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Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 6/5/2024

The historic Mary House is helping asylum seekers and migrants. The 19th-century building in Manhattan, where Catholic icon Dorothy Day lived and worked until her death in 1980, has an urban rooftop garden. The workers there grow food for the free lunches served to those in need.

Catholic activists are responding to the impact of President Joe Biden’s latest executive action. This sweeping new policy at the border allows the government to ban some migrants who cross the border illegally from seeking asylum. The president’s decision has sparked criticism from both parties, further fueling the debate.

Governor Kathy Hochul is pumping the brakes on congestion pricing. The controversial plan to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street has been indefinitely postponed. It will not start on June 30th as initially planned.

Tomorrow is the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the beginning of the end of World War II. Heads of state are gathering in France to commemorate the anniversary. Some of the few veterans still alive are now returning to Normandy to mark the solemn occasion.

Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Walk-A-Thon Raises Over $17,000

There is a reason why students at Bay Ridge Academy are cheering.

Everyone from Bay Ridge Catholic Academy is feeling good today after their Walk-a-Thon Day was a huge success.

Kindergarten to 8th graders walked to the school’s home field for a day of music, food, and fun, but it wasn’t just fun.

The students’ efforts raised over $17,000 as well.

Caring for the Sick, Sisters Continue Work of Late Nun Deemed Venerable

By Katie Vasquez

For 123 years, Rosary Hill Home has offered a space for people with incurable cancers to live out their last days.

“It’s an amazing thing because especially to be at the bedside of a dying patient is that at one moment the patient sees your face and the next moment they see the face of God,” said Mother Marie Edward Deutsch, Superior General of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne.

Thirty-two Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, like Mother Marie, offer hands-on care to the sick, care that guests believe is irreplaceable.

“I was brought up with nuns and one recently said to me, ‘I’m going to pray for you every single night,’” said Pat Simone, a guest at Rosary Hill Home. “I say, ‘Well, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it.’”

The prayers and the home were started by Rose Hawthorne, later known as Mother Mary Alphonsa, a convert to Catholicism who used to care for the sick on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

“She heard the story of a young seamstress who had gotten cancer and couldn’t afford the care that she needed and was sent away and had no help and no care,” said Sister Diana Marie Andrews, who provides nursing care at Rosary Hill Home. “And she realized then that this was one of the most needy groups in the city.”

Now Mother Mary Alphonsa is on her way to sainthood.

Pope Francis declared her venerable in March, the final step before beatification.

It was news that brought joy to the sisters at Rosary Hill Home.

“We all cheered in the hallways. So it was really exciting,” Sister Diana said. “It’s something you know, it’s not that you don’t know that she lived this amazing life, but to have the church herself and the Holy Father look at that and say, ‘Yeah, this is a life of heroic virtue.’ It’s just, it’s amazing.”

From the beginning of her work, Hawthorne never accepted payment for the care that she gave.

That’s a practice that the sisters continue to this day.

“We have been very, very cautious with how we use the money so that it is an ongoing legacy, which has enabled us to continue the work,” Mother Marie said.

The next step to becoming a saint would be to recognize the miracles of Mother Mary Alphonsa.

Until then, they will continue to ask for her intercession.

St. Mel’s Sibling Students Who Excel in School and Music Turn to Christ

By Jessica Easthope

While plenty of siblings fight, Keo and Koey Ma play dueling pianos, which express their personalities and talent with every note.

“I usually take it as a hobby, but it helps me relax,” Keo said. “It’s a bit tricky to try to sync with and master the pieces with my sister, but otherwise, it is pretty fun to do.”

As students at St. Mel’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, the school’s piano lab is a second home and a place they’ve been allowed to shine.

Keo and Koey’s parents, Leo and Vickie, beam with pride. Their kids are always tuned in, even in the classroom. The brother and sister duo have both skipped a grade.

“I don’t think they would get this amount of attention and individual attention in a public school,” Leo said. “I think it’s very important that Saint Mel’s really provide them with a steady environment where they can grow.”

“Skipping third grade and heading to fourth was tricky to make friends were for a while,” Keo said. “I just made friends with somebody, and then it all just became easier from there.”

“Once Keo skipped, Koey was like, ‘Can I skip a grade?’” Leo said. “She loves to compare, and she can compete as well with her brother.”

“It just feels normal after some time, though,” Koey said. “But a little weird at first, because in fifth grade, I was eight years old for the first month, so everyone thought I skipped two grades instead.”

Principal Amy Barron has only seen it done one other time.

“We want to make sure that we can meet all of our students’ needs, those that are struggling, but also those that are advanced,” Barron said. “So by doing this, it provides that challenge that they need.”

Their dedication spills out of school and into the Taekwondo studio. They’re quiet in class but loud when it counts.

But the biggest challenge of their young lives wasn’t on the mat, a test paper, or a sheet of music, but in their hearts.

“One day they just came up to us and said, ‘How can we be Catholics? How can we get baptized?’” Leo said. “I was like, ‘I guess sure,’ and we started bringing them to church on a weekly basis.”

Keo and Koey weren’t born Catholic, but their time at St. Mel’s made them want to be part of a faith they say was calling them.

“I decided to become Catholic because I wanted to follow God, which is also the reason why I became an altar server,” Keo said.

“I want to become closer to God because then I can go to heaven,” Koey said.

Like everything else they’ve put their minds to, they didn’t just do it; they excelled. They’re already putting their newfound faith into action.

“They love to donate stuff, share their love,” Vickie said. “In the Chinese culture, we always get like an envelope for the Chinese New Year. They would love to donate that money to the poor and help people in need.”

Keo and Koey are proof that even at a young age, success without purpose is empty.

“They never shy away from a challenge,” Barron said. “They always want to learn more. They want to do more and just be their best selves.”

Now they say life without faith is just living, and their plan is to thrive.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 6/4/2024

Mother Mary Alphonsa, founder of Rosary Hill Home, which offers a place for people with incurable cancers to live out their last days, is on her way to sainthood. She converted to Catholicism and used to care for the sick on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Pope Francis declared her venerable in March.

Pope Francis’s recent presiding over the Corpus Christi celebration at Saint John Lateran was a rare occurrence, marking the first time since 2017. This event, one of the few masses outside the Vatican that the pope presides over, demonstrates his unwavering commitment to his duties, despite the challenges of the past 7 years, including the coronavirus pandemic and his health.

It’s not every day you hear about new Catholics who chose to convert as children. But a brother and sister who are students at the St. Mel’s Catholic Academy wanted to become closer to Christ.

Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Walk-A-Thon Day was a huge success. From kindergarten to 8th grade, students walked to the school’s home field for a day of music, food, and fun. The students raised over $17,000.

Queens Priest Supports Young Men Discerning a Call, Inspires Vocations

By Jessica Easthope

Msgr. Cuong Pham has prepared for Mass thousands of times, and it’s always a moment to teach and encourage.

“You know, you have to spend time. You have to talk to the young people. And that’s how it begins,” Msgr. Pham said.

Discerning a call from God can take time, but Msgr. Pham’s patience never runs out when it comes to nurturing vocations.

He said there’s nothing more important to the life of the Church.

“People here come up to me all the time, Monsignor, wouldn’t it be so wonderful to have someone who comes and celebrates Mass in Spanish for us? For example. And I would say, where would the priest come from? They come from families. Send me your sons. And you will have your own native priests. You see.”

Ordained in 2001, Msgr. Pham became part of the Vietnamese tradition of a spiritual family, gaining a spiritual father and brothers.

Now the pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Astoria, he has seven spiritual sons of his own, adopting his first while on assignment at the Vatican.

“A priest literally would become a mentor, a friend, a member of the young man’s family, and would inspire that person and support that person throughout the whole discernment process,” Msgr. Pham said. “I feel that nothing can beat the closeness of a priest to another person.”

As priestly vocations decline in the United States, Msgr. Pham says that personal support and friendship are what’s missing.

“And that’s why I see my role as the spiritual father being more important in this day and age and in our current society here, where young men need strong support,” Msgr. Pham said. “They need a good role model. They need someone who accompanies, supports, reminds them, encourages them, and who is there for them. Someone that they can fall back on when there is an issue. And I make time for that because it is an investment of time and commitment and relationship. So you have to be very dedicated, and you have to be passionate about your own vocation, because if you’re not passionate about your own vocation, you won’t inspire anybody and you won’t make time.”

He’s inspired vocations all over the globe. Every summer, he hosts seminarians in his parish that has five active ethnic communities.

“I’m very available to priests. I’m very available to the seminarians,” Msgr. Pham said. “I’m very available to the young men or to anyone who’s interested in a religious and priestly vocation simply because I know that I would be able to motivate them and inspire them in ways that sometimes they don’t get from other priests.”

So every time he gives of himself to support another’s vocation, it’s because he knows it makes a difference. He himself would not be here without it.

Currents News Special: Meet the New Priests of The Diocese of Brooklyn

Four new priests were ordained in the Diocese of Brooklyn on June 1, 2024 by Bishop Robert Brennan at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Deacon Tobechukwu Offiah, Deacon Caetano Moura de Oliveira, Deacon Randy Nguyen, Luis Marquez all tell their stories and how they eventually answered the call to the priesthood in this special edition of Currents News.

Bishop Robert Brennan’s 2024 Ordination Homily

Bishop Robert Brennan gives his 2024 Ordination Homily at the St. Joseph Co-Cathedral on Saturday, June 1.

Four transitional deacons were ordained in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“Welcome one and all to the Cathedral of St. Joseph to celebrate that these, our sons and your relatives and friends, are soon to be advanced to the Order of Priests. I extend a special welcome
to the members of their families here present and those who join us from great distances by way of live-stream and NET-TV.

Thanks to all of you for your support of these men and the role you have played in helping them to know Jesus Christ and to follow his call. It is so good to be together with the bishops
and so many priests and religious, with the deacons and so many who build up the Church here in Brooklyn and Queens and you who serve for the formation of priests.

I do want to say a particular word to all of you, the faithful – so many of you here and others through NET-TV: Your presence speaks volumes about the ways that these men of witnessed among
you these years, about your own deep faith and about your love for your priests. I can say enough about how much that means.

Thank you, thank you thank you. Consider carefully the nature of the ministerial rank in the Church to which they shall be raised. They are to be configured to Christ the eternal High Priest and joined to the Priesthood of the Bishops; they will be consecrated as true Priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel, shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially in the Lord’s Sacrifice.

The Church in Brooklyn and Queens, indeed the whole Church rejoices in this magnificent gift. We give thanks to God for this grace and for the courageous and generous response of these men about to be ordained.

Now, beloved sons, Caetano, Luis, Randy and Toby, you are to be raised to the Order of the Priesthood, configured to Christ, the teacher, priest and shepherd; so as to serve Him, sharing in His ministry.  Your first and most important responsibility is to be a faithful disciple.

Jesus speaks very directly to you in today’s Gospel which bring us to his table on the night before he died.

“This is my commandment: love one another as love you. No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.”

Do you hear that? Jesus calls you friends. He calls you friends. He makes known to you everything from the Father. Make no mistake about it. I realize you are here today because you have heard that invitation of Jesus into a profound friendship. That friendship led you to discern your vocation. Through the formation process – through study, prayer and honest dialogue, you have
grown to know Jesus better.

Ah, but this is only the beginning. You must strive to know him more and more; to know him as He truly is and not who you want him to be. Let your friendship with Christ be at the very heart of everything you do and more importantly all that you are. Be close to him in your prayer. Be rooted in His word in Sacred Scripture and close to Him in the Sacraments and Adoration.

Keep this Gospel passage especially close to you. Listen carefully to the voice of Jesus as he speaks directly to you. Only after calling you friends does he send you forth: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” What is this fruit that will remain? It is nothing less than Jesus himself.

Brothers, soon to be brother priests, the world is desperate to know Jesus Christ and the gift of his friendship. Whether or not it realizes it, the hunger is real. As priests of Jesus Christ, you will bring Jesus Himself. You will do so through your preaching and witness. You will do so through your humble ministerial service. You will do so through the celebration of the Sacraments.

Be generous witnesses of Jesus – Bold, Joyful and Unapologetic. Jesus took to himself the prophesy of Isaiah proclaimed in the first reading today. You know it well. “The Spirit of the Lord God is
upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.”

In friendship, he hands it on to you: sending you, anointing you to bring glad tidings to the lowly, healing to the broken hearted; the lifting burdens from those who mourn and bestowing a glorious mantle in place of a listless spirit.

You will celebrate your Masses of Thanksgiving tomorrow on the Feast of Corpus Christi. This, in the midst of Eucharistic Revival. Now, I may be a little biased, but these have been moments of
tremendous grace. We are witnessing a genuine hunger for Jesus and a profound love for Him in the Eucharist. During the National Eucharistic Procession here om Brooklyn last week, a lady turned to me and said, “the faith is deep.”

I can’t help but really think about her observation. It is deep. The faith is deep. I wish it were a little wider – encompassing more of our brothers and sisters. But let me tell you, where there is faith it is Real, it is Deep. This is where you come in. You will exercise in Christ the office of sanctifying; for by your ministry the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful will be made perfect. In the celebration of the mysteries, it is united to the Sacrifice of Christ, which is offered, through your hands and in union with them, in an unbloody manner on the altar.

Understand, therefore, what you do, and imitate what you celebrate; as celebrants of the mystery of the Lord’s Death and Resurrection, may you strive to put to death whatever is sinful within you and to walk in newness of life.

Remember, when you gather men and women into the People of God through Baptism and, in the name of Christ and the Church, forgive sins in the Sacrament of Penance, when you comfort the
sick with holy oil and celebrate the sacred rites, when you offer praise and thanksgiving through the hours of the day and pray not only for the People of God but for the whole world: always
remember that you have been taken from among the people and appointed on their behalf in those things that pertain to God.

Fulfill, therefore, the ministry of Christ the Priest with abiding joy and genuine love. Seek not your own concerns but those of Jesus Christ. The elder, St. Paul asks the younger Timothy to set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Do not neglect the gift conferred on you this day through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands. Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for his friends.”

Bishop Robert Brennan Leads Ordination of Four New Priests in Inspiring Celebration

By Jessica Easthope

They shed tears of joy, received words of support, and finally answered a call that had burned inside of them. For the Diocese of Brooklyn’s four newly ordained, this is the beginning of the rest of their lives.

“Ever since I went to the first ordination seven years ago, I always dreamed that one day it’s going to be my ordination day, and now that day has come,” said Father Luis Marquez.

“I feel that though my paths were not straight, that’s what the Lord was using to form my conscience,” said Father Toby Offiah.

On Saturday, hundreds filled the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, to watch Caetano Moura de Oliveira, Luis Marquez, Randy Nguyen, and Toby Offiah fulfill a lifelong dream.

Bishop Robert Brennan says God has called each of them uniquely.

“Everybody has a different story; for some, it was always there, and for some, it developed over time, and for some, it came as a surprise even later on; that’s the amazing thing about the Lord; he calls us, in His own way and in His own time,” said Bishop Brennan.

Ordination day is packed with tradition. One by one, the priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn laid their hands on the heads of the newly ordained, extending the sign of peace. These men are now welcomed into the priesthood by their brothers, an extension of their communities here and around the world.

“They do bring a diversity of culture, but these are men of Brooklyn and Queens, so they are very much part of this local church,” Bishop Brennan said.

These new priests are all from different countries, speak other languages, and have little in common except for the one thing that mattered most in their lives and formation—God’s love.

“I’m a great sinner; I’m a very weak, normal person,” said Father Caetano Moura de Oliveira. I’m only here because he loves me.”

“He has never left me alone, but was always with me in this journey,” said Father Randy Nguyen. “Because ultimately, he loves all of us.”