By Jessica Easthope

As the school bell rings and the hallways flood with students, it’s clear that St. Francis Prep is educating a diverse population.

For junior Ayanna Singh, who’s looking to pursue a career in medicine, it was St. Francis Prep’s 19 ethnic clubs that showed her just how open her school was to welcoming different walks of life.

“My old school was very small and all one kind of person but here there’s no such thing,” Singh said. 

“I am Guyanese and Trinidadian but I can join the Korean club,” Singh said. “I think it gives people so many chances and opportunities that can really expand their knowledge.”

St. Francis Prep is 27% Latino, 39% White, 16% Black and 18% asian.

It’s a breakdown, director of admissions Lisa Schaeffer said, that is celebrated, but not designed.

“There’s nothing on there that tells us their race or religion, so we look at them as just every child is equal in that part,” Schaeffer said.

Recent statistics show New York City’s specialized high schools are struggling with diversity. 

This year’s Brooklyn Technical High School freshman class of 1,421 has 37 Black students, while the Bronx High School of Science freshman class of 731, has 34 Black students and at Stuyvesant High School the 762 freshman class, consists of only 7 Black students.

Diversity teaches you so much about life, about the future and what the real world is going to look like, say students at St. Francis Prep.

Junior soccer player Charlie Vallone has his sights set on the University of Pennsylvania. He says not only has his Prep education readied him for college, the environment has also reinforced his Catholic faith. 

“Through our faith, we know to love our neighbor as ourselves, and St. Francis Prep really teaches you that with the Franciscan ways and Franciscan values love everyone like a brother,” Vallone said.

By Jessica Easthope

As the school bell rings and the hallways flood with students, it’s clear that St. Francis Prep is educating a diverse population.

For junior Ayanna Singh, who’s looking to pursue a career in medicine, it was St. Francis Prep’s 19 ethnic clubs that showed her just how open her school was to welcoming different walks of life.

“My old school was very small and all one kind of person but here there’s no such thing,” Singh said. 

“I am Guyanese and Trinidadian but I can join the Korean club,” Singh said. “I think it gives people so many chances and opportunities that can really expand their knowledge.”

St. Francis Prep is 27% Latino, 39% White, 16% Black and 18% asian.

It’s a breakdown, director of admissions Lisa Schaeffer said, that is celebrated, but not designed.

“There’s nothing on there that tells us their race or religion, so we look at them as just every child is equal in that part,” Schaeffer said.

Recent statistics show New York City’s specialized high schools are struggling with diversity. 

This year’s Brooklyn Technical High School freshman class of 1,421 has 37 Black students, while the Bronx High School of Science freshman class of 731, has 34 Black students and at Stuyvesant High School the 762 freshman class, consists of only 7 Black students.

Diversity teaches you so much about life, about the future and what the real world is going to look like, say students at St. Francis Prep.

Junior soccer player Charlie Vallone has his sights set on the University of Pennsylvania. He says not only has his Prep education readied him for college, the environment has also reinforced his Catholic faith. 

“Through our faith, we know to love our neighbor as ourselves, and St. Francis Prep really teaches you that with the Franciscan ways and Franciscan values love everyone like a brother,” Vallone said.

On the next Pulse of The Parish, we’re taking you to Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen’s Parish in Carroll Gardens, where you will meet Christian Kauffmann.

Click on the video to watch a preview. 

You can watch Kauffmann’s story on Currents News, Wednesday night on NET-TV at 7 PM Est.

by Jessica Easthope

It’s off the beaten path for New York City’s tourists and a stark contrast to the bright lights of Times Square.

But the catacombs beneath the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan lights the way toward a faith filled history lesson you won’t get anywhere else.

Tommy Wilkinson is the president of Tommy’s New York, the company that gives tours of this place eight times a day, five days a week, and he’s been doing it for six years.

“The stories that intersected here are real New York stories a lot of us of heard about, but had no idea it happened right here at the Old Cathedral,” Wilkinson said. “The stories are tales of immigration all the waves of immigrants that came through New York, all the Catholics that immigrated here from the early 1800s to current day have passed through the walls of old Saint Pats here.”

The catacombs are the final resting place of church leaders and some of Manhattan’s elite from the 1800s, names New Yorkers still hear today and figures that can serve as inspiration to anyone. 

“The families that are interred here and their influence on the shaping of not only Catholicism in New York City, but New York History is remarkable,” Wilkinson said.

As people walk through the dimly lit rows of sealed tombs a lot comes to light.

“We are not Catholic,” said one visitor at the Basilica. “But all of our children go to Catholic school, so we thought it would be quite an interesting place to learn more. It was nice to see something different and learn a little bit more about the church and the area as well. We don’t know anything about this part of New York. We know all about Times Square but this is very different.”

“It’s not the most touristy thing to do so I’m very happy we found this tour,” said another visitor. “It’s a hidden gem.”

For Wilkinson, spending his days below the surface, taking thousands a year on a deep dive of New York and Church history. The catacombs have rekindled the flame of his own faith, but he said it’s most rewarding when he sees the spark in someone else.

“I did have a guest that was so blown away that he became Catholic as a result and now he’s a congregant and he’s actually active in the church,” Wilkinson said. “That’s when you know that you’ve done more than what you set out to do.”

The city around old st pat’s is ever changing, but if you visit the catacombs you might come to find history repeats itself.

Brooklyn’s prayers were for hope and healing as the diocese held its annual Mass for the victim-survivors of clerical sex abuse on Thursday, Oct. 26. 

Bishop Robert Brennan led the annual Mass of Hope and Healing at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish.

The purpose of the liturgy is to help those who have suffered from sexual abuse and lost trust in the Catholic Church.

From the readings to the songs, the Mass was planned in part by victim-survivors, for victim-survivors and during his homily, Bishop Brennan apologized for the trauma they endured.  

You can hear Bishop Brennan’s full homily on our website, Currentsny.tv. 

The Mass of Hope and Healing is just one way the Diocese of Brooklyn is trying to combat abuse and help victim-survivors. 

Some other ways include creating the Office of Victim Assistance to help individuals who come forward with allegations of abuse.

The office provides supportive initial counseling, therapy referrals and pastoral resources for victim-survivors.

Every employee of the Brooklyn Diocese, including students, undergoes mandatory background checks and training, designed to spot the signs of abuse and how to stop it.

There’s also a confidential diocesan line to report abuse. That number is 888-634-4499. 

Reports are automatically sent to law enforcement and there isn’t any church involvement to ensure compliance.