/HEROES OF State of Holiness

LOOKING for more local holiness? Fr. Hecker 1819–1888 Wait 20 years and New York may A native New Yorker and founder be awash in sanctity. of the . In 2010, The process of declaring a Cardinal launched in the usually takes his cause for sainthood. decades, sometimes centuries. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop (Moth- Along the way, a candidate must er Mary Alphonsa, OP) 1851–1926 first be certified as a , A Catholic convert and founder then venerable, then blessed before of the Dominican Sisters of Haw- can be considered. thorne, known for her devotion to These titles aren’t just milestones the care of people with terminal on the way to sainthood; each is cancer. The movement for her can- a mark of glory in itself. We can onization was begun in 2003. Venerable Felix Varela y Morales pray to them, honor them – and as Fr. Vincent Capodanno 1929–1967 New Yorkers, we can be humbly A native and Mary- become vicar general of the thankful that our region has been knoll missionary who became a Archdiocese of New York and a blessed by the presence of even Marine in Vietnam and powerful supporter of immigrants. more great Catholics, listed below. was killed while assisting soldiers Declared venerable in 2012. in the heat of battle. His cause for Blessed Solanus Casey 1870–1957 SERVANTS OF GOD sainthood was initiated in 2010. A Capuchin friar known for his speaking and counseling skills; VENERABLES AND BLESSEDS served in Yonkers and OF NEW YORK for two decades. Beatified in 2017. Venerable Pierre Toussaint 1766–1853 A prominent Black New Yorker and businessman of the 19th century whose charitable work and AND A FEW MORE SAINTS contributions supported orphans, immigrants and schools – and THOUGH their connection to the ON MARCH 14, faced with mounting evidence of a growing health emergency, the Archdiocese of helped fund the construction of the Archdiocese of New York is less New York suspended public Masses in all 10 of its counties, from Staten Island to Sullivan, Ulster original St. Patrick’s Cathedral in direct, these saints too had ties to and Dutchess. The news took many Catholics by surprise. How were they to remain connected SoHo. Declared venerable in 1996. our region. to their faith? How long would it be before they could safely receive the Eucharist again? Venerable Mother Mary Angeline St. Marianne Cope 1838–1918 It didn’t take long for the faithful to make adjustments. Pastors, and the many Dorothy Day Teresa McCrory 1893–1984 A Franciscan sister from way upstate An Irish-born religious sister who (Syracuse) who became legendary ministries of the archdiocese sprang into action, devising new ways to deliver the liturgy Dorothy Day 1897–1980 founded the Carmelite Sisters of as Mother Marianne of Molokai, and the rituals of the Church to those who thirsted for them. And wherever there was a Co-founder of the Catholic Worker the Aged and Infirm in New York in overseeing the care of people need, Catholics delivered services despite the obstacles. movement who tirelessly fought 1929. Declared venerable in 2012. suffering from leprosy in Hawaii for Sr. Mary Catherine Redmond, an emergency room physician assistant who served on the for the poor, the hungry and Rev. Fulton J. Sheen three decades. Canonized in 2012. front line of the pandemic in the hardest-hit part of the Bronx (see next page), summed homeless. Her cause was launched 1895–1979 An auxiliary bishop in St. Jean de LaLande 1616–1646 it up this way: “It wasn’t that the Church closed. The Church just went to the streets. by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1990. the Archdiocese of New York in and St. René Goupil 1608–1642 Terence Cardinal Cooke 1921–1983 the 1950s and ‘60s, later bishop of Jesuit lay missionaries who worked Whether it was people handing out sandwiches … taking care of their neighbors … of New York from 1968 Rochester, who is widely known for alongside St. Isaac Jogues. Both [or] taking care of the sick, the Church went to the streets.” until his death in 1983, known for his pioneering work in the use of canonized in 1930. In the next few pages, you’ll meet a number of those people – , sisters, friars, his work to protect the unborn and radio and television for evangeliza- St. Paul VI 1897–1978 and deacons and lay Catholics – who would not let the health crisis stop them from provide educational opportunities tion. Declared venerable in 2012. St. Pope John Paul II 1920–2005 living out the message of Christ, sacrificing to help their neighbors at a time when to the underprivileged. The Car- Venerable Felix Varela y Morales Both visited the Archdio- the needs have only been growing more urgent. They are not looking for credit dinal Cooke Guild was formed to 1788–1853 A Cuban and cese of New York – John Paul II promote his cause for sainthood advocate for American visited three times! Canonized in or praise; they just want to help their sisters and brothers, and they represent in 1984. independence who went on to 2018 and 2014, respectively. hundreds of others, Catholics and non-Catholics, who deserve our thanks.

18 † FALL 2020 † FALL 2020 SAINTS/HEROES OF NEW YORK would ever see of their loved one. That was heart-wrenching. And when we put people on ventilators ... to realize that only 20 percent of the people were ever going to make it off the ventilators was really overwhelming.” HEALTH CARE As it turned out, some of the hardest things were also some of the largest ince 1999, Sister Mary Cather- blessings. “As part of the palliative ine Redmond has worked as a care team,” she says, “I had some of physician assistant in the emer- the most deeply moving conversations gency department of a small city with family members about the end of hospital in the Bronx, part of life, about the loss of their loved ones.” News York’s Health and Hospitals Cor- One of the nurses suggested placing poration. A Presentation Sister, she re- “a little story” of each patient at the sides in a Bronx convent with four oth- bottom of the bed beside the patient er members of her congregation. This chart. Then, though the intubated spring, when New York became the patients were unable to speak, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, caretakers would be able to talk to the hospital where Sr. Mary Catherine them with some knowledge of their works – like many in the region – saw a lives. “I spent an afternoon calling massive influx of cases. the families of all the patients in that St. Mary Catherine grew up in unit,” Sr. Mary Catherine recalls. “I Kingston, where she was educated asked them questions, and they talked by the Presentation Sisters of the about their family member. That was a BEYOND THE CALL \ Dr. Helen Fernandez (above), a geriatri- Blessed Mary at St. Mary’s/ blessing … just listening to the families cian and palliative care specialist at Mt. Sinai Hospital (and a parishio- Kingston . She entered talk about their loved ones. I think they ner at St. on East 96th Street), became infected in the the Sisters of the Presentation in felt comforted that someone wanted to early days of the crisis. Sidelined as she quarantined and recovered, 1987 and made final vows in 1996. know all this information about their she secured a donation of iPads from Facebook to help patients on her “When I entered religious life, I was family member.” ward at Mt. Sinai stay connected to family and friends who could not actually an audiologist,” she recalls. Sr. Mary Catherine also felt blessed come to visit. “I went back to school at the Catholic by the prayers of her congregation. “I Medical Center in Queens to become remember once early on in religious BUSINESS NOT AS USUAL \ Non-Covid medical needs did not a physician assistant ... because I really life, one of the sisters said to me, go away in the pandemic – and some were exacerbated. In Sullivan and felt called at that point to provide ‘Where one of us is, we all are.’ And Ulster counties, the Catholic Charities substance abuse services were medical care to the underserved.” I would always think, every day, more urgently needed than ever. In the words of one dedicated rehab When the Covid-19 crisis struck, when I walked into the Emergency counselor, “Addiction doesn’t take a day off, so neither can we.” Where she says, “It felt like a tidal wave. And Department, We are all here.” possible, services were delivered remotely. Below, Dr. Mike Weddel, as the crisis evolved, it became clearer Supportive colleagues and her own medical director of the program, conducts a telehealth session. and clearer that we were dealing with The need for personal protective mask?” It wasn’t just the smile that was rich prayer life also helped get her something way beyond our control. equipment (PPE) was problematic in eliminated; it was also physical touch. through the crisis. “In the beginning, when we were more ways than one. “We ordinarily “Now we had rubber gloves on, we had “I’ll always remember the names working with Covid-positive patients, would use PPE for going into the room these gowns on. It was something we of the patients that died. It’s like a we were worried about where they had of one person maybe once a week. For never imagined.” litany,” Sr. Mary Catherine says. “I traveled and what contacts they had, a staff of around 60 people now to Like her colleagues, Sr. Mary still have contact with some of their et cetera. Then all of a sudden it was a have to use that equipment on a daily Catherine did the best she could families. The intensity of the time whole slew of Uber drivers who were basis was just beyond the capacity of for patients despite the difficulties. made connections that will last.” very sick, which meant that it was what we had. So early in the crisis, When her family members told her And she adds a point of hope: “I person-to-person contact. ... Patients we were wearing our protective wear “Please be careful,” she recalls, she know for sure that an awareness of started showing up with all different [which is meant to be used once and downplayed the risks. She worried the health care needs of the poor has symptoms, and everyone had Covid. discarded] five days in a row, unless about potentially infecting the older been brought into the light. There’s First we were looking for respiratory there was some sort of compromise.” sisters she lived with in the convent. been great insight into the disparity symptoms and the ground-glass Then there was the disconnect of And at the hospital, the number of of care.” opacities on the chest X-ray. The relating to patients from behind layers of deaths was staggering. “It was death Click here for the full Archways next thing, it was gastrointestinal protection. “How do you communicate like we’ve never seen death before. The interview with Sr. Mary Catherine symptoms. Then all of a sudden it with somebody, how do you reassure number of body bags. The last minutes Redmond. To read Sr. Mary Catherine’s was ‘I can’t smell’ and ‘I don’t taste somebody with just your eyes? How do that families had with each other, which blog posts about her experience of the anymore.’ They were all Covid.” they know I’m smiling underneath my we knew were potentially the last they Covid-19 crisis, click here.

20 † FALL 2020 † FALL 2020 21 SAINTS/HEROES OF NEW YORK you’re praying with people, you can see that the Lord is really touching them. Or even oneself,” he says. “Part of it, too, is just accompanying. Like when the families requested prayer for their loved one. Just accompanying them in SPIRITUAL CARE that. That’s been a blessing as well. “It’s been a joy I’ll always remember t was Good Friday when Fr. Anto- be a spiritual presence, to remind them Despite the many challenges and the to be able to serve in this capacity, to nio Maria Diez de Medina came of God’s care and love for them,” Fr. tragedy of so much suffering, there are be a loving witness,” Fr. Medina says. to the Bronx to serve as a hospital Medina says. “Sometimes there would also many blessings for the hospital His days of chaplaincy in the Bronx chaplain. A Franciscan Friar of be nurses who would come up to me chaplain. One simple one is the joy are ended for now, but if there’s a sec- the Renewal who lives in com- and say, ‘I need a prayer.’ And I would of seeing a patient get better. “There ond “wave” of the virus and the call imunity at St. Mary of the Assumption pray with them right there and give was a Covid-19 patient who had the goes out, he says he’ll volunteer all Friary in Newburgh, he stepped up them a priestly blessing. That’s helpful respirator and was not responsive,” Fr. over again. when the community’s superior, Fr. for them, to strengthen them to contin- Medina recalls. “I went in and prayed John Paul Ourlette, CFR, asked for ue on.” In the early days of the crisis, it with him, and the next day I came volunteers to help some of the many was especially intense. “There was that back and he was awake and talking. coronavirus patients facing the illness fear that was kind of crippling to peo- The nurse was really happy, she was alone, without sacraments or visits ple. Sometimes I had to pray with peo- just thanking God.” from loved ones. ple, even the staff, against that fear that And perhaps the greatest joy is found “When I first started at the hospital,” was robbing them of peace and joy.” in the prayer itself. “Sometimes when Stepping Up he recalls, “there was some apprehen- sion about going into the Covid rooms. IN EARLY MARCH, regional Church leaders realized The doors would be closed. As a chap- that they were going to be needing more lain, I didn’t really have to go in – I than usual in the weeks ahead. Working with Arch- could pray long-distance, but there’s a Care, which runs the region’s hospital chaplaincy divide there.” To close that divide, Fr. program during normal times, the Archdiocese of Medina had to conquer fear. “I was a New York put out a call for five additional priests from little nervous, but seeing the doctors parishes and monastic communities to leave their and nurses putting on the full PPE, I home base and take up residence in isolation near followed their example. If they’re tak- the hospitals where they would be needed. Dozens of ing the risk to do that, then as a priest I priests answered the call. decided I should do the same.” Among the volunteers, Fr. Antonio Maria Diez de la Even inside the room, Fr. Medina Medina (see previous page) served in the Bronx. In found communication was not always Dutchess County, Fr. Connolly of St. Columba easy when patients were on ventilators. in Hopewell Junction and Fr. Louis Masi of St. Mary in “The ones who were conscious would Fishkill resided at a disused retreat house while serv- look at me and not be able to speak ing hospitals and nursing homes. but they could nod their head yes or A number of priests were already serving in the Arch- ABOVE: Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer, OP, moved into ArchCare at Mary no,” he says. “Others maybe had their Care chaplaincy. One of them, Fr. Hugh Vincent Dyer, Manning Walsh nursing home as chaplain during the pandemic. eyes open but weren’t really responsive OP, a friar of the Dominican health-care ministry, went TOP: Sr. Helena Therese Horan and Sr. Maureen Elizabeth Doonan, – and others had their eyes closed. I into residence at the ArchCare Mary Manning Walsh both Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm, worked tirelessly would just continue to speak to them nursing home. There he provided pastoral care for to ensure the comfort, safety and spiritual well-being of residents and presume that they were hear- residents alongside the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged at Mary Manning Walsh. ing me. They couldn’t show that they and Infirm, who have run the facility for decades. Via heard me, but I know that they did. closed-circuit TV, Fr. Dyer offered daily Mass and rosa- on ’s East Side. “For two and a half weeks, For somebody very ill, if I was there to ry, along with occasional classic movies. He also admin- it was 12 hours on, 12 hours off,” he says. “ I was the do the anointing, and even just saying istered sacraments to residents afflicted with Covid-19. overnight guy.” He recalls “going into rooms where I the words, I think there’s grace flowing “The height of it all was really the month of April,” he had to help people say good-bye via tablets. Giving for them. ... The soul is there, and even recalls. That was when New York state was requiring the last rites while I’m holding up a tablet for the family though a person’s body is not able to nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients from to see because they can’t come.” respond, you should treat them with area hospitals. At the Walsh home, more than 50 died. As we wait to see whether the virus has a resurgence dignity and love them.” “You would suit up with gloves and masks and robes. in the region this fall, most area chaplains have gotten A chaplain’s first duty is to the pa- Early on, when we were still waiting for PPE, you might a well-earned break, but all are prepared to jump back tients, but he also serves an important be administering from the door.” in. “It’s the priest in persona Christi – in the person of function in helping families and even Fr. John Maria Devaney, OP, a Dominican from Fr. Christ,” says Fr. Devaney. “It’s me, you know – the bro- the health-care workers. “Part of it is to Dyer’s community, was working nearby at a hospital ken vessel, but nonetheless His priesthood.”

22 † FALL 2020 † FALL 2020 23 SAINTS/HEROES OF NEW YORK struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues all had to respond to increased demand for services while also protecting the health of clients and staff. Nursing homes were especially hard hit when they were ordered by COMMUNITY CARE New York State to accept Covid-positive patients discharged from area hospitals hen the Covid-19 crisis without being provided with adequate swept through the New protective equipment and resources. York region, overwhelm- Through all of this, thousands of ing medical facilities and caring staff and volunteers at hundreds upending the economy, of organizations kept on helping our thosew directly affected by the virus neighbors, reaching out to clients were not the only victims. As Msgr. electronically or through home visits, Kevin Sullivan, executive director of taking on new roles in organizations, Catholic Charities of New York, ob- improvising new ways to deliver help serves, “The problems that existed be- to those in need. To all of these giving fore the virus didn’t go away. They got souls, including the few pictured here, worse.” For those already in need, the Archways offers a humble salute. pandemic is a crisis on top of a crisis. For more information on how In the three months after the services are being delivered during the pandemic started, Catholic Charities crisis, see “Outside the Box.” distributed half a million meals in the archdiocese. Part of the Solution (POTS), an affiliated social services agency in the Bronx, tripled its volume of prepared meals from 450 to more than 1,300 per day. The food distribution schedule at the Ulster Food Pantry in Kingston, run by Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster, went from two days a week to five. Programs supporting immigrants, day laborers, the homeless and people

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Emergency food program assistant Juan Nunez guides arriving clients at POTS; Janet Hernandes, an organizer at the Catholic Charities Community Services day laborers’ program in Yonkers, advises a client from a distance of six feet; staff at ArchCare’s Carmel Richmond Nursing Home, Staten Island; Chef Leroy Brown, the force behind the prepared meals program at POTS, which tripled its volume to 1,350 meals per day during the pandemic.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Food pantry associate Leomary Rodriguez and associate director of food and dignity programs Taina Rodriguez, behind the scenes at Part of the Solution (POTS); POTS program manager Christopher Minaya; Dominique Wallace Mills and Eline Martinez at the Catholic Charities Ulster Pantry.

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