Author: Allison Foster

STATEMENT BY BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO ON NEW ZEALAND ATTACKS

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STATEMENT BY BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO ON NEW ZEALAND ATTACKS

“I strongly denounce the horrific attacks at the two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which were aimed at immigrants and people of faith. On behalf of all Catholics within the Diocese of Brooklyn, I offer my prayers for those who have perished and who have been injured in these mass shootings.  This is an unsettling reminder that the right to religious freedom is under attack throughout the world in nations that allow their citizens to worship the God they believe in,” said The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

Passing of Most Reverend René A. Valero

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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 Most Reverend René A. Valero, Titular Bishop of Vicus Turris and Retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Bishop Valero was born on August 15, 1930 in New York City, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 2, 1956, was ordained a Bishop on November 24, 1980 and died Sunday, March 10, 2019, at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Bishop Valero served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament (Jackson Heights), as well as Parochial Vicar of Saint Agatha (Brooklyn) and Saint Michael-Saint Edward (Brooklyn).

Bishop Valero held numerous curial positions in the Diocese of Brooklyn, including serving as Vicar for Aging Concerns, Chair of the Racism Committee, Regional Bishop of Queens, Vicar for Immigration and Refugees, Coordinator of the Spanish Apostolate, Director of the Family Division of Catholic Charities and as a member of both the College of Consultors and the Diocesan Personnel Board.

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The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE:

Immaculate Conception Center

7200 Douglaston Parkway

Douglaston, New York 11362

Tel: (718) 229-8001

Monday, March 18, 2019

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

AND

Blessed Sacrament R. C. Church

34-43 93rd Street
Jackson Heights, New York 11372

Tel: (718) 639-3888

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

VIGIL MASS:

Blessed Sacrament R. C. Church

34-43 93rd Street
Jackson Heights, New York 11372

Tel: (718) 639-3888

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

7:30 PM

 

FUNERAL MASS:

Immaculate Conception Center

7200 Douglaston Parkway

Douglaston, New York 11362

Tel: (718) 229-8001

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

10:30 AM

BURIAL:

Bishops Crypt at Immaculate Conception Center

 

Bishop Valero was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. All priests are invited to concelebratethe Liturgy. Please bring your diocesan vestments.

If you wish to send condolences, please mail to Mr. & Mrs. Gerard Purtell, Family of Bishop René A. Valero, c/o Bishop Mugavero Residence, 7200 Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston, New York 11362.

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.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.

Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN RESPONDS TO SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SKIT ATTACKING CATHOLIC CHURCH  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

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

 

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN RESPONDS TO SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
SKIT ATTACKING CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Diocese of Brooklyn is demanding an immediate public apology from “Saturday Night Live” and NBC after Saturday night’s disgraceful and offensive skit in which cast member Pete Davidson, during the Weekend Update segment, said: “If you support the Catholic Church, isn’t that the same thing as being an R. Kelly fan?” The statement clearly shocked the studio audience as gasps could be heard off camera.

 

Apparently, the only acceptable bias these days is against the Catholic Church. The faithful of our Church are disgusted by the harassment by those in news and entertainment, and this sketch offends millions. The mockery of this difficult time in the Church’s history serves no purpose.

 

The clergy sex abuse crisis is shameful, and no one should ever get a laugh at the expense of the victims who have suffered irreparably. The Diocese of Brooklyn strives every day to ensure that sexual abuse by clergy never happens again.

 

For nearly two decades, the Diocese of Brooklyn has taken this crisis seriously and instituted widespread changes mandated by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

 

Those changes include a zero-tolerance policy in which any clergy member credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor is permanently removed from ministry. Since 2002, the Diocese of Brooklyn has shared all of its files and allegations against clergy with the District Attorneys of Brooklyn and Queens. In 2004, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio instituted a reporting line that sends reports directly to law enforcement authorities.

 

The charter also mandates sexual abuse awareness training for all clergy members, teachers, parish/academy/school employees, catechists and volunteers who work directly with children. Employees and volunteers also must agree to initial and ongoing criminal background checks and must sign a code of conduct.

 

To help victims, the Office of Victim Assistance provides referrals for therapy, support groups for survivors and an annual Healing Mass to pray for all who have been impacted by sexual abuse.  The diocese also started the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program as another possible mechanism for healing that may help bring closure to victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

 

It is likely that no other institution has done more than the Catholic Church to combat and prevent sexual abuse. The insensitivity of the writers, producers, and the cast of SNL around this painful subject is alarming.

 

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN DIOCESAN MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH BEE THIS AFTERNOON

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

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

 

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN
DIOCESAN MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH BEE THIS AFTERNOON

The Diocese of Brooklyn Press Office is announcing a Brooklyn and Queens Catholic School Math Bee taking place this afternoon, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at 4 PM, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy, located at 179-14 Dalny Road in the Jamaica Estates section of Queens.

The Math Bee will feature the participation of students from Grades 6, 7 and 8, representing 55 Diocesan academies and schools. All schools competing this afternoon had an internal school math bee from which a winner was selected to compete at the Diocesan level.

The Diocese of Brooklyn will also host an Elementary Grade Math Bee in April, featuring 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade students from 54 schools. Details to be announced. Cathy Kenny of St. Frances De Sales Catholic Academy is the Diocesan Math Bee Coordinator.

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

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO RELEASED OF STATUE BEING STOLEN FROM BROOKLYN CHURCH; NYPD HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE INVESTIGATING

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

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

 

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO RELEASED OF STATUE BEING STOLEN FROM BROOKLYN CHURCH;
NYPD HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE INVESTIGATING

The Diocese of Brooklyn is responding to an act of vandalism which took place last week at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church, located at 249 9th Street in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn.

At approximately 12 p.m. noon on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt entered the Church, removed the statue of Our Lady of Cisne and threw it in the trash across the street, causing damage to the statue. A member of the Parish staff later noticed and retrieved the statue, at which time the New York City Police Department was notified.

Our Lady of Cisne is the patroness of the Loja province of Ecuador. This is the second such incident this month at St. Thomas Aquinas and the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation.

“The Diocese of Brooklyn strongly condemns this incident of religious hatred and is fully cooperating with the New York City Police Department’s investigation. This act of vandalism at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in Park Slope has not deterred, but only strengthened, the resolve and faith of the parishioners,” said Father Willy Kingsley Ndi, Parish Administrator.

The NYPD has released this surveillance video of the vandal removing the statue:
https://vimeo.com/319488016

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact NYPD’s Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

PASSING OF REVEREND MONSIGNOR VINCENT A. KEANE

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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 Vincent A. Keane, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Monsignor Keane was born
on September 10, 1932, in Queens, New York, was ordained to the Priesthood on May 31, 1958, and
died Tuesday, February 5, 2019, at the Bishop Mugavero Residence, Douglaston.

Monsignor Keane served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parishes of Saint Francis de Sales
(Belle Harbor), and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (Bayside), Associate Pastor of SS. Joachim
and Anne (Queens Village) as well as Parochial Vicar of Saint Pascal Baylon (St. Albans). He also
served as Principal of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary (Elmhurst), Spiritual Director of the Cathedral
Seminary Residence (Douglaston), Diocesan Director of the Apostleship of Prayer-Sacred Heart
Devotion, Faculty of Cathedral College, Temporary Executive Director of the Immaculate Conception
Pastoral Center and Director of the House of Formation.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE:

Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001
Friday, February 8, 2019
2:00 PM – 7:30 PM

VIGIL:

Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001
Friday, February 8, 2019
7:30 PM

FUNERAL:

Immaculate Conception Center
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: (718) 229-8001
Saturday, February 9, 2019
10:30 AM

BURIAL:

Saint John Cemetery
Middle Village, New York

Monsignor Keane 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 The Family of Rev. Msgr. Vincent A. Keane, c/o the
Bishop Mugavero Residence, 7200 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston, New York 11362.
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.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia

PASSING OF REVEREND MONSIGNOR ROCCO D. VILLANI

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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 Rocco D. Villani, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Monsignor Villani was born on April 1, 1928 in Brooklyn, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 3, 1961, and died Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Saint Brendan (Brooklyn).

Monsignor Villani served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parishes of Saint Brendan (Brooklyn) and Saint Mary Mother of Jesus (Brooklyn), as Temporary Administrator of Resurrection (Brooklyn) and as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Saints Simon and Jude (Brooklyn) and Saint Anthony of Padua (Brooklyn). He also served as Spiritual Director of Cathedral College (Douglaston) as well as Chaplain of Saint Brendan High School and Bishop Kearney High School. On February 25, 1988, he was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE: Saint Brendan Roman Catholic Church

1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Thursday, January 24, 2019 Friday, January 25, 2019 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

VIGIL: Saint Brendan Roman Catholic Church

1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Friday, January 25, 2019 7:30 PM

FUNERAL: Saint Brendan Roman Catholic Church

1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Saturday, January 26, 2019 10:30 AM

BURIAL: Saint John Cemetery

Middle Village, New York

Monsignor Villani 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 The Family of Monsignor Villani c/o Saint Brendan Roman Catholic Church, at 1525 East 12th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11230.

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.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L. Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia

 

 

PASSING OF REVEREND ROBERT BLYMAN

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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

The Diocese of Brooklyn has been informed of the death of Reverend Robert Blyman, a priest of
the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The funeral arrangements are as follows:

Date of Death: Saturday, January 5, 2019
WAKE: Church of Our Lady of Mercy
500 South Oyster Bay Road
Hicksville, New York 11801
Tel: (516) 931-4351
Thursday, January 10, 2019

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
VIGIL MASS: Church of Our Lady of Mercy
500 South Oyster Bay Road
Hicksville, New York 11801
Tel: (516) 931-4351
Thursday, January 10, 2019

7:30 PM
FUNERAL: Church of Our Lady of Mercy
500 South Oyster Bay Road
Hicksville, New York 11801
Tel: (516) 931-4351
Friday, January 11, 2019
11:00 AM

BURIAL: Abbey of Regina Laudis Cemetery

Bethlehem, Connecticut

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.
Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

New Communications Director/Press Secretary at Brooklyn Diocese

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2019

NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AND PRESS SECRETARY
APPOINTED AT THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

DeSales Media Group, the communications and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn, is pleased to announce Adriana Rodriguez has been promoted to the position of Director of Communications and Press Secretary, effective January 2, 2019.

In the last year, Ms. Rodriguez has excelled at handling the variety of inquiries that have come into the busy press office. In addition, she organized two volunteer trips to help hurricane victims in Houston and Puerto Rico.

Before joining DeSales Media Group in 2017, she held numerous positions over a 25-year career in local and national TV news. She was an on-air reporter for 12 years, including locally at WNBC and WABC, and covered the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Ms. Rodriguez grew up in Queens and attended Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary elementary school and St. Francis Preparatory School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism at New York University and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Public Relations at Hofstra University.

She is a parishioner at St. Anne’s Church in Garden City, where she lives with her husband, Mike, two teenage children, Sophia and Ryan, and their dog, Maddie.

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PASSING OF MR. FRANKLIN EDMUNDO PEÑAFIEL, BROTHER OF REVEREND ROMEL PEÑAFIEL

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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 Mr. Franklin Edmundo Peñafiel, brother of Reverend Romel Peñafiel, a priest of the Diocese of Loja, Ecuador who is presently ministering as Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament, Jackson Heights. Mr. Peñafiel died Wednesday, January 2, 2019 in Florida.

All arrangements will be taking place in Florida. A memorial service may be held at a later date.

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 Reverend Romel Peñafiel, Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, 34-43 93rd Street, Jackson Heights, New York 11372.

Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L. Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs Moderator of the Curia