Funeral Homes Closing

By Tim Harfmann

John Heyer owns Heyer and Scotto Funeral Home, but his business doesn’t have a home. He is forced to rent space and operate out of other funeral homes in New York. “When our lease was up, it was not renewed because they decided to do something different with the property. That forced me to be a homeless funeral home,” said Heyer.

Family-owned-and-operated funeral homes are becoming more scarce in the city. There are several reasons why. One of them is rising real estate values. Landlords are selling their properties to developers for big bucks and pushing these businesses out. Many funeral homes aren’t left with many options, but to rent space from funeral homes that are still operating.

In Brooklyn and Queens, there are nearly 300 funeral home businesses. That’s 100 less than were operating 10 years ago.

Being pushed out of the buildings is not the only factor driving funeral homes out of business.

John D’Arienzo is a fourth-generation funeral director. He’s also the vice president of the New York Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association. D’Arienzo said Catholics are choosing cheaper funeral options and that means less income. “They don’t see the value in the traditional two-day wake, the Mass, the cemetery. A simple cremation and a memorial service accomplishes the same goal,” said D’Arienzo.

In 1970, just five percent of people chose cremation. Last year, about 55 percent decided to be cremated. By 2030, that number is predicted to rise to 71 percent, according to the Cremation Association of North America.

“My grandfather would do a cremation once every three years. My dad would do one cremation a year. I’m over 50 percent cremation,” said D’Arienzo.

“What this is doing is really cutting out much of the service we used to provide, as well as merchandise and the things that were necessary for the wake and the burial,” said Heyer.

Several trends that are now leaving doubts about the future of what used to be considered a lucrative business.

Currents News for Wednesday, November 7, 2018

On the newscast: He’s out – Jeff Sessions resigns at the request of Trump; The President sounds off about last night’s election results; A shift in how people are preparing for death.

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)

What Comes Next After Midterm Elections

Currents News Staff

After the most expensive and one of the most contentious midterm campaigns in U.S. history, both parties are walking away with something to talk up.

“This election marks the largest Senate gains for a President’s party in the first midterm election since at least President Kennedy’s in 1962,” said President Donald Trump.

In an often-combative press conference on Wednesday, President Trump took credit for wins in tight senate races.

Democrats took control of the House for the first time in eight years, and they are pledging to keep the President and Republicans in check.

“The American want to put an end to unchecked GOP control of Washington restoring again the checks and balances envisioned by our founders,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

The democratic victory in the House is seen as a voter rebuke of the President, his policies, and his rhetoric.

But Republicans are holding on to the Senate and ousting at least three Democrats in red states in the process.

A divided Congress will now require a more bipartisan approach to legislating in order to avoid gridlock in Washington.

Election Impacts on Catholics At Large

Director of Communications for the New York State Catholic Conference, Dennis Poust, joins Currents News to discuss how the outcomes of yesterday’s elections impact the Catholic community.

Pope Explains His Devotion To Our Lady In A Book Interview: “She Is My Mother”

Currents News Staff

Particular devotions of each Pope arouses a certain curiosity among people. They want to know the roots of each devotion and the history behind them.

Pope Francis’ devotion to the Blessed Mother has a very particular explanation, the one that Fr. Alexandre reveals in his book, “She is my Mother.” In it, he expressed his conversation with the Pope. Pope Francis told him that one of the fundamental factors that led him to love the Mother of God was the devotion of the people.

“I believe the people also taught him to love Our Mother. When he made the pilgrimages as a pastor, he participated with young people and discovered that the more we love people, the more we love the way people pray. That’s why he values popular piety so much,” said Father Alexandre Awi Mello, Secretary, Dicastery Laity, Family and Life.

Another place where devotion for the Blessed Mother was deeply instilled was in his own family, thanks to his grandmother and priest Enrique Pozzoli, a close friend of the Bergoglio family.

“He said his grandmother taught him to pray. In fact, that is a part of his history. His love for the Our Lady also grew very spontaneously through his family relationship. He had a Salesian priest who always visited his house. He was the family priest. The priest left an impression on him because the blessing he received from this Salesian priest contained the prayer ‘Sub tuum praesidium.’ So one sees how that family relationship was influencing his devotion to the Blessed Mother,” said Mello.

The prayer “Sub tuum praesidium,” which translates to “We fly to thy patronage,” is the prayer Pope Francis asked all Catholics to pray. He especially asks it during the month of October, to resist the devil’s attacks and attempts to divide the Church.

“When I no longer had questions to ask him, he said, ‘Do not you have any more questions?’ ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘If you had to summarize it very briefly, who is Our Lady for you?’ He told me very tenderly, ‘She is my mom. I think she is the only person with whom I can and I dare to cry,’” said Mello.

Since May 31, 2017, Fr. Alexandre has been the secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, but he has known the pope for years. Through his book, he tries to delve into a deep and personal aspect of Pope Francis’ life that has often gone unnoticed.

Pope Francis Explains In General Audience The Seventh Commandment: “You Shall Not Steal”

Currents News Staff

During the General Audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Ten Commandments. This week he focused on the seventh commandment ‘You shall not steal.’

The Pope stressed the importance of respecting one’s right to private property. However, in referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said to remember the property owner is a ‘steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others.’

He added that the world has enough resources for everyone but sadly many people suffer from starvation; and ‘lack of sound economic decisions inspired by solidarity and justice.’

Pope Francis concluded by reminding everyone that Christ ‘though rich became poor for our sake.’ He said this reveals the true meaning of wealth which is at ‘the service of love, freedom and human dignity.’

SUMMARY OF POPE’S CATECHISIS IN ENGLISH

Dear brothers and sisters,

In our continuing catechesis on the Ten Commandments, we now turn to the seventh commandment: “You shall not steal.”

This commandment deals specifically with theft and with respect for the property of others. Yet it also invites us to consider, in the light of faith and the Church’s social doctrine, that the goods of creation are destined for the entire human race.

The universal destination of goods does not detract from the right to private property, but sets that right in proper perspective. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “the ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others” (No. 2404).

Our world has sufficient resources to meet the primary needs of all its inhabitants, yet so many members of our human family continue to suffer extreme want and even starvation for lack of sound economic decisions inspired by solidarity and justice.

The example of Christ, who, though rich became poor for our sake (cf. 2 Cor 8:9), reveals the true meaning and purpose of all wealth: it stands at the service of love, freedom and human dignity.

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from Denmark, Japan, the Philippines and the United States of America. I offer a special greeting to the participants in the first International Men’s Meeting here in Rome. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you!

Democrats Flip The House In A Night Of Firsts

Currents News Staff

While some of the final contests are waiting to be called, the 2018 midterm elections have come to a close. A blue wave washed over part of Congress, with Democrats taking back the House of Representatives and Republicans holding onto the Senate.

“The first refugee ever elected to Congress. And one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress,” said Ilhan Omar, Democrat Minnesota Congressional Candidate.

Election night is always an exciting time for Americans. But this midterm election was extra exciting for several groups of people, previously underrepresented in politics. Congress will have its first two female Muslim members after victories in Minnesota and Michigan.

And Colorado has elected the country’s first openly gay governor. Voters in Kansas and New Mexico are sending the first Native American women to congress.

“I never imagined a world where I would be represented by someone who looks like me. Tonight New Mexico, you are sending one of the very first Native American women to congress,” said Deb Haaland, Democrat New Mexico Congressional Candidate.

Joining them will be the first female Senator representing Tennessee and the first female governor of South Dakota.

But what is still uncertain Wednesday morning as votes continue to be collected and counted, the race for governor in Georgia is still too close to call.

Democrat Stacey Abrams, who could be the nation’s first black female governor, is trailing Republican Brian Kemp. It’s a battle that has been rife with controversy, as well as high profile support from presidents and celebrities.

“Votes remain to be counted. there are voices that are waiting to be heard. Across our state folks are opening up the dreams of voters in absentee ballots. And we believe our chance for a stronger Georgia is just within reach,” said Stacey Abrams, Democrat Georgia Governor Candidate.

Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima is small town church with a big heart. In the 1940’s, when no other funding was available for a much needed local church, its construction was assisted by the local Ladies Guild of Manorhaven. Since then, the parish mission to serve the local community has continued, as the parishioners and clergy will explain.

Currents News for Tuesday, November 6, 2018

On the newscast: Team coverage of the midterm elections – what is at stake and what it could mean for the U.S. Bishops meeting next week; The Diocese of Buffalo released 36 more names of priests with credible allegations of abuse; Nukes for North Korea? The country says it may start up it’s nuclear weapons program again.

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)

How the Elections Will Impact Meeting of Bishops

National Correspondent for the Tablet and Crux, Christopher White, talks about how the outcome of the elections will impact the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s meeting in Baltimore this Sunday.