The Bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, sits down for a special “Into the Deep” ahead of Easter Sunday. He discusses Christ’s resurrection, where Christians can find Jesus today, and the importance of the Easter liturgies.
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‘The Missionary of Wall Street’
Stephen Auth is a chief investment officer at one of the country’s largest investment firms and a Catholic missionary. He talks to Currents News about his work bringing people back to their faith.
Looking To The Future On Holy Thursday In Paris
By Michelle Powers
Arnaud Boutheon remembers when he first saw Notre Dame light up. He’s an ambassador for the Knights of Columbus in France. Arnaud was behind the popular project that attracted hundreds of thousands, but now he’s unsure if the cathedral will ever light again.
“Through this dramatic event, there is this question. ‘What does God want to tell us?’”, he said.
Nearly one billion in donations has poured in for the vast restoration. Though a sadness fills Arnaud’s heart, he sees the fire as a sign from god, and an opportunity to evangelize.
“Time is a huge opportunity for us to evangelize. Because many people many people abroad, many people from France, have said ‘Wow, we will come back,’” he added.
Sounds of rebuilding can already be heard at the cathedral, and hosts of specialized artisans and skilled workmen from around the world will soon meet in Paris.
President Emmanuel Macron is pledging to restore the cathedral on a five-year plan, but that is at odds with art historian Louis Manaranche.
He says restoring the jewel of gothic architecture could take much longer.
“When you have a real historical monument like that, you can’t be too in a hurry. You have to do it properly and to respect the history – and that’s also respecting that it can last decades,” he said.
Cathedrals often took centuries to build and Notre Dame itself taking 200 years.
Louis says the damage to the cathedral is the worst in its history. Even worse than damages made during the French Revolution and World War II.
Around the cathedral many people are mentioning a new sense of resiliency, one like never before.
A resilience to not only rebuild the church, but to restore the faith.
Mueller Report Released
By Currents News Staff
The Mueller Report is out after nearly 2 years of investigating President Trump, the Russians, and the 2016 U.S. elections.
“The Russian government-sponsored efforts to illegally interfere with the 2016 presidential election but [the report] did not find that the Trump campaign or other Americans colluded in those schemes,” Attorney General William Bar said.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s redacted report noted the Trump campaign showed interest in emails stolen from Democrats by Russians meant to hurt Hillary Clinton but found no evidence the Trump campaign committed a crime.
“That is something that all Americans can and should be grateful to have confirmed,” Barr explained.
But on the question on obstruction of justice, Mueller is less clear. His report identified 10 instances where the President or his aides may have attempted to curtail the investigation, including firing former FBI Director James Comey.
Barr said, “The evidence developed by the Special Counsel is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offence.”
According to the report, once the President found out about Mueller’s appointment he said: “this is the end of my presidency.”
Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the President, said in reply “That was not the reaction of the President that day when I was there.”
Just moments after the report’s release President Trump claimed victory, saying “It’s called no collusion no obstruction.”
Congressional Democrats want more answers and for Mueller to testify publicly.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, the Judiciary Committee Chairman, said today “The special counsel made clear that he did not exonerate the President and the responsibility now falls to Congress to hold the President accountable for his actions.”
Currents News for Thursday, April 18, 2019
On the newscast: Currents News Michelle Powers reports from Paris on the rebuilding of Notre Dame Cathedral as Holy Thursday has taken on a different meaning this year; The Pope and Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio celebrate Holy Thursday mass as the Church commemorates the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood; A man was arrested for attempted arson at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral; The Mueller Report is out but the controversy isn’t over.
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)
Preparations Are Underway for Holy Thursday Mass With Bishop DiMarzio
By Emily Drooby
On Thursday afternoon, Father Peter Purpura, worked to get the St. James Cathedral Basilica in Downtown Brooklyn, ready for one of the most important Catholic liturgies of the year, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Father Purpura, who is also the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Vice Chancellor, explained, “We have kind of formally concluded the period of Lent which is the period of preparation and now we are entering into these final days which celebrate the central mysteries of our faith, of the dying and the rising of Jesus Christ.
The Mass is celebrated on Holy Thursday and commemorates both the institution of holy Eucharist and the beginning of the priesthood.
This Mass will look similar to a typical Sunday Mass, but with some crucial additions.
Father Purpura explained, “Because we are focusing on these important themes like the gift of the Eucharist from Christ at the Last Supper and the example of humility in service, there are some aspects of the liturgy that are a little bit different.”
Those differences have to do with the transition from one set of mysteries to another,
Father Purpura further explained, “Tonight’s celebrating enjoy the gift of the priesthood, of the Eucharist, but tomorrow we are commemorating the suffering and death of Christ. So there is a bit of a transition at the end of Mass. After Mass, we remove the Blessed Sacrament from the body of the church.
Then the Blessed Sacrament is reserved at another location called the “Altar of Repose.” In the new location, parishioners will be able to continue the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament well into the night.
All linens, flowers, and candles will also be stripped from the church. The items will be hidden away until Easter Sunday.
Hope After Notre Dame Inferno
Amidst both pain and hope, Parisian faithful found a new home in the Basilica of Saint-Sulpice for the Chrism Mass Wednesday evening, after a blaze nearly destroyed the famed Cathedral of Notre Dame on Monday.
Crux Faith and Culture Correspondent, Claire Giangravè, described the scene and the mood from Paris.
Man Charged With Attempted Arson at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
By Tim Harfmann
Police arrested a man after he allegedly carried gasoline canisters, lighter fluid and lighters into St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The apparent threat came on the heels of the Notre Dame disaster. Cardinal Timothy Dolan talked about security at St. Patrick’s. “Our [security guards] were suspicious, walked the man out, immediately called the police department; They apprehended him, and now he’s secure. So, the system works. Does that mean it’s fail-safe? No, but that’s why we come to church, to pray for God’s protection,” said Cardinal Dolan.
Thirty-seven-year-old Marc Lamparello of New Jersey is charged with attempted arson, reckless endangerment and trespassing. Police said Lamparello parked a minivan outside St. Patrick’s around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17th. Lamparello allegedly entered with two large containers filled with gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid and two lighters. Cathedral security stopped Lamparello inside the entrance. Monsignor Robert Ritchie is St. Patrick’s rector and said security guards and surveillance cameras help prevent situations; “Almost every church has emotional disturbed people come to them. The bigger the church, the more people that come, and so it’s something that we’re aware of.”
Worshipers visiting St. Patrick’s were shocked. “These kinds of things make you feel insecure,” said one visitor. “I would’ve hated to see that happen here [after] what just happened back in Paris. It’s just devastating,” said another.
All this came as Cardinal Dolan joined interfaith and other leaders to announce a fundraiser for Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s called the ‘From St. Patrick’s to Notre Dame Fund.’ The cardinal pointed to the role cathedrals play in helping the poor. “As Pope Francis says, ‘the poor have a right to beauty. The poor have a right to a sanctuary. The poor have a right to have their spirits, which are often crushed down, lifted up. That’s what Notre Dame does. That’s what St. Patrick’s does. So, in a way, this is almsgiving,” said Cardinal Dolan.
The ‘From St. Patrick’s to Notre Dame Fund’ has already surpassed $100,000.
Fr. Robert Mucci
For decades, Robert Mucci traveled the world conducting business as an extremely successful insurance executive. But there was always something missing. Father Mucci talks with Ed Wilkinson about why he decided to give it all up to dedicate his life to the Lord.
Second Largest Church In Paris Hosts Chrism Mass Following Notre Dame Fire
By Michelle Powers
Though the blaze broke out two days ago, you can still smell the smoke outside of the Notre Dame Cathedral and see the charred remains and burns on stone. Notre Dame looks like a skeleton in the heart of Paris.
Many onlookers are here for the very first time, making their way through blocked off streets and barriers to pay their respects for what was lost and to thank God for what remains.
Some Parisians, can’t help but come back day after day. “I can’t leave this place. I’m sticking here. Notre Dame is Paris, I think. Even if you’re not Catholic,” one Paris resident told us.
Another couple from Long Island, NY who saw the inside of Notre Dame last week tells us they consider themselves the lucky ones, saying “It’s very sad. It breaks my heart,” the wife said. He husband added “something that’s lasted this many centuries and to see it go up like that, it’s devastating.”
The Archdiocese of Paris’ Chrism Mass was scheduled to take place at the Notre Dame, as were many other Holy Week events. Now that mass is being held tonight at Saint-Sulpice, less than a mile away and Paris’ second largest church.
“This is special,” one man told us. “Normally this Mass is in Notre Dame and because of the fire it can’t be there. All these people are homeless! So, then they come here, just to be together,” he added.
The Archbishop of Paris, Michel Aupetit, says this Chrism Mass is an opportunity for the faithful to feel empowered to not only rebuild Notre Dame, but to reconstruct the face of the Catholic Church.