Press Releases

Bishop DiMarzio Says First Responders Putting their Lives on the Line Represent the Resurrection Experience this Easter

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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Bishop DiMarzio Says First Responders Putting their Lives on the Line

Represent the Resurrection Experience this Easter

 

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, released the following Easter video message for the members of the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens.

 

Bishop DiMarzio talks about the Resurrection and how today, as we are living through COVID-19, we are experiencing the Resurrection all around us. We are experiencing the hope and love which we see in the Resurrection today in the work of our first responders on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

“What are those Resurrection experiences? Well, there are those who have gotten better from the COVID virus. Unfortunately, there are those who have died, and they too have a Resurrection experience, one that we do not see, as the ones who were getting better; we saw their Resurrection. And finally, we see the Resurrection experiences in the good work of those who are the first responders, those who are our ambulance workers, our fire department, our police, our doctors, our nurses, all of whom are putting their lives on the line to help those who are in danger of death. This is all a Resurrection experience,” said DiMarzio.

The Bishop acknowledged this virtual Easter is not what we would have liked, but that we need to make the best of it because hope is what and how we believe the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we are about to celebrate.

“I want to thank all of the first responders in a special way. You are giving us hope. We need that hope, that hope that comes from the Resurrected Lord but also that we see in the good of people around us.”

The link of the full video can be found on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Vimeo page at

https://vimeo.com/406687361.

 

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ST. SEBASTIAN CHURCH CHOIR VIRTUALLY SINGS OF JESUS’ WALK TO CRUCIFIXION

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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ST. SEBASTIAN CHURCH CHOIR VIRTUALLY SINGS OF JESUS’ WALK TO CRUCIFIXION

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn, on this Good Friday, is releasing a video of the choir at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, located in the Woodside section of Queens, virtually singing “Via Dolorosa,” which translates from Latin to English as “Sorrowful Way.”

The Via Dolorosa is believed to be the path that Jesus walked through Jerusalem to His Crucifixion on Calvary. The choir’s virtual performance has added to this year’s celebration of Holy Week for the parishioners of St. Sebastian.

“We are separated in our location but we are together in God’s spirit,” said Bryan Kwon, Music Director at St. Sebastian.

 

The link to the video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/406300786

 

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The Brooklyn Diocese Unites the Faithful this Easter via TV and online Masses in Seven Languages to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

The Brooklyn Diocese Unites the Faithful this Easter via TV and online Masses

in Seven Languages to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

 

Today, Holy Saturday, the Church commemorates the time Jesus spent in the tomb. Then, after sunset, Easter Vigil Services throughout Brooklyn and Queens will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. With the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing our churches to be closed this Easter, the Diocese of Brooklyn has embraced the challenge to keep us all connected during these holy days.

Parishioners can spiritually join in the Diocesan Easter Vigil which will be celebrated tonight at 8 p.m., live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn. The Mass will be celebrated in English, with readings in six additional languages – Spanish, Italian, Polish, Korean, Chinese and Creole.

On Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, the Mass of our Lord’s Resurrection will be celebrated in seven languages – live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. The schedule is as follows:

 

8:00 a.m.    Italian Mass

9:00 a.m.    Creole Mass

10:00 a.m.  Polish Mass

11:00 a.m.  English Mass

12:00 p.m.  Spanish Mass

1:00 p.m.    Korean Mass

2:00 p.m.    Mandarin Chinese Mass

Live Masses from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph are televised on NET-TV, the cable channel of the Diocese of Brooklyn. NET-TV can be seen in the New York City area on Spectrum-channel 97, Optimum-channel 30, and Verizon FIOS-channel 48. The Masses will also be streamed on our website at dioceseofbrooklyn.org/masses.

 

Additionally, WABC-TV will provide live coverage of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Easter Sunday English Mass at 11 a.m. on its “localish” channel – 7.2 over the air. The localish channel can be seen on Optimum channel 110, Verizon FIOS channel 467, Charter (Spectrum) channel 1240, Comcast channel 790, and RCN channel 618. Sunday’s mass will also be streamed on abc7NY.com.

 

 

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QUEENS CATHOLIC FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYS VIRTUAL GAME OF CATCH

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

QUEENS CATHOLIC FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYS VIRTUAL GAME OF CATCH

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn today is releasing a video of the members of the 7th-grade football team at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy, located in the Bayside section of Queens, “catching up” digitally.

The video, set to the Sam Brown and Jay-Z song “On to the Next One,” shows members of the team virtually throwing the football to each other.  In the video, one student is shown using hand sanitizer before virtually passing off the football to his teammate. The next player who catches the football sprays the ball with disinfectant before keeping the game of catch going.

The Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy football players created this unique way to play a game of virtual catch during the absence of sports due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The link to the video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/405995456

 

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Feet of First Responders Symbolically Washed at Holy Thursday Mass

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

Feet of First Responders Symbolically Washed at Holy Thursday Mass

NYPD, FDNY, Doctor, and Nurse Among Those Represented

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Holy Thursday Mass commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist and usually includes the Washing of the Feet of 12 people from among a parish community, imitating Jesus’ washing the feet of the 12 Apostles at the Last Supper.

At tonight’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which took place at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, an NYPD police captain, an FDNY paramedic, a doctor, a nurse, a social worker, a parent, and the parish’s sacristan were asked to participate at the Mass in a symbolic Washing of the Feet.

“When I think of the priesthood and the models of the priesthood tonight, I think of these people who sit before you. Because they are really the priests in our midst, they make a sacrifice and that sacrifice is themselves and they do that for you and for me and that is what the Gospel mandates,” said Reverend Monsignor Kieran E. Harrington, Vicar for Communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn and Rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Monsignor Harrington was the main celebrant at tonight’s Mass. Father Israel Perez and Father Pascal Louis concelebrated the Mass.

 

Video of tonight’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=JuMXUkLsCC0&feature=emb_logo

Courtesy: DeSales Media Group/NET-TV

17:51 – Homily by Monsignor Harrington talking about the New Yorkers present for Symbolic Washing of the Feet

20:07 Kieran Harrington, Msgr. Harrington’s father

20:36 Police Captain Dominguez, NYPD 77 pct.

21:19 Cody Gottach, FDNY EMS Batt 59

22:45 Austen, Doctor

23:30 Lilia Figueroa, Nurse

24:12 James Moses, Social worker

26:54 Miguel Perez, Parish Sacristan

 

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The Diocese of Brooklyn Announces Schedule of Holy Triduum Masses/Services on NET-TV

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

The Diocese of Brooklyn Announces Schedule of Holy Triduum Masses/Services on NET-TV

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As we enter into the holiest days on the Christian calendar, the Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing its plans to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

There are several opportunities to join spiritually together in prayer beginning tonight, Holy Thursday, with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Live Masses from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph will be televised on NET-TV, the cable channel of the Diocese of Brooklyn. NET-TV can be seen in the New York City area on Spectrum-Channel 97, Optimum-Channel 30, and Verizon FIOS-Channel 48. The Masses will also be streamed on our website at dioceseofbrooklyn.org/masses.

 

HOLY THURSDAY

Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 8 p.m. NET-TV – Live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

English with readings in Spanish and Creole

 

GOOD FRIDAY

         Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion – Live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

 

8:00 a.m.    Italian

9:30 a.m.    Creole

11:00 a.m.  English

12:30 p.m.  Spanish

2:00 p.m.    Korean

3:30 p.m.    Mandarin Chinese

5:00 p.m.    Polish

 

As we share in the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, please remember to fast and abstain from consuming meat.

 

HOLY SATURDAY

         Easter Vigil – 8 p.m. NET-TV – Live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

English with readings in six additional languages (Italian, Polish, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Creole)

 

EASTER SUNDAY

         Easter Sunday celebrated in seven languages on NET-TV – Live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

 

8:00 a.m.    Italian Mass

9:00 a.m.    Creole Mass

10:00 a.m. Polish Mass

11:00 a.m.  English Mass

12:00 p.m.  Spanish Mass

1:00 p.m.    Korean Mass

2:00 p.m.    Mandarin Chinese Mass

 

A graphic of the NET-TV schedule is attached.

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Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Queens NYPD Officers Assist Catholic Church in Distribution of Easter Hams

 

Community Affairs Officers from the NYPD’s 103rd Precinct earlier this week assisted Father Josephjude Gannon, Pastor of St. Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church, located in the Hollis section of Queens, with this year’s parish Easter ham delivery program.

Every year, through funds donated by parishioners, St. Gerard Majella Church is able to provide Easter hams to be delivered to the sick and most vulnerable of the parish.  Due to the Coronavirus epidemic, without the help of the Community Affairs Officers at the 103rd Precinct, it could not have been possible this year.

The photos are attached.

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VIRTUALLY SINGING TOGETHER: QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL THIRD GRADERS SING “THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR”

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

VIRTUALLY SINGING TOGETHER: QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL THIRD GRADERS SING “THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR”

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn this afternoon is releasing a video of the third-grade students at St. Kevin’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, who created a musical collage of 19 students, recorded virtually and individually, singing the words to the classic song “That’s What Friends Are For.”

The idea for the video was suggested by one of the students featured in the video. The student thought recording this project would help the class overcome the loneliness classmates are feeling by not being together at school due to the Coronavirus.

The project was organized by teacher Kristen D’Alimonte. St. Kevin’s Catholic Academy is located at 45-50 195th Street in the Flushing section of Queens.

The video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/403518851

 

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Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Hosts Pop-Up Food Distribution in Corona Queens

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Hosts Pop-Up Food Distribution in Corona Queens for Community Severely Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted a Pop-Up Food Distribution event in the Corona section of Queens today for a community severely impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  The event was held at the Catholic Charities Therese Cervini Early Childhood Development Center located at 35-33 104th Street in Corona today, Wednesday, April 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The grab-and-go style event provided families and individuals with bags of food that will feed a family of three for three days. Catholic Charities prepared 750 bags which included an array of fresh fruits and vegetables, beverages and nonperishable goods. Some additional items consisted of apples, oranges, lemons, raisins, bread, Gatorade, apple juice, instant coffee, rice, cans of fruit, tuna fish, peanut butter, microwaveable macaroni and cheese, cereals, packets of mayonnaise and jelly, applesauce and black beans. Catholic Charities also provided access to additional assistance, information, and resources. 60 percent of the COVID-19 cases in New York City are located in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.

“Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens was privileged to serve 750 families today. The need is very great, obviously, due to the economic impact of not having jobs. We chose here in Corona, right here at the Therese Cervini Early Childhood Development Center, at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, really to give to an opportunity to the community, and to be able to serve them in this time of great need,” said Richard Slizeski, Senior Vice President, Office of Mission, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens.

 

“Part of this whole thing has been to really help out people,” continued Slizeski.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is responding to the hardworking families in this primarily immigrant neighborhood by providing pop-up food pantries, access to supportive services via our call center and behavioral health services via telehealth.

In the past week, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has seen a 50 percent increase in the need for hot meals to be delivered to isolated seniors. On average, the agency distributes 5,000 meals, but as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, Catholic Charities is delivering 8,000 meals weekly. Food pantry distributions have also increased. On average, the agency distributes 83,000 meals per month within our food pantry network. Last week Catholic Charities saw a 20 percent increase across our 20 parish-based food pantries.

The Pop-Up Food Distribution is organized and funded by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens as a direct response to our neighbors in need in both boroughs.

For the video of today’s event, and comments by Richard Slizeski visit: https://vimeo.com/405556239

 

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VIRTUALLY SINGING TOGETHER: QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL THIRD GRADERS SING “THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR”

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

VIRTUALLY SINGING TOGETHER: QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL THIRD GRADERS SING “THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR”

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn this afternoon is releasing a video of the third-grade students at St. Kevin’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, who created a musical collage of 19 students, recorded virtually and individually, singing the words to the classic song “That’s What Friends Are For.”

The idea for the video was suggested by one of the students featured in the video. The student thought recording this project would help the class overcome the loneliness classmates are feeling by not being together at school due to the Coronavirus.

The project was organized by teacher Kristen D’Alimonte. St. Kevin’s Catholic Academy is located at 45-50 195th Street in the Flushing section of Queens.

The video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/403518851