FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AND MASS FEATURED
WILTON CARDINAL GREGORY, THE FIRST BLACK CARDINAL IN AMERICA

The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn and the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre, welcomed His Eminence, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., to a Black History Month Celebration and Mass of Thanksgiving earlier today, at the Immaculate Conception Monastery Church located at 86-45 Edgerton Boulevard in the Jamaica Estates section of Queens.

Wilton Cardinal Gregory is the first African-American bishop to be elevated to the College of Cardinals within the Catholic Church. Cardinal Gregory was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Bishop Brennan, Bishop Barres and Auxiliary Bishops and priests of both the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre, concelebrated the Mass.

“Black History Month is an opportunity for our entire country to recognize the blessings that People of Color have offered and continue to impart to these United States. We are a gift to this country,” Cardinal Gregory preached during his homily.

“Today we celebrate in prayer the contributions of Black People to our homeland. However, this is also a moment for all Americans from every culture and race to appreciate the gifts that Black People have offered to our nation.” Cardinal Gregory continued, “It is also a time for nation-building and for strengthening the bonds that tie us together as one people. Americans everywhere should rejoice this African-American Heritage Month in a legacy of unity that promises a better tomorrow for everyone who claims this land as their home. It is an occasion for us not only to thank God for the gifts of people of color but to thank God for the possibility that we have become one people, Amen.”

Black History Month cultural festivities, sponsored by The Brooklyn Vicariate for Black Catholic Concerns and The Office of Multicultural Diversity for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, took place before the Mass of Thanksgiving.

Wilton Cardinal Gregory was appointed by Pope Francis as the seventh Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington on April 4, 2019, and was installed on May 21, 2019. Cardinal Gregory is the Chancellor of The Catholic University of America, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and previously has served as the Chairman of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.

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VIDEO – Courtesy DeSales Media

https://vimeo.com/679840549

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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***MEDIA ADVISORY***

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AND MASS TO FEATURE
WILTON CARDINAL GREGORY, THE FIRST BLACK CARDINAL IN AMERICA

The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn and the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre, will welcome His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., to a Black History Month Celebration and Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, February 20, 2022 beginning at 4:00 p.m. at The Immaculate Conception Monastery Church, located at 86-45 Edgerton Boulevard in the Jamaica Estates section of Queens.

Black History Month cultural festivities, sponsored by The Brooklyn Vicariate for Black Catholic Concerns and The Office of Multicultural Diversity for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, will begin at 4:00 p.m. The Mass of Thanksgiving will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Wilton Cardinal Gregory is the first African-American bishop to be elevated to the College of Cardinals within the Catholic Church. Cardinal Gregory will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Bishop Brennan, Bishop Barres and Auxiliary Bishops and priests of both the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre, will concelebrate the Mass.

Wilton Cardinal Gregory was appointed by Pope Francis as the seventh Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington on April 4, 2019 and was installed on May 21, 2019. Cardinal Gregory is the Chancellor of The Catholic University of America, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and previously has served as the Chairman of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.

He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 9, 1973 and was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago in 1983. On February 10, 1994, he was installed as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, and on January 17, 2005, he was installed as the sixth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Members of the media are invited to attend and are asked to reply to this e-mail to confirm their attendance.  The Mass will be live-streamed via the Brooklyn Diocesan cable network NET-TV and online at netny.tv

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

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

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN’S MONSIGNOR JAMIE GIGANTIELLO NAMED
CHAPLAIN OF THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Diocese of Brooklyn is proud to announce Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish in Williamsburg, has been named a Chaplain for the New York City Fire Department. Deputy Fire Chief Gigantiello was sworn in Monday at FDNY headquarters.

“I am very honored and humbled to be part of one of the greatest fire departments in the country. The fires I will put out will not be the fires that destroy buildings and take lives, they will be the fires of suffering and loss,” said Msgr. Gigantiello. “Right now, we may be a divided city but when it comes to tragedy we are so united, we come together as a city and we come together as a church because we all believe in one God and we let them know they are not alone.”

FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro presided over the swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

“They are with us on our good days and on our most dark days, they are with the families to tell them that God will remain with them and I could not picture the department existing without chaplains,” Nigro told Currents News, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s nightly news program.

https://netny.tv/episodes/currents/monsignor-jamie-gigantiello-sworn-in-as-fdny-chaplain/

Monsignor Gigantiello was ordained in 1995. He has served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s Parish, Bay Ridge, and Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Old Mill Basin, where he installed as pastor in 2002 and served until 2013. He then served as Pastor of St. Bernard in the Mill Basin/Bergen Beach section of Brooklyn until 2017, when he was appointed at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Prior to studying for the priesthood, Monsignor Gigantiello received a Business Degree from Baruch College and graduated from The Culinary Institute of America. For ten years, he worked in New York City’s hotel industry in various managerial positions before entering Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington.

Monsignor Gigantiello is the Director of the Office of Parish Giving and Vicar for Development for the Diocese of Brooklyn. He has served on a variety of civic and not-for-profit boards, including the Board of Directors of MERCY FIRST. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, the New York City Police Department made him an Honorary Chaplain in recognition of his work at Ground Zero.

Monsignor Gigantiello ministers as Chaplain to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and the NYC Transit & Corrections Officers. He also serves as Spiritual Moderator for the Equestrian Order of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre and Chaplain to local chapters of the Knights of Columbus, the Columbiettes and Lions Club.

Monsignor Gigantiello joins seven other chaplains serving the FDNY.

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Photo 1: Msgr. Gigantiello being sworn in with his sister, Toniann Martello, holding the Bible.

Photo 2: FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, Toniann Martello, Msgr. Gigantiello, Anthony Gigantiello (Msgr. Gigantiello’s brother)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

STUDENTS AT QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL TO HOST FUNDRAISER FOR
FAMILIES OF FALLEN OFFICERS RIVERA AND MORA

            The students of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy, located in the Bayside section of Queens, will host a Police Appreciation Day later today, Wednesday, February 9, 2022, in honor of the New York City Police Department and slain NYPD Officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. A ceremony will take place outside the school, located at 34-45 202nd Street in Queens, at 1 p.m.

For a $5 donation, students will be able to dress in blue tomorrow to show their support for the NYPD. All donations will be sent to the Rivera and Mora families. An anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations up to $1,000.

City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (District 19), members of the New York City Police Department, and school families are expected to attend the ceremony.

Members of the media are invited to attend and encouraged to confirm their attendance.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

A PARTNERSHIP FOR ALL GRADES: ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE AND BAY RIDGE CATHOLIC ACADEMY TO LAUNCH EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE

            Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, the President of St. Francis College, will be visiting Bay Ridge Catholic Academy, located at 365-83^rd Street in Brooklyn, to officially launch a new partnership between the college and elementary academy, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Dr. Martinez-Saenz will join Bay Ridge Catholic Academy Principal Gary Williams, and St. Francis College Assistant Vice President Robert Oliva in visiting classrooms for one hour.

 

At 10:30 a.m., the details of the partnership, which will include learning trips for Bay Ridge Catholic Academy students to the labs at St. Francis College, student teachers from the college assigned to Academy teachers, the creation of a foreign language after school program, a summer program and more, will be announced.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend and asked to respond to this e-mail to confirm their attendance. All media personnel must adhere to COVID-19 protocols, including wearing a face mask, while in the school building.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

John Quaglione 
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MAYOR ADAMS MAKES SPECIAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK VISIT

         Mayor Eric Adams visited a Brooklyn Catholic school Friday as part of last week’s national celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

The mayor met with students at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy in Bushwick. Student representatives from kindergarten to 8th grade presented his honor with a plaque, cards, photos and handwritten personal letters. The students wrote about their favorite subjects in school and many said they would pray for him. Mayor Adams shared with the students the fact that he prays every day, in the morning to start the day and before bed.

Mayor Adams also spoke at a school assembly, telling the students that Catholic education has always been a great foundation for inner city young people, while acknowledging their good fortune in being able to receive a solid educational foundation in faith and academics.

Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is a time dedicated each year to the celebration of Catholic education in the United States. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2022 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Schools in Brooklyn and Queens commemorated the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. These events allow schools to focus on the value of a Catholic education and its contribution to our Church, our communities and our nation.

PHOTOS: Courtesy Greg Shemitz

Mayor Adams with Pastor Rev Carlos Velasquez & Principal Marcia Soria at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy

 

Mayor Adams greets student

 

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Mayor Adams greets student

 

Student photo with Mayor Adams

 

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Assembly at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy for Mayor Adams

 

Mayor Adams speaks to students

 

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Students clap at Assembly

 

Mayor Adams leaves St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

MAYOR ADAMS MAKES SPECIAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK VISIT

         Mayor Eric Adams visited a Brooklyn Catholic school today as part of this week’s national celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

The mayor met with students at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy in Bushwick. Student representatives from kindergarten to 8th grade presented his honor with a plaque, cards, photos and handwritten personal letters. The students wrote about their favorite subjects in school and many said they would pray for him. Mayor Adams shared with the students the fact that he prays every day, in the morning to start the day and before bed.

Mayor Adams also spoke at a school assembly, telling the students that Catholic education has always been a great foundation for inner city young people, while acknowledging their good fortune in being able to receive a solid educational foundation in faith and academics.

Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is a time dedicated each year to the celebration of Catholic education in the United States. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2022 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Schools in Brooklyn and Queens commemorated the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. These events allow schools to focus on the value of a Catholic education and its contribution to our Church, our communities and our nation.

VIDEO: Courtesy DeSales Media 

https://vimeo.com/673767757

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

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

 

BILINGUAL LIVE WAX MUSEUM PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S WEEK CELEBRATION
AT OUR LADY OF MERCY CATHOLIC ACADEMY

Fourth-grade students at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, located in the Forest Hills section of Queens, presented a Live Wax Museum today as they concluded their celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Academy students and parents had the opportunity to tour the student-created “museum.”

The display featured 22 figures from the past and present that come from Hispanic countries, including: baseball great Alex Rodriguez, the “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz, singer Bruno Mars, politician, and activist Evita Peron, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and famed artist Pablo Picasso.

As part of this Catholic Schools Week special project, students have studied the lives of these famed figures, created costumes, and prepared special presentation boards. The students posed and waited until visitors pushed the red button. Then they came alive and relayed important facts about their lives in both English and Spanish.

“This exhibit showcased who we are as a school community, with a group effort of parents, teachers, and students.  The students were able to utilize their research and public speaking skills to make these figures come to life. The students were so proud, and so was I, in what we accomplished today,” said Dana McCann, Principal of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy.

“This is a project that helps the students understand the real-world connection, that Spanish is not just a vocabulary list in a classroom. With this experience, our students learned that anyone from any part of the world can aspire to be a leader in their field,”  said Sandra Paz, the Spanish teacher at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy.

Photos attached of the figures on display in the Wax Museum including Paloma Picasso, Juan Martin Del Potro, Alex Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Sonia Sotomayor, Bruno Mars, Lionel Messi, and Alicia Alonso.

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