Statues at Far Rockaway, Queens Church Desecrated Twice in One Week

By Katie Vasquez

Two statues at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Far Rockaway, Queens, were still covered in graffiti Oct. 6 after being vandalized over the weekend.

The pastor, Father Frank Shannon wanted the community to see it, especially because it was the second time in a week. On the morning of Oct. 2, three statues were desecrated.

“They had wrapped the Blessed Mother in some black garbage bags. It looked even worse here,” said Father Shannon, “Unfortunately, late Saturday into Sunday, about two in the morning, we were hit again. And this one was a bit more heartbreaking because, it’s a little more graffiti and the the paint on the faces and the walls is not only is a little more permanent, so it’s sad.”

Parishioners were devastated when they saw the damage including the words “cult” spray painted.

“Very discouraging, and so I felt so dejected, you know, that someone would come and just deface a place like this, place of worship,” said parishioner Joanne Murray.

“I find it was horrible and I find it was very sad of them doing that to the church,” said parishioner Maria Findley.

Even people in the community like Franklin Rodriguez are upset by the crime.

“It is offensive because, you know, this is freedom of religion. This is that country. So it’s like, I can’t receive that respect,” said Rodriguez, a Far Rockaway resident.

Father Shannon says they believe it was two different suspects and the NYPD Hate Crime Unit is investigating. Unfortunately, the parish’s surveillance system wasn’t working at the time of the crime.

“They died about two months ago, and we only got new proposals about two weeks ago,” said Father Shannon.

Church staff will work to remove the graffiti, and now the faithful here will work to move on and pray for the perpetrator.

“I know it’s sad, but, you know, we can’t hold anger in our heart. You have to forgive,” said Murray.

Father Shannon says two Protestant churches in the area were also vandalized.

The investigation by the NYPD is ongoing.

Service Dog in Training Brings Lessons of Compassion to Archbishop Molloy High School

By Currents News

At Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, Queens a special new member has joined the freshman class: Giovanni, a 12-week-old Labrador-Golden Retriever mix.

The adorable service dog in training, part of the Canine Companions for Independence program, is winning hearts and earning high marks for cuteness from students.

Guided by math teacher Austin Power, Giovanni is learning essential skills to assist individuals with disabilities.

Power is not only teaching algebra but also training Giovanni to serve the community.

The puppy will stay with Power for at least a year and a half before advancing to specialized training.

If all goes well, Giovanni will eventually find a forever home, providing vital support to someone in need.

Diocese of Brooklyn Launches Eucharistic Rosary Congress To Deepen Faith

By Currents News

The Diocese of Brooklyn is fostering a deeper connection to Jesus and Mary through a diocese-wide Eucharistic Rosary Congress.

Bishop Robert Brennan led prayers at the Shrine Church of St. Gerard Majella in Hollis, Queens kicking off the celebration.

The initiative, which includes five other Jubilee Shrine churches across Brooklyn and Queens, features a week of prayers and adoration.

The events aim to bring parishioners closer to Christ and the Blessed Mother, strengthening their spiritual journey through the rosary and Eucharistic devotion.

St. Sebastian Parishioners Celebrates Peruvian Tradition With Lord of Miracles Procession in Queens

By Currents News

St. Sebastian’s Church in Woodside, Queens hosted a vibrant celebration this weekend, honoring the Lord of Miracles alongside its Peruvian community.

On Oct. 5, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan joined parishioners as they carried the revered image of “El Señor de los Milagros” on their shoulders, filling the streets with devotion.

This Peruvian tradition, dating back to 1651 in Lima, centers on an image of the crucified Christ, painted by an enslaved man, which miraculously survived an earthquake.

The annual procession at St. Sebastian’s draws hundreds, echoing the massive gatherings of hundreds of thousands in Lima, as the community upholds a powerful expression of faith.

Brooklyn and Queens Parishes Celebrate Feast of St. Francis with Animal Blessings

By Currents News

Churches across the Diocese of Brooklyn marked the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with the annual Blessing of the Animals.

Father Patrick West performed the blessing at St. Sebastian’s in Woodside, while parishioners throughout Brooklyn and Queens brought their dogs, cats, and other pets to their local parishes for the special ceremony.

The blessings honor St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, recognizing the profound role pets play in our lives and their reflection of God’s unconditional love. The feast day celebrates the deep connection between humans, animals, and faith.

TONIGHT AT 7: Statues at Queens Parish Vandalized Twice in One Week

By Katie Vasquez

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Far Rockaway was vandalized twice in less than a week, with multiple statues damaged the morning of Oct. 2 — and more desecrations discovered over the weekend.

The pastor is quickly organizing repairs while condemning the acts.

Pope Leo XIV Becomes First Pontiff To Preside Over Swiss Guard Oath in 57 Years

By Currents News and Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Living in harmony with others requires benevolence, honesty, solidarity and mutual respect, Pope Leo XIV said.

Welcoming new recruits from different regions of Switzerland to the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the pope said they are called “to form a united body, to create strong and healthy bonds of friendship.”

“Alone, you would not be able to realize your potential fully,” he said. “You need one another in order to learn, to progress, to serve in a world increasingly tempted by division and isolation.”

The pope met with members of the Swiss Guard, including 27 new recruits and their family members Oct. 3 in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican, and he attended the swearing-in ceremony Oct. 4 – the first time a pope has attended the ceremony in 57 years. The last time was in 1968 with St. Paul VI.

During the ceremony Oct. 4, held in the San Damaso Courtyard, the new recruits pledged before the pope and 800 guests to “faithfully, loyally and honorably” serve and protect the pontiff and, if necessary, sacrifice their lives for him.

Pope Leo addressed the newly sworn-in soldiers, telling them that making this oath was “a very important witness in today’s world.”

“It shows us the value of discipline, of sacrifice, of living the faith in a way that truly speaks to young people – about the value of giving one’s life, of serving and thinking of others,” he said, thanking them “in my name and on behalf of the entire Holy See for your service.”

Normally, new recruits are sworn in each year during a special ceremony on May 6 to mark the date in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards lost their lives defending Pope Clement VII in the Sack of Rome. Only 42 guards survived, and holding the ceremony on the anniversary is meant to remind new guards of the seriousness of their commitment.

However, the ceremony this year was postponed to Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, after Pope Francis died April 21 and Pope Leo was elected May 8. The only other time the ceremony was postponed to Oct. 4 was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his meeting with the new guards Oct. 3, Pope Leo thanked them for their dedication and commitment to protecting the pope every day.

“Benevolence, honesty, solidarity and mutual respect constitute the pillars on which a harmonious life can be built,” he told them. “Each person can be, for the other, a model with his words and conduct, with his charity and faith. And you can be a message of unity for all the Roman Curia.”

The pope recognized the many challenges their young generation faces.

“They are environmental issues, economic changes, social tensions, the digital revolution, artificial intelligence and other complex realities that require discernment and a sense of responsibility,” he said.

However, their stay in Rome should help “develop your maturity also in these aspects of social life,” and he encouraged them “to remain faithful to the Gospel and to the fundamental values of your Christian faith.”

“In this Holy Year, may you be, with your simple witness, missionaries of hope for the people you meet,” he said, and “may the flame of hope illuminate your life and give you the courage to dare and to contribute together to the civilization of love.”

The Swiss Guard also unveiled a new dark blue uniform for officers during a news conference Oct. 3.

While the guard’s signature blue, red and yellow “gala uniform” and other regalia remain the same, its so-called “representation uniform,” which officers wear to officially represent the corps at formal occasions, was redesigned by Lieutenant Colonel Loïc Marc Rossier, vice-commander of the guard.

The colorful “gala uniform” had been designed by Jules Repond, commander of the guard in the early 1900s, using the traditional colors of the famous Italian Medici family, which produced four popes.

The guards wear the colorful garb during “honor guard” duty, receiving heads of state and at papal ceremonies, and they add 17th-century armor over it at Easter, Christmas and swearing-in ceremonies.

Corps members seen guarding the Vatican’s business entrance, the St. Anne’s Gate, wear a blue, lighter weight “exercise uniform,” usually worn for training and night duty. The Swiss Guard website says, “the colorful gala uniform would cause too much distraction for the motorists.”

More than 130 Swiss soldiers are responsible for guarding all entrances into Vatican City State as well as keeping watch over the pope and his residence. They also provide security and ceremonial services during liturgical events and visits of heads of state and other dignitaries to the Vatican.

Queens Catholic Academy Celebrates St. Francis of Assisi with Stuffed Animal Blessing

By Currents News

A Queens Catholic Academy marked the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a special celebration, inviting students to bring their stuffed animals for a blessing.

Pastor Father Daniel Kingsley led the ceremony at St. Clare Catholic Academy, praying over the students’ cuddly companions on Friday.

The event followed a lesson about St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of animals.

Second-grader Emma Pegues shared her excitement, noting that she and her classmates were thrilled to bring their stuffed animals to school.

Beyond the fun, Father Kingsley emphasized a deeper message, hoping students would carry home the values of compassion and care exemplified by St. Francis.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 10/3/2025

A new restaurant in Manhattan is serving dishes once made for two popes as Chef Salvo Lo Castro brings his Vatican culinary experience to New York City.

Fifth graders from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Academy in Chicago are heading to Rome to see Pope Leo XIV, months after their mock conclave captured worldwide attention.

The NYPD is investigating after vandals desecrated statues at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Students at St. Clare Catholic Academy in Queens celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi early by bringing their stuffed animals to school for a special blessing.

Former Vatican Chef Serves Divine Dishes at Soho Restaurant

By Katie Vasquez and Bill Miller

SOHO — Chef Salvo Lo Castro made a career preparing exquisite meals for popes and other Vatican officials, and now hopes to bring the same culinary skills and Sicilian hospitality to all who take a seat in his new restaurant.

CASASALVO has been open for a couple of months at 195 Spring St., in the SoHo neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. It is the latest project in this Sicilian chef’s expansion into New York City, which began four years ago with the opening of four similarly named coffee shops.

The shops serve just-brewed coffees and freshly baked pastries. Each has a built-in Italian market that sells old-country items like bags of gourmet coffee beans to take home.

Chef Salvo Lo Castro has cooked for popes going back to St. John Paul II, but he always wanted to operate restaurants in New York City. Now he does with his CASASALVO restaurant on Spring Street and four similarly named coffee shops elsewhere in Manhattan. (Photos: Bill Miller and Katie Vasquez)

Meanwhile, Lo Castro said, the new restaurant offers a small menu of Italian pasta and meat dishes each night, with influences from Mediterranean spots like Tunisia, Spain, Greece, and Turkey. Everything is made fresh with meats, vegetables, fish, and other ingredients appropriately sourced daily, he said. The chef wants each location to be true to the name. “Casa Salvo” translates to “Salvo’s House.”

“It is my home,” Lo Castro said of the restaurant. “Every night I open the door of my home for my guests.” And each guest is as important as the pope, Lo Castro said. He moves among the tables, greeting each one. “For me, every guest is a king, or queen, or president,” he said.

Lo Castro’s workers are also held in high esteem, and he shares a meal with them early each evening at a large table in the dining area before the guests arrive. This chef is from the Sicilian city of Linguaglossa, on the north side of Mount Etna, where snow skiers enjoy views of the balmy Mediterranean Sea below, he said.

Lo Castro’s culinary career began in local restaurants in Sicily before entering culinary school. After graduation, he worked in the kitchens of fancy nearby resorts and popular eateries of Milan, Florence, France, and Brazil, before moving into the Vatican kitchens during the 2000 Jubilee. His first cooking lessons, however, came from his mother and grandmother while helping them prepare for the postMass family lunch each Sunday.

But, much to the youngster’s dismay, preparations took up a big chunk of his Saturdays, especially while making their famous meatball recipe. “It was a traditional recipe from Sicily with beef. No pork,” Lo Castro said. “I looked at my mom and my grandma, and I said, ‘It’s Saturday. Why are you preparing the food today for tomorrow?’ ”

His mother explained that for food to “taste incredible,” it must be cooked slowly. And she offered one more reminder: The secret to the meatballs is not the beef, but the sauce.

“And now,” Lo Castro added, “I repurpose this classical recipe in my restaurant. It is a very big success.”

The meatballs, as well as other dishes, are pope-approved, Lo Castro said. He said it was a privilege and an honor to cook for them. He is especially fond of Pope Benedict XVI, with whom he spent the most time. That said, he noted with a chuckle that his favorite pope is whoever currently has the job. He has not met Pope Leo XIV, but he is eager to do so.

Lo Castro could’ve stayed in Italy, but he explained that New York City has been his desired location since he was a kid watching movies set in the “capital of the world.”

Although his arrival coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked steadily at improving his English skills while getting the coffee shops up and running. Even now, in the restaurant’s infancy, he’s not shy about using a smartphone translation app.

Lo Castro confirmed that starting a business in a pricy and competitive restaurant market during a pandemic required guidance from God, and he prays for it daily. He struggled to explain why in English, so out came the phones with the apps.

The translation: “In life,” he said, “it’s not just professionalism and money that matter. If you don’t have God protecting you, watching over you from above, you have nothing.”