Month: April 2019

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN MARKS HOLY WEEK WITH NUMEROUS SERVICES IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2019

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DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN MARKS HOLY WEEK

WITH NUMEROUS SERVICES IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will lead the Catholics of Brooklyn and Queens in numerous services during this Holy Week, to celebrate the essence of our faith – the Passion, Death and, Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Tonight, the Chrism Mass will be held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. During this Mass, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., Bishop DiMarzio will lead hundreds of priests and deacons in renewing their promises of service to the Church. The Bishop will also bless the oils that will be used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn during the year ahead.

On Holy Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m., Bishop DiMarzio will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist. The Mass will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn.

On Good Friday, April 19, there will be several large events to commemorate the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The apostolic group Communion and Liberation will sponsor an outdoor procession, “Way of the Cross Over the Brooklyn Bridge” that begins at 10 a.m. with Bishop DiMarzio offering an opening prayer and reflection at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn. The group will process over the Brooklyn Bridge to Ground Zero, symbolically walking the path of Jesus toward His Crucifixion. Along the way, the marchers will stop and pray the Stations of the Cross.

At 3:00 p.m. Bishop DiMarzio will preside over the Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord in English at Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal located at 62-81 60th Place in Ridgewood, Queens. Later that evening, the Bishop will lead the procession with the Italian community in the streets of Ridgewood. At 8 p.m. the procession will return to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church for the Liturgy of the Word and Veneration of the Cross in Italian.

On Holy Saturday, April 20, the Church commemorates the time Jesus spent in the tomb. Then, after sunset, Easter Vigil Services throughout Brooklyn and Queens will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the most important liturgy of the year. Services will begin in the dark and dramatically light up to symbolize the Risen Lord. This year, Bishop DiMarzio will celebrate the Easter Vigil at 8 p.m. at St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church located at 140-10 34th Avenue in Flushing, Queens.

On Easter Sunday, April 21, churches throughout Brooklyn and Queens will continue to celebrate the Resurrection. Bishop DiMarzio will be the main celebrant at Easter Sunday Mass at Noon at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph located at 856 Pacific Street in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

DECREE OF RELEGATION-ST. ROCCO

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NICHOLAS DiMARZIO
By the Grace of God and of the Aposcolic See
BISHOP OF BROOKLYN

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DECREE

 

I, the undersigned Bishop of Brooklyn, decree that the Church of Saint Rocco, located at 216 27th Street in the Borough of Brooklyn, which is within the territory of the Parish  of Saint John the Evangelist is hereby RELEGATED TO THE PROFANE BUT NOT SORDID USE according to the provisions of Can. 1222 §2.

 

After a careful consideration of the pastoral and financial needs, a determination was reached that the cost of maintaining Saint Rocco as an additional worship site was prohibitive to both the Parish of Saint  John  the Evangelist as well as to the Diocese  of Brooklyn,  especially in light of the significant financial hardship being experienced by both entities.

 

Taking into consideration  the needs of the entire Diocese  of Brooklyn, especially in light of the shortage  of priests  available  for  ministry  as well  as the significant  financial  burden  that this structure is imposing on the Parish  of Saint John the Evangelist and in view of the current demographical shifts that have resulted in a diminished number of faithful in the surrounding area, I have decided to permanently relegate this space to the profane but not sordid use.

 

Reverend Kenneth J. Grande wrote to request that the Church of Saint Rocco be relegated from the sacred to profane. Prior to the issuance of this decree and in keeping with the universal norms of the Roman Catholic Church, after consultation with parishioners as well as the Episcopal Vicar for Brooklyn, the Reverend Monsignor Joseph Grimaldi,  and after having definitely determined that the care of souls would not suffer because of this decision due to the close proximity of the parish church, I consented to this reduction.

 

After having determined that no other parties can legitimately claim rights for themselves in the Church  of Sai.nt  Rocco,  I presented  this matter for consultation  to the Diocesan  Presbyteral Council  on Tuesday, March  5, 2019.  Having considered the matter carefully, the Council overwhelmingly supported my decision to relegate this structure.

 

Therefore,  having  carefully  followed  the  provision  set  forth  in  Can.  1222  §2  and  having determined with moral certitude that the care of souls would suffer no determent,  I declare that this decree will take effect thirty days (30) after its publication and that by virtue of the same the Church of Saint Rocco will no longer be used for divine worship. In addition, I order that any sacred furnishing and artwork, which the Parish of Saint John the Evangelist does not retain for its own use, be disposed of in a manner befitting their character and the known intentions of any donor. Furthermore, in addition to the usual requirements of law for the valid and licit alienation by the parish of the property concerned, the sale of the church is subject to my approval as being constant with the requirements of Can. 1222 §2.

 

Given in Brooklyn, New York, this 9th day of April in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nineteen.

 

Click here to view full Decree