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Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 7/15/2025

Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica is putting a faith-filled twist on summer camp, teaching kids to care for the environment through hands-on gardening and prayer.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey is being hailed a hero for saving dozens of lives during the deadly Texas flash floods.

A Catholic priest offering to pay for the funerals of children lost in the Texas floods speaks with Currents News about his mission to help grieving families heal.

Today marks the birthday of Mother Cabrini, a beloved missionary saint who devoted her life to serving immigrants and the poor.

‘It’s In Our Blood’: Generations of Lifters Keep the Giglio Tradition Alive in Williamsburg

By Katie Vasquez and Alexandra Moyen

WILLIAMSBURG — Every year in July for 138 years, the streets outside the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel come alive with music, Italian pride, and faith as thousands gather for one of New York’s most beloved cultural celebrations: the Dancing of the Giglio.

The Giglio, honoring St. Paulinus — the patron saint of Nola, Italy — is one of the main celebrations of the 12-day feast in gratitude to the Virgin Mary at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This neighborhood tradition has been part of Williamsburg for over a century, dating back to when Italian immigrants first settled in the area, bringing with them their deep faith and cultural customs.

Andrew Occhiuto, who called Our Lady of Mt. Carmel his “home parish,” ranks the Dancing of the Giglio as one of the most meaningful things in his life. For Occhiuto, the tradition is more than just an event — it’s a lifelong constant. He recalled his childhood days watching the towering statue sway through the streets from the rooftop of the church.

Today, Occhiuto takes pride in passing that same tradition down to his own family, just as his father once did for him.

“I have my wife and my two children. I have my 9-year-old daughter and my 5-year-old son, who are sort of seeing this with the eyes that I got to see it with as a child, and that makes it all the more special,” Occhiuto said. “It was special before, but it is even more special now.”

The base of the Giglio, which is decorated with Gigli flowers, holds a platform where a 12-piece brass band performs during the procession. Throughout the route, the lifters pause at certain points to “dance” the towering structure in rhythm with the music, especially when the band plays the feast’s traditional anthem, “O Giglio e Paradiso,” which has been a central part of Sunday celebrations since 1959.

Accompanying the Giglio, which requires at least 100 people to carry it, is La Barca — a 10-by-10-foot replica of a boat symbolizing St. Paulinus’ return to Italy by sea after his captivity in Turkey. Like the Giglio, the La Barca is lifted and paraded through the streets, playing a central role in the celebration’s rich storytelling and tradition.

As a lieutenant for the Giglio celebration, Occhiuto is involved in picking out lifters, assisting with training, and much more, which he said feels like a year-long job. Although tedious, he said it is worth it because he is surrounded by others who wish to carry on the tradition.

“I live in Whitestone, and there are people who live as far as Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. On this day, we all return home,” Occhiuto said. “That’s why this will keep going. As long as we keep our faith alive and our enthusiasm and our love for this alive, it’ll never end.”

Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which hosts the festival, said he has seen the event grow in both “size and spirit” during his eight years of participating.

He said what makes the feast day so special is how it continues to welcome everyone, including new neighbors, creating a sense of community that “bridges generations.”

“So many people have come, they see it, they want to learn about it, they want to be part of it,” Msgr. Gigantiello said. “It’s so energizing to see them come because we use that moment as an evangelization moment for them, to talk to them, and you’d be surprised how many of them are now coming to church on Sunday.”

John Diesso, who lives in California, hasn’t missed a festival since leaving Brooklyn in 2001. A dedicated lifter since the age of 15, Diesso continues to carry on the tradition, even participating after undergoing cancer surgery two years ago.

The strength to do these lifts comes from his need to honor his late father — “when I come here, I lift with my dad” — whose presence at the festival left a lasting impression not just on their family but on the entire community..

“He had a sausage and pepper stand right at the foot of the stairs of the church,” Diesso said, “and the priest told my mom after he passed away, ‘Teresa, they’ll never sell another food stand there ever again,’ and they haven’t to this day.”

17-year-old Michael Franco said he has been lifting since he was 13, but being a part of the Giglio has been a family tradition since he was a child.

He said the tradition is about family, culture, and love, and it’s what keeps him coming back every year despite living in Middle Village, Queens.

“Continuing the tradition is important to me because we want this feast to be around in 50 years like it’s around today,” Franco said. “One day, if I become a capo (leader), that would be really special to me, because I want my kids to experience what I experienced growing up in this feast.”

At least 100 lifters are needed for the Dancing of the Giglio. The statue, which weighs four tons, holds a 12-piece brass band on the base. (Photo: Alexandra Moyen)

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 7/14/2025

The iconic Giglio lift returned to Williamsburg as more than 100 men carried on the 130-year tradition honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel and San Paolino.

On the latest episode of “Big City Catholics,” Bishop Robert Brennan speaks with Father Charles Keeney of Catholic Extension about the transformative power of missionary work and ministering to those on the margins.

A Chicago man is being hailed a hero after he rescued a baby girl who had been left in the heat outside a church following a car theft.

Pope Leo XIV is receiving over 220 pounds of mail a day, with letters pouring in from Catholics around the world.

The Youth of Castel Gandolfo Would Love To Play Tennis With Pope Leo XIV

By Currents News

The young parishioners of Castel Gandolfo have already challenged the pope to a tennis match — at least that’s what they’re telling the Italian media.

Some of their leaders were seen at the Mass that Pope Leo XIV celebrated in the small town.

RELATED: After 12 Years, Castel Gandolfo Locals Welcome the Pope Back to His Summer Home

It seems the pope told them that, for now, they’ll have to wait — as he already has a match pending with the newly crowned Wimbledon champion, Jannik Sinner, whom he met face-to-face in Rome back in May.

One thing seems clear: the atmosphere in Castel Gandolfo is very warm and familiar. The small town is delighted that popes are once again spending time there. The village has come alive again, in part thanks to Pope Leo’s many gestures of affection.

“At this moment, I would like to give a small gift to the pastor of this pontifical parish, in memory of our celebration today,” he said. “The paten and chalice with which we celebrated the Eucharist are instruments of unity.”

This Mass was held midway through the pontiff’s stay in Castel Gandolfo.

During the Mass, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the Good Samaritan presented in that day’s Gospel reading.

What the World’s New Largest Christ Statue Will Look Like

By Currents News

It won’t be in Rio de Janeiro, or Bolivia, or Colombia. The largest statue of Christ in the world will be in Madrid by 2030.

A whopping 37-meter-tall sculpture is expected to be built in Spain, and the project is being led by sculptor Javier Viver.

“This project is perhaps the biggest I’ve ever done. I’ve created works that are 11 meters tall, 6 meters, of other dimensions… and this represents a piece on a completely different scale,” Viver said. “We’re also forming a collaborative team with architects and other disciplines — also with musicians, people from the film world… so in the end, it’s a project much like a movie, where many artists contribute to achieve a unified result.”

The project revolves around an imposing figure representing Christ with open arms. Its inspiration comes from Pope Francis’s encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti.”

“What you see is a torso of Christ opening his arms to all humanity, and that was the first identity marker we wanted to represent, which is ‘Fratelli Tutti’ by Pope Francis — someone who stands as a symbol of unity, of welcome, where anyone can approach his heart, and he opens his arms to everyone without any distinction,” Viver said.

The most striking feature will be inside the sculpture: a space designed for visitors to experience something deeply personal and profound. It will be like Thomas touching the wound in Christ’s side, like the Virgin Mary embracing his body and feeling his heartbeat, or like John resting his head on Jesus’ chest.

“The torso is open, and the open side with the wound is oriented toward the rising sun. So, the first ray of light will pass through that side and illuminate the golden heart located in its anatomical position,” Viver said. “At that moment, the light refracts and activates a pulley mechanism by which the heart descends from above — there’s an image here — it descends from there to the earth, down to the ground.”

It doesn’t end there. Pilgrims will be able to hear the heartbeat inside and experience a full sensory journey. As the sun sets, the heart will rise back to its place.

“Everyone will be able to enter and embrace this heart, which will serve as a Eucharistic tabernacle. It will be there all day for people to come and worship,” Viver said. “At the end of the day, as night falls, the heart will rise back up to its anatomical place. Then it will be lit from within and serve as a beacon in the night. Through the wounds of the scourging — based on the Shroud of Turin — light will shine through those holes, signaling the presence of Jesus in the heart.”

The project is currently in the fundraising phase. Those who contribute will have the opportunity to engrave their name in the heart of the sculpture, forever linking themselves to this unique work.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 7/10/2025

A lifelong Mets fan turned groundskeeper shares how his faith — and a little patience — led him to his dream job at Citi Field.

Amid ICE raids, Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino is offering a Mass dispensation to Catholics in fear of deportation.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reaffirmed the Church’s non-partisan stance following an IRS acknowledgement that permits political speech in places of worship.

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is underway. The feast’s iconic Giglio lift is set to take place July 13.

Mets Groundskeeper Relies on Catholic Virtue of Patience

By Katie Vasquez and Jim Mancari

Finally, after a long, cold winter, baseball is back!

And with baseball comes the exquisitely mowed grass, smoothed infield dirt, and expertly painted chalk lines on the field — all prepared to ensure a quality, consistent product is delivered each night.

As fans, it’s easy to take the grounds crew for granted. Especially for New York fans, we’re so focused on the action that takes place on the field that we may not realize what it actually takes to get that field ready to play.

All this to say, there’s much more to the grounds crew than being the people who unroll the tarp when it’s raining.

Nick Baker, a parishioner at St. Mel in Flushing, is the manager of field operations for the New York Mets, and his office is Citi Field in Queens. He and his team are tasked with caring for every inch of the playing surface with the utmost detail — truly an Amazin’ career path.

A native of Iowa, Baker always enjoyed being outdoors. He played Little League baseball in his hometown of Albia, and he took a special liking to one of MLB’s brightest stars at the time.

“With there not being a professional team in Iowa, I grew up being a Mets fan,” Baker said. “I was a catcher, so of course I was drawn to Mike Piazza.”

While at Iowa State University, he channeled his passion for the outdoors into earning a horticulture degree with an emphasis on turf management. In 2009, he spent the season as an intern with the Mets’ grounds crew during the inaugural season at Citi Field while also attending Mass at St. Luke in Whitestone.

For his first few years in the business, he bounced around to cities across the country. He spent time with the Minnesota Twins organization, the St. Paul Saints of the Independent League, and the Milwaukee Brewers spring training complex in Phoenix. At each stop, his Catholic faith remained a staple in his life.

“The one constant for me was that there’s always been a church,” Baker said. “First, I would find the ballpark, and then I would find a church to go to.”

In 2019, he returned to the Big Apple — this time with his wife, Emily, and their three children: Adeline, 11; Flynn, 9; and Cora, 6. His son, Flynn, is named after Pete Flynn, the late longtime Shea Stadium head groundskeeper.

Emily coaches Adeline in Catholic Youth Organization volleyball for Sacred Heart, Bayside, and all three children attend religious education at St. Luke’s, where their parents are the teachers.

Throughout the offseason, Baker and the grounds crew team still tend to the field closely months before the start of the season. They cover the grass with geotextile blankets to make a greenhouse effect on the ground, and they maintain the infield dirt, warning track, pitcher’s mound, and batter’s boxes religiously.

Once the season begins, it’s a daily process to care for the field. Much like ballplayers go through the same exact routine every day to get ready to play, the grounds crew follows the same exact steps to get the field ready so that those players can play.

The day starts at 8 a.m. and continues throughout the morning and into the evening. Mowing, soaking, leveling, filling — you name it, this team does it and does it well.

When batting practice ends around 6 p.m., the crew puts the finishing touches on the prep, such as one last watering, painting the lines, positioning the bases, and smoothing out the dirt. After the third and sixth innings, they’re back out there, switching the bases and dragging the infield to ensure a true hop for the ball.

“I call it Groundhog Day some days because it’s the same thing over and over,” Baker said.

In baseball, every play is critical to the outcome of a game, so the grounds crew takes pride in making sure the field is in pristine condition, which lets the players’ talents dictate the outcome. It’s a beautiful thing!

The Catholic virtue of patience is an integral part of Baker’s life. It takes more than 11 hours to prepare the field for a night game, and it takes an entire offseason to get the field ready for the long haul of the regular season.

Staying grounded and staying patient goes a long way as a groundskeeper, so Baker’s Catholic faith has molded him perfectly for this unique career.

If you attend a Mets game at Citi Field this season, marvel at the gorgeous site you’re beholding and admire the work that went into the stunning masterpiece.