All Diocese of Brooklyn Schools and Academies will be closed on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, due to the Winter Storm Stella which is expected to deposit 12-20 inches of snow in the New York City area.

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Issuing Office: New York City
Source: National.Weather.Service
4:18am EDT, Mon Mar 13

… BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT TUESDAY NIGHT… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT TUESDAY NIGHT. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * LOCATIONS… METROPOLITAN NEW YORK CITY AND NEW JERSEY, WESTERN LONG ISLAND, SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER, SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD, SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN, NORTHERN MIDDLESEX, AND NORTHERN NEW LONDON COUNTIES. * HAZARD TYPES… HEAVY SNOW AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. SNOW MAY MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO SLEET AND RAIN ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN COASTAL AREAS LATE TUESDAY MORNING INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS… 12 TO 20 INCHES… HIGHEST AMOUNTS TO THE NORTH AND WEST. * SNOWFALL RATES… 2 TO 4 INCHES PER HOUR EARLY TUESDAY MORNING INTO EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * TIMING… LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY EVENING. * IMPACTS… DANGEROUS TRAVEL DUE TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. SEVERAL ROADS MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE. POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLE. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE ACROSS LONG ISLAND AND COASTAL CONNECTICUT. * WINDS… NORTHEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS 40 TO 55 MPH ON TUESDAY. HIGHEST WINDS ACROSS COASTAL AREAS. * TEMPERATURES… IN THE UPPER 20S. * VISIBILITIES… ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS… MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED… STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

 

In his weekly column Put Out Into The Deep published in The Tablet newspaper, The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn writes about several aspects of immigration reform now facing the United States. Read more »

Feb. 13, 2017 – More than 44,000 Americans end their own lives each year, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. That makes suicide the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States.  Clearly, suicide touches the lives of so many families and yet, it’s a topic that is rarely discussed candidly.

On Monday, Feb. 13 at 8:30 p.m., NET TV will start airing a special program entitled, The Truth About Suicide.  Currents Anchor Liz Faubles hosts a panel discussion about the pain that leads so many to end their own lives, and how their loved ones can find a path to healing. Her guests include: Read more »

All Diocese of Brooklyn Schools and Academies will be closed on February 9, 2017 due to the snowstorm which is expected to deposit 8″-12″ of snow in the New York City area. Read more »

Father Pizzo did share the meme in question on his personal facebook page. He says he intended it as satire only, regrets the offense it has caused, and has deleted it. Suicide is, indeed, a serious subject and this post does not, in any way, represent the view of the church.

Diocese of Brooklyn

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“I apologize for the hurt that I have caused over a Facebook post. I never intended it to get this kind of reaction and I regret posting it. I have been a priest for 40 years and my goal has always been to bring Christ to the people. I am pro-life and any reference to suicide is contrary to my beliefs, therefore, making my post completely inappropriate. Again, please accept my sincerest apology.”

Fr. Philip J. Pizzo
St. Benedict Joseph Labre Parish

On Friday, January 27, 2017, officials at St. John’s Cemetery at 80-01 Metropolitan Ave. in Queens, called police around 3 p.m. after a groundskeeper heard a gunshot and noticed an elderly man lying near a gravesite. Police and paramedics soon arrived. The man was transported to the hospital and we do not know his condition. Many of the employees at the cemetery know the man because he visits his late wife’s grave often. We are saddened about happened and are praying for him and his family.

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On Friday, January 27, 2017, the Diocese of Brooklyn is joining the 44th annual March for Life Rally in Washington, D.C. Parishioners, students, youth ministry groups, and clergy from Brooklyn and Queens are in the National Mall for the rally that begins at noon.

Read more »

Brazen vandals attacked the exterior of Sacred Hearts – St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church located at 108 Carroll St. in Carroll Gardens on Sunday morning, Jan. 22, while parishioners were inside celebrating mass. Read more »

Saint Agatha School, located at 736 40^th Street in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, will permanently close after the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year. The school serves children from pre-K to eighth grade. Father Vincentius Do, pastor of St. Agatha Parish and Principal Maximo Catala made the announcement during a meeting with parents on Tuesday, January 10.

Read more »

On Saturday, January 14, 2017, Rafael Diaz was arrested by the NYPD for the alleged sexual assault of a parishioner who attends Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Queens. The church was not aware that Diaz, who was the musical director at the church, was hired by the alleged victim’s parents to give their child private music lessons at their home.  On Thursday, January 12, 2017, the alleged victim’s father came to the church and reported that Mr. Diaz had sexually abused his daughter during private lessons. Diocesan officials immediately contacted the NYPD and are cooperating with authorities during the investigation. Mr. Diaz’s employment was terminated upon his arrest. The Diocese of Brooklyn takes the protection of children very seriously. It performs criminal background checks on every employee and volunteer. It also requires them, as well as minors, to complete ongoing training for the prevention of sexual abuse.