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New Life for Williamsburg Church

By Tim Harfmann

 It was a celebration in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio rededicated the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church received new life after a yearlong renovation. “Today’s a very exciting day because this is a church that probably should’ve been closed because it was such in bad repair. So, it’s a great joy to see a church being put back into service that can be very functional,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Hundreds of worshipers filled the pews and the lobby of the nearly 150-year-old church. The March 24th re-dedication included Bishop DiMarzio sprinkling the congregation with holy water — a reminder of their baptism; the bishop anointed the altar with sacred chrism, the same oil used during the sacrament of confirmation; and Bishop DiMarzio also installed Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello as the church’s new pastor. Monsignor oversaw the entire restoration of the church. “I feel like a kid’s first time in Disney World. I renovated a few churches and some parishes, but this truly is a gem. This is, probably, one of my greatest accomplishments,” said Monsignor Gigantiello.

Monsignor said a key to the church’s rebirth has been the Lithuanian Catholic community. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to be the only church in the five boroughs with a weekly Lithuanian Mass. “They’re ecstatic because they were always living in the fear that the church would close, and they would have nowhere to go and would lose their home,” said Monsignor Gigantiello. Now, the parishioners are looking forward to a bright future. “It’s so exciting. We’ve been worshiping here since 1914. And to see the wonderful renovation of the church, it just ensures that we’ll be here for decades to come,” said Raymond Slizys, a member of the Lithuanian community. “Everybody is invited now and everybody feels that God is here. We’re invited to renew our home, new church. We like it a lot,” said Rasa Sbrindys, another member of the community.

The celebration was accompanied by the announcement that Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish will merge with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which is located blocks away. “My goal is to make it one community,” said Monsignor Gigantiello. He also serves as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish.

 

 

 

Currents News for Friday, March 22, 2019

On this special edition: A threat to the independence of Catholic schools in New York.  The latest on what they’re are doing to protect themselves from the State; Two priests are on a mission. Returning to the Queens high school where they developed their vocations; The story of a man who is rebuilding the faith — literally — by restoring Catholic churches; Plus, a beloved Queens parishioner marks a milestone birthday.

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)

Champion of Immigrants Rights Is Remembered

By Emily Drooby

A tearful goodbye to Sister Kathryn Margaret Walsh, known as Sister Peggy. A heroic religious woman who devoted her life to helping others, especially immigrants.

The pews of Transfiguration Church packed this morning with family and friends.

Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, the church’s pastor said, “She was very dedicated to the parish to working with the people here, very humble, strong, a phenomenal person, great human being.”

Sister Peggy was born in Brooklyn. After high school, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph. She devoted 67 years of her life to her faith. Friends, like Sister Mary Ellen Vesey, the Regional Superior for the Sisters of St. Joseph, remembered Sister Peggy for that strong commitment.

Sister Vesey said, “I would say faith filled, and that was something she practiced in her daily life, and nourished and also gave to others.”

Sister Peggy also being remembered for her commitment to teaching and to immigrants. Her ministry began as a teacher. She transitioned to pastoral ministry, eventually working at Transfiguration RC Church in Williamsburg, where she found her true calling.

Sister Vesey explained, “She was involved in the immigration movement because of where she was ministering. There was such a need within the parish, a lot of people had come to Transfiguration and they needed to change their status.”

Sister Peggy became a certified advocate for immigrants.  She helped them with their status, their documents, and accompanied them in court.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated for Sister Peggy at the church where she spent so much of her time.

Father Jason Espinal, the Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Church, knew Sister Peggy since childhood he says she’s now being repaid for the selfless way she lived.

Father Espinal said, “Sister Peggy, today we bid farewell to her with the sure and certain hope that because she lived her life out of love for others, the Lord will reward her, that was just the kind of person she was.”

Her commitment to immigrants, her faith, and her loving heart will be long remembered.

’40/40 Program’ Aims to Feed the Hungry During Lent

By Tim Harfmann

Servers are slicing, dicing and scooping hot food and fresh produce to help the less fortunate. At St. John’s Bread and Life in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn the Catholic organization is on a mission to serve 40,000 meals during the 40 days of Lent. It’s called the ’40/40 Program.’ “We’ll definitely surpass it, but it’s a target for us,” said Sister Caroline Tweedy. She’s the executive director and said the organization hands out nearly 3,000 meals on a daily basis.

Along with serving in their dining room, a mobile unit drives around Brooklyn and Queens every day. Clients can also shop for non-perishable food at digital kiosks, as servers bag them supermarket-style. But the ‘40/40 Program’ is about more than passing a plate. “It also gives us a chance to step back and pause and say, ‘we do this on a regular basis. Are we doing it with the right intentions? Are we making people aware of it?” said Sister Tweedy.

In addition to raising awareness, the people of St. John’s Bread and Life are also making their own Lenten sacrifices. “What we’re doing is committing ourselves to one meal a week, that we are giving up, so that someone else can eat,” said Sister Tweedy. “Many of us are grateful for the blessings that we have. Part of our faith teaches us that those blessings aren’t just for us. They’re meant to be shared,” said Sister Marie Sorenson. She is the associate executive director of the Catholic organization. “That helps a lot! There’s a lot of people who are in need, and it’s kind of hard to get this in your mind about people needing food,” said 80-year-old Elmore Walker gratefully. He survives on social security and takes care of his sick wife at home.

Last year, St. John’s Bread and Life served over 860,000 meals. Thanks to the ‘40/40 Program,’ the Catholic organization’s on track to serve over a million this year. “God blessed this place to serve so many,” said Walker. St. John’s Bread and Life is Brooklyn’s largest emergency food provider.

 

 

Currents News for Thursday, March 21, 2019

On the newscast: Forty thousand meals for the hungry over the forty days of Lent. That’s the goal of the Catholics running a Brooklyn emergency center; Major news out of the White House involving the Golan Heights. And what it means for Israel; The final goodbyes for Sister Peggy Walsh. The heroic religious who spent her life helping immigrants; Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is speaking out about the places where priests are formed.

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)

Migrants Released In Texas Due To Overcrowding At Detention Center

Currents News Staff

A whole new chapter is unfolding for families waiting at the McCallan bus station in Texas.

Freddy Antonio Bonillo crossed the Rio Grande days ago, with his 5-year-old daughter and wife who is pregnant.

“We’re going to start from zero, he says, without any possessions,” he said through a translator.

Bonillo says he fled violence and poverty in his native Honduras.

And the groups he followed to get here, he says, are growing in size.

Bus after bus of immigrant families were dropped off by the government at a former nursing home run by Catholic Charities and Sister Norma Pimentel.

“We are doing our best to make sure that the families are not out in the rain and in the streets,” said Pimentel.

Many of these families will need to spend several days here before they can catch a bus to a city where their relatives live.

“Mostly because of the fact that they were over capacity at the processing facility and they needed to release more people so that way they could bring it down and be able to process the newly-apprehended people that were arriving,” she added.

Now the center is scrambling for volunteers and for food.

Bonillo says he could tell the United States government was stretched to its limits the day he crossed the border and entered the Border Patrol detention center.

Currents News for Wednesday, March 20, 2019

On the newscast: The warm goodbye to Bishop Rene Valero.  The Brooklyn Auxiliary’s Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated today; An unborn child’s message – Let Me Live – is on a bus traveling the streets of Midtown as Bishop DiMarzio’s mobilizes the Diocese in a campaign for life; Pope Francis is teaching pilgrims about the meaning of ‘Thy will be done’ in the Lord’s Prayer; A special preview of the latest edition of The Tablet.

 

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)

Fighting For Life: Bishop DiMarzio Mobilizes Brooklyn Diocese and Bus Delivers Powerful Message

By Emily Drooby

The sanctity of life is under renewed attack, especially in New York with the passage of an abortion law that eliminates virtually all restrictions on the deadly procedure.

Also at the United Nations where, according to critics, infanticide is being promoted.

Ann Kioko, CitizenGO’s spokeswoman explained, “We are trying to fight for the pre-born baby, the defenseless, innocent baby here at the United Nations.”

The people behind the bus fighting to convince a commission, meeting at the UN this week, to remove pro-abortion content from a document that’s currently being drafted, using this bus to drive the pro-life fight, one that’s gaining popularity across New York.

The state, long known as the abortion capital of America. In 2015 over 28 percent of pregnancies in the state ended in abortions, meaning over 93,000 were performed.

Now, people standing up for their pro-life beliefs after new state laws severely limited restrictions on abortion.

This pro-life push also happening within the Diocese of Brooklyn with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio supporting the international 40 Days For Life campaign, this Lenten season.

Bishop DiMarzio, said, “Let’s hope that our prayers during lent for these 40 days will move hearts and minds and protect life as best we can.”

The campaign promotes the pro-life agenda through prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach. For Bishop DiMarzio, this campaign is a good way to respond to those hated new laws.

The Bishop explained, “Most people are very angry about it because of the expansion of abortion they just don’t understand that part. Abortion up to the last trimester is something people can’t accept. And that’s what happened with this bill, even if it doesn’t happen often, it’s still something that is there.”

40 Days For Life events are taking place across the Diocese. A pro-life mass is being held at 7am on March 30th at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica Queens and a overnight prayer vigil is also being held at that same Queens parish starting at 8pm on April 5th.

The fight at the UN will continue all week, as advocates for life work to eliminate references to abortion in a document being created by the commission on the status of women.

Ann Kioko said, “We are here to send a message that our woman don’t need those kind of things. Our woman need priorities like water, like education, like electricity.”

Advocates using this bus, speeches, and a pro-life petition with over 143,000 signatures to aid their fight.

Kioko said, “It is sending a very clear message on behalf of those pre-born children, that they have to let the children live.”

The bus is scheduled to run on this loop until Friday.

Bishop Valero’s Legacy Remembered at Funeral

By Tim Harfmann

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio presided over the Mass of Christian burial on Wednesday, March 20th. Clergy, family and friends said their final goodbyes to Auxiliary Bishop Rene Valero – the first bishop of Hispanic heritage in the Brooklyn diocese. “His primary concern was the welfare of people. And as the first Hispanic auxiliary, it was really wonderful that he was able to take care of people. They could look up to him and say that he was one of their own,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Bishop Valero was the son of Venezuelan immigrants and served the Brooklyn diocese for nearly a half-century. “He had a great sympathy for those people who were working their way, learning what it was like to be here… not only in the country, but also in the church,” said Bishop Emil Wcela. He witnessed Valero’s service to immigrants first-hand, as the two knew each other for nearly seven decades.

Bishop Valero ministered in parishes and led the Catholic Migration Office. He later served the elderly while working with Catholic Charities. “He gave his heart and service with great joy and wonderful compassion. That, for me, is the gift I’m going to carry on with me,” said Sister Ave Clark. She was a close friend of Bishop Varelo’s.

After Mass at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens clergy and Bishop Valero’s family gathered in the crypt, which located under the chapel. That is Bishop Valero’s final resting place, next to other bishops of Brooklyn and Queens.

Valero died on Sunday, March 10th at the age of 88. He suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for years, but didn’t let it affect his ministry. “He suffered with great patience. He never complained. Some days he was great, some days he wasn’t,” said Bishop DiMarzio, “But he made the best of it, and I think his legacy will be one of great caring for the people of the diocese.” Even during his final days, he cared for others. Sister Clark visited Valero to pray with him — just days before he died. “When I left that day, I look at him and said, ‘Bishop, you’re my friend forever. I love you.’ and he looked up at me and said, ‘me too.’ Those are memories you don’t forget,” said Sister Clark. An outpouring of love and prayers as the beloved bishop’s legacy was remembered.

Pope Prays For Cyclone Victims

Currents News Staff

The pope continued his catechesis on the “Our Father,” focusing the part, “Thy will be done.” He said this part read along with “hallowed by Thy name” and “Thy kingdom come” form a prayer trilogy.

He said in order to understand this new point of reflection, one must clearly know that God does not hide Himself and plans for the world’s future.

“This, without a doubt, is God’s will: man’s salvation, of all men and women. Every one of us. God, with His love, knocks on the door with His love. Why? To draw you in. To draw you to Him and carry us forward on the path of salvation,” said Francis.

He insisted that the Our Father should ignite in each Christian the same love Jesus has to do God’s will. This flame should than transform the world with love.

“Praying ‘Thy will be done,’ we are not invited to bow like a servant, as if we were a slave. No! God wants us to be free. It is His love that frees us. The Our Father, in fact, is a prayer of children, not of slaves. It’s of children who know their father’s heart and are certain of his love plan,” he said.

He added this should be hope for Christians. He thus concluded his catechesis with an “Our Father,” inviting everyone to pray in their own language.

Then he expressed his closeness with areas experiencing natural disasters. A cyclone and flooding have caused at least 200 deaths and affected millions.

Francis added, “These days, great floods have sown grief and devastation in various regions of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. To those dear people I express my pain and my closeness.”

He entrusted all the victims and their families to God’s mercy, asking for comfort and support for them during this difficult time.