Brooklyn

Fall 2014 School of Evangelization Guidebook

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2014-10-01_12-11-11The staff of the School of Evangelization has published the first edition of its Guidebook for September 2014 to January 2015. This Guide was created to provide information relating to the various programs, courses, events, and initiatives of the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), and the Pastoral Institute. The Guidebook is available online at www.bqonlineformation.org; click on the Resource tab to access the Guidebook link.

A new Guidebook will be published in January and July of each year. Printed copies of the Guidebook will be available free of charge to order and will be available for pickup at the School of Evangelization Inaugural Gathering on September 18, 2014 at Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians Church in Woodside. Please email Christine Georgi at cgeorgi@diobrook.org to place your order (limit of 20 copies per parish/school/academy).

Please contact Ted Musco, Executive Director of the School of Evangelization with any questions at 718.965.7300 or tmusco@diobrook.org.

 

Announcing the RCIA Spirit of Faith Online Tool

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On September 18, 2014, during the School of Evangelization Inaugural Gathering, the Diocese of Brooklyn launched the new RCIA Spirit of Faith Online Supplement. The tool was created by the School of Evangelization in collaboration with My Catholic Faith Delivered, and is used by those participating in the parish Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process as an aid to learn more about the Faith. It can also be used as a lectionary-based Adult Faith Formation opportunity by anyone, anytime.

A Course Alignment Schedule is available for each of the twenty-eight weeks; the cost of $59.00 includes a lesson a week for 28 weeks. There are fifty free subscriptions available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please see the flyer for details.

For more information, contact Ted Musco, Executive Director for the School of Evangelization at 718.965.7300, ext. 5417 or tmusco@diobrook.org.

St. Michael’s Guild

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StMichael 355x369Ever wish you could explore the Catholic faith more but never had the chance? Well now you do!

Come and join many others like yourself! All individuals, aged 18 to 35, male or female, are invited to meet up for some faith filled fun! St. Michael’s Guild meets on the first Wednesday of every month: Oct. 1, Nov. 5, and Dec. 3 in 2014 and Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 4, Apr. 1, and May 6 in 2015.

The guild has plenty of fun activities including a book club, trips and excursions, prayer groups, Liturgy and worship, movies, media, and so much more!

The first meeting is on the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, Wednesday, October 1, fro 7:30 – 8:30 PM in the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.

If you’re interested or have any questions, email stmichaelsguild@diobrook.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/St.Michaelsguild.

Catholic Migration Services Honors Immigrants in Fund Dinner

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The Catholic Migration Services will be holding two fundraising dinners. The Shining Stars Award Dinners will be held at Gargiulo’s Restaurant in Brooklyn on October 3rd and October 10th and will benefit and celebrate the immigrant parishioners that contribute daily in our Brooklyn and Queens communities.

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Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will preside over the events of the evening which begin with cocktails at 6:30 PM followed by the dinner and awards at 7:30.

Catholic Migration Services provides comprehensive pastoral, educational, advocacy and legal services to advance equality and social justice in the changing and diverse population of our Diocese.

You can download and print a flyer with further information and sponsorship opportunities here.

Fifth Annual Benefit Dinner for the Eparchy of St. Maron

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Maronite Catholics and friends from the greater New York area will gather on Thursday, October 23, at the Archdiocese of New York Building (1011 First Avenue) for the Fifth Annual Benefit Dinner for the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. The evening will begin with a Cocktail Reception with hors d’oeuvres at 6:00pm, to be followed by Dinner at 7:30pm. Individual tickets cost $250 each. Table sponsorships are available at $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000. Additional donations are encouraged. Over 200 guests are expected.

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. Thank you and welcome!”

An added feature of this year’s Benefit Dinner is that it will honor Claire Habib, is a faithful and devoted member of the Maronite community in the New York area.

The Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn comprises 43 parishes, a Seminary, a Convent, a Monastery and the Maronite faithful in 16 states located along the East Coast of the United States from Maine to Florida. It is directly under the jurisdiction of Pope Francis.

Further information may be found at www.stmaron.org or by emailing saintmaron@yahoo.com.

“Radio Evangelization on the Air” by Bishop DiMarzio

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September 24, 2014 – Excerpted from Put Out Into The Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

The message of Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, to evangelize has been strong and consistent: “Go forth.” In a time when so many Catholics have drifted away from the Church, we have to live by Pope Francis’ word to spread the Joy of the Gospel. I am pleased to announce our efforts as a Diocese to help in this task.

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph and St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of the DeSales Media Group, we have been able to help one of the largest Catholic radio stations in the U.S. to reach our community. Relevant Radio succeeded in acquiring WNSW 1430 AM. Because of this acquisition, Catholic programming is now available to the whole greater New York City metropolitan area.

The 14-year-old network follows the mission to assist the Church in the New Evangelization, helping people bridge the gap between faith and everyday life. With its live interactive programs – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – and with 70 hours of original programming by award-winning hosts each week, Relevant Radio seeks to inspire and transmit a message of hope while promoting the teachings of our Church. Previously aired shows are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on www.relevantradio.com. We can listen to the radio in the car, while we are at work or at home.

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

Catholic Radio Arrives in New York City

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Desales-RRThanks to support from DeSales Media Group, Relevant Radio is now available in the greater New York City area via the acquisition of WNSW 1430 AM. Relevant Radio is the nation’s largest independent Catholic radio broadcasting network, and will reach an additional 16 million people through 1430 AM, which joins 35 other stations in the network for a total audience reach of 48.6 million people.

“In the tri-state area, almost 45 percent of the people are Catholics. We have potential for a lot of listeners. I am sure they will find a place of learning and understanding in Relevant Radio,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, when giving his blessing to the radio station.

“We are thrilled to be in the nation’s number one media market,” said Father Francis J. Hoffman, Executive Director of the 14 year-old network which is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. “Our mission has always been to help people bridge the gap between faith and everyday life, and we look forward to expanding our message to a new audience.”

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Opera Singers Interpret Ongoing Middle East Conflict at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

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MIA PHOTO 1On Friday, September 26th, the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific St. in Prospect Heights, will be home to a new opera series by the vibrant indie company Opera Oggi New York.

Made in America is a set of one-act operas with storyline, text and music by Thomas Lawrence Toscano, founder of the singer-run company. The opera mini-series will bring some of New York City’s most exciting young opera singers to produce what has been described as a truly captivating performance.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph invited the independent company to perform Made in America, Episode 1: The Interview. “It is a great initiative. We wanted to help this great group of talented musicians raise awareness on the current crisis of the Middle East. As a welcoming Church, we support all types of artistic expressions that share our same concerns,” said Monsignor Kieran Harrington, Vicar for Communications of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Rector of the Co-Cathedral.

The opera performance will tell the story of two women: Anat, a Jewish woman living in West Jerusalem, and Alzubra, a Muslim woman converted from a Presbyterian Maryland upbringing now living in East Jerusalem. After meeting, they realize they share a dual tragedy, one with life bonding similarities. As their friendship grows, they discover that they both have lost two young children each to the violence around them. In their grief they decide to create an organization called Mu-Je-Lif, Muslim and Jewish Women for Life. Concerned, but, not overly so, the U.S. Dept. of Defense sends a journalist, a Public Affairs Officer on leave in the Holy Land, to hear their story. What follows, The Interview, transforms all three of them as it unfolds to its deeply powerful conclusion.

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“Catholic School’s Remain Strong” by Bishop DiMarzio

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September 10, 2014 – Excerpted from Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

Recently in an address at the Vatican to students and teachers, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, shared that “schools are a precious means for making a contribution to the progress of the Church and of society as a whole.”

Within the Diocese of Brooklyn, we are blessed with 84 Catholic elementary schools/academies, three religious congregational or private Catholic institutions and 18 Catholic high schools. This week, I welcome all of you to a new academic year and wish to share, in particular, an update on elementary education here in Brooklyn and Queens.

Christ is at the heart of Catholic education, and the Holy Spirit always gives life to the heart. And, the heart of Catholic education within Brooklyn and Queens can be seen as the Preserving the Vision strategic planning process for Catholic education within the Diocese. Preserving the Vision sets forth priorities for Catholic education including strengthened Catholic identity and academic excellence, increased enrollment, enhanced instruction, stabilized infrastructure of school buildings and strengthened leadership and collaboration.

Additionally, Preserving the Vision highlights the commitment of academies and schools to the New Evangelization “in order to meet the challenges which today’s society and changing cultures are posing to the faith.”

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