Statement of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio On the Murder of Two NYPD Officers

The Catholic Community in Brooklyn and Queens joins me in praying for the repose of souls of Police Officer Wenjian Liu and Police Officer Rafael Ramos. We offer our sincere condolences to the families of our fallen Police Officers and pray earnestly for their consolation. Each day, 35,000 of our fellow citizens put on blue uniforms and patrol the streets of our city to keep us safe. Each deserves our prayers and gratitude. These finest of men and women will undoubtedly continue to patrol and keep us safe by the strength of their service.

As we face monstrous evil, it sometimes seems as though the light has been extinguished for our world. As people of faith, we believe that it is precisely into this unexplainable situation that God comes to make His home. Emmanuel, “God is with us,” and so we are convinced that a “light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it.” Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of our Police Officers, pray for us.

NET TV Announces Special Christmas Programming

Today, New Evangelization Television (NET TV), announced its special programming for the Christmas Season.

On Saturday, December 20th, A Christmas Variety Special will bring all the fun and entertainment of the season in one hour of holiday cheer. Premiering at 8 p.m, with encores throughout the week, the program will be hosted by actor Anthony Mangano, from the award winning series City of Churches, and co-hosted by comedian Joe Manno, from CBS-TV’s Emmy Award winning Afternoon Special: All In One. A Christmas Variety Special is a family oriented program that features a unique concept in holiday entertainment that is rarely seen on television anymore. Not only does it include popular holiday tunes and humorous comedy sketches, but also traditional religious themes and carols. Guest stars include Lenny Venito from ABC-TV’s hit show The Neighbors, Lou Martini Jr. from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Jimmy Palumbo from HBO’s The Sopranos, Joe D’Onofrio from the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?, Mario Bosco from ABC-TV’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, plus a special appearance by Santa Claus.

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ENDOW Facilitator Training

To All Pastors, Administrators, and Catechetical Leaders:

We are blessed to begin ENDOW Study Groups for Women in the Diocese of Brooklyn. ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) is an international Catholic study group that engages the intellect and hearts of women and girls to help them understand their God-given dignity and respond to our culture’s desperate need for an authentic feminine presence in every aspect of life and society. These groups will serve as excellent opportunities for evangelization and renewal and will be highlighted in our upcoming Diocesan Springboard Plan 2015-2018 for Evangelization and Renewal entitled The Joy of Encountering Christ–The Family’s Hope.

Please send at least one person from your parish who will lead your parish/deanery group to the facilitator training session that will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.

Please see the attached flyer for important registration information. Space is limited, so please register early. The registration fee is $25.00 per person attending the training and includes all training materials.

For more information, contact Ted Musco at (718) 965-7300 ext. 2417

 

Apostolado Mexicano Honrará a la Virgen De Guadalupe Con Tradicional Peregrinación

El Apostolado Mexicano de la Diócesis de Brooklyn llevará a cabo el tradicional peregrinaje Antorcha Guadalupana este viernes 12 de diciembre para conmemorar el Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

Monseñor Nicholas DiMarzio, Obispo de Brooklyn, dará inicio a las celebraciones con la Santa Misa, a las 12 p.m. en la Co-Catedral de San José – 856 Pacific Street, Prospect Heights. La homilía será ofrecida en español por Monseñor Octavio Cisneros, Obispo Auxiliar de Brooklyn. Inmediatamente después de la Misa, los clérigos bendecirán las antorchas que serán encendidas a los pies de la Co-Catedral de San José, para proseguir con la peregrinación a las parroquias participantes de Brooklyn y Queens. Los peregrinos llevarán las antorchas a sus parroquias correspondientes, al son de cánticos y oraciones de amor y paz.

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Mexican Apostolate to Honor Our Lady of Guadalupe With Traditional Torch Pilgrimage

On Friday, December 12, the Mexican Apostolate of the Diocese of Brooklyn will hold a traditional torch pilgrimage commemorating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will start the celebration with Holy Mass at 12 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, Prospect Heights. He will be joined by Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros, who will deliver the Spanish homily. Following Mass, the torches will be blessed and lit up on the front steps of the Co-Cathedral before the pilgrimage proceeds to the different participating parishes throughout Brooklyn and Queens. The pilgrims will carry the torches as they sing, pray and spread messages of hope and love on their way back to their parishes.

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“Building a More Just City” by Bishop DiMarzio

December 10, 2014 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet.

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Democracies offer citizens the right of assembly, regress, and the ability to protest issues that are not favorable to its citizens. Recently, we have seen examples of both peaceful and not so peaceful protests. In Hong Kong, far from us, we have seen in the last month, protests, especially among students, trying to get the attention of the communist leaders in Beijing to allow open and democratic elections in Hong Kong. Even the retired Cardinal in Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, is involved in these peaceful demonstrations. Recently, he and other adult leaders of this protest movement have turned themselves into the government in order to avoid any repression or bloodshed, mindful of the terrible memory of Tiananmen Square when the communist forces killed many demonstrators over two decades ago.

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

Opera OggiNY Announce Production of Hansel and Gretel With Special Holiday Pricing

Opera Oggi New York will offer a performance of this fairy tale masterpiece with exceptional artists whose mission it is to connect with new audiences of all ages. As soon as the overture of this perennial Christmas favorite begins, it is clear Humperdinck’s music is some of the most well-known and most accessible in all of opera. Hansel and Gretel tells the story of what is most likely the most famous of all fairy tales, and carries with it messages of love, growth and children rising above adversity. This opera is surely one of the best by which to introduce new comers to this incredible art form and further it is one wherein families can both enjoy and create bonds of shared experiences that last a lifetime.

The performance of the opera take place on Thursday, December 11 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph at 7 PM. And as a thank you to their wonderful audiences, they are offering discounted prices as a holiday gift. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 16. You can pay at the door or through PayPal at operaogginy.info.

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