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Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Kenneth J. Calder, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Calder was born on August 13, 1931, was ordained to the Priesthood on May 28, 1960, and died Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Father Calder served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parish of American Martyrs (Bayside). He also served as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Our Lady of Angels (Brooklyn), Saints Joachim and Anne (Queens Village), Mary Queen of Heaven (Brooklyn), and Saint Patrick (Brooklyn).
The arrangements are as follows:
WAKE:
Our Lady of Angels R.C. Church, Tuesday, July 25, 2023
2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
7320 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11209
Tel: (718) 836–7200
FUNERAL:
Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:00 AM
Our Lady of Angels R.C. Church
7320 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11209
BURIAL:
Holy Rood Cemetery
Westbury, 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.
If you wish to send condolences, please mail to his niece, Mrs. Eileen Ickstadt, 1174 Fortune Court, Wantagh, New York 11793.
On Thursday, June 1, 2023, our office sent out a notice regarding the death of Reverend Thaddeus A. Grzelak. Father Grzelak served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Our Lady of Hope (Middle Village), Our Lady Help of Christians (Brooklyn), Saint Nicholas (Brooklyn), Holy Family (Brooklyn), Our Lady of the Cenacle (Richmond Hill), Saint Kevin (Flushing), Holy Innocents (Brooklyn), Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr (Ozone Park), Holy Cross (Maspeth), Saint Joseph (Long Island City) and Saint Charles Borromeo (Brooklyn). Father Grzelak died on Monday, May 29, 2023 in California.
The arrangements are as follows:
FUNERAL:
Monday, July 24, 2023, 11:00 AM
Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway Douglaston, New York 11362 Tel: (718) 229-8001
BURIAL:
Saint 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.
If you wish to send condolences, please mail to Ms. Christine Kline, 7229 Columbia Way, Lancaster, California 93536.
Reverend Monsignor Steven J. Aguggia, J.C.L. Chancellor
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, joined Bishop Robert Brennan, Monsignor Cuong M. Pham, and the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Astoria, today in celebration of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Last Sunday, Pope Francis named Pierre as one of the new 21 cardinals of the Catholic Church. Today’s event was planned in advance of the announcement.
Cardinal-designate Pierre led a solemn Mass this afternoon which included the Consecration and Distribution of the Holy Scapulars. Bishop Brennan blessed the Scapulars. The Mass was celebrated in English, Italian, and Vietnamese and featured the parish’s Spanish Choir, English Choir, and the St. Teresa Vietnamese Choir.
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Scapular is a brown cloth necklace featuring prayer. The faithful wear the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, entrusting themselves to the protection of Mary, the Mother of God.
Calling Mary, the first and the greatest evangelizer, Cardinal-designate Pierre in his Homily stated, “All of us are called to be like Her, to announce the Good News of God’s presence in our life in a very simple way, as we meet people, day after day, in the family, in our encounters, in our friendships, in our schools and even in politics.”
“What we did today, before Mass, is a physical sign of what we are called to do, and what you do every single day. To take what we believe, and what we profess here in this church, and bring it out into the streets. In so many ways, you live your faith so powerfully, bringing that joy of the Gospel to others. So, thank you for what you did today, but what you did today is so important because of what you do every single day” said Bishop Robert Brennan in his closing remarks.
“We thank you and we were blessed by your presence here. We are especially privileged to have you here this week; it really means a lot to us. You honor us by your presence and as you always do, you bring to us the love and solicitude of our Holy Father,” said Bishop Robert Brennan in addressing his Excellency, Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre.
Prior to the Mass, a large procession of parishioners walked around the church block and recited the Rosary. The Mass was followed by a dinner in the parish hall which featured international music, dancing, and food.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is located at 23-25 Newtown Avenue in Astoria. Monsignor Cuong M. Pham is the Pastor.
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Video and photos are courtesy of John Quaglione/DeSales Media.
A procession was held before Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Astoria celebrating the Feast Day on July 16.Representatives of the youth of the parish at Our Lady of Mount Carmel participated in the procession.Bishop Robert Brennan blessed the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Scapulars during the Mass.The church was full to celebrate Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel led by Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre.Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre blessing the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel during Mass.
The Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing two hateful acts which took place this afternoon against two Catholic churches, one in Brooklyn and one in Queens.
In the first incident, a vandal desecrated a new shrine statue of Mary, the Blessed Mother, at Resurrection Church in the Gerritsen Beach section of Brooklyn. The white marble statue of Mary was spray painted with black all over her face, shoulders, and hands. Additionally, the word “fake” appears to be spray painted on the statue, as well as lines down and across the statue.
In the second incident, the perpetrator who desecrated St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Astoria one month ago on June 7th returned to the church. The man entered the sanctuary acting erratically, disturbing the youth choir practice, and frightening the children. Police officers from the 114th Precinct responded within minutes. The church was not damaged, and no one was injured.
Arrests were made in both incidents by the New York City Police Department. The Diocese of Brooklyn is grateful to the parishioners and staff in both incidents who stepped in to hold the perpetrators until the police arrived.
A photo of the vandalized statue of the Blessed Mother at Resurrection is attached.
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The statue of the Blessed Mother was vandalized outside Resurrection Catholic Church in the Gerritsen Beach section of Brooklyn.
The world-famous Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast will kick off on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, with an opening night Mass and procession, led by Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn. Then 12 days of faith, family, food, and summer fun will fill the streets of Williamsburg, a tradition that dates back to 1887.
“Summer doesn’t begin in Williamsburg until the opening of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The highlight of the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is our feast! It is the pulse and showcase of our parish family,” said Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Williamsburg.
Highlights of the 12-day festival include:
An opening Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Church located at 275 N. 8th Street in Brooklyn at 7:00 p.m.
The children’s Giglio and Family Night on Thursday, July 6, 2023, and Tuesday, July 11, both starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Dancing of the Giglio and Boat Parade on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.
The Night Dancing of the Giglio on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Five Masses to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Sunday, July 16, 2023, with a Vigil Mass set for Saturday, July 15 at 11 p.m.
Capo Parade and Dancing of the Giglio on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.
“While this Feast celebrates a cherished Italian American tradition, it truly doesn’t matter your age or origin, there is something for everyone at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast. We look forward to seeing many new and old friends joining us for a special time complete with great food, entertainment, games, and of course the dancing of our world-famous Giglio” said John Notaro, the General Chairman of the OLMC Feast.
The Giglio is a seven-story tower structure decorated with Gigli (flowers) and the image of St. Paulinus. A platform at the base of the tower supports a twelve-piece brass band and singer. The entire assemblage—tower and band—is hoisted and carried by 112 dancing and marching men, the lifters. Each lift begins with the official feast song, written in Williamsburg and used since 1959, “O Giglio e Paradiso.”
A separate boat, complete with fitted mast, sail, and rigging, represents the ship that returned St. Paulinus from captivity. Like the Giglio, it has a band and singer and is also carried and danced through the streets. This tradition was transplanted to Brooklyn, New York by the Nolani immigrants from Italy.
