BROOKLYN DIOCESE WELCOMES NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP

April 29, 2016

With thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Diocese of Brooklyn announced today the news of the appointment of Bishop Neil Tiedemann, C.P., by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as an auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn. Bishop Tiedemann returns to his hometown diocese after serving as bishop of the Diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica.

“We in the Diocese of Brooklyn are delighted to welcome home Bishop Neil Tiedemann,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. Read more »

‘Pope Offers Practical Ways To Love’ by Bishop DiMarzio

April 27, 2016 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This week, I will continue my analysis of the Apostolic Exhortation, “The Joy of Love.”

The Pope opens the fourth chapter with the beautiful “Ode to Love” by St. Paul in First Corinthians. This passage is almost universally chosen by brides and grooms to be one of the readings at their weddings.

It is a primer for married life, and, if taken seriously, can sustain couples in all types of difficulties. When I preside at a marriage, I usually tell the couple that they should read this passage together at least once a week. And I give them my guarantee that the difficulties of their marriage can be resolved while they experience greater joy in their love for one another when they follow that advice.

What did St. Paul say? “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (13 Cor 4:7)

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

New York Catholics to Celebrate World Communications Day

Our 2017 World Communications Day Catholic Media Conference is May 17 at the BRIC Arts Media House in Brooklyn. Learn More and Sign Up

On Wednesday, May 11th at 11 a.m., DeSales Media Group will host the Diocese of Brooklyn’s World Communications Day Catholic Media Conference. The 25th annual event at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street, Downtown Brooklyn, aligns with the Vatican’s 50th annual celebration of World Communications Day.

World Communications Day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as time to explore how modern means of social communication can best be utilized by the Church. This year’s theme chosen by Pope Francis is “Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter.”
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‘The Joy of Love Is In The Family’ By Bishop DiMarzio

April 20, 2016 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This week, I begin a series of four articles in which I hope to give you a sampling of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, entitled, “Amoris Laetitia,” “The Joy of Love.”

After each Synod, it is the custom of the Roman Pontiffs to offer their insights into the work of the Synod, which represents a collaboration of many bishops elected by Episcopal Conferences all over the world. The last two Synods have been on the issue of the family.

Our Holy Father, in offering this large document of 276 pages, gives us a passionate and heartfelt exhortation on the meaning of family life in the world today. In this series, I will paraphrase and try to give some indication of what Pope Francis has said to us, so that you will have the desire to read the document (www.vatican.va).

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

Middle Grades Diocesan Math Bee Winners!

IMG_2624FIRST PLACE:
JAMES SCHMIDT
Saint Anselm Catholic Academy
Bay Ridge, Queens
Grade 5

SECOND PLACE:
JOHN LaMICELA – Grade 5
Saint Francis of Assisi School
Astoria, Queens

THIRD PLACE:
ELIZABETH MAHINAY – Grade 5
Our Lady of the Snows School
Glen Oaks, Queens

Congratulations to all the finalists who competed in the Math Bee. We are extremely proud of the outstanding job from all our participants. Our winners were determined during Round 27 of the Bee.

We are grateful to the parents, guardians, friends, teachers and principals who supported all our contestants at the Regional and Diocesan Math Bees.

Many thanks to our judges: Andrea D’Emic, Sylvia Anna Nomikos, Janet Batista and Diana Porta.

We are extremely appreciative and grateful to Ron Martorelli, Principal, and the faculty and staff at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy for hosting the Diocesan Math Bee and for their gracious hospitality at the Bee.

‘The Healing From Abuse Continues’ by Bishop DiMarzio

April 13, 2016 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Last year, the diocese offered its first Mass of Hope and Healing requested by survivors of sexual abuse. There was a very positive reaction on behalf of survivors, lay faithful, and clergy. Many stated how they experienced it as a grace-filled evening. This year, the second Mass of Hope and Healing will take place on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m., at Our Lady Queens of Martyrs Church in Forest Hills.

Also last year, a group of survivors came together for the first time, working with our Victim Assistance Coordinator, Ms. Jasmine Salazar, who is a licensed social worker, to explore and give voice on what survivors felt is needed for healing. This also provided an opportunity for these survivors to meet each other, and share in their experience. The group has since become the Diocesan Survivors Advisory Committee, and has become a guiding voice in our outreach to those impacted by sexual abuse committed by clergy and others.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

‘How to Encourage Religious Vocations’ by Bishop DiMarzio

April 6, 2016 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

The phrase, “Pray to the Lord of the Harvest so that He may send out laborers into His harvest,” is not the suggestion of a priest, bishop or even a pope. Rather, it is the command of the Lord Jesus, Himself, that if we are to have sufficient laborers in the vineyard of the Kingdom of God, we need to pray.

The 53rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations called this year by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has a theme, “The Church, Mother of Vocations.” The Holy Father begins his message by quoting his own motto, Miserando atque eligendo – by having mercy and by choosing – which describes the call of St. Matthew by Jesus.

He called Matthew from a life of defrauding others to be an apostle. In our own day, it seems that we are calling young people from lives that are incompatible with the Gospel at times, to be ministers of the Gospel. They, themselves, know that this is a problem and feel that somehow it disqualifies them from following the Lord’s call, even though they feel the call. This is one of the major obstacles to vocations that we must overcome in developing a pastoral approach to vocation recruitment for the priesthood and religious life.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.