Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio

‘The Scourge of Pornography’ by Bishop DiMarzio

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March 25, 2015 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep,” Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet”

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

As we begin Holy Week, with the celebration of Palm Sunday, sometimes called Passion Sunday, we recognize that a modern-day passion event is unfolding in our society. The release of the movie version of the book “Fifty Shades of Grey” has brought to our national attention a problem that has been brewing for over a generation, which is the justification and mainstreaming of pornography.

Christian anthropology understands that human nature and our sexual nature must be treated with consummate care, otherwise it can lead to our downfall. In the garden of paradise, Adam and Eve’s recognition that they are naked is a consequence of the loss of original innocence due to sin which was not intended by God but because of our first parents’ pride and disobedience.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Members of the Clergy Partner With the Diocese of Brooklyn To Sponsor a Mass of Hope And Healing

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Survivors of sexual abuse by members of the clergy have partnered with the Diocese of Brooklyn to sponsor a Mass of Hope and Healing on Wednesday, April 15th at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, 250 Cathedral Place, Downtown Brooklyn.

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will be the main celebrant and homilist.

“There has been much darkness in the past regarding this issue, but it must come out into the light,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “We must own up to past mistakes and seek to heal those who have been abused, and I must take this opportunity to publicly thank those who have come forward to help us shed light into the darkness of this most serious issue. These survivors have shown us that there is hope for healing and have helped us to identify the pastoral resources which our Diocese makes available to assist them on their journey.”

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‘Praying With Survivors of Sexual Abuse’ By Bishop DiMarzio

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March 18, 2015 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep,” Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Over the course of my ten years as Bishop of Brooklyn, I have been meeting with survivors of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. Each encounter is heart wrenching for me, as their bishop, to listen to their stories and to apologize in the name of the Church, and to offer my own personal support for their journey towards healing. On April 15, our Diocese will take another step in the healing process, when a Mass of Hope and Healing is offered at 7 p.m at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.

This type of Mass has been celebrated in other dioceses, and the survivors, themselves, have asked that we do the same. Our Diocese of Brooklyn is committed to the spiritual and emotional well-being of victims who become survivors, and what an important way to begin with this focus group of survivors who have shared with us what would be meaningful to them.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

“Meeting Needs Around The World” by Bishop DiMarzio

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March 11, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This weekend, March 14 and 15, the Diocese of Brooklyn will take up the Catholic Relief Services Collection that funds six Catholic agencies that work to serve our suffering brothers and sisters around the world. Through humanitarian aid, resettling displaced individuals and families, and providing legal and advocacy services for migrants, the Catholic Relief Services Collection allows us to see every encounter with a person who is suffering as an opportunity to help Jesus in disguise, a term coined and made popular by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Catholic Relief Services was there for the Typhoon in the Philippines and still assists in the reconstruction process.

Catholic Relief Services is present in assisting the refugees from Syria and other countries in the Middle East who flee for their lives and take with them nothing but the clothes on their backs, and whatever they can carry.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

Statement of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on the Passing of Cardinal Egan

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Cardinal_EganThe Diocese of Brooklyn joins all New Yorkers in extending our condolences to Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of New York on the passing of Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York. The Cardinal was a good friend of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are in the shadow of Manhattan. Yet, Cardinal Egan always was sensitive and respectful of the dignity of the Diocese and the Catholic Community here in the outer boroughs. He never failed to make the time to be present with us at pivotal moments in the life of the Diocese. Moreover, he both advocated for and celebrated the life of the church in Brooklyn and Queens.

He will be missed.

“Exploring The Genius Of Women” By Bishop DiMarzio

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March 4, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Several weeks ago, the Pontifical Council for Culture conducted a conference entitled “The Feminine Cultures: Equality and Difference.” The conference, held by this Vatican department, was meant to bring understanding to the role of women in our culture and in our Church.

This Council had a great influence on the direction of the New Evangelization, especially by bringing forth the concept of encountering cultures and different ideas in neutral places. They used the phrase, “the Courtyard of the Gentiles” to describe a place where those who do not believe can be encountered. The image comes from the Temple of Jerusalem which had a special courtyard dedicated for worship by Gentiles who wished to come to the Temple to pray. Gentiles were not allowed to enter the Temple precincts; however, they could pray in this one space allocated to them. The Council for Culture has endeavored to engage in dialogue atheists and others who do not share our theology or culture.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

Support the Diocese’s Good Works by Bishop DiMarzio

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February 25, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

As the Lenten season begins, I reach out to you, the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens, to ask your assistance in supporting the ministries of the Diocese of Brooklyn through a gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal. On behalf of those we serve in our diocese, I take this time to thank you for your generous response to the 2014 Annual Catholic Appeal and ask you to commit yourself to helping the Diocese reach our 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal goal.

The 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal, Share The Joy of The Gospel, has been inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical “The Joy of The Gospel,” which reminds us of the joy we receive when we bring the Good News to others. Our Holy Father reminds us that the things which make us happy should bring happiness to others. The 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal is one way for all who call Brooklyn and Queens home to share the joy of the Gospel, bringing Christ’s message to our neighbors by giving as generously as one is able.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

There’s Danger in the Distractions of Devil

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February 18, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brother and sisters in the Lord,

As we begin the season of Lent, the Rite of Election on the first Sunday of Lent is perhaps one of the highlights of the Liturgical Year in the Diocese of Brooklyn. For those who are to be Baptized and fully initiated on Easter, their journey begins in earnest during this 40-day period.

On this first Sunday of Lent, we gather them together and challenge them with the Word of God which always, on the first Sunday of Lent, concerns the temptations of Jesus. Those who wish to be Baptized will be departing from a life dominated by Original Sin, and offer themselves up to the grace of God. Those to be fully initiated will receive Communion and Confirmation on Easter. It is truly a life-changing experience for them.

In our own diocese, the statistics are overwhelming, as they are nationally. In our country each year, almost 250,000 people are Baptized, or fully initiated. In this diocese, the numbers are normally 1,000. This year, we have 480 Elect, those who will be receiving baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, 555 will be completing their initiation through Confirmation and Eucharist, and 44 will be coming into full communion into the Catholic Church, as well as 79 children, for a total of 1,079.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

Bishop DiMarzio To Celebrate Ash Wednesday

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On Wednesday, February 18th, the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, will celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at noon at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, 250 Cathedral Place, Downtown Brooklyn.

To mark the beginning of the Lenten Season, Bishop DiMarzio will bless and distribute ashes on the foreheads of congregants during the Mass. “The season of Lent is the time when we are asked to firm up our faith, when we are to give special attention to training our will so that we can love God all the more,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day Christian observance in the liturgical year that ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days of the year that lead to Easter Sunday: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.

As is customary, the ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday will come from the burning of the blessed branches used on Palm Sunday of the previous year. Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, is the Sunday before Easter that commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week. This year, Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 5.

“Be Of Strong Heart During Lent” by Bishop DiMarzio

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February 11, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Next Wednesday, Feb. 18, we begin the season of Lent, the time when we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Easter Mystery. It is a time of preparation which over the centuries has taken many different forms.

In the Message for Lent that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has issued this year, he has taken the theme: “Make your hearts firm.” (Jas 5:8) The season of Lent is the time when we are asked to firm up our faith, when we are to give special attention to training our will so that we can love God all the more. The phrase “make your hearts firm” has special meaning to me because five-and-a-half years ago I underwent quadruple bypass surgery. One of the wonderful gifts one receives following this surgery is a red heart-shaped pillow which is needed to hold tight to your chest whenever you cough since you do feel that you are coming apart. Quadruple bypass surgery entails breaking the sternum, commonly called the breastbone, for the surgery. It takes many months for that bone to heal and to this day I still feel the wires which were put in place to keep it together.

The pillow has a special meaning, as it is called the “Brave Heart Pillow.” Yes, your heart must be brave to undergo that type of operation. And so it is with Lent, we have that brave heart, for without brave hearts we will have wills that are weak and we will not be allowed to follow the will of God. As Pope Francis says in his Lenten Message, “As a way of overcoming indifference and our pretensions of self-sufficiency, I would invite you all to live this Lent as an opportunity for engaging in what Benedict XVI called a formation of the heart (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 31). A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God. A head which lets itself be pieced by the Spirit so as to bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters. And, ultimately, a poor heart, one which realizes its own poverty and gives itself freely for others.”

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.