Author: geonyayyad

FILIPINO APOSTOLATE TO HOLD MASS OF HEALING AND HOPE AFTER TRAGEDY OF TYPHOON HAIYAN (YOLANDA)

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FILIPINO APOSTOLATE TO HOLD MASS OF HEALING AND HOPE

AFTER TRAGEDY OF TYPHOON HAIYAN (YOLANDA)

 On Sunday, November 17th at 4 p.m., the Filipino Apostolate of the Diocese of Brooklyn, along with the Filipino Apostolate of St. Michael’s Church, 138-25 Barclay Avenue in Flushing, will host a Mass of Healing and Hope following the tragedy of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

“We are taking this opportunity to pray as a community for those who have been affected by the Typhoon not just in the Philippines but those living here in the United States,” said Father Patrick Longalong, coordinator for the Filipino Apostolate of the Diocese of Brooklyn. “Many of ourkababayans have already heard good news that their family are alive but some received heart breaking news of the death of their loved ones. However, there are still those who are anxiously waiting for news. We are also coming together to support some of our brethren who might not be able to travel back to the Philippines and attend religious services for their loved ones because of immigration issues.”

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has asked that a voluntary second collection be taken up in each of the parishes as soon as possible. “The whole Diocese is mourning with those who lost loved ones and praying for those who are still awaiting word from their family and friends,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “We pledge to pray and support our brothers and sisters in need.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Stefanie Gutierrez
917-587-2784
sgutierrez@desalesmedia.org

Rosemarie Santiago
718-517-3118
rsantiago@desalesmedia.org

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Coat Donations at Tonight’s Young Adult Mass

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November 12, 2013 – The Young Adult Mass takes place tonight at 7:30 PM in the main chapel at the Diocesan Offices (310 Prospect Park West in Brooklyn).

Young adults ages 21-39 are invited to celebrate liturgy together, then gather at a local bar for fellowship.

Before mass begins, the group will be collecting new and gently used winter coats and blankets for Midnight Run, a consortium of synagogues, schools and civic groups that distributes food, clothing and blankets to the homeless poor of New York City.
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Statement by the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn

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November 12, 2013 – As Bishop of Brooklyn, it was with great sadness and reluctance that the Diocese was left with no other option than to initiate a lawsuit against Christ the King High School. I wish to personally assure each and every student, faculty member, and parent of Christ the King High School that the Diocese of Brooklyn has no intent or desire to seek the closing of your High School. It is also necessary for me to correct a number of unfortunate misstatements that have been reported in the press this past week concerning the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was commenced on November 4, 2013, after two years of futile and disappointing negotiations with the Board of Trustees of the High School. The Diocese had requested that the Board of Trustees reaffirm the 1976 agreement which established the parameters for the conveyance of the property to the High School some 37 years ago. Included in the 1976 agreement was a binding commitment on the part of the High School that if the Board of Trustees no longer maintained and operated a Catholic high school, that the property would be returned to the Diocese.
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“Governing Our New Academies” by Bishop DiMarzio

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November 8, 2013 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep,” Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

“As I reflect upon the New Evangelization, I also contemplate the various roles and ministries embraced within it. Catholic schools and academies certainly remain a vital component. One may recall the words of Blessed John Paul II: “Catholic schools are at once places of evangelization, of complete formation, of inculturation, of apprenticeship in a lively dialogue between young people of different religions and social backgrounds.”

It is with this profound vision of Catholic education that the Diocese of Brooklyn launched the Preserving the Vision Strategic Plan for its elementary schools in 2008. Developed together by clergy, lay people, educators and professionals of various fields, Preserving the Vision is, most simply, a strategic planning process to ensure the success and vitality of Catholic education within our diocese. With numerous goals and strategies, it is an ongoing initiative taking place in every Catholic school and academy. It is a living process that continuously grows and develops.
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Eparchy of Saint Maron’s Annual Benefit Dinner Set for November 21

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Bishop Gregory John Mansour
Bishop Gregory John Mansour

November 8, 2013 – Maronite Catholics and friends from the greater New York area will gather on Thursday, November 21, at the Archdiocese of New York Building (1011 First Avenue) for the Fourth Annual Benefit Dinner for the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn.

Proceeds from the Benefit Dinner will be used to educate seminarians, support poorer parishes and missions, make structural repairs to the Cathedral and assist retired priests. Bishop Gregory John Mansour stated, “I invite all of the faithful of the Eparchy, and every person of good will, to attend or support this year’s Benefit Dinner in Manhattan.”

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Diocese of Brooklyn Sues Christ the King

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November 6, 2013 – After two years of futile negotiations, the Diocese of Brooklyn was reluctantly left with no other recourse but to sue Christ the King High School for refusing to re-affirm a longstanding covenant to return the school property to the Diocese under certain limited circumstances and for conducting, without the prior consent of the Diocese, various enterprises unrelated to a Catholic high school.

It remains the Diocese’s fervent and prayerful hope that each of the Catholic high schools, including Christ the King, will continue to prosper and serve the children of Brooklyn and Queens.
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Annual Fall Benefit at Time Warner Center

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November 5, 2013 – On November 7th, Catholic Migration Services will hold their Annual Fall Benefit from 6-8 PM at One Time Warner Center. The Benefit will feature live music and light refreshments.

Hosted by Time Warner, the event provides an opportunity for guests to network with staff and learn more about how CMS is improving the immigrant experience in Brooklyn and Queens.

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Diocese of Brooklyn Sues Christ the King High School

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2013

After two years of futile negotiations, the Diocese of Brooklyn was reluctantly left with no other recourse but to sue Christ the King High School for refusing to re-affirm a longstanding covenant to return the school property to the Diocese under certain limited circumstances and for conducting, without the prior consent of the Diocese, various enterprises unrelated to a Catholic high school.

The suit seeks to compel Christ the King to abide by the terms of the agreement signed in 1976 to re-convey the property to the Diocese in the event there is no longer a Catholic high school on the premise. It remains the Diocese’s fervent and prayerful hope that each of the Catholic high schools, including Christ the King, will continue to prosper and serve the children of Brooklyn and Queens.

The suit also asks that the school provide copies of all leases and pertinent agreements for the various secular business enterprises that have leased portions of the property over the years.  These include Continuing Education, a day care center run by the daughter of the school’s president and most recently a new Charter school.

Due to financial constraints encountered in the mid-70s, the Diocese restructured the Diocesan high schools in Brooklyn and Queens.  At that time, the Diocese owned and operated six Catholic High Schools within the two boroughs, consisting of Bishop Ford, Bishop Kearney and Nazareth in Brooklyn and St. Francis Prep, St. John’s Prep and Christ the King in Queens.

The Diocese agreed to transfer title to the school property at no cost to non-profit corporations operated by religious and lay people committed to continuing to operate a Catholic high school at each of the properties. These agreements provided that the entire property could only be used for a Catholic high school and if the school closed, the property would revert back to the Diocese.

Although the other five Catholic schools have reaffirmed the right of the Diocese to regain the property should their school close, Christ the King has refused.  Moreover, Christ the King has recently rented 50,000 square feet to a secular Charter school and again has refused to comply with the Diocese’s rules with regards to renting to a Charter school.

Since Charter schools directly compete with Catholic elementary schools which charge tuition, the Diocese requires that any high school or parish that rents unused space to a Charter school remit 40% of the rental revenues into the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Trust, which grants scholarships to disadvantaged students attending Catholic elementary schools negatively impacted by the Charter school.  None of the money held by the Trust is turned over to the Diocese.

Although the various parishes and the other Catholic High Schools in the Diocese, who have leased unused space to a Charter school, have all agreed to remit 40% of its rental income to the Trust, Christ the King again has refused.

“It is sad that we have to go to these lengths to have the rights of the people who comprise this Diocese reaffirmed by the court,” said Msgr. Steven Aguggia, judicial vicar of the Diocese. “But it’s time for the Diocese to get a full accounting from the Christ the King’s board of what has transpired over the years.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Marty McLaughlin
212-437-7373
917-282-4231
mjm@candm1.com

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Young Adult Mass, November 12 at 310 Prospect Park

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November 4, 2013 – Young adults ages 21-39 are invited to celebrate Mass and enjoy fellowship on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:30 PM. Mass will be held at the main chapel at the diocesan offices, 310 Prospect Park, in Brooklyn.

Contact Paul Morisi with any questions at 718-965-7300 x 5556 or pmorisi@diobrook.org.

For more information about young adult programs, visit the Faith Formation section of the Diocese website.