FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2013

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will hold a special bilingual Mass of Thanksgiving in celebration of the election of His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Eucharistic celebration will be held on Monday, March 18th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, 240 Jay Street, Downtown Brooklyn. Bishop DiMarzio will be joined by priests and deacons of the Diocese, as well as parishioners who are invited to celebrate the election of the new Vicar of Christ. A special invitation is made to the Latino community here in Brooklyn and Queens, and in particular to those from Argentina, as we celebrate a bilingual Mass for the first Pope from Latin America.

“St. Francis of Assisi is closely identified with the poor,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “In choosing such a name, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, signified that we are called to be a Church in service to the most vulnerable.”

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 14 de marzo de 2013

El Monseñor Nicholas DiMarzio, Obispo de Brooklyn, celebrará una Misa bilingüe en Acción de Gracias en la celebración de la elección de Su Santidad el Papa Francisco.
La celebración eucarística se llevará a cabo el lunes, 18 de marzo, a las 7:30 pm en la Basílica Catedral de St. James, 250 Jay Street, Downtown Brooklyn. El Monseñor DiMarzio estará acompañado por los sacerdotes y diáconos de la diócesis, así como los feligreses que están invitados a celebrar la elección del nuevo Vicario de Cristo. Una invitación especial se hace a la comunidad hispana aquí en Brooklyn y Queens, y en particular a los de Argentina, al celebrar una misa bilingüe para el primer Papa de América Latina.
“San Francisco de Asís está estrechamente identificado con los pobres,” dijo el Monseñor DiMarzio. “En la elección de ese nombre, nuestro Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco, significaba que estamos llamados a ser una Iglesia al servicio para la mas vulnerables.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2013  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Stefanie Gutierrez  917-587-2784    sgutierrez@diobrook.org

The Most Reverend Ignatius A. Catanello, Titular Bishop of Deultum and Retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died after a lengthy illness on Monday, March 11, 2013.

 

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, praised Bishop Catanello’s long service to the Church. “For 47 years, ‘Bishop Iggy’ as so many fondly knew him as, faithfully served the people of the Diocese of Brooklyn. In the last few years, as he struggled with illness, Bishop Catanello identified with Christ. I ask the people of the Diocese ofBrooklyn to join me as we pray for the repose of his soul. Bishop Catanello’s favorite phrase was, ‘OK pal.’ I know that he is OK now.”

Bishop Catanello lived and served in the Diocese of Brooklyn his entire life. The son of the late Nicholas and the late Mary (DeFalco) Catanello and the brother of Deacon Joseph Catanello, he wasborn on July 23, 1938.  He was a parishioner at Most Holy Trinity parish, Williamsburg, where he attended the parish elementary and high school.  He studied for one year at the seminary of the Order of Recollects of St. Augustine in Kansas City, Kansas, and then spent three years at Cathedral College, Brooklyn.

 

He graduated from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, and attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington.  Father Catanello was ordained May 28, 1966, by Archbishop Bryan J. McEntegart at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.

 

He earned two master’s degrees from St. John’s University and a doctorate in religious studies from New York University.  He was an adjunct professor of theology at St. John’s University. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Rita’s, Long Island City, 1966-76; St. Helen’s, Howard Beach, 1976-81; St. Ann’s, Flushing, 1981-87; and Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge, 1987-88.

 

In June 1988, he was named an Episcopal Vicar for Queens South with residence at Holy Family rectory, Flushing. He was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1989.  From 1991 to 1994, he was principal-rector of Cathedral Prep Seminary, Elmhurst.

 

St. John’s University honored him twice, with its President’s Medal in 1975 and an honorary doctorate of law in 1989.

 

Bishop Catanello was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Brooklyn on Aug. 22, 1994, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica, Sunset Park, by Bishop Thomas V. Daily. Principal co-consecrators were Auxiliary Bishops Joseph M. Sullivan and Rene A. Valero.

 

His appointment as bishop came along with that of former Auxiliary Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, who now serves as bishop ofPalm Beach, Fla. Bishop DiMarzio will serve as main celebrant of the Funeral Mass; Bishop Barbarito will serve as homilist.

 

As an auxiliary bishop, he served as Vicar for Clergy and Vicar for Consecrated Life and Apostolic Organizations.

 

Other pastoral work in which he was involved included parish and ecumenical ministry, drug rehabilitation counseling andleadership in clergy associations.  He spent nearly a decade as chairman of the diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission and was president of the Priests Senate.

 

Pope Benedict XVI accepted the retirement of Bishop Catanello in September 2010. Bishop Catanello, who was 72 at the time, requested retirement for reasons of health. Normally, bishops offer their resignations at the age of 75. The resignation also applied to his role as pastor of Holy Family parish, Flushing, where he had served as pastor since January 2007.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 02, 2013

POPE BENEDICT XVI ELEVATES BROOKLYN CHURCH TO CATHEDRAL

Just three days following the Holy Father’s announcement that he would resign, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was informed of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to designate the Church of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Last year, Bishop DiMarzio submitted a petition to the Congregation for Bishops, that the Church of St. Joseph be elevated to a cathedral. The Bishop received the Ecclesiastical Approbation from the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, indicating that the Holy Father had consented to this request.

“Since my arrival here as Bishop of Brooklyn almost 10 years ago, it was evident that St. Joseph’s, located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, is at the heart of a new Brooklyn,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “The Church has a large seating capacity fitting our many Diocesan celebrations. In addition, St. Joseph’s is in a location anticipated to be the most densely populated area in New York City, and it should be a prominent fixture in the re-development at this exciting time in our borough. St. Joseph’s Church should have the designation as a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Brooklyn.”

The late Archbishop of New York, John Hughes, established the Church in 1850 to serve the immense immigration population. The Church was named after St. Joseph, the patron of the universal Church. St. Joseph protects and guides those as he did with his adoptive son, Jesus, and is also the patron saint of families, fathers, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, craftsmen and engineers.

“This is the Holy Father’s Valentine’s Day gift to the Diocese of Brooklyn,” said Msgr. Kieran Harrington, administrator of St. Joseph’s. “We received the decree a few days ago. But that is understandable, the Holy Father had a lot of other more pressing tasks to consider these last few days.”

The Bishop is the pastor of the cathedral. Certain events are normally required to take place there, such as ordinations and the Chrism Mass. This is because it is the location of the Seat of the Bishop.

St. Joseph’s is now the co-cathedral of the Diocese of Brooklyn, which also includes Queens. St. James Cathedral Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn, was the only cathedral in the 160-year history of the Diocese, which was founded in 1853. St. James Cathedral was previously a pro-cathedral from the moment the Diocese was founded; it was conceived that a new cathedral would be built. St. Joseph’s, which can accommodate 1,500 people, is one of the largest churches in the Diocese. It is for this reason the Bishop sought permissions for it to be named a co-cathedral.

Press are welcome to Sunday Mass at St. Josephís, 856 Pacific Street. Spanish Mass is at 10:30 a.m.; English Mass is at 12 p.m. Media are invited to speak with parishioners and Msgr. Harrington following either of the Eucharistic celebrations.