FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

MAYOR ADAMS MAKES SPECIAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK VISIT

         Mayor Eric Adams visited a Brooklyn Catholic school today as part of this week’s national celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

The mayor met with students at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy in Bushwick. Student representatives from kindergarten to 8th grade presented his honor with a plaque, cards, photos and handwritten personal letters. The students wrote about their favorite subjects in school and many said they would pray for him. Mayor Adams shared with the students the fact that he prays every day, in the morning to start the day and before bed.

Mayor Adams also spoke at a school assembly, telling the students that Catholic education has always been a great foundation for inner city young people, while acknowledging their good fortune in being able to receive a solid educational foundation in faith and academics.

Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is a time dedicated each year to the celebration of Catholic education in the United States. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2022 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Schools in Brooklyn and Queens commemorated the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. These events allow schools to focus on the value of a Catholic education and its contribution to our Church, our communities and our nation.

VIDEO: Courtesy DeSales Media 

https://vimeo.com/673767757

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

BILINGUAL LIVE WAX MUSEUM PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S WEEK CELEBRATION
AT OUR LADY OF MERCY CATHOLIC ACADEMY

Fourth-grade students at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, located in the Forest Hills section of Queens, presented a Live Wax Museum today as they concluded their celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Academy students and parents had the opportunity to tour the student-created “museum.”

The display featured 22 figures from the past and present that come from Hispanic countries, including: baseball great Alex Rodriguez, the “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz, singer Bruno Mars, politician, and activist Evita Peron, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and famed artist Pablo Picasso.

As part of this Catholic Schools Week special project, students have studied the lives of these famed figures, created costumes, and prepared special presentation boards. The students posed and waited until visitors pushed the red button. Then they came alive and relayed important facts about their lives in both English and Spanish.

“This exhibit showcased who we are as a school community, with a group effort of parents, teachers, and students.  The students were able to utilize their research and public speaking skills to make these figures come to life. The students were so proud, and so was I, in what we accomplished today,” said Dana McCann, Principal of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy.

“This is a project that helps the students understand the real-world connection, that Spanish is not just a vocabulary list in a classroom. With this experience, our students learned that anyone from any part of the world can aspire to be a leader in their field,”  said Sandra Paz, the Spanish teacher at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy.

Photos attached of the figures on display in the Wax Museum including Paloma Picasso, Juan Martin Del Potro, Alex Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Sonia Sotomayor, Bruno Mars, Lionel Messi, and Alicia Alonso.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org 

BISHOP BRENNAN ACCEPTS RECOMMENDATION OF DIOCESAN REVIEW BOARD;
PASTOR REMOVED FROM MINISTRY

The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, announced today 54-year-old Father John O’Connor, Pastor of St Gregory the Great in Bellerose, Queens, has been removed from ministry.  The decision was made based on the recommendation of the independent Diocesan Review Board (DRB).

The DRB had been investigating the claims made in a Child Victims Act (CVA) lawsuit filed against Father John O’Connor on August 13, 2020. This investigation turned up new evidence concerning a March 2000 accusation detailing inappropriate internet communications with teenagers while assigned at St. Athanasius. As a result of this information, the Diocesan Review Board found sufficient information to substantiate allegations of sexual misconduct with minors via the internet and recommended Fr. John O’Connor’s removal from ministry.  

After that accusation in 2000, the Diocese of Brooklyn placed John O’Connor on leave to enable him to receive treatment from May 2000 to August 2001.  He returned to ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn in August of 2001 and continued treatment through 2005.

The removal from ministry means that he is no longer permitted to celebrate Mass publicly, cannot exercise any public ministerial duties, and cannot live in an ecclesiastical residence. His name will also be added to the List of Credibly Accused Priests on the Diocese of Brooklyn website.

Father John O’Connor was ordained on June 23, 1993, and completed post-graduate studies in Rome. He then served at the following parishes: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (BK), St. Athanasius, and St. Clare’s. He also served as Pastor at Incarnation and most recently at St. Gregory the Great, Queens. In 2014, Father John O’Connor was named the Director of the Liturgy Office for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The Diocese of Brooklyn takes all allegations of sexual misconduct with minors seriously and has instituted significant programs to prevent sexual abuse and protect children. In 2002, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops passed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which includes a Zero Tolerance policy that states any clergy member who is determined to be credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor is permanently removed from ministry. The Diocese also conducts initial and ongoing background checks of all employees and volunteers and provides age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness training for children and adults.

The Diocese of Brooklyn places great emphasis on providing pastoral care to victims. The Office of Victim Assistance Ministry provides supportive initial counseling, therapy referrals, and pastoral resources for the victims of sexual abuse.  The Diocese hosts a yearly Mass of Hope and Healing where the faithful come together and pray for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Anyone who has been the victim of clergy sexual abuse is encouraged to report it to law enforcement or to the Toll-Free Reporting Line established by the Diocese at 1-888-634-4499. All calls are forwarded to law enforcement officials.

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St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Academy Hosts Special Celebration

Brooklyn – St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church and St. Patrick’s Catholic Academy, hosted a special celebration of Christmas on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, to usher in the joy of the season.

The event began with an outdoor Christmas Concert featuring the students of St. Patrick’s Catholic Academy on the steps of the Academy. Following the musical performance, a fireworks display took place in the skies above the parish, and then Santa Claus arrived on a horse-drawn carriage.

Father Gerard Sauer is the Pastor of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. Ms. Kathleen Curatolo is the Principal of the Academy.

A Vimeo link can be found here: https://vimeo.com/656838857.

Restored Opera House Hosts “Spirit of Christmas” Concert

The “Spirit of Christmas Concert,” hosted by Futures in Education to raise money to support scholarships for Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn, took the stage last night at the newly renovated Emmaus Center in Williamsburg.

The concert featured a selection of Christmas and spiritual songs performed by contemporary Christian music artist and songwriter Matt Maher, and American operatic tenor Danny Rodriguez.  The show also featured entertainment from one of the three New York Tenors, Christopher Macchio, as well as movie star Daniel Roebuck.  Anthony Mangano, star of film and song, served as the Master of Ceremonies.

The newly refurbished and named 600-seat Emmaus Center is housed in the historic Williamsburg Opera House which was built in 1897. Many of the historical details of the theater were maintained in the renovation.

“This is a place that has strong history and tradition. I love the name Emmaus, because this is to be a place of encounter. People are going to encounter Jesus Christ through the arts and through encounters with one another.  I am so proud to be part of this grand opening, and for all of those who support Futures in Education, as students will have the chance to encounter Jesus and His love through the gift of a Catholic education,” said The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.

To learn more about the history, mission, and upcoming events at The Emmaus Center, visit emmausbrooklyn.org.

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO CELEBRATE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Brooklyn’s New Bishop to deliver Homily in Spanish

The Diocese of Brooklyn will mark the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a special Mass this afternoon to be celebrated by Brooklyn’s new Bishop, Robert Brennan, at 1:30 p.m., at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street, in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn. Retired Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros will concelebrate the Mass.

This joyous cultural celebration, organized every year by the Mexican Apostolate, will include Mariachis singing “Las Mañanitas” and the spectacular Lighting of the Torches at 2:30 p.m. in front of the Co-Cathedral. After the lighting, the torch-lit pilgrimages will begin heading to 38 churches in Brooklyn and Queens.

The Mass will be broadcast live on NET-TV beginning at 1:15 p.m. (Channel 30-Optimum, Channel 97-Spectrum, and Channel 548-Verizon FIOS) and live-streamed on www.netny.tv.

Members of the media are invited to attend. To RSVP, please email Adriana Rodriguez at arodriguez@desalesmedia.org or text at 646-241-9805.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

BISHOP ROBERT J. BRENNAN INSTALLED AS THE EIGHTH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

Bishop Robert J. Brennan was installed as the Eighth Bishop of Brooklyn at a Mass of Installation at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn Tuesday afternoon.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, presided at the Installation Mass. Bishop Brennan, who has led the Diocese of Columbus since 2019, was named by Pope Francis to succeed Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on September 29, 2021.

In attendance for the celebration were 45 Bishops, including 2 Cardinals, more than 300 priests and 100 deacons.

“The world is found in Brooklyn and Queens, every language, every nationality, we truly are the Diocese of Immigrants; and together with the Joy of the Gospel, we are all called to be like Andrew and work together to share the Good News, to tell others about Jesus; to share the loaves and the fish that we have, so that God will use what we have and miracles will take place.  Each community renews and reinvigorates this local church with the freshness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” preached Bishop Brennan in his homily.

Highlights of the Mass included Bishop Brennan knocking on the doors of the Co-Cathedral, and being let in by the rectors of both the Cathedral Basilica of St. James and the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, who received the new bishop at the doors of the Co-Cathedral.  Bishop Raymond Chappetto, Vicar General, presented Bishop Brennan with a crucifix to be kissed.  Bishop Neil Tiedemann, Auxiliary Bishop, then presented him with the aspergillum, the liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water, first on himself and then on those present.

Bishop DiMarzio then welcomed everyone to St. Joseph’s for this joyful occasion. The ceremony then began with Cardinal Dolan greeting the people and inviting the apostolic letter to be read by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pierre. After the reading, Bishop Brennan showed the letter to the College of Consultors, the Chancellor, the Curia, and the faithful.

Bishop Brennan then sat in the Cathedra, the Bishop’s teaching chair, and was presented with the Crozier (a hooked staff).  The cathedra now bears Bishop Brennan’s coat of arms. After this, Bishop Brennan greeted various representatives of the diocese, both clergy and laity.  Then the celebration of the Eucharist began.

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Photos 1-7 – Courtesy: Diocese of Brooklyn/Jeffrey Bruno

Photos 8-10 – Courtesy: Diocese of Brooklyn/John Quaglione

*** If you need a higher resolution photo, please reach out to me directly ***