Survivor Of Columbine High School Shooting Speaks On Faith In The Face Of Tragedy

Currents News Staff

America and the world watched in shock and disbelief twenty years ago, as two students carried out a massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado.

According to the Washington Post, 237 school shootings have happened since Columbine, the deadliest among them the shooting at Virginia Tech, only eight years later.

Half a decade later, in 2012, a shooter entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and carried out the second deadliest shooting.

Only a year ago, the Ash wednesday massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School left 17 students and teachers gunned down in cold blood.

Such horrors could shake the faith of anyone. Sister Mary Gianna Thornby was a student at Columbine during the massacre joined us in the studio to discuss her experience.

National Day Of Prayer At The White House

Currents News Staff

Today is the National Day of Prayer, a time for people from all faiths to pray for the country.

President Trump held a service at the White House, thanking God for the bountiful blessings the Lord has bestowed on the Nation.

He was also joined by Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein of the Chabad of Poway, California, who lost a member of his congregation when a gunman opened fire at his synagogue last Saturday.

Priest Heroes of the Titanic

Priest Heroes Of The Titanic – In this season premiere episode of All Things Catholic, host Joe Estevez visits New York in search of Brooklyn’s special and unique connection to the RMS Titanic. The giant ocean liner sank after it collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912. More than half of the passengers and crew lost their lives. Joe relates the story of the three heroic priests who got many passengers into lifeboats but then stayed behind to minister to those who remained aboard the doomed ship. He also discovers why there is a memorial plaque to the Titanic inside St. Paul’s Church in Cobble Hill. In addition, he tries to separate fact from fiction as he discusses the numerous films made about the Titanic disaster. Join Joe Estevez and his special guests Monsignor Joseph Nugent of St. Paul’s Church, and actor Daniel Roebuck for this titanic voyage of discovery.

Fr. Vincent Chirichella

Vincent Chirichella grew up in Williamsburg loving the Italian Feast at Mt. Carmel, doing the dance of the Giglio, and became one of the “rope gang.” He talks with Ed Wilkinson about his journey to the pulpit and the four priests in his family.

Currents News for Wednesday, May 1, 2019

On the newscast: The Mass of Hope and Healing in the Brooklyn Diocese, planned by sex abuse survivors and how it impacts the lives of so many people; A treasure of biblical proportions – on display for the first time. See some of the rarest of bibles ever; New violence in Venezuela while Russia is accused of keeping Maduro in power; Clashes flare on Capitol Hill when Attorney General Bill Barr takes on the Mueller Report.

Today’s top news from the Catholic perspective anchored by Liz Faublas. Currents News airs Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on NET-TV (netny.tv)

Historic Bibles Dating Back To America’s Founding On Display In Manhattan

By Emily Drooby

A treasure of biblical proportions is on display for the first time in New York City.

Hidden inside the New-York Historical Society, just steps from the lobby, is the Word of God.

The incredible collection of historic Bibles and religious texts is called ‘In God We Trust: Early Bible Printings from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection.’ It seeks to show that faith has always been the cornerstone of life in America.

“You have the Indian Bible, you have the German Bibles, you have the Catholic Bible, there are two Hebrew Bibles here,” said Historical Society Vice President Michael Ryan of the new exhibit.

Ryan added that while the Bibles are in different languages, they do have one thing in common: They’re all the very original printings of their type.

As part of the display, you can find the first Bible printed in America dating back to the 1600s, just 40 years after the pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower.

“The first Bible printed in America is in Algonquinm, the language of the native Indian tribes,” said Ryan.

Each Bible tells a special story, one not necessarily found within their pages.

“People should see this to just appreciate the ways in which Bibles tell stories other than the stories that are in the Bible texts,” Ryan continued.

“These books, just by the virtue of them existing, tell a story. Their printing, their dissemination, who they’re made for, etcetera,” he added.

On view to the public are also pieces that helped write America’s story, like President Grant’s original inauguration Bible, and the first translated by a woman.

“That is a nation of immigrants speaking many languages, but sharing a common set of values and commitments,” Ryan said regarding the diversity of the biblical texts.

‘In God We Trust’ will be on display until July 28th on the Upper West Side.

Russians Troops Reported In Venezuela

Currents News Staff

Russia stands as one of the strongest supporters of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Reports from Moscow say the Kremlin admits to currently having soldiers stationed in Venezuela.

Russia claims that for the time being, its troops in the South American country won’t act in unrest.

Diocese Of Brooklyn Comes Together For Annual Mass Of Hope And Healing

By Tim Harfmann

The fifth annual Mass of Hope and Healing was a liturgy planned by survivors for survivors. Father Jeffry Dillon – a survivor himself – addressed the gathering as the homilist; “I am here to say, ‘I am Jeffry, and I am a survivor of priest sexual abuse.”

Father Dillon was abused when he was a Catholic school student in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Survivors Advisory Committee organized the Mass and selected him to speak. Father Dillion, pastor of Our Lady of Light parish in Saint Albans, Queens said the struggle to overcome the evil impact of abuse never ends; “It is not over for the victim-survivors. They have to cope everyday of their lives with the devastation that they have endured.”

Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio celebrated the Hope and Healing Mass. “It’s always a night that is moving because you know there are victims there, not identified. They come with great faith, looking for support from the community,” said Bishop DiMarzio. The auxiliary bishops of the diocese concelebrated the liturgy, along with dozens of priests and deacons.

The Mass drew people from Brooklyn, Queens and beyond — and those Catholics from elsewhere were impressed with the outreach of the Brooklyn diocese in offering hope and healing. “The ones that were from other dioceses mentioned, ‘you know, I haven’t had a priest that has even reached out to me,’ said Jasmine Salazar, the diocese’s vice chancellor and victims assistance coordinator; “They were moved, like, ‘oh okay, priests do care, the bishops are involved. There is interest in this.”

Deacon Phil Franco, another survivor from Brooklyn, was abused when he was a teenager. He said what the diocese is doing helps survivors overcome a natural fear.

“At one point or another, every victim was afraid to come forward,” said Deacon Franco. “They were afraid who would say what. They were afraid who would believe them. And then, when you see a church filled with hundreds of people: priests, deacons, faithful; It’s an affirmation that you’re not alone and the Church is truly a communion, it’s truly one.”

Father Dillon said that Christ shows the way forward, by listening to Jesus; “He always began by asking, ‘what is it that you would like me to do?’ What the survivors would like is for the leaders to listen to them.”

Before the Mass, survivors lit the Easter Candle and prayed to remember abuse victims who have died.

Currents News for Tuesday, April 30, 2019

On the newscast: The Mass of Hope and Healing is tonight. Bishop DiMarzio leads the service that is planned by sexual abuse survivors for survivors; Violence in Venezuela after a call for the military to kick out the country’s strongman Nicolas Maduro; The Pope’s army – the Swiss Guard – protects his life. Now, they need recruits; And the Holy Father is recruiting hairdressers and beauticians to help him stamp out gossip.

Today’s top news from the Catholic perspective anchored by Liz Faublas. Currents News airs Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on NET-TV (netny.tv)

Diocese of Brooklyn to Offer Mass of Hope & Healing

By Tim Harfmann

Father Jeffry Dillon is planning on expressing a message of solidarity to abuse survivors during his homily; “There’s an opportunity for healing, specifically, in their lives.” The Mass of Hope and Healing is an annual liturgy offered for everyone impacted by sexual abuse. The Mass is planned by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Survivors Advisory Committee — which includes survivors, family, friends and other associated victims, plus professionals in abuse protection.

The committee asked Father Dillon to be the homilist because he, too, is a survivor. “I have a unique perspective, being a victim myself, to identify with them, but also speak to them and challenge them to recognize that there is hope beyond the devastation and the brokenness that they’ve experienced in life,” said Father Dillon.

The Queens priest endured abuse at the hands of a priest in the late 1950s and early 1960s, while he was an elementary school student. Father Dillon said the Church must face the reality that the crisis is part of its history; “It’s not something that we have to deny, nor something that we have to cover up, nor something that we have to forget; but it is something that we can utilize in healing others because we can bring our own brokenness to the situations that we encounter on the journey of life.”

From the readings to the music, every part of the Mass is chosen by survivors. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will be the main celebrant and said this fifth-annual Mass of Hope and Healing is another step in addressing the crisis; “Unfortunately, it’s a phenomenon as part of our society today that’s a very difficult one. It’s been there for a while, but I think now we acknowledge it; and we do need to pray for healing and hope for these people.”

Though it is something they cope with in their lives, Father Dillon said victims of abuse are not alone; “With the help of God’s spirit working in people’s lives, they can overcome.”

For the first time at the Mass of Hope and Healing, the Diocesan Survivors Advisory Committee will light the Easter Candle and pray for the victims of abuse who died this past year.