Jubilee in Rome Was Thrill of a Lifetime

The experience of traveling to Rome for the Jubilee with the Diocese of Brooklyn to see Pope Leo XIV was unbelievable. The experience remains vivid in my mind, as I recall the distinctive energy of being in the Church’s central location. 

A Community of Faith and Hope

As the Diocese of Brooklyn opened its school doors this past week, it started with great hope. However, the start of school was punctuated by the tragic shooting in Minneapolis during an opening-day Mass for Annunciation Catholic School. 

Resilience & Transformation: True Meaning of the Holy Cross

Every Sept. 14, Catholics around the world celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. At first glance, it may seem strange to exalt a cross — a tool once associated with execution, shame, and death.Yet for Christians, this day is not about glorifying pain. It is about remembering the love of God that transformed the cross into the greatest sign of life and hope.

Witnessing St. Carlo Acutis’ Canonization

My dad, Vincent LeVien, works for the Diocese of Brooklyn. As a result, my family is often invited to attend special Church events. In April, we traveled to Italy for the canonization of then-Blessed Carlo Acutis, but it was canceled after Pope Francis died. So, instead of the canonization, we were there for the funeral of a pope, which is something I never thought I would get to witness.

New Saints Offer a New Missionary Way

The canonizations of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, which I was privileged to attend, taught me that becoming a saint means growing in holiness, which means staying close to Jesus, especially Jesus in the Eucharist.