BISHOP ROBERT J. BRENNAN TO BE INSTALLED NEXT WEEK AS THE EIGHTH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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BISHOP ROBERT J. BRENNAN TO BE INSTALLED AS THE EIGHTH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

Bishop Robert J. Brennan will be installed as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn at a Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, will officiate as Bishop Brennan, who has led the Diocese of Columbus since 2019, was named by Pope Francis to succeed Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio on September 29, 2021. Bishop DiMarzio’s mandatory letter of resignation sent to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on his 75th birthday was accepted on that day.

Bishop Brennan will hold a 20-minute press conference at 10:30 a.m. inside the Co-Cathedral. Invited guests will begin arriving at 12:30 p.m. and the entrance procession will begin at 1:30 p.m.  The Mass of Installation will begin at 2 p.m.

Brooklyn’s new Bishop will lead a Diocese of more than 1.3 million Catholics, known as the Diocese of Immigrants. Bishop Brennan has pledged to strengthen the Catholic schools and academies in Brooklyn and Queens, work with and support the immigrant communities, and focus on evangelizing Catholics through various means of communication and social media.

 

Information about Bishop Robert J. Brennan

Bishop Brennan was born on June 7, 1962, to Robert and Patricia Brennan in the Bronx and was raised on Long Island, in Lindenhurst, New York. Bishop Brennan attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Lindenhurst and St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science from St. John’s University in Queens.

Bishop Brennan completed his studies for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York, and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on May 27, 1989, by then-Bishop John McGann. His first parish assignment was at the Church of St. Patrick in Smithtown.  In 1994, he was appointed Secretary to the Bishop and served in such capacity for three bishops: Bishops John McGann, James McHugh, and William Murphy. He has previously served as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Rockville Centre and was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on July 25, 2012.

Bishop Brennan was appointed the 12th Bishop of Columbus on January 31, 2019, and was installed on March 29, 2019.  Among the highlights of his time in Columbus was the institution of the Diocesan-wide Real Presence, Real Future evangelization and planning initiative, a process involving clergy, lay ecclesial ministers, parish volunteers, and the faithful. The objective was to determine the best path forward to increase the presence of the Church in the Diocese of Columbus.

Bishop Brennan has served with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a member of the Committee for Catholic Education, the Administrative Committee, and the Priorities and Plans Committee.

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Information for Media Covering the Installation on November 30th

There will be a press hospitality room open starting at 10:30 a.m. in the Bishop Daily Residence behind the Co-Cathedral at 683 Dean Street in Prospect Heights.  A parking area for news trucks has been designated on Dean Street between Vanderbilt and Underhill Avenues.

A designated press area will be set up across the street from the Co-Cathedral for the purposes of exterior video and interview opportunities facilitated by DeSales Media staff. A layout graphic is attached.

Media covering the event must have valid NYPD issued press credentials.

There will be no cameras permitted inside the Co-Cathedral during the Installation Mass. A pool feed will be provided through The Switch.

The following feeds will be available on The Switch:

DeSales1:  Regular NET Programming (NET Programming/Full Grfx / Bug)

DeSales3:  Mass Cln Feed (Mass Video / No Grfx / No Bug)

DeSales4: NET Cln Feed (NET Programming / Full Grfx / No Bug)

An SDI feed will be available in the press room and it will be a clean feed with no graphics.

There will be no media availability with Bishop Brennan following the Installation Mass, which is expected to last about two hours.

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Co-Cathedral Updated Layout

Luego de una investigación, un sacerdote es retirado de su ministerio como lo exige la política de cero tolerancia de la Diócesis de Brooklyn

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 22 de noviembre de 2021

CONTACTOS DE PRENSA:

Adriana Rodríguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

LA POLÍTICA DE CERO TOLERANCIA DE LA DIOCESIS DE BROOKLYN CONDUCE A LA REMOCIÓN DE UN SACERDOTE DE SU MINISTERIO, LUEGO DE UNA INVESTIGACIÓN

Una denuncia de presunto abuso sexual de un menor —que se remonta a la década de 1970— contra Peter Mahoney, de 86 años, ha sido investigada por el Consejo Diocesano de Revisión (DRB, por sus siglas en inglés) independiente y ha sido catalogada como “creíble”. Creíble significa que el DRB considera que dichas acusaciones pueden ser ciertas.

Como resultado de la evaluación del DRB de que la acusación es creíble, el Rev. Peter Mahoney, quien había estado administrando a tiempo parcial a la comunidad hispana en las parroquias Saint Anne, en Flushing, Queens, y St. Nicholas of Tolentine, en Jamaica, Queens, ha sido removido de todo ministerio público. Esto quiere decir que no se le permite celebrar misa, no puede ejercer ningún ministerio público y no puede vivir en una residencia eclesiástica. Su nombre también se agregará a la Lista de sacerdotes con acusaciones creíbles de abuso sexual en el sitio web de la Diócesis de Brooklyn.

La acusación llegó a la Línea de Denuncias de la Diócesis de Brooklyn el 2 de octubre de 2020, y desde entonces fue remitida para investigación y enviada a la policía.

El presunto abuso tuvo lugar entre 1975 y 1978, años durante los que el Rev. Mahoney servía en la parroquia St. Martin of Tours, en Brooklyn.

No debemos perder de vista que tal acción por parte de la Diócesis no debe interpretarse como un juicio de culpabilidad del sacerdote. Sin embargo, se reconoce la posibilidad de que se haya cometido un delito y, por lo tanto, debido a la preocupación por la seguridad de los fieles, se determinó que era necesario retirar al sacerdote del ministerio.

El 8 de abril de 2021, se entabló una denuncia contra el Rev. Mahoney al amparo de la Ley de Víctimas Infantiles con una acusación de otro demandante.

La Diócesis de Brooklyn se compromete a brindar atención pastoral a las víctimas. La Oficina de Asistencia para las Víctimas brinda asesoramiento inicial de apoyo, referencias para terapia y recursos pastorales para las víctimas de abuso sexual. Cada año, la Diócesis organiza una Misa de Esperanza y Sanación donde los fieles se reúnen para rezar juntos y solidarizarse con las víctimas y sobrevivientes del abuso sexual por parte de un miembro del clero.

La Diócesis de Brooklyn ha instituido importantes programas para prevenir el abuso sexual y proteger a los menores. Entre estos programas, está la política de cero tolerancia que establece que cualquier miembro del clero acusado de manera creíble de abuso sexual a un menor es retirado permanentemente del ministerio. La Diócesis también realiza verificaciones iniciales y continuas de los antecedentes de cada empleado y voluntario, y brinda tanto a adultos como a menores, capacitación de concienciación sobre el abuso sexual apropiado según la edad.

Se alienta a cualquier persona que haya sido víctima de abuso sexual por parte del clero o personal de la iglesia a informarlo a la policía, así como a llamar a la línea gratuita de denuncia de conducta sexual inapropiada de la Diócesis, al 1-888-634-4499. Todas las llamadas son transferidas a los funcionarios encargados de hacer cumplir la ley.

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Diocese of Brooklyn Zero Tolerance Policy Leads to Removal of Priest from Ministry Following Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY LEADS  TO REMOVAL OF PRIEST FROM MINISTRY FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION 

A claim of alleged sexual abuse of a minor, dating back to the 1970s, against 86-year-old Peter Mahoney has been investigated by the independent Diocesan Review Board (DRB) and found to be credible. Credible means the DRB believes the allegations may be true.

As a result of the DRB’s determination that the allegation is credible, Rev. Peter Mahoney, who had been ministering part-time to the Hispanic community at Saint Anne Catholic Church in Flushing, Queens, and St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Jamaica, Queens, has been removed from all public ministry. That means he is not permitted to celebrate Mass publicly, cannot exercise any public ministry, and cannot live in an ecclesiastical residence. His name will also be added to the List of Credibly Accused Priests on the Diocese of Brooklyn website.

The allegation came into the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Reporting Line on October 2, 2020, and was referred for investigation and forwarded to law enforcement on that date.

The alleged abuse took place between 1975 and 1978 while Rev. Mahoney was serving at St. Martin of Tours in Brooklyn.

It should be understood that such action by the Diocese is not to be interpreted as a judgment of the guilt of the priest. However, it is recognition of the possibility that wrongdoing may have taken place, and therefore, out of concern for the safety of the faithful, it was determined necessary to remove the priest from ministry.

On April 8, 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Rev. Mahoney under the Child Victims Act with an allegation from another claimant.

The Diocese of Brooklyn is committed to providing pastoral care to victims. The Office of Victim Assistance Ministry provides supportive initial counseling, referrals for therapy, and pastoral resources for the victims of sexual abuse.  The Diocese hosts a yearly Mass of Hope and Healing where the faithful come together and pray for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has instituted significant programs to prevent sexual abuse and protect children. They include a Zero Tolerance policy which states that any clergy member credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor is permanently removed from ministry. The Diocese also conducts initial and ongoing background checks of all employees and volunteers and provides age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness training for children and adults.

Anyone who has been the victim of clergy sexual abuse is encouraged to report it to law enforcement or to the Toll-Free Reporting Line established by the Diocese at 1-888-634-4499. All calls are forwarded to law enforcement officials.

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Diocese of Brooklyn Creates Office for Protection of Children and Young People

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN CREATES OFFICE FOR

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn has created the new Office for Protection of Children and Young People to enhance its strong safe environment protocols. This newly established office under its umbrella will oversee the Safe Environment Office, the Office of Victim Assistance Ministry, and the newly created 1722 Supervisor.

 

Jasmine Salazar, LMSW, currently the Diocese of Brooklyn Victim Assistance Coordinator and Vice-Chancellor, has been named the Director of the Office for Protection of Children and Young People. Salazar’s responsibilities include tracking all allegations of misconduct, ensuring their referral to the Diocesan Review Board for investigation, and tracking the progress and results of those investigations. She will serve as the liaison with the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.  Salazar will also oversee the 1722 Supervisor, who will be central in monitoring priests who have been removed from ministry.

 

“After having gone through the IRCP and the CVA, and after listening sessions I held with the faithful, I wanted to strengthen the work of the Diocese with respect to these issues, so I felt a reorganization was in order. The Diocese of Brooklyn has worked hard to implement the requirements of the Dallas Charter since 2002 and has been nationally recognized for its robust Victim Assistance Ministry. This move will solidify our ability to continue to provide safe environments for the faithful of the Diocese of Brooklyn and pastoral care for survivors of abuse,” said The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

 

The work as Victim Assistance Coordinator has been both challenging and deeply fulfilling. Being able to work with those who are survivors of abuse and accompanying them on their journey has been a true honor and privilege.  This new role will enable me to continue with this work as well as collaborate with other committed individuals who seek to bring hope and healing to the faithful,” said Salazar, who has been the Victim Assistance Coordinator since 2013.

 

Salazar’s new role became effective November 5, 2021.

 

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FUTURES IN EDUCATION RAISES $2.1 MILLION FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS AT 2021 GALA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

FUTURES IN EDUCATION, BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND, RAISES $2.1 MILLION

The 2021 Futures in Education Annual Scholarship Fund Dinner was recently held at Cipriani’s Wall Street. The event raised $2.1 million to financially make possible Catholic education for students in Brooklyn and Queens. During the past 2020-2021 school year, Futures in Education awarded over $7 million in scholarships to more than 4,000 students.

Rosanna Scotto, the co-host of Good Day New York on Fox 5 New York, a Diocesan Catholic school graduate herself, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. Students of St. Stanislaus-Kostka Catholic Academy in Queens performed “I Lived” by One Republic to kick off the event.

“We surpassed our fundraising goal this year and I am grateful on behalf of our students, to the generous and committed Futures in Education donors. As our supporters grappled with the devastating effects of the pandemic on our lives, they never gave up on our children or on Catholic education. Our Catholic schools have been a beacon of hope, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can make sure that no student will be denied a Catholic education because of financial hardship. The mission of Futures in Education continues because the children need you,” said Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, Vicar for Development for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The honorees included Lidia Bastianich, world-renowned Italian-American chef, television host, and author; Brooklyn attorney Frank Carone of Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf and Carone, LLP; and John Loconsolo (posthumously), who passed away last year at 101 years of age. Each year, John sponsored over 100 students and became known as the face of the Angel Program.

Manuel Hernandez, an Angel Program student since the second grade, spoke about his Catholic school experience, spotlighting the Futures in Education Foundation’s Be An Angel to a Student program. To learn more about Futures in Education, or to donate, visit futuresineducation.org.

The photos attached are courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Photo #1 – Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, Vicar for Development for the Diocese of Brooklyn, speaking at the 2021 Futures in Education Gala.

Photo #2 – Students of St. Stanislaus-Kostka Catholic Academy on stage at the Futures in Education gala for their performance.

Photo #3 – Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello honor the life and legacy of John Loconsolo, and present an award to his family.

Photo #4 Honorees Frank Carone and Lidia Bastianich are joined by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Rosanna Scotto, and Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello.

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