One of the most terrifying moments teacher Emily Espinal and her family ever experienced was a fire that spread from a next-door neighbor’s attic to their home last month. A few days into 2021, the bedroom of Espinal’s 6-year-old daughter Mia — filled with newly opened Christmas presents on the second floor — was extensively damaged in the middle of the night. Espinal and her family made it out of their house, unharmed, on Jan. 3.
St. Mel’s Catholic Academy — which had been slated to permanently close after 59 years as a kindergarten through eighth-grade school on Aug. 31, 2020 — received a second chance by becoming an early childhood center in the fall of 2020.
Local Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) schools are feeling frustrated with the lack of communication from city officials as to if high-risk sports can be played for the remainder of the academic year. The State Department of Health (DOH) announced on Jan. 22 that high-risk sports could resume Feb. 1 — but the final decision still needs to be made by city health authorities.
In today’s digital age, young people are becoming more exposed to the behind-the-scenes of technology, including learning how to write code. At St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy in Bushwick, junior high students are doing just that since September 2020 with their math and science teacher Jose Martinez.
Stained glass windows are the last items installed when a church is under construction, but they are anything but an afterthought.
Anthony Mastrogiulio uses his experiences to help others.
On Jan. 13, St. Agnes Academic High School announced it will be closing at the end of this school year. Sister Peggy McVetty, OP, prioress of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, wrote the “decision to end 112 years of excellent education had been most difficult.”
On Dec. 29, 2020, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Petrinja, Croatia, and surrounding areas — killing seven people, injuring at least 26, and damaging homes, churches, and other buildings. The earthquake was reported as one of the country’s strongest in history and parishioners from Most Precious Blood Church wanted to offer their support.
From his Toronto studio, Timothy Schmalz kept close tabs on the month-long display in Brooklyn of his immigrant-themed, 20-foot sculpture, “Angels Unawares.”
Inspired by Pope Francis, who recently declared 2021 as the “Year of Joseph” in his apostolic letter “Patris corde,” the Diocese of Brooklyn will be engaging in a “Year of Renewal for Catholic Education.” The overarching goal of the campaign is to strengthen the understanding that Catholic education is evangelization.
