Month: May 2019

FORMER U.S. MARINES MEDIC AMONG FOUR MEN TO BE ORDAINED PRIESTS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FORMER U.S. MARINES MEDIC AND NIGERIAN HOTEL MANAGER AMONG FOUR MEN TO BE ORDAINED PRIESTS THIS SATURDAY

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will ordain four men to the priesthood for service in the Diocese of Brooklyn this Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph’s located at 856 Pacific Street in Brooklyn.

 

Those to be ordained include:

 

Father Edwin Alexander Ortiz, 35

Served as a U.S. Marines medic in Japan and in the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C.

Home Parish of St. Mary Star of the Sea – St. Gertrude, Far Rockaway

Graduate of Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn

 

Father JohnPaul Kodiri Columbus Obiaeri, 34

Born and raised in Nigeria where he attended Catholic boarding high school

Managed a hotel opened by a relative in Nigeria

Traveled to New York and settled in Canarsie, Brooklyn

Started attending mass at St. Clement Pope in Jamaica, with a large Nigerian community

 

Father Michael Francis Falce, 26

Home Parish of St. Pancras Church in Glendale where he was an altar server

Graduate of Cathedral Prep & attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia

Completed his studies at St. Joseph Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers

Served his diaconate year at Mary Queen of Heaven in Mill Basin, Brooklyn

 

Father Pedro Francisco Angucho López, 31

Born and raised in La Plata Huila, Colombia, never planning to move to the U.S.

Spent a year in a Colombian Seminary and enrolled in St. Joseph Seminary (Dunwoodie)

Bishop DiMarzio personally convinced him to become of Brooklyn Diocese seminarian

 

Diocesan priests make two promises – celibacy and obedience; these promises are part of the ordination ceremony. The Priesthood is essential to the life of the Church and the celebration of the Sacraments.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend and are encouraged to RSVP to jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

 

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THE PASSING OF REV. MSGR. MATTHEW F. FOLEY

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OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR
DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

310 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, New York 11215 ● 718.399.5990 ● FAX: 718.399.5934

E-mail: curia@diobrook.org

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Monsignor Matthew F. Foley, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Monsignor Foley was born on May 4, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 2, 1956, and died Friday, May 24, 2019, at the Bishop Mugavero Residence, Douglaston. Monsignor Foley served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parish of Epiphany (Brooklyn) as well as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart (Brooklyn). He also served as Co-Director of Catholic Charities Family Services. On May 14, 1986, he was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE: Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

FUNERAL: Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
10:30 AM

BURIAL: Saint Peter Cemetery
Liberty, New York

Monsignor Foley 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, Mrs. Kathleen O’Malley, 91 Hudson Road, Floral Park, New York 11001.

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.

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO ORDAIN NEW DEACONS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

 

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO ORDAIN NEW DEACONS TOMORROW

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will ordain 18 men to the Permanent Diaconate, and one Transitional Deacon, for service in the Diocese of Brooklyn tomorrow, Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph’s located at 856 Pacific Street in Brooklyn.

 

Those to be ordained include:

Joseph C. Chu                                    St. Anastasia, Douglaston

Francis Cuffie                                     Holy Cross, Brooklyn

Gerard Joseph Devine                      Holy Name, Brooklyn

Michael Brian Fogarty                      St. Fidelis, College Point

Amerito Catiwalaan Gerodias         Most Precious Blood, Astoria

James John Giorgio                          Resurrection, Brooklyn

Francisco González Calderón          St. Mark, Brooklyn

John Charles Hardy                          Resurrection, Brooklyn

Anwar Iqbal                                        St. Rose of Lima, Brooklyn

Gilberto Laboy                                   Our Lady of the Cenacle, Richmond Hill

Andrzej Lewandowski                       Transfiguration-Stanislaus Kostka, Maspeth

Giovanni Messina                               St. Francis of Assisi, Astoria

Hugo Antonio Morel                          Sts. Peter and Paul, Brooklyn

Rachid Murad                                     Holy Trinity, Whitestone

Alfredo Rendón                                  Immaculate Conception, Astoria

Danny Rodriguez                               Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn

Phillip Rodriguez                               St. Martin of Tours, Brooklyn

Bill Velasquez                                     St. Mary Gate of Heaven, Queens

Peter Y. Okajima                               Studying at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary

(Transitional Deacon)

 

A deacon is a member of the clergy and an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. Deacons can baptize, witness marriages, perform funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute Holy Communion, preach the homily, teach the faith and visit the sick. They are obligated to pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day.

Members of the media are invited to attend.  To RSVP, please call (718) 576-9180 or email jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

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***BRAZEN SCAM: USING THE BISHOP’S NAME TO LURE BROOKLYN AND QUEENS FAITHFUL IN GIFT CARD TEXT SCHEME***

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

***BRAZEN SCAM: USING THE BISHOP’S NAME TO LURE
BROOKLYN AND QUEENS FAITHFUL IN GIFT CARD TEXT SCHEME***

Diocese of Brooklyn parishioners and employees have been receiving text messages from a scammer posing as local pastors and even Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

 

The scammer or scammers have texted asking people to purchase gift cards for a person in the hospital. The person instructs the recipient on how to text back the pin number on the back of the cards and asks them to do it quickly.

Numerous parishes and parishioners have been targeted and thousands of dollars in donations have been sent by those who have fallen victim. Some of the parishes targeted include:

 

St. Rose of Lima – Rockaway Beach

St. Helen – Howard Beach

Incarnation – Queens Village

Our Lady of Perpetual Help – South Ozone Park

St. Clare – Rosedale

St. Fortunata – East New York

On May 7 an official diocesan email was sent to church pastors and administrators making them aware of the scam. The New York City Police Department has also been notified and police reports have been filed.

 

Screenshots of some texts are attached as well as a clip from the story that ran May 8 on Currents News, our diocesan nightly newscast on NET-TV. Any video used must carry the following on camera courtesy: NET-TV/Currents News.


News clip:
https://vimeo.com/338048904

 

Chyrons for news clip:

:00 Rockaway Beach / May 8

:22 Annette Clark / Targeted by scammer

:37 Fr. James Kuroly / Pastor, St. Rose of Lima Church

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO ORDAIN NEW DEACONS THIS SATURDAY

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

 

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO ORDAIN NEW DEACONS THIS SATURDAY

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will ordain 18 men to the Permanent Diaconate, and one Transitional Deacon, for service in the Diocese of Brooklyn this Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph’s located at 856 Pacific Street in Brooklyn.

 

Those to be ordained include:

 

Joseph C. Chu                                    St. Anastasia, Douglaston

Francis Cuffie                                     Holy Cross, Brooklyn

Gerard Joseph Devine                         Holy Name, Brooklyn

Michael Brian Fogarty                       St. Fidelis, College Point

Amerito Catiwalaan Gerodias            Most Precious Blood, Astoria

James John Giorgio                            Resurrection, Brooklyn

Francisco González Calderón             St. Mark, Brooklyn

John Charles Hardy                            Resurrection, Brooklyn

Anwar Iqbal                                        St. Rose of Lima, Brooklyn

Gilberto Laboy                                    Our Lady of the Cenacle, Richmond Hill

Andrzej Lewandowski                        Transfiguration-Stanislaus Kostka, Maspeth

Giovanni Messina                               St. Francis of Assisi, Astoria
Hugo Antonio Morel                          Sts. Peter and Paul, Brooklyn

Rachid Murad                                     Holy Trinity, Whitestone

Alfredo Rendón                                  Immaculate Conception, Astoria

Danny Rodriguez                                Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn

Phillip Rodriguez                                St. Martin of Tours, Brooklyn

Bill Velasquez                                     St. Mary Gate of Heaven, Queens

Peter Y. Okajima                                 Studying at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary

(Transitional Deacon)

 

A deacon is a member of the clergy and an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. Deacons can baptize, witness marriages, perform funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute Holy Communion, preach the homily, teach the faith and visit the sick. They are obligated to pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend.  To RSVP, please email jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

 

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST THIS WEDNESDAY

            The Diocese of Brooklyn today is announcing that 18 students from Catholic Schools and Academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens will compete in the Sister Peggie Merritt Memorial Oratorical Contest this Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 3 PM at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, located at 70-25 Kessel Street in the Forest Hills section of Queens.

 

The students will present speeches by notable people throughout history including Winston Churchill, Shirley Chisholm, former Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, Princess Diana, Steve Jobs, and Denzel Washington. The topics of the speeches range from eating disorders, teen suicide, gun control, civil rights, equal rights, and the March for Life.

 

The schools represented include:

Brooklyn                                                                    Queens

Good Shepherd Catholic Academy                Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy

St. Anselm Catholic Academy                        St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy

St. Bernadette Catholic Academy                   Divine Mercy Catholic Academy

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy         Holy Family Catholic Academy

                                          Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy

                                          Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Glendale

                              Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy

                              Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy

                              Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy

                              St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy

                              St. Luke School

                              St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy

                              Holy Child Jesus Catholic Academy

                              SS Joachim and Anne School

 

For over 60 years, Sister Peggie was dedicated to elementary education.  She was the motivating force in organizing and coordinating the Diocesan Oratorical Contest for many years, and at the time of her death in 2006, the contest was named in her memory.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend.  To RSVP, please email jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

BISHOP DIMARZIO TO JOIN KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TO PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TONIGHT IN BROOKLYN

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

BISHOP DIMARZIO TO JOIN KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TO PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TONIGHT IN BROOKLYN

         The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will join members of the Knights of Columbus from Brooklyn and Queens tonight, Thursday, May 16, at 7:30 PM at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, located at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn, for a Marian Hour of Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, dedicated to Christians being persecuted around the world.

 

The prayer service seeks to raise awareness of the plight of Christians persecuted for their faith and to stand in prayerful solidarity with them.  The Marian image of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians will be on display.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend and are encouraged to RSVP to jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

 

Bishop DiMarzio Leads Mass of Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Abuse

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Hundreds Turn Out for Diocese of Brooklyn’s Mass of Hope and Healing

The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated the annual Mass of Hope & Healing Tuesday evening at St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church located at 2154 61st Street in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.

Hundreds of people were in attendance as the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, celebrated the Mass along with dozens of priests. “It’s always a night that’s moving because you know there are victims there, not identified but you know people, some of them are part of the committee, and they come with great faith looking for healing and support from the community. A lot of parishioners here, a lot of people from the diocese and about 60 priests so it was really a wonderful night of support,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

The Mass of Hope & Healing, now in its fifth year, is planned by survivors for survivors, and all those impacted by the sexual abuse crisis. This year for the first time, the Diocesan Survivors Advisory Committee lit the Easter Candle and prayed for the victims of abuse who entered eternal life this past year.

Father Jeffry T. Dillon delivered the homily. Dillon is a victim-survivor of clergy sexual abuse.

B-roll of Mass and SOT of Fr. Dillon can be found here:

https://vimeo.com/333488956

SOT: Fr. Jeffry Dillon / Clergy sex abuse victim
“When it is said that the victims are only coming forth now because of the financial settlements that are being made by various dioceses, I speak from personal experience and from speaking to a number of survivors of sexual abuse, and to a person their response has been, keep your money, give me back my innocence. To those who say it’s a money grab, I say keep your money, give me back my joy.”

Photos attached.