St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy Celebrates Centennial

By Currents News

Bishop Robert Brennan helped a Queens Catholic academy celebrate 100 years of an excellent education.

He celebrated a Mass for the 100th anniversary of St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy.

The Flushing school officially opened its doors on Sept. 25, 1925 under the guidance of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

At the time, there were eight classrooms and 250 children enrolled.

During the anniversary celebration, current students and alumni were allowed to wander the halls of St. Andrew’s after Mass – going through memorabilia and reminiscing about their time in the classroom.

Currents News Anchor Christine Persichette Honored by St. Francis Prep for Journalism and Faithful Service

By Currents News and Jessica Meditz

FRESH MEADOWS — When Christine Persichette found herself in the spotlight on Sept. 27, it wasn’t behind the anchor desk. This time, she made headlines of her own as she was inducted into St. Francis Preparatory School’s Hall of Fame.

Persichette, anchor of Currents News and a 1990 graduate of St. Francis Prep, was honored during a ceremony that celebrated alumni who have excelled in their fields while staying true to the school’s values.

She was inducted alongside three fellow alumni — Reginald DesRoches (‘85), president of Rice University in Houston, Texas; Jon Fredas (‘83), a decorated U.S. Navy Commander for 22 years; and the late Bryan Collins (‘82), a championship-winning college football coach and athletic director.

During her high school years, Persichette was an honor roll student with a dedicated work ethic — serving as a retreat leader and a dean’s aide, and always working a part-time job after school.

She said her years at St. Francis Prep helped shape the path that led her to a career in Catholic journalism.

“My career kind of came full circle. I was in Catholic school for 12 years, then went upstate for college and worked in secular news for years. Now, being in Catholic news, it’s so nice,” she said. “We do meaningful stories, stories that really affect families, church, and school communities. I think telling it from a Catholic perspective shows how we can be more like Jesus and help people.”

Currents News’ ongoing “Pulse of the Parish” segment, where she tells the story of dedicated parishioners whose service is the heart of a parish community in the Diocese of Brooklyn, is the brainchild of Persichette.

Outside of work, she and her husband, Damian, serve as marriage prep coordinators at their parish in Rockland County and raise funds for the Hydrocephalus Association. Additionally, she volunteers her time as an emcee for local fundraisers.

Chris Mendolia, alumni director at St. Francis Prep, praised her accomplishments and service to the Church — setting an example for current students alongside the other honorees.

“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is pretty much the greatest honor we can bestow on a graduate. It’s somebody who has given back to St. Francis Prep, but also someone who’s made a significant impact in their community since they left,” he said. “What really stands out about Christine is not only her contribution back to St. Francis Prep, but her contribution to the Diocese of Brooklyn with Currents News and in Rockland County.

“She’s made an incredible impact.”

Persichette said St. Francis Prep is not only a place that provided her with a quality Catholic education, but also where she was blessed to meet her closest friends, who she still considers her sisters today.

Monica Sicilian, Agnes Lombardo, and Jennifer DeLuca nominated Persichette for induction into the Hall of Fame. They said that the nomination came easily to them, as they simply recalled her professional accomplishments and personal acts of service to her community and the Church.

“Christine is very driven. With all of her commutes, working full time as a mom of three, she juggles all of it — and I have never once heard her complain,” DeLuca said. “That’s the Catholic faith living large within her; she’s always practicing gratitude.”

“With all of that work, she still volunteers, participates in events to help the community, and helps the Church,” Lombardo added. “She really is like Superwoman — and honestly, the smartest person I know.”

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan Visits Brooklyn College

By Currents News

Bishop Robert Brennan gave some much-needed guidance to Catholic college students last week.

The Brooklyn shepherd celebrated Mass at the Newman Center at Brooklyn College, which looks to help students of the school grow together in faith.

After mass, Bishop Brennan sat with the young men and women for lunch and conversation.

With Hochul Undecided on Assisted Suicide, NY Catholics ‘Cannot Be Complacent,’ Says Bishop Robert Brennan

By Currents News and John Lavenburg

With Gov. Kathy Hochul acknowledging she has yet to decide on how she will act on assisted suicide legislation that passed the state legislature in June, Bishop Robert Brennan is calling on Catholics to make their voices heard.

“Assisted suicide disproportionately affects the poor, the vulnerable, and especially individuals suffering with mental illness,” Bishop Brennan said in a Sept. 29 statement. “There are better ways to support those facing end-of-life challenges — through improved palliative care, pain management, and compassionate support systems.”

“So I am asking Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens to reach out to the governor and tell her where you stand in this issue,” he added. “It is easy to contact her office today and ask her to veto this legislation through the New York State Catholic Conference website, nyscatholic.org.

“We cannot be complacent — please make your voice heard.”

State senators passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act (MAID) in a 35-27 vote on June 9, sending the bill to Hochul for a signature after the state assembly had previously passed the bill in an 81-67 vote in April. If enacted into law, MAID would allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to end their lives with fatal medications prescribed by doctors.

Hochul, a Catholic, hadn’t publicly commented on the bill until Sept. 26. Speaking at a press conference, the governor didn’t indicate whether she would sign or veto the bill. Instead, she spoke about separating her personal beliefs from her decision-making as governor, and acknowledged the passion on both sides of the assisted suicide issue.

“So I do have the ability — and have many times embarked on this — to separate my personal beliefs, my religious beliefs,” Hochul said. “But I always have a very solid moral code that never leaves me when I make decisions for New Yorkers.”

“I hear from a lot of people on that issue; it is strong,” she added. “There are strong views on both sides of the spectrum, intense views on this, and I’m conscious of that, and it’s gonna be a very weighty decision on me between now and the end of the year.”

Bishop Brennan said he appreciates the serious consideration Hochul is giving the bill.

“My hope is that she will see the serious consequences of introducing assisted suicide here in New York and veto the bill,” Bishop Brennan said.

The New York State Catholic Conference, the public advocacy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, similarly said it appreciates Hochul “giving this decision the weight it deserves,” calling it “a matter of life and death.”

“We are confident that, ultimately, she will come to the same conclusion as the American Medical Association, which called assisted suicide ‘incompatible with the physician’s role as healer’ and said it ‘would be difficult or impossible to control,’ and would pose serious societal risks,’ ” the conference said in a Sept. 29 statement.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 9/29/2025

Governor Kathy Hochul is weighing whether to sign or veto New York’s assisted suicide bill. Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is calling on Catholics to speak out and urge her to reject the measure.

Nearly 40 couples in the Diocese of Brooklyn renewed their vows at a wedding anniversary Mass in Queens.

St. Joan of Arc Church in Queens has a new pastor, and he’s already raised more than $150,000 to keep Catholic education alive at the parish school.

Currents News anchor Christine Persichette was inducted into St. Francis Prep’s Hall of Fame, joining a distinguished group of alumni recognized for their leadership and service.

Queens Pastor Launches Fundraising Challenge for Catholic Education

By Katie Vasquez and Bill Miller

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Agnes Mosejczuk, principal at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, has seen parish priests come and go. Indeed, most parishes see a new pastor every six years or so.

But, as she noted, it seemed like the current pastor, Father Christopher Heanue, hadn’t even “unpacked his suitcase” in June before unloading ideas to help the parish school.

High on his list: raising money for scholarships to help families afford tuition.

Father Heanue made good on his promise at the end of his installation Mass on Sept. 28 when he announced to the standing-room-only congregation that $150,000 had been recently raised for the school.

Enthused applause followed the announcement.

The following day, he further reported that even more donations came in during and after the Mass, bringing the total, as of this writing, to $160,000.

The “Father Christopher Heanue Installation Challenge,” he explained, came from donors who committed to supporting the school each year over a five-year period.

“He’s fully committed, and we’re grateful for that,” Mosejczuk said. “He believes the future of the Church is in the hands of our young women and men, and it’s our job to make sure that they grow us as apostles of Jesus.

“We can do that by investing in Catholic education.”

Father Heanue, ordained in 2015, is the former rector at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph and St. Teresa of Avila (2021-2025), and pastor of Holy Child Jesus-St. Benedict Joseph Labre Parish (2015–2021).

Before Mass, Father Heanue said he attended public schools in Queens before entering Cathedral Preparatory High School and Seminary in Elmhurst. There, he noticed that his classmates from Catholic schools were more prepared than he was for academic challenges.

“We recognize the great gift that Catholic education is, but also the challenges, financially,” Father Heanue said.

So, he got busy pitching his installation challenge to vendors, donors, family, and friends — about 90 people or organizations so far.

“My goal originally was $100,000,” he said. “So, some people are giving $10,000 a year for five years. Others, are giving $1,000 a year for five years.

There are a few one-time gifts.

“But someone is donating $20 a month for five years. That’s 1,200.”

Father Heanue said the installation Mass announcement was meant to be a surprise to the parishioners.

However, many of them were already aware of his passion for the school, having responded to his call to fund a scholarship separate from his installation challenge.

The Father Stephen Valdazo Scholarship is named in honor of a beloved parochial vicar, now retired, who has dedicated 40 years of service to the parish and its school.

Father Heanue said that scholarship has grown to $48,000. He told Father Valdazo about it during his recent 91st birthday celebration at Ozanam Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Bayside, Queens.

The fundraising is already helping families.

Elizabeth Rubio, a fourth grader, is an altar server for the parish. Tuition at the school was beyond her family’s financial reach, but her mother applied, and the family received one of the first scholarships.

“I felt excited when my mom told me,” Elizabeth said. “And I felt emotional when I came to the first day of school.

“At my public school, we used to not pray, and here we do religion.”

And, Father Heanue added, the installation challenge is not a “closed campaign.”

“It’s still open,” he said. “If people wish to support it.”

For information, call the rectory at 718-429-2333.

Junior Mariachi Band Hits High Notes at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Brooklyn

By Currents News and Paula Katinas

BENSONHURST — Twelve-year-old Johana Garcia has dreamed of playing the violin for the longest time — “Ever since I was little,” she said — and now her dream has come true, thanks to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Johana is part of the violin section of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mariachi, a 25-piece band of young people from the church that specializes in playing traditional Mexican music.

The musical ensemble was formed last year by Deacon Edgar Saucedo, and lots of eager kids, including Johana, immediately signed up. The band members range in age from kindergarten kids to college students.

“I always wanted to play the violin, and when they opened this new junior mariachi, I decided to join because I wanted to try something new,” Johana said as she took a brief break from rehearsal on Sept. 23.

The band members meet every Tuesday night with their violins, trumpets, tambourines, and guitarron Mexicanos (a type of guitar) to rehearse for their big performance at the church’s celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12 — a major Catholic holiday in Mexico.

Deacon Saucedo said he is hoping the band will make its debut sooner than that, playing at the church’s Spanish-language Masses. Most of the kids are the children of immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador, he explained.

But filling the church with lively mariachi music is not the only reason he formed the band. The real goal, Deacon Saucedo said, is to draw young people into church and get them involved in parish life. And he believes that music is a good entry point.

The band’s brass section with trumpet players Daniel Garcia, Christopher Mesa, Julian Garcia, and Angel Gabriel Tlatelpa (left to right) is an important part of the ensemble, their instructor says. (Photo: Paula Katinas)

“I think I based it on the importance for the young people to be part of the community, and I wanted to start working on it,” said Deacon Saucedo, who has served at Our Lady of Guadalupe since 2023.

His first step after getting permission from Msgr. Robert Romano, the church’s pastor, was to put a notice in the church bulletin. The announcement was met with a flood of responses from parents interested in enrolling their children.

Deacon Saucedo admitted that he hoped kids would have so much fun in the band that it would entice them to become involved in the church in other ways — such as becoming altar servers and catechists.

“It is my hope that the Holy Spirit guides them,” he said. “It is all up to the Holy Spirit.”

In the year since the band was formed, he has seen some success with his goal. Our Lady of Guadalupe now has 13 altar servers, many of whom are also band members.

“I think it was because the kids started getting into the mariachi group, they also became altar servers,” Deacon Saucedo said.

Deacon Edgar Saucedo (back row, center) says he is surprised that the mariachi band has drawn so many participants. More than 25 children signed up as soon as the band was announced in the church bulletin.

Msgr. Romano credited Deacon Saucedo with bringing new life to the church — not just with the mariachi band, but also by training and supervising the altar servers and being actively involved in the faith formation program. “I am so happy with the results,” he said.

One of Deacon Saucedo’s success stories is Edwin Bailon, 19, a sophomore at Borough of Manhattan Community College. He plays the guitarron Mexicano in the band and is an altar server and catechist.

“Church is a lot more fun than people realize,” Bailon said. “They need to explore all the different things in church. You can find something you think is interesting.”

Or unlock a hidden talent. Deacon Saucedo said a byproduct of the band might be that it gives kids a chance to discover their abilities. “I always remind them that their talent came from God, but that they need to discover it,” he said.

For some, it is not discovery as much as it is reinforcing what one already knows.

At the first meeting after the mariachi band was formed, Johana, a seventh grader at Christa McAuliffe Intermediate School in Dyker Heights, knew which instrument was meant for her.

“When we came to the church, there were many teachers playing different instruments,” Johana said. “When I saw the violin, I knew I wanted to play it.”

TONIGHT AT 7: New Pastor of Queens Church Launches Fundraising Challenge for Catholic Education

By Katie Vasquez

At his installation Mass as pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church in Queens, Father Christopher Heanue announced the impact of a special challenge to support the church’s Catholic academy. The initiative is designed to ensure Catholic education continues to thrive there for years to come.

Diocese of Brooklyn Celebrates Gift of Marriage With Vow Renewal Mass

By Alexandra Moyen

FRESH MEADOWS — Henry and Mary Macchiaroli have been married for 47 years, and credit their enduring union to a strong faith foundation.

“Faith is what has kept us going all these years,” Mary said.

“We’re very connected to the Church, and we know that everything is possible with God,” Henry said. “We are very faith-filled.”

On Sept. 27, the Macchiarolis were one of 38 couples at Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows for the annual Diocese of Brooklyn Wedding Anniversary Mass, which Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Paul Sanchez celebrated.

Kathleen and Ramon Fernando Guillermo Vidal, who celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last week, said they chose to renew their vows to reaffirm their commitment to one another and to keep their faith at the heart of their marriage.

“Our faith in God is our strength in the relationship and marriage,” Ramon said.

Standing beside him, Kathleen nodded in agreement, her eyes welling with tears.

“Because we put God at the center of our marriage — that is what makes our marriage last longer,” Kathleen said.

The Mass was concelebrated by Father Sean Suckiel, pastor of Holy Famliy, and Father Joseph Gibino, the diocese’s vicar for evangelization and catechesis.

Bishop Sanchez has celebrated four wedding anniversary Masses for the diocese. He said each of the Masses is an opportunity for the diocese to recognize the couples celebrating their marriage and thank them for their witness to the faith.

“We pray that they continue to support one another and be a good example to their children, and to other people around them,” Bishop Sanchez said. “Marriage is the bedrock of our society and family life.”

Father Suckiel said part of what inspired him to choose his vocation was the “witness of love” between his parents. He said he was happy to participate in the annual Diocese of Brooklyn Wedding Anniversary Mass.

“That’s the love that I want to bring into my own ministry as a priest, and just to be there and host this wedding anniversary is a great joy for the parish of Holy Family and for me as the pastor,” Father Suckiel said.

A Legacy That Soars: Five Scouts From Same Den Achieve Eagle Rank

By Christine Persichette

Inside a Rockland County church, a group of scouts gathers, their rituals unchanged: the salute, the pledge, the oath, and the prayer. Will Figueroa, an Eagle Scout, offers a prayer.

What sets such a gathering apart is the presence of five Eagle Scouts, each having attained the elite rank achieved by only 4% of all scouts.

“Only 4% of scouts that start scouting actually make it to Eagle Scout, if you can believe that,” Ken Grosso, Co-Den Leader of the troop explained, “so that in itself tells you how difficult it is.”

The odds of five boys from the same first-grade den all reaching Eagle Scout are staggering—less than 1%, no matter how the math is done.

“We became family pretty early on, and I knew all the boys were special… but that still doesn’t mean that they’re all going to Eagle,” Sherri Caivano, Co-Den Leader, added.

Earning the 21 required merit badges, 14 of which are mandatory, demands immense time and effort. Some badges take months to complete.

“The Eagle ones — a lot of physical and long, tedious processes — some were a lot more fun than others.” Eagle Scout Connor Finkelstein noted, pointing to his sash and highlighting badges for first aid and fishing.

Beyond badges, each Eagle Scout must complete a service project. Max Caivano transformed a neglected courtyard at his high school. “This courtyard area hadn’t really been taken care of in a while, so it seemed like a nice thing to do to give the students a nice area to walk around in,” he said of his project.

Will Figueroa built a lending library at a local park, keeping it stocked.

As a chaplain’s aide, he also credited his Catholic faith for guiding him: “I feel like it has helped me get to Eagle because the values that you’re taught in scouting are also very similar to the values that you’re taught through the Church.”

Gio Grosso created an outdoor classroom for his elementary school, a personal choice to give back: “I chose it because I wanted to give back to something very personal to me,” he told Currents News, “and I thought my elementary school that I went to was a pretty good choice.”

These projects and countless hours of work—building, leading, learning—represent thousands of hours. The five scouts supported each other and their community, united by friendship, commitment, and dedication. Their efforts leave a lasting legacy.

Elkin Frank, an Eagle Scout, summed it up: “One of the biggest takeaways from scouting is the skills you learn that go far beyond camping and merit badges—you learn all about leadership and responsibilities, and you take away these practical life skills that will shape you into who you are and will stick with you for the rest of your life.”