Guarna, Saint Saviour Catholic Academy Board Chair. 

Saint Saviour is also talking about using the space as part of their curriculum. 

“We’re going to utilize it for our enrichment classes,” said Artigas. “We’re going to allow teachers to take their students up there on given days to work on lessons outdoors. So the possibilities are endless.”

“It inspires creativity, it lets you move around,” said Fusto. “It’s truly free time and recess time, which is just a critical part for kids.” 

The school aims to start construction on the play space in June 2025.