Announcement of Death – Reverend Gerald J. Fitzsimmons, S.M.M.

Posted on July 25, 2024July 25, 2024

The Diocese of Brooklyn has been informed of the death of Reverend Gerald J. Fitzsimmons, S.M.M., a priest of the Montfort Missionaries – U.S. Province, who served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of Saint Mary Gate of Heaven (Ozone Park).

Father Fitzsimmons died on Friday, July 19, 2024.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:

WAKE: Sacred Heart Chapel 1725 Brentwood Road Brentwood, New York 11717 Tel: (631) 273-1187

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 3:00 PM – 7:30 PM

FUNERAL MASS: Sacred Heart Chapel 1725 Brentwood Road Brentwood, New York 11717 Tel: (631) 273-1187

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:00 AM

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 the Montfort Missionaries, 26 South Saxon Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706.

Reverend Monsignor Steven Aguggia, J.C.L.

Announcement of Death – Reverend Peter D. Gillen

Posted on July 23, 2024July 24, 2024

Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Peter D. Gillen, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Gillen was born on August 10, 1951 in New York, was ordained to the Priesthood on February 11, 1978 and died on Friday, July 19, 2024.

Father Gillen served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parishes of Saint Brendan (Brooklyn), Corpus Christi (Woodside), and Saint Rose of Lima (Rockaway Beach). He also served as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Brooklyn), Saint Francis of Assisi (Astoria), American Martyrs (Bayside), Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Ridgewood), and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary & Saint Stephen (Brooklyn); as well as transitional Deacon at the Parish of Saints Simon and Jude (Brooklyn). Father Gillen also ministered as Director of Devotion to the Sacred Heart.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE: Saint Brendan R.C. Church 1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Thursday, July 25, 2024 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM

VIGIL MASS: Saint Brendan R.C. Church 1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Thursday, July 25, 2024 7:00 PM

FUNERAL MASS: Saint Brendan R.C. Church 1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Friday, July 26, 2024 11:00 AM

BURIAL: Saint John Cemetery Middle Village, New York Father Gillen was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. 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 sister, Ms. Marie Gillen, 72-28 66 Drive, Middle Village, New York 11379.

Reverend Monsignor Steven J. Aguggia, J.C.L. Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

Parish Merger Decree – Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier

Posted on July 2, 2024July 3, 2024

DECREE

Changes in the spiritual practices among the faithful, a decrease in available clergy and men and women in consecrated life, changes in the general population within our Diocese, as well as concerns regarding temporal matters have affected the means by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed within the Diocese of Brooklyn. In an effort to respond in the best possible way to the gifts of the Holy Spirit generously given to us in our current situation, I have overseen a comprehensive pastoral plan, which included the whole of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

In an effort to evangelize more effectively the community in Brooklyn, as well to administrate the temporal goods of the faithful more efficiently, Reverend Frank C. Tumino, Pastor of Saint Augustine, located at 116 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11217, and also Pastor of Saint Francis Xavier, located at 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215, petitioned that they be canonically merged.

In keeping with the requirements of the Universal Law of the Church, the Presbyteral Council was consulted on April 11, 2024 (Canon 515 § 2), and after having heard the reasons for the proposed merger its members expressed their support for this action. In addition, after having consulted the territorial Episcopal Vicars, clergy, pastoral ministers and other members of the faithful of the parishes involved, I, the undersigned Bishop of Brooklyn, hereby declare and decree that the Parishes of Saint Augustine and Saint Francis Xavier, both within the Diocese of Brooklyn, shall be merged to form one Parish.

This one Parish shall be named Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier parish, with the main Parish office to be located 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215.
Reverend Frank C. Tumino shall be the Pastor of the Parish.
The territorial boundaries of the new parish shall encompass all of the territory which, up until now, has constituted the territories of Saint Augustine and Saint Francis Xavier.
All assets and obligations currently belonging to aforementioned parishes are by this canonical merger, transferred to Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier parish.
The parochial registers and the seals of the aforementioned parishes shall be kept at 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215.
The Parish shall have two churches for worship: Saint Augustine and Saint Francis Xavier.

This merger shall take effect on July 1, 2024, at which time the public juridic persons of Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier shall be merged. Recourse action may be sought according to the norms of Canons 1732 to 1739 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

Merger Decree: Saint Augustine-Saint Francis Xavier parish

Parish Merger Decree – Christ the King-St. Mary Magdalene

Posted on July 2, 2024July 3, 2024

DECREE

In an effort to evangelize more effectively the community in Queens, as well to administrate the temporal goods of the faithful more efficiently, Reverend Gordon P. Kusi, Pastor of Christ the King, located at 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, New York 11434, and also Administrator of Saint Mary Magdalene, located at 218-12 136th Avenue, Springfield Gardens, New York 11413, petitioned that they be canonically merged.

In keeping with the requirements of the Universal Law of the Church, the Presbyteral Council was consulted on April 11, 2024 (Canon 515 § 2), and after having heard the reasons for the proposed merger its members expressed their support for this action. In addition, after having consulted the territorial Episcopal Vicars, clergy, pastoral ministers and other members of the faithful of the parishes involved, I, the undersigned Bishop of Brooklyn, hereby declare and decree that the Parishes of Christ the King and Saint Mary Magdalene, both within the Diocese of Brooklyn, shall be merged to form one Parish.

This one Parish shall be named Christ the King – Saint Mary Magdalene parish, with the main Parish office to be located 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, New York 11434.
Reverend Gordon P. Kusi shall be the Pastor of the Parish.
The territorial boundaries of the new parish shall encompass all of the territory which, up until now, has constituted the territories of Christ the King and Saint Mary Magdalene.
All assets and obligations currently belonging to aforementioned parishes are by this canonical merger, transferred to Christ the King – Saint Mary Magdalene parish.
The parochial registers and the seals of the aforementioned parishes shall be kept at 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, New York 11434.
The Parish shall have two churches for worship: Christ the King and Saint Mary Magdalene.

This merger shall take effect on July 1, 2024, at which time the public juridic persons of Christ the King – Saint Mary Magdalene shall be merged. Recourse action may be sought according to the norms of Canons 1732 to 1739 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

Merger Decree: Christ the King-St. Mary Magdalene Parish

VANDALISM AT A QUEENS CATHOLIC CHURCH RULED A HATE CRIME

Posted on July 1, 2024July 1, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2024

DISTURBING ATTACK ON STATUE AT QUEENS CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing a hateful act of vandalism that took place yesterday, Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, located in the Flushing section of Queens.

At 5:30 a.m. yesterday, video shows a vandal park his NYC Taxi SUV vehicle across the street from the church. He then walked directly towards the Holy Family statue and proceeded to decapitate the Child Jesus. The white marble head of the Child Jesus was found on the ground near the statue. The damage is estimated at $20,000 and the parish is looking to repair the statue.

The statue has been part of the parish for more than 42 years. The statues of Mary and Joseph, which stand with the Child Jesus, were unsuccessfully targeted and not damaged.

“The Holy Family is the foundation of our faith community, and this statue holds special meaning to so many in our parish. This is a very unsettling incident, and those who attended Mass yesterday were shocked and horrified to find out this happened. We must pray for an increase in religious tolerance throughout our city,” said Father Sean Suckiel, the parish Pastor.

Police officers from the 107^th Precinct responded and classified the incident as a hate crime. Anyone with information is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photos of the vandalism to the statue at Holy Family Church are attached.

Video footage can be found here: https://vimeo.com/973479443

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HolyFamilyChurchStatueweb — On Sunday, June 30, 2024, this statue of the Holy Family was damaged by a vandal. The NYPD has ruled it a hate crime.

HolyFamilyChurchstatue2web — The vandal damaged the Holy Family statue, decapitating Child Jesus, at Holy Family Parish in Flushing.

AUTHOR SPEAKS TO STUDENTS ABOUT USING THEIR VOICE IN A POSITIVE WAY – “WE ARE MISSING INFORMED SPEECH”

Posted on May 15, 2024

The Catholic Telemedia Network (CTN) today hosted international bestselling and award-winning novelist Liza Wiemer, author of “The Assignment” at several Catholic academies in Queens including St. Elizabeth, Divine Mercy, and Our Lady of the Snows.

The book “The Assignment” is based on an actual 2017 event involving two teenagers in Oswego, New York. The students refused a controversial assignment to participate in debating the pros and cons of Hitler’s Final Solution.

Ms. Wiemer led the seventh and eighth-grade students in an important lesson on speaking up against all forms of hatred, bigotry, and injustice. She discussed how her novel helps connect the history of the Holocaust with society today. Ms. Wiemer also talked about the impact of popular culture and social media on all forms of hatred.

Ms. Wiemer’s tour throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn included visits to 10 Catholic schools and academies in Brooklyn and Queens. Each student received a copy of the book.

Catholic Telemedia Network is a service of DeSales Media, which provides technology and communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn and beyond. CTN is collaborating with The New York Education Initiative with the support of The Jewish Education Project.

VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/946741224

Photos attached are from St. Elizabeth and Divine Mercy Catholic Academy.

Liza Wiemer, author of “The Assignment,” talking with students at St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy.

TheAssignmentAuthorwithBook — Students join Principal Jeanne Shannon and author Liza Wiemer for a photo with the award winning book “The Assignment.”

StElizabeths7th8thGradeClass — Students from the 7th and 8th Grade at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Academy pose for a group photo with Liza Wiemer.

Students at Divine Mercy Catholic Academy also were visited by author Liza Wiemer to discuss respect and tolerance.

Author Liza Wiemer shows a graphic to the students of how two people made a global difference, and they can be a part of the change they want to see in the world.

AUTHOR TO HOST WORKSHOP ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO STAND AGAINST HATRED AND INJUSTICE

Posted on May 14, 2024

The Catholic Telemedia Network (CTN) will host international bestselling and award-winning novelist Liza Wiemer, author of “The Assignment” tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy located at 94-01 85^th Street in the Ozone Park section of Queens.

“The Assignment” is based on an actual event involving two teenagers who refused to participate in a controversial assignment; debating the pros and cons of Hitler’s Final Solution. Each student will receive a copy of the book.

Ms. Wiemer will present a workshop for seventh and eighth-grade students on speaking up against all forms of hatred, bigotry, and injustice. Ms. Wiemer will discuss behind-the-scenes information, research, and how her novel helps connect the history of the Holocaust to society today. She will also share how popular culture and social media impact all forms of hatred.

Members of the media are invited to attend and are asked to reply to this email to confirm their attendance.

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Catholic Telemedia Network is a service of DeSales Media, which provides technology and communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn and beyond.

CTN is collaborating with The New York Education Initiative with the support of The Jewish Education Project. Ms. Wiemer’s tour throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn includes visits to 10 Catholic schools and academies in Brooklyn and Queens.

The cover of Liza Wiemer's book "The Assignment." — The cover of Liza Wiemer’s book “The Assignment.”

Announcement of Death-Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Ahlemeyer

Posted on May 13, 2024May 13, 2024

Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Ahlemeyer, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Monsignor Ahlemeyer was born on July 8, 1950, was ordained to the Priesthood on March 12, 1977, and died on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Monsignor Ahlemeyer served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parishes of Saint Camillus – Saint Virgilius (Rockaway Park) and Saint Pius V (Jamaica); as well as Temporary Administrator of Saint Rose of Lima (Rockaway Beach). He also served as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Jamaica) and Saint Mary (Long Island City). Monsignor Ahlemeyer was also Dean of the Queens 10 Deanery and a Faculty Member of the Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. On December 19, 2019, Monsignor Ahlemeyer was named Chaplain of His Holiness.

The arrangements are as follows:
WAKE: Saint Virgilius R.C. Church, 16 Noel Road, Broad Channel, New York 11693

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

WAKE: Saint Camillus R.C. Church 99-15 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Rockaway Park, New York 11694
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

VIGIL: Saint Camillus R.C. Church 99-15 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Park, New York 11694
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 7:30 PM

FUNERAL: Saint Camillus R.C. Church 99-15 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Park, New York 11694
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 11:00 AM

BURIAL: Saint John Cemetery, Middle Village, New York

Monsignor Ahlemeyer was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. 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 The Ahlemeyer Family, c/o Saint Camillus R.C. Church, 99-15 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Park, New York 11694.

Reverend Monsignor Steven J. Aguggia, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

THREE CATHOLIC ACADEMIES IN THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO CLOSE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

Posted on May 2, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2024

The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Office of the Superintendent – Catholic School Support Services today announced three Catholic academies, two in Brooklyn and one in Queens, will permanently close at the end of this current school year. The decision to close each of these schools was based on unsustainable trends in enrollment and finances over the last five years.

The following Catholic academies will not reopen in September:

St. Matthias Catholic Academy in Ridgewood, Queens

Salve Regina Catholic Academy in East New York, Brooklyn

St. Catherine of Genoa ~ St. Therese of Lisieux in Flatbush, Brooklyn

“The difficult decisions to close these schools were reached after a thorough review of the pattern of student enrollment and the financial condition of each academy,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, Superintendent of Schools. “These three schools, in the midst of this most difficult time, will focus on celebrating their students and preparing them for the next chapter of their education.”

To help students and families affected by these closures transition to nearby Catholic academies, the Diocesan Schools Office has created the following informational website: https://catholicschoolsbq.org/schooltransitioninformation/.

The website provides information regarding upcoming open houses at neighboring schools, information regarding transferring Futures in Education scholarship assistance, and provides contact information to answer questions and address concerns.

All activities and events will continue as planned through the end of this school year. The schools will officially close on August 31, 2024.

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HUNDREDS EXPECTED AT SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER TO GIVE KIDS A CHANCE AT CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Posted on April 25, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2024

More than 700 people are expected to attend the 2024 Annual Futures in Education Scholarship Fund Dinner, the foundation’s premiere fundraiser, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, starting at 6:00 pm, with the awards presentation at 7:00 pm, at Cipriani Wall Street, 55 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan.

David Ushery, NBC 4 New York anchor, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. This year, Futures in Education will honor Salvatore LaRocca, President of Global Partnerships for the NBA, and Donald Gelestino, President and CEO of Champion Elevator Company.

Bishop Robert Brennan will take part in the awards ceremony which includes special recognition of 50 elementary Catholic school teachers throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn. The Xaverian High School Jazz Band will perform during the cocktail hour and dinner.

“The success of this fundraising event is critical to supporting students and families who want a Catholic education but cannot afford the tuition,” said John Notaro, Executive Director of Futures in Education. “All proceeds raised will directly benefit thousands of students in our schools as we prepare them today to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

This year, Futures in Education has awarded $7.2 million in scholarships to 4,400 students. Futures in Education was founded in 1989.

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ABOUT THE HONOREES

Salvatore LaRocca, as President of Global Partnerships for the NBA, oversees the commercial partnerships business for the NBA, WNBA, and USA Basketball. Under his direction, NBA merchandise has grown to global distribution in more than 100 countries on six continents, and sales on NBAStore.com have increased by 100 percent. Mr. LaRocca currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of LaSalle Academy, and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Sports and Fitness Industry Association and Licensing International.

Donald Gelestino, President and CEO of Champion Elevator Corporation, has been a member of the National Association of Elevator Contractors since 1996 and is a past president (2019-2020). Mr. Gelestino currently serves as a member of numerous boards including Cross County Savings Bank and The Maurer Foundation for Breast Health. He is the current Vice-President of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors of the State University of New York at Old Westbury.

Diocese of Brooklyn

Author: John Quaglione