Honor Students Want to Help Immigrants

By Tim Harfmann

Sixty students were inducted into the first-ever Spanish Honor Society at Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It’s the only chapter of its kind among nine Catholic high schools in the borough. The students want to use the honor to help immigrants.

“It helps Xaverian be more culturally enriched, culturally diverse. We learn more about, not just the Spanish language, but also the Spanish culture. And we’re going to do different volunteer projects around the Latino community to help educate ourselves,” said Vanchi Ly, a junior and member of the new society.

But while the students are learning about language and culture, the hot-button topic of immigration is on their minds.

Ly is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. Her father escaped the Vietnam War by boat. She understands what many immigrants face. “They’re fleeing violence, so they need to come here in the same way. They’re just looking for safety and better opportunities,” said Ly.

To be inducted, students need to have a high grade point average and excel in Spanish language class.

Tara McLaughlin is a junior and the chapter’s vice president. “I’m learning a lot more about the world and how it’s affected by our diversity. And I get to see other people’s perspective through that,” said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin’s grandparents immigrated to the United States from Ireland. She said while they had the opportunity to live the American dream, it’s hard for her to watch others struggle. “I don’t get to experience the discrimination that they face in our world today,” said McLaughlin. “By learning more about their culture, it allows me to see their perspective and the struggles that they face.”

“We just want to build a community and support, so we stand behind the Hispanic community and all the issues that they face,” said Ly.

A society looking to expand their faith and culture in order to understand other immigrants.

Vigil For Victims – Community Remembers Loved Ones Lost

Currents News Staff

A moving tribute as a community bands together to remember 11 lives cut short.

Authorities have now identified six of the victims who were gunned down during college night at the “Borderline Bar & Grill” in Thousand Oaks.

It includes Ron Helus, a Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy being hailed a hero. He was hoping to retire soon after 29-years with the county.

Church volunteer Noel Sparks was also killed. Along with Marine Corps veteran Dan Manrique, 23 year old Justin Meek, college student Alaina Housley and 22 year old Cody Coffman.

We’re also learning new details about the man authorities say carried out the massacre.

Authorities say he was armed with a handgun fitted with an extended magazine and opened fire.

He was found dead inside.

World Health Organization: “Air pollution kills seven million people each year”

Currents News Staff

The World Health Organization announces that 93 percent of world’s children under the age of 15 are breathing polluted air.

According to Maria Neira, air pollution has terrible consequences for a child’s growth and well-being.

“We know that children will have problem with their neural and cognitive development. This is critically important. The same for your lungs, if you are exposed while you are a child or pre-natal, or post-natal, your lungs will be at risk and your development will be suffering,” said Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, (WHO).

The World Health Organization’s Director-General has also called for action to be taken on a global level to produce ‘a world free of air pollution.’

He noted that 9 out of 10 people breathe air pollution from ‘traffic emissions, industry, agriculture and waste incineration.’ He also said around 3 billion people also are still using ‘smoky, polluting stoves and fuels inside their homes for cooking and heating.’

“Air pollution kills 7 million people each year.” “Our latest estimates are that up to one-third of deaths from heart attack, stroke, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases are due to air pollution,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO.

WHO and associate institutions have held the first Global conference on “Air Pollution and Health” in Geneva. They hope it will help in gaining more global support and commitment to protecting the environment.

Pope Francis has persistently called for more action and cooperation to be taken in order to protect the environment. It is something he strongly expressed in his 2015 encyclical ‘Laudato si’.’

In his meeting with climate change experts last July, the pope called for urgent action to be taken to leave the planet in a better condition for future generations.

“There is a real danger that we will leave future generations only rubble, deserts and refuse. So I express my hope that concern for the state of our common home will translate into systematic and concerted efforts aimed at an integral ecology. For ‘the effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now,’” said Francis.

In December world leaders will once again meet for the next climate summit (COP24) at Katowice, Poland. In their last climate meeting world leaders had promised to tackle climate change through the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Vatican Creates An International Observatory Against Cyberbullying

Currents News Staff

It was not a casual message for the Pope. The bullying problem on social networks worries him to the point that the Vatican will create an International Observatory.

“Promise the Lord that you will never do this, and you will not permit it to be done in your school, in your school, in your neighborhood. Is that understood?,” said Francis.

In April, he hopes to present the conclusions of a triple study that will measure how the children themselves perceive the phenomenon, how the governments face this problem and how he will establish prevention plans.

The project is supported by two entities: “Scholas Occurrentes,” the international network of 440,000 schools promoted by the Pope, and the “Carolina Foundation.” This Italian organization was born after Carolina Picchio’s suicide. She was a 14-year-old girl who couldn’t stand to be the target of ridicule on social networks.

“I didn’t understand why Carolina took her own life. She was a beautiful, intelligent, sporty young woman. Why? Unfortunately they pierced her. She was pierced not only by the videos they posted of her on social networks, but also by the thousands of insults the network spewed at her,” said Paolo Picchio, Carolina’s father.

Cyberbullying is growing at an overwhelming rate. In the U.S., 28 percent of students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying in 2011, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics. A 2007 survey from C.P Bradshaw’s School Psychology Review showed that approximately 30 percent of young people in the U.S. admit to bullying others.

A Halibut Dinner Made Just for You

Mealtime is family time in Monsignor Jamie’s kitchen as he prepares a tasty and easy halibut dinner with actors Jim Chandler and Jen Gotzen. The Chandlers discuss their faith, films, and Monsignor Jamie’s savory meal.

Unique Toy Promotes Keeping Christ In Christmas

Currents News Staff

Keeping Christ in Christmas is a cause the Knights of Columbus are very passionate about.

To help spread the message, they created the Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ In Christmas Boxcar.” The unique collectible is adorned with an image of the Holy family.

One was presented to the Bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio as an early Christmas gift.

Currents News for Thursday, November 8, 2018

A bloody scene inside a southern California nightclub after an ex-Marine storms inside and opens fire; New rules are now in effect that protect companies and organizations who opt out of offering contraceptives in health insurance benefits; A larger than life display in Times Square to help one New York man receive the gift of life.

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)

California Club Shooting Latest

By Christopher White, The Tablet’s National Correspondent

NEW YORK – After a gunman barged into a southern California bar late Wednesday evening killing twelve individuals, Archbishop José Gómez decried the “horrible violence” and issued a call for peace.

“Like many of you, I woke this morning to news of the horrible violence last night at the Borderline Grill in Thousand Oaks,” said Archbishop Gómez in a statement on Thursday morning.

The shooting took place at the Borderline Bar & Grill in the city of Thousand Oaks, which is 40 miles west of Los Angeles. The gunman is believed to have first shot the on-duty security officer before opening fire on the dance floor.

Twelve people, including Sergeant Ron Helus, who was a first responder to the crime, were dead as of Thursday morning and others left hospitalized. The gunman, whose name has yet to be released, was also shot dead by the police responding to the incident.

“Let us pray hard for all the families, for those who were murdered and those who were injured, and in a special way for the heroic officer, Sgt. Ron Helus, who lost his life defending people in the attack,” said Archbishop Gomez, who leads the largest Catholic diocese in the country.

“May God grant perpetual light to those who have died and may he bring comfort to their loved ones and peace to our community,” the L.A. archbishop continued.

No clear motive has emerged in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, which took place at a bar primarily patronized by college students.

In addition to Archbishop Gómez, several other Catholic prelates took to Twitter to denounce the incident and offer prayers.

Bishop Robert Barron, an auxiliary bishop in Los Angeles, said he drove past the restaurant where the shooting took place just hours before it happened, adding that the incident had left him “heartbroken.”

“We pray for the dozen people who lost their lives, including the brave sheriff’s sergeant who was the first responder. May their souls rest in peace, under the mercy of God,” he wrote.

“I am deeply saddened to learn about the fatal shooting in California. I ask all in the Diocese of Arlington to join me in praying for the victims, their families, and survivors of this senseless act of evil. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us,” wrote Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia.

Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tennesee was more blunt in his commentary.

“Another mass shooting. Welcome to America!,” he wrote.

In a statement on Thursday, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), recalled the recent mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue last month and urged the country to pursue new action on gun control.

“We must bring this tragedy to the Lord in prayer. This new incident of gun violence strikes just as the funerals are barely complete from the last mass shooting. More innocent lives are lost because of one individual and his ability to procure weapons and commit violence,” he wrote.”The bishops continue to ask that public policies be supported that would enact reasonable gun measures to help curb this mad loss of life.”

“Only love can truly defeat evil. Love begets love, and peace begets peace, but anger, hatred and violence breed more of the same. Today we pray for the victims and their loved ones and all those impacted by this senseless violence,” he continued. “Let us pray that “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Times Square Billboard Helps NY Man To Find A Kidney

By Michelle Powers

Times Square is home to the most foot traffic in the busiest city in the world. But one man’s soles, weigh heavier than the others.

As Marc Weiner looks up at one billboard, he says out loud, “There we go.” He’s looking at his face on a 5,000 square foot billboard. It’s his formal introduction to more than half a million pedestrians a day.

“Like my wife said, this is a matter of life and death.”

The former newsman has eight seconds to make the pitch of his life–before the advertising changes. The billboard reads, “I need a kidney. You can help!”

Back at Marc’s home on Long Island– the glow of Times Square feels far away, but the much dimmer reality remains the same. His wife, Lisa, says, “I almost don’t remember anything before. This has become our new normal.”

Even though it was only two years ago, Lisa, can’t remember the way it was before Marc got an aggressive cancer, one that removed his kidneys, prostate and bladder. Pictures now mark a divide in their lives–before Marc got sick, and after.

Lisa says there’s a common misconception when it comes to needing a kidney. “Everybody says ‘oh, you’ll go on the list right,’ no…the list is seven to ten years, he can’t go on the list.”

It was her idea to light her husband’s face up 24/7. Ir’s a last resort, but one bright enough to see from space.

That’s where Dawn Del Mastro-Chruma comes in. She’s been Lisa’s friend for decades and she’s the president of the company that owns Marc’s billboard. She calls this advertisement a “call to action.” The Catholic offered the Weiners the space for free–at two minutes an hour–a fee that normally costs $30,000 dollars a month.

Del Mastro-Chruma says, “This is asking people to go do something, to do something that is very important.”

That’s Marc’s other goal: not only to get a kidney, but more importantly, to raise awareness about the needs and lack of organ donations around the country.

New York may have some of the best hospitals, but it is one of the worst states to be on a waiting list to receive an organ donation. It has the lowest rate of organ donor registration in the country. Every year, about 500 New York residents on the waiting list die because of a statewide organ shortage. That’s one death every 18 hours. At this moment there’s more than 7,000 people waiting for a kidney in New York State. Lisa says, “That’s why casting a wide net is so important.”

So Marc’s dialysis continues, and it will until he finally gets a kidney. The average life expectancy for someone on dialysis is five to ten years, though many live well beyond twenty.

Marc says the hardest part about all of this, is when people wonder if he is dying. “You see people start to wonder is this guy going to pull through, is he getting sicker, is he going to die? It’s the worst.”

But Marc still remains optimistic, going to dinners with his wife and basketball games with his daughter. He’s living life at the same time he’s waiting for it.

Lisa believes no matter how hard this journey is, it was chosen for them. “There’s a saying that God gives you what you can handle. We are on a path that hopefully will give us the ending we deserve.”

Big Meeting of Bishops Set in Baltimore

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are gearing up for a big meeting in Baltimore. National correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, Christopher White, breaks down the main topics for discussion at the meeting.