Cathedral Of St. Thomas More Helps Children Of Church of St. Thomas More

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2012

Children from St. Thomas More Cathedral’s School in Arlington, Virginia, will make a visit to Catholic school children who are parishioners at St. Thomas More, Breezy Point, to deliver a $1,600 check from a special collection the Virginia church took up in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy for the Breezy Point community who bears the same name.

Over 70 students from St. Thomas More Church attend school at St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor. It was one of the heaviest hit areas in the Diocese of Brooklyn, where nearly every parishioner lost their home or sustained significant damage from the super storm. Since then, the school community of St. Francis de Sales has temporarily relocated to Saints Simon and Jude, 294 Avenue T, in Gravesend, Brooklyn. Their first day back to school was this past Monday, Nov. 26th.

The check will be presented at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 30th, at Saints Simon and Jude, where students from Breezy Point will accept the donation from their peers in Arlington, on behalf of their parish community.

 

STATEMENT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS REGARDING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN HOWARD BEACH AND THE ROCKAWAYS

Over the course of the past three weeks since Hurricane Sandy, the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Superintendent of Schools office has worked diligently with Local, State and Federal officials to facilitate the reopening of Catholic schools in Howard Beach and the Rockaways. This included securing generators for the sites, assessing the extent of the damage to electrical and heating systems, determining necessary repair time, and taking precautions that included air quality testing.

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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS RELEASES 800 NUMBER FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES IN HOWARD BEACH AND THE ROCKAWAYS

Catholic elementary schools and academies within the Diocese of Brooklyn will re-open on Monday, Nov. 5th, with the exception of the following schools: Ave Maria Catholic Academy, Howard Beach; St. Camillus School, Rockaway Beach; St. Francis de Sales School, Belle Harbor; St. Helenís School, Howard Beach; and St. Rose of Lima School, Rockaway Beach.

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UPDATE REGARDING FIVE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2012

Over 1,400 children in Catholic schools have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy from five schools which include Ave Maria Catholic Academy, Howard Beach; St. Camillus School, Rockaway Beach; St. Francis de Sales School, Belle Harbor; St. Helen’s School, Howard Beach; and St. Rose of Lima School, Rockaway Beach. Officials from the Office of the Superintendent have been working closely with the principals and pastors of these schools, other diocesan offices and local officials to create a transition plan designed to meet the immediate needs of these students and their families, ensure their ability to continue to receive a Catholic education and if possible, maintain these school communities intact. Read more »

BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO TO CELEBRATE MASS IN BREEZY POINT ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, AT 12 P.M.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will celebrate Mass at St. Thomas More Church, 204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd., this Sunday, Nov. 4th at 12 p.m. Almost every single family in the parish was displaced due to Hurricane Sandy.

“When confronted by natural disasters I am reminded of the words of the Lord found in the prophet Isaiah ‘O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in precious metal, and lay your foundations with sapphires.’ While we humans have learned how to mitigate against natural calamity, we cannot despite these advances, change the reality that life is fragile,” Bishop DiMarzio said in a statement in response to the devastation left by the hurricane.

The bishop also announced that all parishes in the diocese will take up a second collection to assist those who are in distress as a result of this natural disaster. “Most of our families throughout Brooklyn and Queens are middle-class or working poor. All are so incredibly generous to those suffering in other parts of our country and world. Now we need to come together to assist our neighbors,” he said.

For information on relief efforts in Brooklyn and Queens, as well as volunteer opportunities, visit www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org.