Early Registration Deadline Extended for Women’s Conference

Feb. 28, 2014 – The second Annual Bilingual Women’s Conference, “Mary, A Role Model for Women,” will take place on Saturday, March 22 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The conference will be held at Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, NY.

The early registration deadline has been extended to March 8 at the rate of $25. After March 8, the price increases to $30.

Please click here to print the registration forms, or to view registration information in Spanish, click here. For more information, contact Annmarie McLaughlin at 347-408-4265.

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Bishop DiMarzio and Senator Schumer Announce “Cambia Tu Vida” Campaign

Feb. 27, 2014 – On Sunday, March 2nd at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 35-34 105th Street, in Corona, Queens, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Senator Charles Schumer and Catholic Migration Services of the Diocese of Brooklyn will announce the launch of a major media and outreach campaign entitled Cambia Tu Vida to promote naturalization of legal permanent residents in the New York City area. They will be joined by Congresswoman Grace Meng, Kelly Marie Fay Rodriguez of AFL-CIO’s Immigration and Community Action, Assemblyman Francisco Moya, and Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, against the backdrop of hundreds of immigrant parishioners attending Mass.

The announcement is part of the New Americans Campaign (NAC), an unprecedented nonpartisan national network of more than 80 organizations who have come together to encourage and assist eligible legal permanent residents (LPRs) in becoming U.S. citizens. Beginning this month, Catholic Migration Services will bring the NAC’s message to New York City through a series of English and Spanish language public service announcements to air on local television stations, print and social media and grassroots publicity efforts. The campaign will encourage legal permanent residents to call the Cambia Tu Vida hotline at 855-622-6242 to be screened and, if eligible, registered for one of several “mega workshops” to be conducted by Catholic Migration Services in April.
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Statement of Bishop DiMarzio Regarding Immigration Reform

Bishop sealFeb. 27, 2014 – I am happy to join my Evangelical brethren today to call upon the House of Representatives to act this year on immigration reform.

It is a moral imperative that Congress act this year. Each day, families are being divided by deportations, with as many as 100,000 U.S.-citizen children being separated from their parents each year. Is this how we invest in these young citizens – the future leaders of our nation? No doubt we are undermining their trust in America when their own government – whose purpose is to protect these children – takes their father or mother away. There is a large social cost to inaction, a price we pay in this country every day.

In this debate, often the humanitarian consequences of our broken system are ignored. Families are divided, migrant workers are exploited, and human beings continue to die in the desert. This suffering must end.

The U.S. Catholic bishops and the Catholic community will continue to work toward a just and humane immigration system. We do not see the current impasse as a setback, but as an opportunity to re-engage with our lawmakers.

Immigration reform will happen – it is a matter of when and what. Support for immigration reform – already at record highs among the American public – will only grow. We stand ready to work with members on both sides of the aisle in the House of Representatives to find a solution to our broken system this year. Thank you.

Theology on Tap in Astoria on Tuesday Night

Theology on TapFeb. 17, 2014 – The first Theology on Tap of 2014 will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7PM at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria. Young Adults (ages 21-39) from the Diocese are encouraged to attend.

The session is entitled “I’m Giving up Joel Osteen for Lent: A Look at the Cross in Christianity,” and will feature Dr. Phillip A. Franco, the principal of St. Margaret School in Middle Village.

For more information, contact Paul A. Morisi at 718-965-7300 x5556 or pmorisi@diobrook.org. Check out the event on Facebook to learn more and let us know you’ll be there.

Scharfenberger, New Bishop of Albany, Expresses Gratitude for Appointment

Edward Scharfenberger bishop of AlbanyFeb. 17, 2014 – Edward B. Scharfenberger, episcopal vicar for Queens, was appointed last week by Pope Francis to head the Diocese of Albany. Bishop-designate Scharfenberger was effusive in his remarks at his introductory press conference.

“How grateful I am to His Holiness Pope Francis for the awesome privilege to serve as pastor of all the wonderful people in the Diocese of Albany,” he said. “I am touched by the warm welcome of Bishop Hubbard, who has served the Church in Albany with love and dedication for 37 years.

“My heart is full of gratitude to God for my loving family, especially my 93-year-old parents who were generous enough to welcome me, my two brothers and two sisters into the world. They taught us how to pray, to trust God and to know Jesus as our friend. Their continuous example shows us that the essence of love is sacrifice.”

For more on this new appointment, see the complete story in The Tablet.

Scharfenberger Introduced as the New Bishop of Albany

Feb. 11, 2014 – Reverend Monsignor Edward Scharfenberger was announced as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Albany on Tuesday morning. Below are images from the press conference, which was live-streamed on dioceseofbrooklyn.org.

Edward Scharfenberger bishop of Albany
Reverend Monsignor Edward Scharfenberger at the podium during Tuesday’s press conference. Seated is Bishop Howard Hubbard, the outgoing Bishop of Albany.
Albany bishops
Bishop Hubbard gave a Mets hat to Bishop-elect Scharfenberger, who most recently served as Episcopal Vicar for Queens.

Congratulations to Msgr. Edward Scharfenberger, the New Bishop of Albany

STATEMENT OF BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO ON THE APPOINTMENT OF
MSGR. EDWARD SCHARFENBERGER AS TENTH BISHOP OF ALBANY, N.Y.

February 11, 2014 – This morning, the Holy Father appointed the Reverend Monsignor Edward Scharfenberger as the Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Albany, New York.

Monsignor Scharfenberger was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop James Hickey (who would go on to become Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C.) on July 2, 1973, at St. Peter’s Basilica. He has served in a number of pastoral and administrative positions. Most recently he served as Episcopal Vicar for Queens.  In addition, he recently served as pastor of Saint Matthias Church in the Ridgewood section of Queens and also as Vicar for Strategic Planning.

“First and foremost, Monsignor Scharfenberger is a good priest,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. “He is primarily concerned about people and is untiring in finding new ways to proclaim the message of redemption which is at the heart of the Gospel.”

Bishop DiMarzio continued, “Monsignor Scharfenberger has been a close collaborator and friend.  He has vast pastoral and administrative experience. I offer my prayers for Monsignor Scharfenberger as he undertakes his Episcopal ministry. I also extend my congratulations to his mother and father, Elaine and Edward, who are both blessed to see this joyful day, for raising such a fine Christian gentleman, for giving the Diocese of Brooklyn a great priest and for giving the Church a holy bishop.”

Young Adult Mass Set for Tuesday Night

Fr. Dwayne Davis will celebrate a special mass for young adults (ages 21-39) in the main chapel at the Diocesan offices on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7:30PM. We will also be collecting coats and blankets for the needy.

After the celebration of the liturgy, the group will make its way to a local bar/restaurant for fellowship and fun.

The Diocesan offices are at 310 Prospect Park West in Brooklyn. For more information, e-mail Paul Morisi at pmorisi@diobrook.org, and you can tell us you’re coming on Facebook.