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ACCEPT
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, this week consecrated two new altars at churches in Queens, including Our Lady of Grace in Howard Beach and St. Thomas More in Breezy Point, where the Sanctuary was also renovated.
As part of the special ceremony, the bishop anointed the new altar. In Catholic tradition, the rites of anointing, incensing, covering, and lighting the altar are visible signs of the invisible work that the Lord accomplishes through the Church.
“It is a joy to celebrate the consecration of the new Altar with Bishop Brennan, which represents Christ in the center of the parish community. I pray that as we celebrate the Eucharist on this Altar, all will be drawn to the heart of Jesus,” said Father Marc Swartvagher, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace in Howard Beach.
“The renovation of the Sanctuary and the installation of the new Altar was an opportunity to continue to address repairs needed to the church as a result of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It also was the first time the church was updated since the early 70s. I am very pleased with how it came out and equally happy by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from parishioners,” said Father Michael Gelfant, Pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish which encompasses three churches including St. Thomas More.
“I was honored to be with these parish communities for these two great occasions. This ritual is filled with signs and symbols, one of the more beautiful rituals, that is very, very powerful. We dedicated these altars to God, for the worship of God, to offer the sacrifice of the Eucharist, the altar of Jesus Christ, the altar of His Cross, and His Resurrection. The altar is central to our lives as Catholics and gets us connected to the Lord Jesus Christ.” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
Bishop Robert Brennan blessing the Altar at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Howard Beach. (Photo by Vincent Coronati).Bishop Brennan at Our Lady of Grace in Howard Beach to bless the new altar on Saturday, June 11, 2022. (Photos by Vincent Coronati).Bishop Robert Brennan blessing the altar at St. Thomas More.Bishop Robert Brennan with members of the Blessed Trinity Sports Program.
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in Brooklyn today hosted a “Wear Lime Green” donation dress-down day to show their support and raise money for 7th grader Marco Wilen who has recently been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
In addition to the dress-down, the fundraiser included the sale of desserts and treats donated by Frost-A-Cake. There was also a basketball tournament for the students of grades 4-8, featuring a Free Throw and Three-Point contest which was also part of the fundraiser.
Financial donations are still being accepted and can be made by sending a check payable to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in Brooklyn with “Marko” written on the envelope, or through Venmo @OurladyofGraceschool-AlumniAss. All funds raised will support his family and medical-related expenses.
Kelly Wolf is the Principal of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy located in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.
Treats Donated by Frost A Cake to support the Our Lady of Grace fundraiser for 7th-grade student Marko Wilen.A picture of some of the students who participated in the lime green dress-down day and basketball tournament to raise money for their fellow student.Marco Wilen and a friend played basketball during the fundraiser to help him pay his medical expenses due to his recent diagnosis.
The students of Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy, in partnership with Cornell University and 4 H, this week kicked off a vegetable garden planting initiative, “Advanced Cooking Education (ACE)” in the yard of the Canarsie school.
The project is a partnership between Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy, Cornell University, Harvest New York, and 4 H. The goal is to incorporate a healthy living agricultural program into the Academy’s curriculum program. Throughout the 10-week program, chefs assisted provided recipes, cooking lessons, and bags of food to take home and cook.
On Friday, the students planted different seeds in planters including tomatoes, onion, basil, carrots, parsley, and collard greens. The seventh and eighth-grade students also took part in the painting of a mural read “God’s Love Grows at OLTCA.” Students also painted clouds featuring the words: Friendship, Kindness, Love, and Respect.
Muriel Wilkinson is the Principal of Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy, located at 1696 Canarsie Road in Brooklyn.
Planting the seeds as part of the ACE Program, Advanced Cooking Education, in the backyard at Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy.Students at Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy take part in a vegetable planting program at their school.Students at Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy getting their planters ready to grow vegetables as part of a healthy eating initiative.
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, ordained three men as priests during a Mass of Ordination, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn. This was the first ordination Bishop Brennan presided over since being installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn on November 30, 2021.
“I was blessed to ordain three men to the priesthood who will serve in our parishes faithfully for many years to come. We are so proud of them – and grateful to their family and seminary faculty who have helped bring them to the altar,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
The following were ordained and their assignments announced at the conclusion of the Mass:
Father Andrew Tsui – assigned to St. Bartholomew in Elmhurst.
Andrew Tsui will be the first American-born Chinese priest to serve the Diocese of Brooklyn. Tsui credits the Catholic Church for helping to save his family. His great-grandmother faced such extreme poverty that her daughters became indentured servants; his father was orphaned in Hong Kong and helped by priests from the Salesian order. His spirituality increased during his high school and college years. Andrew later spoke with Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio about the need for Chinese-speaking priests and from there, he received a strong calling to serve the Chinese people. Tsui enjoys fishing, hiking, and especially cooking.
Father Alexander Olszewski – assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas in Flatlands.
Alexander Olszewski is a former businessman wanting to help redevelop a passion for the faith among people. Alex was born in Bangkok, Thailand to Richard and Vivian Olszewski of Brooklyn. His father was stationed with the U.S. Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The family was later transferred to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he became an altar boy at his local church. He credits his attendance at Sunday Mass as a contributing factor in his vocation, as well as the sickness and eventual passing of his parents for accelerating his discernment.
Father Dung (Vincent) Vu – assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes in Queens Village.
Dung (Vincent) Vu is a native of Vietnam who started to feel the calling to the priesthood while attending college in Ho Chi Minh City. At the time, he was serving as an altar server and Catechist at Holy Family Parish and asked the pastor about a vocation to the priesthood. After graduating college, he traveled to the United States to continue his vocational discernment. He was admitted to the House of Formation in Douglaston by former Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and completed his studies at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, and Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts.
The attached photos are courtesy of DeSales Media.
Prior to their being ordained, the three candidates lay prostrate on the floor during the Litany of Saints.Father Alexander Olszewski, Father Andrew Tsui, and Father Dung (Vincent) Vu at their ordination.(Left to right) Retired Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez, Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, Father Andrew Tsui, Father Alexander Olszewski, Bishop Robert Brennan, Father Dung (Vincent) Vu, Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski, and retired Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros.
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns led an Interfaith Prayer Service for the victims of the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, this afternoon at Immaculate Conception Church, located in the Jamaica Estates section of Queens.
“How right we are to talk about gun violence and racism. How right we are to see the human dignity of each and every one of us, made in the image and likeness of God. We united our voices and let us proclaim The Gospel of Life amidst such violence and hatred,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
The prayer service featured the musical performance of “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” “God Has Smiled on Me,” “The Prayer,” and “We Shall Overcome.”
The names of each of the 31 victims who died in the mass shootings at the Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, were read in between the ringing of the church bells on the altar.
Michele Guerrier, a membe of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Commission on Racism and Social Justice was among the speakers, as was Detective Mohamed Amen an NYPD Clergy Liaison who represented the Department’s Muslim Chaplain.
Father Alonzo Q. Cox is the Vicar of the Office of Black Catholic Concerns for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.
Bishop Brennan at the Interfaith Prayer Service to remember the victims of the recent mass shootings.Father Alonzo Cox the Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns for the Diocese of Brooklyn who was among the organizers of the memorial service.
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, has announced the selection of Deacon Kevin McCormack as the new Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn. The appointment is effective as of July 1, 2022.
Deacon McCormack will be replacing Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, who is retiring as of August 31, 2022, after serving as Superintendent for the past 18 years.
“The schools and academies of the Diocese of Brooklyn have been blessed by the many years of steady, strong, and devoted leadership of our Superintendent Dr. Thomas Chadzutko. He truly has championed the growth of our schools and academies through teacher professional development, technology, and curriculum enhancements. Today we see the success of Catholic schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens because of his work. I am confident Deacon Kevin McCormack will expand on that success, given his exemplary work leading Xaverian and his clear commitment to Catholic Identity,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
Deacon Kevin McCormack has served as the Principal of Xaverian for the last 15 years, having previously served there as an English and Religion teacher. For 30 years, he was also an Adjunct Instructor of Theology at Molloy College and was the co-host of the WABC radio program Religion on the Line from 2006 to 2018. Deacon McCormack is a graduate of Cathedral College and holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Fordham University.
“Over the last 37 years at Xaverian, working with tremendous students and their families, dedicated staff, faculty, administrators, and devoted alumni – and especially with my friend President Alesi, I learned what makes a Catholic School great. I am grateful that Bishop Brennan has placed his trust in me to build upon the formative work of Dr. Chadzutko and continue the blessed tradition of excellence in Catholic education,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack.
Dr. Thomas Chadzutko’s career in Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn began in 1985 when he was named Principal of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn. Following his tenure as Principal, Dr. Chadzutko entered diocesan administration, serving more than seven years as a District Superintendent, and more than two years as a Deputy Superintendent. On July 1, 2003, he was named Interim Superintendent. On June 4, 2004, then Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio officially appointed Dr. Chadzutko to serve as Superintendent of Schools.
“Leadership and progress never exist in isolation. I have been blessed with pastors, principals, and staff that share the faith and the mission of Catholic education. I am fortunate to be able to reflect on the many joys that this position has afforded me. The greatest joy is the knowledge that our work has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of students over the past three decades. I am honored to have been a piece of the puzzle that has shaped the next generation of the faithful,” said Dr. Thomas Chadzutko.
Xaverian has also issued a press release today pertaining to this announcement as well as the selection of their new principal. The full release can be found here: https://xaverian.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/765/download/download_7659111.pdf
The Diocese of Brooklyn is home to 70 Catholic elementary academies and schools, as well as 15 Catholic high schools, throughout Brooklyn and Queens, with a combined enrollment of 30,894. There are 19,613 elementary students and 11,281 high school students. For more information regarding Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn, visit catholicschoolsbq.org.
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Bishop Robert Brennan has named Deacon Kevin McCormack as the new Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn effective July 1, 2022.
Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi–Nocera Umbra–Gualdo Tadino and of Foligno in Italy will be welcomed to the Diocese of Brooklyn for two special spiritual events next week as part of his visit to the United States with a First-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Acutis is the first millennial to be considered for Sainthood in the Catholic Church.
The First-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis is a fragment of the pericardium, the membrane that surrounded and protected his heart.
The prayer and veneration events scheduled include:
Monday, April 4 – 7:00 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Hour of Prayer
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
2325 Newtown Avenue, located in the Astoria section of Queens
Wednesday – April 6 – 12:00 p.m.
Diocese of Brooklyn High School Rally with Archbishop Sorrentino
Holy Family Roman Catholic Church
175-20 74th Avenue in the Fresh Meadows section of Queens
Last July, another First-class relic, strands of the hair of the Blessed Carlo Acutis, was received in the Diocese of Brooklyn at the request of then-Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio. Since then, the Diocese has brought that relic to schools and parishes for veneration, in an effort to inspire the youth to deepen their faith.
Members of the media are invited to attend and are asked to respond to this email to confirm their attendance.
A photo of the relic is attached.
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ABOUT CARLO ACUTIS
Carlo Acutis passed away at the age of 15 in 2006 after his battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Acutis, who attended Mass daily from the age of seven, designed a website listing “The Miracles of the Eucharist,” documenting every miracle throughout the world, associated with the bread and wine consecrated at Mass and transformed into the body and blood of Christ. The website can be found at http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/.
Since his death, Pope Francis has attributed a miracle to Carlo Acutis, which healed a boy with a malformed pancreas after the child came in contact with one of his shirts. Carlo could become a saint if a second verified miracle is attributed to him and is recognized by the Pope.
The First-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis is a fragment of the pericardium, the membrane that surrounded and protected his heart.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of Diocese of Brooklyn’s Auxiliary Bishop Paul R. Sanchez. The resignation was publicized in Washington on March 30, 2022, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
As required by Canon (Church) law, at the age of 75, all bishops must submit a letter of resignation from the ecclesiastical office that they hold. It is then a determination of the Holy See as to when to accept the resignation.
“Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Paul Sanchez has faithfully served God and his people throughout his ministry. The Catholic community of Brooklyn and Queens is better because of Bishop Sanchez’s commitment to teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for his guidance, and very much appreciate his will to remain as a spiritual leader here in our Diocese,” said the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.
“I give thanks to Almighty God for his abundant grace and mercy throughout my almost ten years as an auxiliary Bishop and my 50 years as a priest. I am grateful to Popes Benedict and Francis, and to Bishops DiMarzio and Brennan for their prayers and support. Countless priests, religious men and women, faithful parishioners and my beloved family have inspired and accompanied me in my journey of faith. For all that has been, I say, thank you God. For all that will be, may God’s will be done,” stated Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Paul R. Sanchez.
The Most Reverend Paul Sanchez was born November 26, 1946, in Brooklyn. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure’s University, a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Paul R. Sanchez was ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1971, at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Throughout his ministry, he was assigned to a number of parishes throughout the Diocese in both Brooklyn and Queens including Our Lady of Mercy in Forest Hills, St. Michael’s in Flushing, and St. Sebastian’s in Woodside. Then-Father Sanchez also served as pastor at St. Agatha’s in Brooklyn and at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Astoria, while also serving as administrator of St. Margaret Mary’s in Long Island City.
Then-Father Sanchez was named Vicariate Coordinator for the diocesan Liturgical Commission in January 1975. He also served as a member of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Presbyteral Council, a member of the diocesan team for ministry to priests, and a sub-committee member of the International Committee on English in the Liturgy.
In 1997, then-Father Sanchez was named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Saint John Paul II. On July 11, 2012, then-Monsignor Sanchez was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn. He previously served as an adjunct professor at St. John’s University and at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Sanchez will remain Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Forest Hills, where he has served since 2012, and serve as an Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
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Official Photo of Bishop Sanchez courtesy of DeSales Media.
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, led a Holy Hour of Prayer for Peace this morning, Friday, March 25, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James located at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn.
At Noon, Bishop Brennan consecrated Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Following the Act of Consecration, he celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, had asked all Bishops to join him spiritually in prayer today as he consecrated Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In the Catholic Church, to consecrate something is to make it sacred or holy. In the consecration of Ukraine and Russia, the Church is appealing to God, through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to answer prayers for an end to the war in Ukraine.
:38 Can you imagine that the whole world, everywhere in the world somebody is praying this prayer right now, begging God for peace, consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and really asking God that we too might be transformed, consecrate our own lives to the will of God.
1:03 CONSECRATION: O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young.
2:12 CONSECRATION: We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help! Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer.
Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.
Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation.
Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world.
Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness.
Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.
Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love.
Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity.
Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.
3:15 HOMILY: Here we did something a little bit different, we all stopped in place and joined together to be one, that sense of unity is part of the act of consecration, it’s not just one person offering prayer but of us all gathering together.”
3:38 HOMILY: Behold I come to do your will, that’s the consecration. You might say that is a little odd, we just did a worldwide prayer for peace, a nice gesture but what difference is it going to make? That’s an easy thing to think, nice thought, wouldn’t be great if it works, but no. We stopped with faith and we said, we really want this to happen, we want God’s will to reign, we want God’s will to come true. Well, you might say well nice but sounds kind of tough, but did you hear what the angel Gabriel said to Mary, his last words? He said nothing is impossible for God.”
Bishop Brennan prays for peace at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James.Bishop Brennan joins with Pope Francis and people throughout the world in the Consecration of Immaculate Heart of Mary to Ukraine and Russia, asking for God’s intercession and to bring peace.Bishop Brennan delivers his homily at the Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.Bishop Robert Brennan blessed a family who joined in praying for peace in Ukraine and Russia and celebrated the Mass of the Feast of the Annunciation.
The Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn is excited to announce that two Brooklyn Catholic schools won top honors at this past weekend’s First Lego League City Championship, which featured STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) projects from 75 Catholic and public schools from across the five boroughs.
St. Saviour Catholic Academy, in Park Slope, took home the First Place trophy, and St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy, in Windsor Terrace, placed second in the contest. The theme of the competition was “Cargo Connect,” with each team having to identify a problem and develop a program and robot to solve it.
The first-place winners, “The Demericorns,” from St. Saviour Catholic Academy’s Class 8A, will now be heading to the national competition in Texas this spring. The students’ project focused on mail delivery in medical facilities, looking to assist with the burden on medical staff and trying to limit potential contagion spread through the use of robots.
St. Saviour Catholic Academy Class 8B students, the “Car-Go Vroom” team, placed fourth in the First Lego League City Championship. These students designed a robot to help clean and care for cattle during the shipping process.
“A great big congratulations to our 8th grade First Lego League students and their coach, Mr. Christopher Demera, on their achievement! Yes, those 7:15 mornings paid off,” said Susan McCabe-Walsh, Principal of St. Saviour Catholic Academy.
St. Saviour Catholic Academy’s first-place winning team “The Demericorns” take a picture with their trophy.The two winning teams from St. Saviour Catholic Academy; “The Demericorns” which placed first in the competition, and the students from the “Car-Go Vroom” team which placed fourth in the First Lego League City Championship.Students from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy with their project on display at the competition.The second-place “Innovation Project Award” trophy was presented to the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy team.
Students of the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy’s eighth-grade robotics team, under the leadership of robotics coach and teacher Lisa Nitzsche, tackled the issue of package theft. Their project created a QR scanner that would allow delivery personnel into a mailbox, or a locker, outside of a home.
“It really ties in with caring for others and thinking of others. A lot of the robotics skills they learned through this project, the teamwork, the problem solving and research, and the use of different technologies, has prepared them for their education going forward,” said teacher Lisa Nitzsche.
The FIRST LEGO League guides students through STEM learning and exploration.
