Mairen Upton, an eighth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic Academy in Whitestone, is an example of a trend: Local Catholic schools are outpacing public schools in New York state standardized test scores.
Diocesan News
Great Irish Fair 2019
Irish culture reigned as the 38th annual Great Irish Fair took over the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island. Following the Mass and awards ceremony, a full day of Irish music filled the venue as thousands in attendance danced and sang along.
‘Embassy Schools’ Help Many Afford Catholic Education
Seventh-grader Ashley Cela was enrolled in public school until last year, when St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy provided her family with a scholarship.
Sunset Park Couple Battle Alzheimer’s
Victoria Javier hasn’t had a conversation with her husband, Santiago, in 10 years. The reason: Santiago Javier, 81, is nonverbal, one of the consequences of his Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder that affects 5.8 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Sowing Seeds of Justice Celebration
At the Sowing Seeds of Justice Celebration Sept. 19 in Manhattan, Jose Chapa and Rev. Richard Witt of the Rural & Migrant Ministry, present an award to state Senator Jessica Ramos, sponsor of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act.
Pro Sanctity Movement in Diocese to Honor Founder, Local Clergy
The apostolic oblates and Pro-Sanctity Movement came to the Diocese of Brooklyn in the 1960s, when they established roots serving in different parishes.
Xaverian, Diocese Confront Teen Vaping Crisis
The danger of vaping is real. According to a Sept. 19 weekly report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people with a deadly vaping-related lung disease rose to 530 from 380 the week before (38 states and one U.S. territory report numbers). Officials have said half of those patients are under 25 years old and 16 percent are younger than 18. Nine deaths have been reported.
Dedication Mass Shows St. Michael’s Diversity
At the dedication Mass, readings were done in Tagalog, Spanish, English and Mandarin. The church has parishioners from almost 50 countries, according to pastor Father John Vesey, and has seven Masses every Sunday. Some services were cancelled on Sept. 22 to encourage parishioners to attend the dedication Mass.
New Yorkers Join Global Fight Against Climate Change
Global Climate Strike — a gathering of more than four million young people worldwide on Sept. 20 to call attention to the dangers of climate change — was a local event, too, as more than 60,000 rallied in lower Manhattan to voice their support for efforts to curb global warming.
Precious Infants Marchers Rally in Jackson Heights
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio joined a group of about 50 pro-life activists on Sept. 21 for Mass and Holy Adoration at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Jackson Heights, followed by a rosary march to a local abortion clinic in the neighborhood, all part of the monthly rally organized by Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.