Pope Leo XIV Makes Phone Call to the Only Catholic Parish in Gaza

By Currents News

Pope Leo XIV has called the parish of the Holy Family, the only Catholic parish in Gaza, where around 500 refugees live together within the parish complex.

This was shared by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, through a post on his social media. It is the first known instance of a phone call made from the pontiff to this community.

Father Romanelli said that Pope Leo asked how they were doing and inquired about the situation. He also gave them his blessing and said he was praying for them and for peace.

This gesture had also been a daily habit of Pope Francis, who used to call the parish almost every day to, like Pope Leo, show a sign of closeness to them.

On the day of the call, Pope Leo was in Castel Gandolfo. He had returned to spend a working day in the citadel.

Upon returning to the Vatican, the press asked Pope Leo about the Israeli attack on several buildings where Hamas leaders were located. He said the news was serious, and that we must continue praying and insisting on peace.

That same day, Israel reissued a total evacuation order for Gaza.

The pontiff mentioned he tried to call the parish priest, but had not heard back. Finally, as Romanelli noted, they managed to speak.

Diocese of Brooklyn Celebrates St. Peter Claver, Calls for Unity

By Currents News

The power of prayer filled the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on Sept. 9 as Catholics in the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered to celebrate the feast day of St. Peter Claver, the patron saint of African Americans and interracial justice.

Father Alonzo Cox, Vicar for the Brooklyn Vicariate Office of Black Catholic Concerns, led the Eucharistic Adoration and evening Vespers, urging all people of faith to view one another as St. Peter Claver did — brothers and sisters of God.

St. Peter Claver, a Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary, baptized over 300,000 slaves in South America.

In Solidarity With Those Who Suffer, Diocese of Brooklyn to Hold Day of Prayer and Penance on Sept. 15

By Bishop Robert Brennan and Currents News

The cross looms large in the Sunday gospels during these weeks. Last week, we were reminded of the reality of the cross in our own lives as Jesus called on us to take up our crosses and follow him.

This coming Sunday, the feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross proclaims the victory of Christ over sin and death by his cross and resurrection. Indeed, the harsh reality of sin, of suffering, and of death is all around us.

Wars and violence plague the world, causing the suffering and destruction of many innocent people. Closer to home, we see manifestations of pure evil, for example, in Minneapolis, or even the gun violence that takes the lives of young people right here in Brooklyn and Queens.

Even in our own lives, we face the realities of suffering and grief. At the same time, we do see the best of humanity.

Last Sunday, our Holy Father presided over the canonization of two modern young saints. St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis, both of whom rooted their lives in a profound relationship with Jesus Christ within the Church and shared the joy of that relationship with their families and friends.

They enjoyed many of the things young people enjoy – the outdoors, soccer, and even video games. But the relationship they had with Christ propelled them into genuine concern and care for the poor and those who suffer. They lived their lives, not for themselves alone but for God and for others.

Each of them took up the cross of suffering in illness that continues to inspire people of all ages. Our two newly named saints, through their prayerful relationship with the Lord, are examples of hope and light against the darkness of violence and despair. But they are not unique.

I see similar examples in the young people in our parishes and youth groups. We can be very proud of the pilgrims who went to World Youth Day and to the Jubilee of Youth, as well as those who are active in our different youth events and movements. Our parishes and movements show that parishioners of all ages, not only the young, are deeply rooted in prayer and live out the fruit of that prayer every day.

NET-TV and DeSales Media reveal that there are even many homebound individuals who pray regularly with the Mass and devotions. This is good.

Pope Leo regularly calls the Church to pray for peace. He calls on leaders of nations to set aside the attitude of war and seek peace. He calls all Christians to unite in fervent prayer for peace.

In August, he called for a day of prayer and fasting on the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and at that time asked the local churches throughout the world to continue in solidarity in a spirit of prayer and penance.

While we should pray always, here in Brooklyn and Queens, I am inviting all the faithful to make a special effort with a day of prayer and penance on Monday, Sept. 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

With Mary, and in union with all the saints who have made the way before us, let us follow Jesus on the road to Calvary, contemplating his cross and asking his help bearing our own crosses. Prayer and penance acknowledge our own powerlessness while placing ourselves in solidarity with Christ.

When the friends of the paralyzed man realized their sense of powerlessness, they did the only thing they could imagine. In a dramatic gesture, they lowered him on a mat through the roof to bring him to Jesus (Mk. 2:1-12). And St. Paul tells us, “When I am weakest, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9).

International dialogue and negotiation, as well as local conversations about gun violence, laws and enforcement, mental illness and security, are all important – very important. But if these are not grounded in prayer, they can quickly devolve into the advancement (or defense) of political agendas or ideologies.

The prophets in the Old Testament preached this message to the kings and leaders of Israel and Judah. Prayer and penance clarify our vision. They help us to pursue true good.

Please consider being part of the diocesan effort of prayer and penance on Sept. 15. Let’s pray for those peace efforts and talks underway. Let’s pray in solidarity for those who live under the scourge of war, violence, and the resulting famine and disease.

Let’s pray for the lands of some of our own neighbors and fellow parishioners who worry daily for family members. Let’s pray for the transformation of hearts and minds – beginning with the purification of our own hearts.

Prayer and penance are expressions of solidarity with those who cannot choose but to suffer. Penance can take on different forms – fasting from food, not eating between meals, fasting from social media, extra forms of devotional prayer such as the Stations of the Cross, or additional acts of charity or service.

With Our Lady of Sorrows, we look to Jesus crucified and remember his presence among those who suffer today.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 9/10/2025

The U.S. Department of Education will soon issue new guidance on protecting prayer in public schools. It will be a breath of fresh air for one teacher who was recently removed from her classroom after displaying a symbol of faith on her wall.

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is calling on all Catholics in the Diocese of Brooklyn to take part in a day of prayer and fasting for peace.

The 2025 Jubilee has been an amazing celebration of faith with twists and turns no one could have anticipated – we take a look back on the year so far.

St. Athanasius-St. Dominic Parish Joins Interfaith Stand Against Hate in Brooklyn

During Sunday Mass on Sept. 7, St. Athanasius-St. Dominic Parish in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, participated in Stand-Up Sunday, an interfaith initiative addressing the rising attacks on places of worship nationwide.

Father Michael Lynch, the parish pastor and Vicar for Ecumenical Affairs and Interreligious Activities for the Diocese of Brooklyn, delivered a homily urging Catholics to oppose bigotry.

He reminded the congregation of Jesus’ teaching to “love one another,” emphasizing the call to stand united against all forms of hate.

St. Camillus Parishioners Reunite to Celebrate Queens Community’s ‘Social Center’

By Currents News and Ed Wilkinson

ROCKAWAY PARK – St. Camillus Church is scheduled to close at the end of the year, but despite a recent raw and rainy Sunday morning, no one was complaining. Instead, on Sept. 7, “Reunion Sunday at St. Camillus” was a celebration of the parish’s outstanding legacy.

“Today is not a day to complain or blame, but rather it is a day to unite our prayers in deep gratitude to a God who is faithful,” said Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Raymond Chappetto, whose first assignment as a priest was at the parish in 1971.

“Today is not just about preparing to lose a building, but rather a day to remember how these buildings made us better people, more faithful to Christ and heirs of eternal life,” he said in a homily at Mass to begin the celebration.

Bishop Chappetto recalled the dedication of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the parish school that closed in 2019; the outstanding lay teachers, most notably, Margaret Dwyer, who recently turned 100 years old, and Msgr. William Burke, who served the parish from 1951 to 1963 and founded and directed the parish’s well-known fife and drum marching band, the Communion-breakfasts at Westrich’s on Beach 116th St., the Masses added to the summer schedule to accommodate the beach crowd, and the bazaars, novenas, and shrine chapel.

At the reception in Springman Hall, the reflections continued as about 600 people crowded in to recall the glory days of St. Camillus. Parish alumni came from as far as Florida and Texas, and one even arrived straight from his stay in a local hospital.

The St. Camillus marching band led a procession through a fine mist from the church to the outdoor Marian Garden, where a laurel of flowers was placed on the head of the statue of the Blessed Mother.

Dotsy Livingston Kearns, who has lived her entire life in the parish, led the band as drum majorette. She said Msgr. Burke’s musicians became national travelers, playing at the Orange Bowl in Florida, the Indianapolis Speedway, and even welcoming ceremonies in New York for two popes. The corps, in its famous gold-and-green outfits, was also a mainstay in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“Msgr. Burke was the best,” she said. “He was dedicated to the kids. He tried to keep us all out of trouble. He made us pay ten cents a week for dues.

“Some of us continue to get together.”

Jim Henning, a life-long parishioner of St. Camillus until recently relocating to Belle Harbor, fondly remembers his service as an altar server and Eucharistic minister.

“St. Camillus was the social center of the community, the place that everyone looked to, whether you were young or old,” said Henning. “I remember Msgr. Burke as honest and kind. Like former pastor, Msgr. Richard Ahlemeyer, he would reach into his own pocket and help someone who came to him in need.”

Henning recalled that Msgr. Ahlemeyer was a “sort of cheerleader” for the parish school.

“He did everything he could to keep its doors open,” he said.

Jim Woods and his wife, Nancy, are snowbirds who spend most of their time in Naples, Fla., but they made sure this year’s Rockaway time coincided with the St. Camillus reunion. The Woods sent all of their children to the parish school, and they all played in the fife and drum corps.

Before the Mass, Kerry Burke, who married her husband, Tom, at St. Camillus more than 40 years ago, said she had sent all her children to the parish school. A former rectory worker, she particularly praised the work of a former pastor, Father James Dunne.

While she was sad, she saw the closing coming. Weekly Sunday attendance had dropped below 200 people, she said, and there was a significant financial debt because a new parish center had been built at St. Virgilius, the parish’s other worship site in Broad Channel.

Father James Rodriguez, who administers the parish while also serving as pastor at St. Rose of Lima also in Rockaway Beach, said that the final Mass at St. Camillus, which opened in 1908, will be about Dec. 28.

Also returning for the reunion were former pastors, Msgr. Alfred LoPinto and Father Bill Sweeney. Father Robert Whelan, the only diocesan priestly vocation from the parish, was unable to attend because he was in Rome for the canonization of Sts. Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis.

“Closings are not easy,” reminded Bishop Chappetto. “But they have to happen and continue to happen. What consoles me is that even though a building may be torn down, even a sacred building like this one, no one can eliminate those memories from our minds.

“No one can stop us from sharing the stories with anyone who will listen,” Bishop Chappetto added. “Let’s share the stories, renew the acquaintances, recall the great history, and pass on the memories.”

A New Chapter: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Transforms Its Library Experience

By Currents News and Paula Katinas

ASTORIA — The start of the school year at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy also marks the debut of the academy’s new library.

Principal Elizabeth Reilly and Librarian Maura Hili worked over the summer to prepare the new space, located in the academy’s basement. They decided to rethink the library from top to bottom.

The room has books, of course. But it also has comfortable couches, a play table, and shelves filled with toy trucks and art supplies.

The idea is to reach the child who is not a lover of reading by letting them draw pictures or play with toys — in the hope that it can spark their curiosity enough for them to pick up a book, Hili explained.

“To further the creativity of all of our children … I tried to put, like a little something extra on some of the shelves,” Hili said. “Maybe you enjoy reading, but maybe reading is not your favorite, and you love art. And I think when we show our kids connections with materials, that’s how they learn best.”

The academy’s library was formerly located on the second floor, but Reilly decided to move it because she felt it needed a larger space, which the basement classroom space offered.

Over the summer, Reilly and Hili went through the old books and materials — throwing out anything outdated, like encyclopedias — and moving the rest down to the new library. Reilly said they donated more than 40 boxes of books to veterans and to children in need, as well.

A lot of thought went into the decor, she added. Rather than a room filled with long tables, the library has couches and chairs that allow children to relax.

“We just thought about a space that all students, K-8, could use and feel comfortable in,” she said.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 9/9/2025

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in Queens is marking 75 years with a unique celebration that its inaugural pupils once enjoyed.

In Rockaway, Queens, St. Camillus Church looks back at its parish history and prepares to pass the momories on to new generations.

One Catholic woman in Michigan is turning 100 – she’s sharing what has kept her going over the years.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Marks 75th Year With Parade in Astoria, Queens

By Katie Vasquez and Paula Katinas

ASTORIA — Olivia Dimare, a third grader at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy, usually begins her school day sitting at her classroom desk. But on Sept. 8, she started school outside — marching around the school in a parade with her fellow students.

“It was amazing. It was so fun and I was really excited,” Olivia said. “It was so cool to walk in the street.”

Olivia had fun, but she and her fellow students were also recreating a historic moment for their school, which is marking its 75th anniversary this year.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy opened on Feb. 13, 1951, during the 1950-1951 school year. Back then, it was known as St. Francis of Assisi School before being renamed to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy in 2016.

The grand opening on that cold February day in 1951 featured a parade that saw students march from the schoolyard, around the corner, and into the front entrance — an event recreated with the Sept. 8 procession.

To give the anniversary parade a 1950s feel, a marching band played songs from the era, like “Rock Around the Clock.”

The event was organized by two alumni — Chris Dimare and Steven Simicich — both of whom have children in the academy and are parent members of the board.

Dimare is Olivia’s dad, and his son Marco is in the first grade. Simicich has two sons in the academy — Luca, a third grader, and Marco, a first grader.

“We really wanted to celebrate the fact that we’re proud at St. Francis Catholic Academy of having a very high enrollment and a school that is growing at a pace to meet the community demand for private Catholic school education,” said Simicich, a member of the Class of 1992.

When the organizers were researching the academy’s history, they discovered that the inaugural event was a parade. So, they decided to bring history to life by having another one.

“It was really great to see it come together, see the smiles on the children’s faces,” said Dimare, who graduated in 1996. “And I think they had an appreciation for the school.”

Principal Elizabeth Reilly, who cheered for the students as they marched in the parade, said alumni certainly appreciate their old school.

“The biggest population is the outgoing eighth graders who are just starting high school. They tend to come back in the first couple of weeks just to see what’s changed,” she said. “But we also get a lot of older alumni who want to give back a lot.”

Led by the Sisters of St. Dominic, the first students at St. Francis of Assisi School march around the block on the opening day in 1951. (Photo: Courtesy of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy)

Chris Dimare’s mother, Vivian Dimare, who graduated in 1964, remembered the school as a close-knit community “where you knew the parents of everyone in your class.”

Most of her teachers were nuns, members of the Sisters of St. Dominic, who were strict but kind, she said. She also recalled having fun at school dances and volunteering as a seventh and eighth grader to watch lower-grade classes so that the nun who was teaching the children could take her lunch break.

“It was a wonderful place to go to school,” she said.

While St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy is celebrating its past, it is also looking to the future, said Reilly, who added that it’s a bright future, thanks to a healthy enrollment that currently stands at 339 students.

“We’re growing pretty significantly,” Reilly said. “In the past three years, we’ve grown by about 50 students. And I think that really speaks to what we’re offering to the students.”

Mason Cleghorn, a sixth grader, is happy at the academy and is especially fond of his teachers. “They’re really nice to us. They’re really kind and they understand us,” he said.

Mason had a great time marching in the parade.

“It was really fun being part of the parade,” he said. “There were a lot of people and trumpets everywhere. It felt good being part of a big thing that was happening.”

TONIGHT AT 7: Queens Catholic Academy Marks 75 Years

By Katie Vasquez

Students from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy are marking the start of the 2025 school year in the same way children marked the opening of the Astoria, Queens school in 1950 – by taking to the streets in celebration.