by Katie Vasquez
Catholics from St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Brooklyn are back from the Dominic Republic, where during a mission trip they assisted Haitian migrants who are facing dire conditions.
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NYC Health Department Searching for Source of Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
By Jessica Easthope
A town hall meeting was held at St. Ignatius Loyola Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, July 7. Officials from the New York City Health Department addressed the current outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease. There are currently 23 confirmed cases across three ZIP codes in Manhattan, Yorkville, Lenox Hill, and Carnegie Hill. There have been 17 people hospitalized.
During the town hall residents were demanding answers as city health officials promised to be extremely aggressive and transparent in their approach. They are currently looking for a source. It’s believed to be originating from a cooling tower. They are heat rejection systems that sit on top of large buildings for refrigeration and air conditioning. It’s possible improper maintenance caused contamination and Legionella bacteria is in the mist being expelled and falling onto the area, making people sick. Symptoms include high fever, chills, aches, cough, nausea and vomiting. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you are encouraged to seek medical attention.
While Legionnaires’ Disease itself is not contagious, it is a form of pneumonia, so these symptoms can take anywhere from two-to-14 days after exposure to appear. The number of confirmed cases is expected to rise as more people develop symptoms. Health officials have promised to identify the source and disinfect the affected cooling towers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TOWN HALLS, SYMPTOMS AND CASES VISIT nyc.gov.
Queens Heart Attack Victim Reunites With Heroes Who Saved Her Life During Mass
by Katie Vasquez and Paula Katinas
ROCKAWAY BEACH — A woman who suffered a near-fatal heart attack in St. Camillus Church during Palm Sunday Mass enjoyed a heartfelt reunion three months after the emergency with the men who helped save her life.
Dorothy Dugandzic, who has been recuperating at home from her March 29 ordeal, returned to St. Camillus Church in Rockaway Beach on June 26 to meet church organist James McCabe and firefighter Peter Haggerty and talk about the incident.
Dugandzic’s life was saved because McCabe and Haggerty used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to revive her after her heart stopped. Now, she said, she is sharing her story to raise awareness of the importance of having AEDs in churches.
“I think every building should have one,” she added.
RELATED: Following Outpouring of Support, St. Camillus to Remain Open
Dugandzic has no memory of her medical emergency because she lost consciousness and didn’t wake up until she was in the hospital.
“I don’t remember coming in here. I don’t remember sitting down. I don’t remember being worked on,” she said. “So, I’ve been looking for answers.”
During the reunion, Dugandzic was told about the heroics of McCabe and Haggerty after she collapsed in her church pew and fell to the floor just as the opening procession for Palm Sunday Mass was underway.
The two men said they felt the hand of God in the events that unfolded that day, especially since neither was supposed to be at St. Camillus Church.
McCabe, who is an organist for several churches, was not scheduled to be behind the keyboard at St. Camillus Church on Palm Sunday. And Haggerty, who is a parishioner at St. Francis de Sales Church, would normally not be at St. Camillus Church, but attended that day because he was accompanying his parents to Palm Sunday Mass.
In addition, McCabe, who ran out to his car to grab the AED, wasn’t even supposed to have the device. The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) coach noted that having an AED on hand is part of his job when coaching kids, but he was supposed to return it to the CYO at the end of the season and had not yet done so.
Add to that the fact that St. Camillus Church had been slated to close in December 2025 but was given a reprieve by the Diocese of Brooklyn and allowed to remain open.
“I keep replaying the chain of events and the divine intervention that took place because it’s just unbelievable, McCabe said. “There are so many things that had to line up.”
“Everybody was very lucky that day,” Haggerty added.
Because Dugandzic has no memory of what happened to her, she had McCabe and Haggerty fill her in during their reunion.
Haggerty recalled that the church was crowded that morning and that he was standing in the back when he realized that there was a commotion on the left side of the church.
RELATED: St. Camillus Parishioners Reunite to Celebrate Queens Community’s ‘Social Center’
When he looked closer, he saw that a woman had fainted and was being placed on the floor. Haggerty, who was off duty from the FDNY, immediately began administering CPR but could not detect a pulse.
“She didn’t have a heart rate when I checked,” he said.
At the same time, McCabe was playing the opening hymn, “All Glory Laud and Honor,” on the organ when an usher ran over to him to tell him to stop. He looked over, saw the commotion, and ran over to where Haggerty was trying to assist Dugandzic.
When Haggerty asked if the church had an AED, McCabe remembered that he had one in the trunk of his car.
“I ran out, got the AED, and handed the pads to Pete,” he recalled. “Once you have the pads on, it tells you that it’s analyzing the heart rhythm and then it’ll tell you, ‘Shock Advised’ or ‘No Shock Advised.’ And it said, ‘Shock Advised.’
“I just looked at Pete, and I’m like, ‘All right, we’re going to do this.’ ”
The AED started Dugandzic’s heart just as an ambulance was arriving.
Meanwhile, several parishioners were standing nearby and praying the rosary.
After Dugandzic was taken away by the ambulance, the Palm Sunday Mass continued, Haggerty returned to the back of the church, and McCabe returned to the organ.
The two men checked on Dugandzic through her family and were relieved to learn that she had survived.
“I still can’t believe the magnitude of what happened,” Dugandzic said. “Everyone’s telling me I got a second chance at life and there must be one more mission that God wants me to do.”
Vandalism at St. Fortunata Church in East New York Leaves Staff Shaken
By Jessica Easthope
The NYPD is investigating an incident of criminal mischief at St. Fortunata Church in East New York. On Monday, July 6, a man was seen on surveillance video etching threats onto the church doors and damaging a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Staff say they fear the man, who appeared to have a sharp metal object, will return when the church is open.
“I guess what upset me most though was the threat kind of thing, I said is it a real threat or is it a disturbed person? Is it somebody who was abused maybe, is it a direct threat,” asked Sister Loretta Florio, the pastoral associate at St. Fortunata Church.
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“It’s obvious he had a weapon because we saw him scraping we don’t know if it was a knife but that’s what it looked like,” said Maria Jorge the bookkeeper at St. Fortunata. “And what if he comes back? We don’t know this is something very scary because we have to open the church for the people but we hope that he doesn’t show up.”
“Worried about him, his own well being, whether he will return yes we worry about that also,” said Sr. Florio.
“We know that it’s hate against the Catholic Church we feel sad and at the same time scared,” Jorge said.
Why Is There a Fishing Net on the Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica?
by Currents News
Imagine a fisherman at the time of Jesus on the Sea of Galilea; he would use the Nassa, an ancient fishing technique that uses a structure that’s submerged into the water with a small trap.
Believe it or not, there’s one at the Vatican. But what is this massive net doing on the door to Saint Peter’s Basilica?
Stefano Giampaolo, the Head of the Vatican Gardening Service, says, “It’s a decoration set up for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The “Nassa del Pescatore” is, in fact, a fish trap- a traditional fishing tool that was used in the past and is still used today- and it serves as a reminder of Saint Peter, who was, after all, a fisherman.”
The Nassa is installed every year the day before the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, on July 29th. The Vatican Garden team is in charge of its construction and placement.
“It’s a very ancient tradition,” Giampaolo says, “dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, so we’ve been carrying it on for quite some time. It has this slightly egg-shaped form and is made with an iron frame that we’ve been using for centuries, you could say. It’ s very, very old, and it’s covered with aromatic plants, specifically myrtle, the Taranto variety, which covers the entire frame. Then there are these garlands, which are adorned with the plants instead of bay leaves.”
A net that could easily be ignored, but symbolizes so much more: a return to the roots of Catholicism through the first pope, Saint Peter.
Williamsburg’s Historic Giglio Feast Celebrates Faith, Family, and Tradition
By Katie Vasquez
Preparations are complete for Brooklyn’s annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Giglio Feast, where an 80-foot handcrafted tower will be lifted by hundreds of men during the beloved Williamsburg tradition.
We got a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Giglio Feast in Williamsburg, where the iconic 80-foot Giglio tower now stands ready for the celebration.
The 12-day feast, which began in 1887, is one of Brooklyn’s most cherished Italian-American traditions and draws thousands of visitors each year.
The towering Giglio is built on an aluminum frame, while its elaborate façade is handcrafted using papier-mâché and Styrofoam. According to Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish, many of the molds used to create the decorative elements have been in use for decades.
“These molds are 50, 60 years old. Some of them actually came from Nola in Italy,” Msgr. Gigantiello said.
The tower features statues and images of several saints, including St. Paulinus, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Padre Pio.
“The Giglio is 80 feet high and it’s an aluminum base, but the façade is made down here,” Msgr. Gigantiello told Currents News. “I have to say this year’s Giglio is magnificent. It really is.”
Creating the tower is a months-long process led by volunteer builders. Giglio constructor James Nunziata said each year’s design begins with sketches before construction gets underway.
“I come up with a design. I stay home, I wake up early. I get my papers and pencils. I start sketching things,” Nunziata said. “We look at it, kick it around back and forth until we come up with a final plan. Then we get my crew in the room and we start building.”
The feast officially begins July 8, with one of its signature events taking place July 12, when hundreds of men will lift and carry the towering Giglio through the streets of Williamsburg.
Daniel Christopher, who will serve as this year’s Turk, said he is eager to continue a family tradition.
“Absolutely, man. Sunday is one of the best days ever,” Christopher said.
Christopher said following in his father’s footsteps makes the experience especially meaningful.
“I’m super excited. It’s something that I can continue my family tradition, and my dad was actually the Turk in this feast back in ’92, ’93,” he said. “So many years later, it’s amazing to follow those footsteps.”
Mass for Venerable Pierre Toussaint Celebrates Legacy
By Currents Staff
A special Mass at the Lady Chapel within St. Patrick’s Cathedral celebrated the enduring legacy of Venerable Pierre Toussaint, the Haitian American philanthropist born into slavery whose life of faith and service continues to inspire Catholics across generations.
Toussaint, widely regarded as the spiritual founder of Catholic Charities of New York, dedicated his life to serving those in need despite facing discrimination and hardship. His witness to charity and humility remains a model for the faithful as his cause for canonization continues.
“He was very much aimed at education, excellence, young people who were not able to get education elsewhere,” said Brother Tyrone Davis, CFC, director of the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program. “He also was very much involved in service to others, regardless of their race or gender or nationality or faith affiliation.”
Davis said Toussaint never allowed adversity to distract him from his mission.
“Pierre Toussaint was very, very focused on what he saw to be his calling,” Davis said. “He felt called to serve others. He remained focused on that, even at times when he contributed so much to the upliftment and the building of the Church, and people tried to humiliate him. He did not let that derail him in terms of his focus and his commitment to service.”
His commitment to education and service lives on through the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program, which provides students with financial assistance, mentorship, spiritual formation, and leadership development.
For Anthony Berry, executive chair of the Catholic Charities of New York Junior Board, Toussaint’s example is deeply personal.
“As someone of Caribbean background, Pierre Toussaint is someone that is a model of my faith and someone that I look up to,” Berry said.
Current scholar Dayshauna Berry said Toussaint’s life reminds young people that holiness begins with serving others.
“A lot of venerables and saints have that selflessness,” she said. “But it’s good inspiration to keep going.”
Following the Mass, attendees were given special access to Toussaint’s crypt beneath the main altar of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He remains the only layperson buried in that sacred space, a testament to the extraordinary impact of his life and legacy.
As the Church continues to advance his cause for sainthood, those gathered said Pierre Toussaint’s example of unwavering faith, generosity, and perseverance remains as relevant today as it was during his lifetime.
Cristo Rey Spark Program Focus on Faith and Academics
By Katie Vasquez and Alexandra Moyen
EAST FLATBUSH — Journi Brielle Forester knows where she wants to spend the next four years. The rising eighth grader came to Cristo Rey Brooklyn’s SPARK summer program with her sights set on the school itself, using the three weeks not just to learn, but to get a feel for the teachers and community she hopes to join.
“I feel welcomed. I’m trying to get to know the teachers who work at Cristo Rey before I transfer into high school,” she said. “I really hope they accept me.”
Part of the appeal of the SPARK program so far, Journi noted, has been the daily prayer.
“I grew up believing in God, but I never really had a relationship with him, I never got to talk to him or anything,” she said. “But I like the fact that we pray every morning and speak to him, and I feel like I’m connected closer to him now.”
Faith is central to SPARK, a new three-week summer program launched by Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School for rising sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in Brooklyn and Queens. Developed in partnership with the Diocese of Brooklyn and nearby Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Middle School, the program welcomed approximately 30 students this year drawn from Catholic schools, charter schools, and public schools.
“We talked about the students that come to us in ninth grade, and how we can get a head start with them,” said Michael Motyl, president of Cristo Rey Brooklyn. “We also looked at how we could be better community partners, knowing that summer is a time when students often need something to do.”
SPARK stands for: spirituality, professionalism, academics, resilience, and knowledge. Each morning, students focus on math, writing, and reading. Afternoons open into recreational activities including chess, Legos, improv, sports, and card games. Every day begins and ends with conversations on professionalism and spirituality led by educators and Cristo Rey seniors.
On June 22, the program kicked off with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan.
“He spoke to the students about the key role they played in the launch of it and the pride that they should have in being in the inaugural cohort,” Motyl said.
For Emmanuel Johnson, a seventh grader at Midwood Catholic Academy and a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands, the program was something worth sharing. After hearing about SPARK, he recruited about five friends to join — a nudge that came partly from his pastor, Father Dwayne Davis.
“He was telling me that instead of spending the summer at home playing games, I could come to a fun program and invite my friends with me,” Emmanuel said.
Fellow seventh grader Alexander Sookdeo, also from Midwood Catholic Academy, said SPARK has been preparing him for what comes next.
“I feel like it’s teaching us stuff that can prepare us to go to Catholic high schools, such as here at Cristo Rey,” he said. “The test preparation is really good and would help future SPARK students.”
Alexander recalled a grammar lesson on sentence structure and pronoun use that he said will serve him well going into eighth grade. He also said being able to stay active during the summertime has been equally rewarding.
“I’m able to connect with friends and meet new people, which has been very exciting for me,” he said. “Personally, I think more people should come to this program to get out of their home and play basketball or participate in other programs.”
Tuition starts at $300 but is offered on a sliding scale based on family needs, with outside donors helping to cover costs.
“We never want the cost to be an obstacle to this opportunity,” Motyl said.
The program is expected to return next summer with expanded enrollment. Applications for the 2027 cohort will open toward the end of the school year.
For more information contact [email protected].
Belle Harbor Crossing Guard Retires: A Community Farewell in Queens
By Alexandra Moyen and Currents News
BELLE HARBOR — For nearly five decades, Mary Murray has watched over the same corner with a stop sign in one hand and, often, rosary beads close by — guiding generations of students safely across the street and bringing quiet faith to a job she came to love.
On June 24, students and teachers from The Belle Harbor School (P.S./M.S. 114) honored the 89-year-old crossing guard with a small parade to the street corner she has steadfastly guarded for 48 years.
Murray, who retired at the end of the school year, said the parade was something she never expected — especially seeing the students carrying signs bearing her name and face, and receiving an award from the school’s principal.
“It’s emotional, it really is,” she said, fighting tears, and noting that crossing guard work is an occupation “you come to love.”
During the parade, Belle Harbor School Principal Jonathan Halfmann gifted Murray with a plaque and a bouquet of flowers and thanked everyone for coming to celebrate “such a wonderful and amazing crossing guard.”
Halfmann has been principal for only one year, but has been a part of the school community for at least 20 years. He said over the years he has come to know Murray as someone who can “light up” the community’s day.
“She knows the kids by name. She’s been a staple to the community in supporting us and crossing kids safely each and every day,” Halfmann said. “It doesn’t matter the weather conditions, her health. She’s here for the kids, and that’s what’s so remarkable.”
Seventh grader Megan Willson, who arrived at Belle Harbor School a year ago, said Murray made a fast impression as a “very kind and supportive person.”
“She’s always there making sure we get home safely,” she said. “Always asking us how our day has been.”
Murray’s daughter, Maureen Murray, said the strength and endurance her mother brings to the corner each day are brought to all facets of her life. And when it came to celebrating 48 years of service, she said her mother deserved every bit of it.
“She’s got more merits in heaven than,” she said before pausing. “I can’t even think of how many points she’s earned.”
She recalled one moment in particular that showed her mother’s dedication to her responsibilities as a crossing guard.
“The doctor asked, ‘How did you walk on a broken leg?’ She said, ‘I had to get to the corner.’ And that was it,” Maureen said. “There’s no pain she can’t walk through.”
Murray is also known as a fixture at daily Mass at St. Francis de Sales Church in Belle Harbor. Whether it be before her shift, afterward, or sometimes both, she is always there to meet with her band of “pew buddies” — a crew she’s been loyal to for five years.
“If there were three of us, you would mind my spot so I would sit in the same spot,” Murray said. “It’s really nice — 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday morning, you’d meet, and when you leave, it’s ‘have a great week and all that stuff.’ ”
Beyond Mass, Murray brings her faith with her to the office each day. She always has rosary beads when guarding the corner of Beach 134th Street and Cronston Avenue in Belle Harbor.
“You keep your hands in your pockets, so you might as well say your [rosary].”
As for retirement, Murray plans to remain active.
“I have seven children, 12 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild due in October,” Murray explained, “so I will be busy.”
Diocese of Brooklyn Rallies Support for Venezuela
By Currents News and Alexandra Moyen
ELMHURST — The suffering in Venezuela is “unspeakable,” Bishop Robert Brennan told the Tablet before parishioners gathered for a special Mass at St. Bartholomew Church dedicated to the people of Venezuela following the recent devastating earthquakes.
“We pray for the people in the city, those who have died, those who are injured, their families,” Bishop Brennan said. “We pray for those involved in search and rescue. And now, it’s been a few days, so prayers are urgent.”
Bishop Brennan celebrated the Mass organized by the diocese’s Venezuelan Apostolate, led by Father Ernesto Alonso-Aguila.
“It’s a very sad situation because there are a lot of people suffering because of the loss of their loved ones,” Father Alonso-Aguila told The Tablet. “There is a lot of uncertainty at this point, but there is also a lot of solidarity with people around the world who are helping and want to help.”
The twin earthquakes struck on June 24 near San Felipe, in northern Venezuela, west of Caracas. A 7.2-magnitude quake was followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude quake, which was the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century, devastating Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira.
At least 1,700 people have died, 5,000 are injured, and roughly 2,500 structures have been damaged or destroyed as of June 29, according to Venezuelan officials.
Bishop Brennan said the tragedy hits close to home for many parishioners who have family members in Venezuela.
“This is a very good opportunity for us to be together, to pray, to be united in our prayer, and to be on the lookout for ways that we, as a church, and we as a nation, can be of assistance,” he said.
Bishop Brennan has asked all pastors in the diocese to conduct special monetary collections for the victims in Venezuela. The donations will be sent to Catholic Relief Services to provide humanitarian aid and support relief efforts.
Father Alonso-Aguila said volunteers have been collecting nonperishable food, medicine, clothing, and baby supplies that the parish will send to the country. There were two collections during the special Mass, as well.
“It’s very sad. We’re all thinking about them,” Consuelo Roque, a lector at St. Bartholomew, said of those affected by the earthquakes. “We are praying with them, and we’re going to try to help them in the best way possible.”
Grace De La Rosa, another lector, said a friend, a Venezuelan priest now living in Boston, told her his mother lost her apartment in the earthquake.
“It’s very painful for me what happened there,” said De La Rosa, who is from the Dominican Republic. “This is just the beginning. We have to keep praying for them, and hopefully the government is going to help recuperate the country and the people.”
Father Alonso-Aguila closed with an appeal beyond the Catholic community.
“I want to call the people of goodwill, not only Catholics, everyone who wants to help — this is the moment to do it,” he said. “First and foremost, with our prayers, and also with everything that we can give to them, because they really are in need of everything at this point.”