Passing of Reverend Monsignor Conrad R. Dietz

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Monsignor Conrad R. Dietz, retired senior priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, who was in residence at the Bishop Mugavero Residence. Monsignor Dietz was born on August 13, 1931, in the Bronx, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 1, 1957, and died Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at Northshore Manhasset Hospital.

Monsignor Dietz served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Grace (Howard Beach) and Holy Name of Jesus (Brooklyn). He served as a member of the Faculty at Cathedral College (Brooklyn), Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary (Elmhurst), Cathedral College (Douglaston), House of Formation (Douglaston), and Cathedral Seminary House of Formation (Douglaston). He also served as Adjunct Professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary (Huntington). On March 10, 1999, he was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE
Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home, Inc.
125 Hillside Avenue
New Hyde Park, New York 11040
Tel: (516) 354-0634

Sunday, October 1, 2017
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

FUNERAL
Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001

Monday, October 2, 2017
10:30 AM

BURIAL
St. Charles
Farmingdale, New York

Monsignor Dietz was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. All priests are invited to concelebrate the Liturgy. Please bring your diocesan vestments.

If you wish to send condolences, please mail to his niece, Ms. Catherine Dietz, 684 Beck Street, Uniondale, New York 11553.

Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

HUNDREDS EXPECTED TO ATTEND MASS FOR SOLIDARITY WITH MEXICO TO PRAY FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 27, 2017

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org
Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

HUNDREDS EXPECTED TO ATTEND MASS FOR SOLIDARITY WITH MEXICO TO PRAY FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

WHO:  The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Mexican Ministry invite the faithful of Brooklyn, Queens and beyond.

WHAT:  Mass for Solidarity with Mexico to pray for the victims of the Earthquakes. Bishop DiMarzio will celebrate the Mass and Rev. Jorge Ortiz-Garay, Director of the Mexican Ministry, and Administrator at St. Brigid Parish, will preach the homily. Rev. Ortiz-Garay has been in Mexico City this last week and has witnessed the devastation first hand.

WHEN:  Friday, September 29, 2017, 7:00 pm

WHERE:  Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238

WHY:  Join us in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Mexico, who have endured two major earthquakes this month. More than 300 people died in last week’s earthquake, including many children. There is so much sorrow amid the rubble as crews continue to look for the missing. There is also a great concern here in our Diocese, which is home to many Mexican Americans worried about their relatives back home.

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PASSING OF REVEREND JUSTIN BIASE, OFM CONV.

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Justin Biase, OFM Conv., a priest of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province and former Provincial of the Immaculate Conception Province, Rensselaer, ministering in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Biase was born on September 9, 1943, was ordained to the Priesthood on May 30, 1970, and died Thursday, September 21, 2017.

Father Biase served in the Diocese of Brooklyn at Most Holy Trinity – St. Mary Church (Brooklyn).

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE:
Sunday, September 24, 2017 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Monday, September 25, 2017 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Most Holy Trinity – St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
138 Montrose Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11206
Tel: (718) 384-0215

FUNERAL:
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 11:00 AM
Most Holy Trinity – St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
138 Montrose Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11206
Tel: (718) 384-0215

AM BURIAL:
St. John’s Cemetery
Middle Village, New York

Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

PASSING OF REVEREND JOHN A. GURRIERI

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend John A. Gurrieri, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Gurrieri was born on January 26, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, was ordained to the Priesthood on May 27, 1967, and died Sunday, September 10, 2017.

Father Gurrieri served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parish of Saint John Cantius, and as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Saint Gertrude (Edgemere), Saint Joan of Arc (Jackson Heights), Saint Andrew Avellino (Flushing) and Saint Rita (Long Island City). He also served as Diocesan Consultant for Liturgy and the Bishop’s Committee on Liturgy in Washington, D.C.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE:
Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM,  7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
125 Hillside Avenue
New Hyde Park, New York 11040
Tel: (516) 354-0634

FUNERAL:
Immaculate Conception Center
Thursday, September 14, 2017
10:30 AM
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001

BURIAL:
Saint John Cemetery Middle Village
80-01 Metropolitan Ave
Middle Village, NY 11379

Father Gurrieri was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society.

All priests are invited to concelebrate the Liturgy. Please bring your diocesan vestments. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L. Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

Thousands of Catholics to Converge on Citi Field for First Annual Catholic Day

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org

Adriana Rodriguez
718-408-6367
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

The Diocese of Brooklyn will host the first annual Catholic Day at Citi Field on Saturday, September 9, 2017. The day will begin with a 9:45 a.m. Mass, celebrated by the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. The Mass will be followed by food, games, entertainment, and baseball as the New York Mets take on the Cincinnati Reds.

The event is part of the Diocese’s Year of Vocations Campaign, an effort to encourage young people to think about, pray for, and discern their life’s calling.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Saturday, September 9, 2017
8:00 a.m. – parking lots open
8:45 a.m. – gates open
9:45 a.m. – Mass with Bishop DiMarzio
11:30 a.m. – Marina Parking Lot entertainment featuring food, performances, carnival games, basketball, and more
4:00 p.m. – Mets Plaza entertainment
7:10 p.m. – New York Mets vs Cincinnati Reds

LOCATION:

Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368

CELEBRITY GUEST SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS AND VIP’s

  • Rhett Walker, contemporary Christian rock performer, nominated for several Grammy Awards
  • Quinton Aaron, actor, best known for portraying Michael Oher alongside Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”, founder of The Quinton Aaron Foundation, which offers resources and education in the fight against bullying
  • Anthony Mangano, actor, host of Net TV’s “City of Churches“, starred on many television shows including “Person of Interest”, “Blue Bloods”, “NYPD Blue”, “CSI”, “The Blacklist”, “Who’s the Boss”, “Seinfeld”, and “Law & Order”
  • Joe Estevez, actor in over 200 films, host of Net TV’s “All things Catholic“, brother of actor Martin Sheen
  • Jenn Gotzon Chandler, actress, starred in “Frost/Nixon” as well as many family films. Also appeared on “CSI:NY” and “House”
  • Stephanie Hanvey, singer, appeared on “American Idol” Season 13
  • Alverlis Pena, singer-songwriter, Catholic worship leader
  • Santiago Pérez de Camino Gaisse, head of the Vatican’s Church & Sport Office at the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family & Life

For the schedule of events at Catholic Day at Citi Field, click on this link: catholicdaynyc.oncell.com

As part of Catholic Day, the Diocese will ask baseball fans to contribute to “Catholics Care,” a volunteer effort, and text-to-donate campaign for Hurricane victims across the country. Fans can text “Catholics Care” to 917-722-4565.

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN’S YEAR OF VOCATIONS:

The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Year of Vocations campaign is targeted toward young people of faith who are looking to understand God’s unique purpose for their lives. The initiative educates young Catholics about single and married life in the Church, as well as about becoming a deacon, nun, or priest.

In an effort to encourage more young men to consider becoming priests, the Diocese has created a video showing an unexpected side to the lives of the clergy. The video shows priests surfing, skateboarding and doing martial arts. The friars seen playing basketball in the video will be playing on site at Catholic Day at Citi Field.

The Year of Vocations campaign aims to show young people that serving God does not mean losing the unique qualities that make us who we are. Father Peter Purpura, rector of Saint James Cathedral Basilica, who is featured doing martial arts in the video, said, “Young men should realize that when you become a priest, you bring with you all of your passions, interests, and hobbies. All of these things are what make each priest unique, and in many cases, uniquely effective. Generally, I think that people focus too much on the negative aspects of the priesthood; what we give up or what we don’t have. The truth is that priests receive far more than we give, which is the reason for our priestly joy.” Fr. Purpura will be available for interviews.

For the video of Fr. Purpura: https://bit.ly/2grmGLu
For the Year of Vocations campaign video: https://bit.ly/2xNHAI0

Catholics Care: Hurricane Relief Effort

You are needed!

DeSales Media, parent company of the Tablet and NET-TV, is coordinating a Catholics Care response to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. In partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Diocese of Brooklyn is organizing a mission trip for 50 individuals from Brooklyn and Queens to Houston to help hurricane victims. Join us November 12-18, 2017 as we rebuild the cities, homes and lives of those affected by these natural disasters. Read more about the Catholics Care mission trip to Houston in The Tablet.

Here are some ways you can help.

Volunteer Your Time:
To help, just email catholicscare@desalesmedia.org and we’ll be in touch soon. Thank you for your support!

Donate Now:
Make an online donation to aid in the recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Maria.
Text “Catholics Care” to (917) 722-4565 to donate via SMS. (Standard text messaging rates apply.)

Donate Clothing And Supplies:
Parishes throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn are collecting supplies to send to victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Maria. Contact your parish to find out the details!

 

CATHOLIC NUN TO CATCH FIRST PITCH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 8, 2017

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org
Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

CATHOLIC NUN TO CATCH FIRST PITCH AT METS GAME
FOR “CATHOLIC DAY” AT CITI FIELD 

Sister Maria Bello, a Queens nun, will be dressed in her habit as she catches the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday’s Mets vs Reds game at Citi Field. Sister Maria will be joined by thousands of Catholics at the ballpark in celebration of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s first annual Catholic Day.  The event, Saturday, September 9, will begin with a 9:45 a.m. Mass, celebrated on the field by the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. A full day of entertainment will follow, culminating with the New York Mets taking on the Cincinnati Reds.

“I’m a little nervous. I’ve never played baseball, but I’ve been called to serve for Catholic Day. I never thought part of my mission would involve the New York Mets, but here I am,” said Sister Maria, a native of Colombia who is doing missionary work at St. Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst, Queens.

LOCATION: Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368

EVENT SCHEDULE:                                                                                                  
9:45 a.m. – Mass with Bishop DiMarzio 
11:30 a.m. – Marina Parking Lot entertainment featuring food, performances, carnival games, basketball
4:00 p.m. – Mets Plaza entertainment
7:00 p.m.  Sister Maria catches first pitch
7:10 p.m.
 Mets vs Reds 

As part of Catholic Day, the Diocese will ask baseball fans to contribute to “Catholics Care,” a volunteer effort and text-to-donate campaign for Hurricane victims across the country. Fans can text “Catholics Care” to 917-722-4565.  People interested in volunteering can learn more on Saturday by going to dioceseofbrooklyn.org/care.

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Brooklyn Bishop DiMarzio on the Trump Administration’s DACA Decision

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org

Adriana Rodriguez
718-408-6367
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

Today my prayers are with the young undocumented people in our Diocese who now face an uncertain future due to the Trump Administration’s decision to formally end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. We are disappointed with the President’s decision to end DACA, as there are many undocumented Dreamers in our diocese who have now lost their sense of security in the only country they know to be home.

The Obama-era program had shielded young undocumented immigrants, a group called Dreamers, from deportation. It was their parents who first dreamt of a life in America with the opportunity to find jobs, and secure a solid education for their children. Now those children brought to the U.S. by their parents, through no fault of their own, face deportation to countries to which they feel no connection. They only know America as their home.

And, make no mistake, these young people are contributing to our society. A paper released last year by the Center for Migration Studies of New York found 90% of DACA recipients are employed, and more than 90% have at least a high school degree.

The Trump Administration has now given Congress a window of six months to replace the DACA program with legislation or else it will end on March 5, 2018. So today, we stand with the Dreamers, and we call on Congress to come up with a legislative alternative that provides protection for them.

For media interested in interviews, we can connect you with Catholic Migration Services to speak with someone about what this means for their clients. CMS has helped countless immigrants in our Diocese with immigration and legal services for decades and has also been helping young immigrants with their DACA applications.

We can also connect you with a Dreamer who is willing to share their fears in light of this DACA decision.