Diocese of Brooklyn Gathers To Celebrate Start of ‘New Era’ Under Pope Leo XIV

By Christine Persichette and Paula Katinas

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate has just barely begun, but he has already had an impact on Melanie Robinson’s life.

Melanie, a junior at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, said the new pontiff has inspired her to go to church more often.

“I am Catholic, but it’s been a bit busy in my life, so I haven’t gone to church as often as I would like,” Melanie acknowledged. “But I feel like in a new era, it can be a start of me going back.”

Melanie was one of hundreds of people who came to the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn for the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Mass of Thanksgiving and Prayer for Pope Leo XIV on May 19.

Sisters from the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará pray for the new pope.

The Mass, which took place one day after the pontiff’s official installation at the Vatican following his May 8 election by the College of Cardinals, gave the faithful in the diocese the chance to join together to pray for him.

Bishop Robert Brennan said the elevation of Pope Leo XIV marks a fresh start for the Catholic Church.

“We’re celebrating the beginning of a new era,” he told the congregation.

As the Mass of Thanksgiving ends, Bishop Robert Brennan stops to greet students from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. He later said he was pleased to see young people in attendance.

Bishop Brennan urged the faithful to pray that Pope Leo XIV has a successful pontificate and to “listen to his offer to love and become this one family” in the Church.

Like Melanie and her Bishop Loughlin classmates, Bishop Brennan was in high school when a new pope ushered in a new era for the Church. In his case, it was St. John Paul II, who was elected pope in 1978, when the future Bishop of Brooklyn was a student at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School on Long Island.

“I think back to those days and I realize that was the beginning of a whole new era in the Church because his leadership moved the Church forward for decades,” he told The Tablet.

Bishop Brennan predicted that the 69-year-old pontiff would also make a mark on the Church.

“He’s relatively young and I think he’s going to bring his own brand of leadership and challenge us in new ways,” Bishop Brennan said.

The people in the pews at St. James came to the Mass, which Bishop Brennan celebrated, with various wishes for the new pope.

“I want less division in the Church and for him to be the true vicar of Christ,” said Lillian Gallardo, who prays for Pope Leo XIV alongside her husband Alex.

Alex Gallardo, a parishioner of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn Heights, said he would like Pope Leo XIV to look to a previous Pope Leo for inspiration.

“I hope he follows the example of Pope Leo XIII. He did a lot of good for the church. He talked about helping people,” said Gallardo, who attended Mass with his wife, Lillian.

Gloria Romero, a Peruvian-American, said she hopes the new pontiff continues the spirit of his good works in her home country. Pope Leo XIV spent more than 20 years as a priest and bishop working with underprivileged people in Peru and now holds dual American-Peruvian citizenship.

“He did such good work in my country. He was for the people. I want him to do good work for everyone in the world,” said Romero, a parishioner of St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Jamaica.

Mali Joseph, a junior at Bishop Loughlin who sat next to Melanie in a front pew, had a simple wish for the new pope — “I just hope that he’s able to lead the church with love and dignity.”

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 5/16/2025

A religious sister from Long Island, New York is now the oldest in the world. She shares how she’s making the most of every day.

Pope Leo XIV is taking steps forward in working to bring peace to Ukraine.

Sweet treats, good eats – that’s the motto one Brooklyn baker is following as she uses her culinary skills to celebrate the first American pontiff.

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Turkey Stall

By Currents News

The Holy Father has been calling for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war… and the Vatican had high hopes for the peace talks in Turkey, but little came out of the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years.

Their negotiating teams met in Istanbul– without the presidents of either country– and President Donald Trump said there would be no progress on peace talks until he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This– after President Trump was pictured on the phone to four of his key European allies– France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland…

The allies said they were convinced they had the support of Trump– not only for a demand for a ceasefire on Monday that was unconditional and lasted 30 days– but also the sanctions that would follow if Russia didn’t adhere to that.

Instead– Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky all skipped the Istanbul meeting…

Some believe Putin’s absence sends a message that the Kremlin is unafraid of sanctions– and that the Russian leader had correctly gambled that Trump would not be that angry if some kind of meeting continued in Istanbul but Putin didn’t attend personally or accept a ceasefire. It seems Putin isn’t interested in a swift settlement.

A senior Ukrainian official says at Friday’s meeting– the Russian side introduced new, unacceptable demands for a ceasefire– to withdraw Ukrainian forces from parts of its own territory.

What the two sides did agree to– was to exchange one-thousand prisoners of war each– which would be the biggest swap since the war began.

Meanwhile– President Trump says he wants to meet with Putin to discuss the war as soon as possible.

“I think it’s time for us to just do it. I said, you know, they all said Putin was going and Zelensky was going. And I said, if I don’t go, I guarantee Putin is not going, and he didn’t go. I understand that – but we’re going to get it – we’re going to get it done. We’re going to get it done. 5,000 young people are being killed every single week on average, and we’re going to get it done,” President Donald Trump said.

Sweet Treats, Good Eats: Brooklyn Baker Creates Cookies in Honor of Pope Leo XIV

By Katie Vasquez

With a little sugar and spice, Talyah Cruz is always cooking up delicious desserts.

It’s a hobby that has turned into her full time job with her company “Sweet Treats Good Eats.”

“I’ve always liked baking. I feel like my whole life, especially since I was a kid, I feel I was put in the family baker role almost immediately,” said Cruz.

When the new Holy Father was announced, she decided to offer a delectable option for Catholics.

“It’s a sugar cookie base. So I make the sugar cookies, use whatever shape I really feel the picture fits. Bake those off, and then I ice them, wait about 24 hours before I then screen print them, and then it gives a pretty good finish,” she explained. “It just looks quite professional,”

Cruz says it was a moment in history that had to be celebrated.

“I thought it was awesome,” she told Currents News. “It was the first American pope I heard, so I was excited and I was excited to make the cookies.”

And she hopes others will savor the sweets as much as she enjoys making them.

“I feel like it’s a good way to honor him,” she noted. “I feel like it’s a good way for people to just feel closer to him or just the religion in general, to make their day slightly better.”

If you would like a taste of the Pope Leo XIV cookies, you can order your own through her website.

Long Island Nun Is Now the Oldest In the World

By Katie Vasquez

Not a day passes that Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella doesn’t say her prayers.

The Long Island nun has a lot to be grateful for, celebrating her 112th birthday on Easter Sunday.

“It feels okay to be 112, but I, if you really think about it. I would like to be much younger,” said Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella.

It’s a milestone her friend of 71 years, Sister Francis Daniel Kammer says she nearly didn’t make.

“She had a terrible brain bleed, 10 years ago. and they thought that she was never going to walk again or talk again. and here she is walking and talking,” said Sister Francis Daniel Kammer.

Her room at the sisters of Saint Dominic Motherhouse in Amityville is filled with birthday cards and balloons. A display that shows how much an impact she’s made in the lives of others.

“She’s loyal, she’s faithful, she’s prayerful. She’s human. she’s the best friend you could ever have, thick or thin, she stays by you,” said Sister Francis Daniel Kammer.

Sister Francis Dominici now holds the record as the world’s oldest nun.

“I would say I’d like to. I would like to be the youngest sister in the world, not the oldest,” said Sister Francis Dominici.

During the course of her life, Sister Francis has witnessed 19 US presidents, two World Wars and 11 popes including the recent election of Pope Leo XIV.

“If you’re chosen to be a pope, you must be an intelligent man as well as a good religious,” said Sister Francis Dominici.

Sister Francis nearly missed her chance at religious life after losing part of her arm in an accident. Many communities rejected her.

“The convent is not a place for handicapped people. You have to work when you go to the convent. It’s not a place, it’s not a vacation area,” said Sister Francis Dominici.

But the Sisters of St Dominic opened their doors to her with a simple test.

“It used to be a big laugh with my group that entered at that time, I said, I’m here because I can open a window,” said Sister Francis Dominici.

One of her greatest accomplishments was teaching high school algebra and math for 52 years.

“This is not pride really. Praise God for giving me I was a good teacher and I was a very good teacher to students that needed extra help,” said Sister Francis Dominici.

And she explains the secret to a long life.

“I would say. God doesn’t want me. I don’t know, there’s no secret about it at all. when God wants me, he’ll take me,” said Sister Francis Dominici.

For now Sister Francis is making the most of every day she has.

TONIGHT AT 7: Pope Leo XIV’s Election Inspires Catholic Baker

By Katie Vasquez

Catholics around the globe cheered when Pope Leo XIV was chosen as the new Holy Father.

For one woman in Brooklyn, the monumental moment signaled an opportunity to put her baking skills to the test.

TONIGHT AT 7: Meet the World’s Oldest Nun

By Katie Vasquez

A nun from Long Island, New York is now the oldest in the world.

Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella celebrated her 112th birthday on Easter Sunday.

She’s seen a lot throughout her long life, but isn’t letting the title of oldest nun on earth go to her head.

Queens Priest Leans on Faith During Cancer Battle

By Katie Vasquez

Father Morty O’Shea delivers the word of God at a weekday Mass at St Sebastian Church in Woodside, Queens.

The priest who hails from Ireland says he’s relied on the teachings of the Church since he was at least 7 years old.

“That kind of sense of God’s presence in my life has never really gone away,” said Father O’Shea.

He would eventually follow Christ’s call to enter the priesthood, and in 2013 he was ready to serve Him in a big way.

“I was in the prime of life,” said Father O’Shea. “I was going to take over a big new parish in Corpus Christi, Texas.”

That was the case until he received a shocking diagnosis.

“They said I had multiple myeloma,” said Father O’Shea, “When you hear that you have cancer, you know, that kind of shakes the foundations a bit.”

He started treatment in Ireland, but in 2021 doctors told him there was nothing more they could do. The priest prepared for the worst.

“That was where I was going to spend my last days,” said Father O’Shea.

His brother Jack, who lives in Westchester County, New York, picked up the fight. He worked to get his sibling into Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City to continue treatment.

“I was not going to give up on my brother. I would not give up on my brother,” Jack told Currents News.

Father O’Shea moved to New York in the fall to continue treatment at the Manhattan hospital, but the priest still wanted to be of service. So, he offered to help in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“I feel I’m doing more for the glory of God than the salvation of souls out here,” said Father O’Shea.

Although his prognosis looks grim, he says his faith has never wavered and he will be strong all the way up to the end, because Father O’Shea knows he has his family.

“We will never leave his side,” said Jack O’Shea. And God is on his side, too.

“I often quote the last words of John Paul II which were, ‘I will go to my father’s house.’ You know my circle is finished and I will go back to my father,” said Father O’Shea.

For now, Father O’Shea has started a new chemotherapy treatment and will continue to serve as much as he can. The rest, he says, he’s leaving to the Lord.

Cardinal Dolan Reunites With His 100-Year-Old Former Teacher in Ireland

By Currents News

After taking part in the conclave, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, travelled to Ireland and was reunited with his former teacher, who just turned 100!

Sister Mary Bosco Daly taught the cardinal at the beginning of her teaching days at Holy Infant Catholic School in Ballwin, Missouri.

The native of Ireland returned home to live in retirement at the convent of St Joseph’s in Tullamore.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 5/15/2025

After being told he had weeks to live, Father Morty O’Shea is still here, serving God at a Queens parish while receiving cancer treatment.

Peace talks on Ukraine are set, and while Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin sees it as a hopeful step, Vladimir Putin’s absence is raising doubt about Russia’s commitment to ending the war.

A church organist in Iowa is celebrating 70 years of melodic Sunday services, calling her musical talent a blessing from God.