Concerts Spread Important Messages During Advent

By Emily Drooby

It’s an Advent tradition. Christmas concerts help to celebrate this important season through the power of music.

Rebecca Pitcher the cantor at St. Ann Catholic Church said, “Everybody says to me, singing is praying twice.”

A tradition carried out at St. Ann Church in Hoboken with their 2018 Wintertide concert.

Jeremy Beck, the church’s music director said, “I think when people do experience it in a different way as opposed to just hearing it nonchalantly on the radio, it touches people a lot deeper.”

Hundreds attended the sold-out concert which raised at least $7,000 for local non-profit, Family Promise of Hudson County, which helps to house homeless families.

On a deeper level, concerts like this one, are very important. As Father Remo DiSalvatore, the Pastor at St. Ann Church, explained, they help to spread the important advent message of hope.

Father DiSalvatore, “We’re always trying to share that message with people. And so, music is a great way that maybe some people who don’t really come to church all the time would be interested in coming in, hearing the message in a different way.”

While music in general also helps to fill the pews.

Pitcher said, “The church has grown in the last 6 years that I have been here and I do think it has something to do with the music.”

Also brining parishioners closer to God. Father DiSalvatore said, “It’s all connected and it’s all part of us giving our praise and worship to God.”

A Christmas Gift for Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

By Katie Engesser

Students from Holy Angels Catholic Academy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn place a symbol of the Christmas season in a solemn place.

“For what they’ve done for us, they deserve to be honored,” said Sean Powers, a 7^th grader at the academy.

Unlike many visitors to Cypress Hills Cemetery, these girls and boys aren’t remembering relatives. In fact, they don’t know those buried there. What they do know is that in these graves lie America’s heroes.

“They risked their lives to give us freedom,” said Joseph Chelales, another 7^th grader at the school.

The students are taking part in ‘Wreaths Across America,’ which shows respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Maybe their family can’t visit them so it would be right for us to visit them if they don’t have people to visit them,” Joseph explained.

The thousands of soldiers laid to rest in the Brooklyn cemetery are from the branches of the U.S. military. Some date back to the Civil War. The many graves are adorned with wreaths.

Major Jose Martinez from the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Airforce Auxiliary explained “It’s not for the glory, it’s not for the notoriety. It’s a chance for us to give back. They gave to us, let’s give back to them.”

The students helped to place around 2,000 wreaths around Cyprus Hills Cemetery but honoring the veterans has become a school-wide project. For those who couldn’t attend the service, they donated money to help pay for the wreaths.

Michael Long, Chairman of the Board at Holy Angels, said “I think it’s a huge sign of respect to put a wreath on a military grave.”

Long introduced the program at the school last year. He wanted the students to take part so they would better understand the sacrifices of veterans.

“It’s very important,” Long explained, “because one of the reasons we’re able to celebrate Christmas, one of the reasons we’re able to sit down with our families and go to church and say our prayers is because people fought and died to keep us free.”

‘Wreaths Across America’ is honoring veterans in about 1,400 locations in all 50 states this Christmas with a mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the cost of freedom. Certainly for the kids from Holy Angels, many of whom told me their parents and grandparents are veterans, this is a lesson they are learning well.

“I would like to have other people celebrating them and put wreaths on their graves,” said 5^th grader, Caroline Chelales.

You Be The Judge!

You Be The Judge! Judge Patricia DiMango puts Monsignor Jamie on the bench this week as she dishes up a clam sauce over pasta al dente. Tune in to find out Monsignor Jamie’s verdict on Judge DiMango’s Italian dish on this episode of Breaking Bread.

Charlie Romo

Like many young people, 22-year-old Charlie Romo dreams of being a renowned singer. But he’s not busy performing pop songs or auditioning for American Idol. Instead, he’s following in the footsteps of his heroes, entertainers like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Charlie talks to host Craig Syracusa about his inspiration for pursuing this old-fashioned style of music and the role his faith plays in his life & career.

Currents News for Friday, December 14, 2018

On the newscast: Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio installing a new pastor in Park Slope; They all visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and now these Popes are memorialized inside; Students perform scenes from the nativity during the annual Bishop Dimarzio Christmas Luncheon.

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

Currents News for Thursday, December 13, 2018

On the newscast: Cardinal George Pell – at one time a powerful figure at the Vatican – tonight is convicted of sexual abuse; On the Feast Day Of Saint Lucy – patroness of the blind – an extraordinary mass is celebrated by a blind priest; A very special way to love the Lord is on the rise – there’s been a significant increase in women who are consecrated virgins.

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

Visually Impaired Celebrate Patron Saint

By Tim Harfmann

Father Jamie Dennis doesn’t prepare for Mass like other Catholic priests. He needs help because he’s lost almost all of his eyesight. “It’s like looking through a straw. That’s what I have left. And what I can see through that is not clear at all,” said Father Dennis.

But that didn’t stop him from celebrating a special Mass at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Chelsea. It was the feast day of Saint Lucy — patron saint of the visually impaired. A Kentucky priest, Father Dennis traveled to New York to honor the fourth-century Italian saint. After having her eyes ripped out for being Catholic, it is believed Saint Lucy was still able to see. She was tortured and died a martyr for the faith. “Her name means light, so she’s also a light pointing to the greater light of Christ for us,” said Father Dennis.

During the liturgy, the priest used braille books to follow along. The Xavier Society for the Blind provided them. For over a century, the nonprofit organization gives free braille and audio books so thousands of Catholics across the united states and 20 other countries can grow closer to Christ. Members of the faithful in the pews for Mass also used the braille. “It really embodies what we do because folks are able to witness our clients, our patrons, using our materials to practice their faith,” said Malachy Fallon. He’s the executive director of the society.

Sharlene Kraft is a lector. She’s legally blind and a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows, Queens. “If there’s something I can do that benefits the Church, that’s good. Xavier allows me to do that. Without Xavier, I wouldn’t be able to participate in the way I do,” said Kraft.

Twelve-year-old Mara Hug also uses braille books so she can serve at the altar. “It’s easier to read so I can focus more on the serving.” Hug prays to Saint Lucy and plans to take the name Lucy when she receives the sacrament of confirmation next year.

Following Mass, Hug and other worshipers venerated a sacred relic, touching and kissing a piece of Saint Lucy.

For the blind, their patron saint guides them.

Cardinal George Pell Convicted of Sexual Abuse

After four full days of deliberations, the verdict is now in.
Cardinal George Pell was found guilty of sex abuse. National Correspondent for the Tablet and Crux, Christopher White, joins Currents News anchor Liz Faublas to discuss.

Consecrated Virgins on the Rise

By Emily Drooby

While flipping through a photo album, Angela Scannapieco reflected one of the most important days of her life.

On that day, Scannapieco stood at St. James Cathedral Basilica in a wedding dress from David’s Bridal with a ring on her finger; but it wasn’t her wedding, it was her consecration ceremony.

Scannapieco, said: “They never had consecrated virgins in Brooklyn before.”

Scannapieco is one of only about 5,000 consecrated virgins in the world — and one of only two in Brooklyn; there is a third woman currently working towards becoming a consecrated virgin. The position is growing rapidly. The United States Association of Consecrated Virgins tells us while there is no central registry, they believe the number has grown between 10 to 15 percent since December 2015, when there were about 4,000. Even Scannapieco didn’t know what a consecrated virgin was when the idea was first introduced by her spiritual director.

Scannapieco, said “He said have you thought about consecrated virginity, and I said excuse me?”

She has now seen more recognition.

Scannapieco, said: “I have spoken at a couple of parishes and things like that so there is more awareness, I don’t know if I have seen people come up to me and say oh I know all about consecrated virginity, because it’s still not all that well known.”

Being a consecrated virgin is similar to being a nun, but consecrated virgins don’t live in enclosed communities, they don’t wear special clothing on a daily basis, and they have jobs. For example, while Scannapieco works at Divine Mercy parish in Brooklyn, another consecrated virgin she knows works in the banking industry.

Scannapieco explained one thing is similar, the calling: “If there is something that doesn’t feel like it’s all together there, then surround yourself with good, Holy people and seek some council and they’ll point you in the right direction and then God knows, God will use them.”

Bank Forgives Student Loans For Nurse

Currents News Staff

For the past 12 years, 30-year-old Jasmin Ford has had to hustle for everything she has.

“Gratitude is what gets me through. I mean becoming a nurse and being able to serve in the field that I’m in is the greatest honor of my life second to having my child,” she said.

She grew up on Chicago’s south side.

Now a single mother and a nurse, the first in her family to go to college.

She works two jobs, six days a week, and is saddled with 150-thousand dollars of student loan debt she never thought she’d pay off.

“There are times when I fall short, and I have to reduce my payment amounts, so there’s really not a timeline that I can necessarily see,” she said.

Until now.

“We know the burden that student loan debt places on people’s lives and slows down the trajectory and the change that they can make in the world, and to be able to remove that road block and that obstacle for Jasmin is just a dream come true for all of us,” said Mike Crawford from Fifth Third Bank.

A life changing moment for her and her son.

“I can save for your college. And we won’t go down that road again. You won’t be like me, you won’t have any debt. Changed the direction and the course of my life and the way I want to live. It’s not just the day to day anymore,” she said.