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ACCEPT
POLISH COMMUNITY BRINGS THEIR EASTER FOOD BASKETS TO BE BLESSED
Diocese of Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski presided over the annual blessing of Easter food baskets this morning at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in the Maspeth section of Queens.
“”It was great to see so many children and families on this Holy Saturday morning, giving thanks to God for their many blessings, and bringing their Easter food to church to be blessed. Easter time is a time of Resurrection. It is a time of Salvation. We are so thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, for His death and Resurrection. He saved us by His love,” said Bishop Witold Mroziewski.
The blessing of the Easter food baskets is one of the most beloved Holy Saturday Polish traditions. The basket contains a sampling of Easter foods including bread, eggs, ham, and sweets. The custom dates back to the 15th Century.
Bishop Witold Mroziewsski blessing Easter baskets at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth, Queens, on Holy Saturday.Children gather at the altar at Holy Cross Catholic Church after having their Easter baskets blessed on Holy Saturday.Members of the community gathered for the blessing of the Easter Baskets waits for Bishop Witoldf Mroziewski to bless their baskets.Hundreds of people attending the Easter basket blessing at Holy Cross Church on March 30, 2024, including this family.
John Quaglione
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
BISHOP BRENNAN LEADS PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION IN BROOKLYN
Bishop Robert Brennan marked the start of Holy Week this afternoon, as he led the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph’s Palm Sunday Procession which kicked off in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza.
After an opening prayer and blessing, Bishop Brennan led more than 250 people in a public witness of faith with their blessed palms, down Vanderbilt Avenue to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located on Pacific Street.
“In this procession, we walk with Jesus remembering that Jesus always walks with us. Today we gave public witness to our Catholic faith on the streets of Brooklyn, showing the greatness of God to those who walked, drove, biked, and jogged by us as we walked. Thamk you to the New York City Police Department for their logistical and safety involvement, and to DeSales Media for broadcasting it live ON NET-TV for many more to see” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
“As we begin this Holy Week, I encourage Catholics throughout Brooklyn and Queens to make this week different from other weeks. Let yourself spend more time in prayer, or in church, or perform an act of charity. May you come to better understand how much God loves you, and may you be an example of His love to those you encounter,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, where those who greeted Jesus waved palms and set them on the ground along His path. Palms are recognized as a symbol of victory and peace.
Following the procession, Bishop Brennan celebrated the Spanish Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. Holy Week concludes on Easter Sunday with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The photos and video are courtesy of John Quaglione/DeSales Media.
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, is inviting Catholics throughout Brooklyn and Queens to confession on Reconciliation Monday, Monday, March 25, 2024
The goal of Reconciliation Monday, held on the Monday of Holy Week, is to encourage Catholics to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection from the dead. Most parishes will have a priest available to hear confessions from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
“Reconciliation Monday is an opportunity to experience the healing power of our Lord. As we seek to grow closer to the Lord, let us ask our all-loving and merciful God to forgive us of our sins. Let us prepare ourselves to celebrate Easter with a clean heart, free of the burden of our sins,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
The faithful are invited to visit any parish in Brooklyn and Queens, however times and availability may change based on the parish. For a complete listing of parishes, please visitdioceseofbrooklyn.org/parishes/locator/
BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN CELEBRATES MASS IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn which includes Queens, led a Black History Month Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Parish in the Jamaica section of Queens.
The theme of the Mass was “Spiritual Unity Through Cultural Diversity,” but Father Robert Seay, OFM, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Charity in Brooklyn and homilist for the Mass, talked about the difficulties faced by Black Catholics today.
“The frustration that has happened, to especially black people when you listen, is that we are not at the table, that we, the decisions are made, and we are being eaten up by maintenance rather than mission. That’s what I hear. And I hear so many people saying I can’t take it any longer. So, the faith is shattered by a lot right now, but we also can come and celebrate the good times and look towards the future that we will be included in the church,” preached Father Seay.
“That’s exactly what Pope Francis is asking with the Synod – that we listen deeply to one another. And so, it is important for me, as we do some of our planning, to hear the voices of all people, of all races and perspectives in everything we do in the Diocese. One of the lessons I have learned is that we may or may not be able to identify with others, but we need to listen and hear people’s troubles and concerns. And that’s what the Black History Month Mass was about. It’s not just that we listen to one another when there’s something wrong, but that we’re listening to one another in the course of our day to day lives,” said Bishop Brennan.
During his tenure at the Weeksville, Brooklyn Church, Father Seay became known for his work to promote peace, and his leadership led to his membership on the Mayor’s Pastoral Council. He has dedicated his life’s work to educating the youth and improving race relations. Bishop Brennan says Father Seay’s words are important to hear now more than ever.
“The celebration on Sunday was of Black History Month. We remember the history, but we also are writing the history of now. That was a big theme at the National Black Catholic Congress, that we’re writing the history that people will look back on in the future. Coming here to Brooklyn, and Queens, I see great participation and I value the perspectives, the experiences, the hopes and the dreams of all of our people,” continued Bishop Brennan.
This year, the Vicariate Office of Black Catholic Concerns added some new features to the annual Mass. Each black ethnic apostolate was asked to participate, and the national flag of each represented country was flown during the opening procession.
Bishop Brennan is the chairman-elect of the Committee on Cultural Diversity for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sunday’s Mass was organized by the Vicariate Office of Black Catholic Concerns for the Diocese of Brooklyn. The rousing music at the Mass was led by the Sr. Thea Bowman Choir under the direction of Darcel Whitten-Wilamowski.
Photos 4-9 / Courtesy: Michael Davis & Jonathan Sims
Black History Month Mass ProcessionBlack History Month Mass AltarBlack History Month MassBishop Robert Brennan at Black History Month MassLadies of St Peter ClaverSr Thea Bowman ChoirSr Thea Bowman ChoirBishop Robert BrennanDeacon Rachid Murad & Bishop Brennan
BISHOP BRENNAN CELEBRATES THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. GABRIEL CHURCH
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn which includes Queens, celebrated the Spanish Mass earlier today to mark the 100th Anniversary of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Roman Catholic Church located in the East Elmhurst section of Queens.
“St. Gabriel’s has a history of bringing people together to encounter Jesus. In this Church, over the years, many things have changed on the inside and outside. But one thing doesn’t change – we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We inherited a lot over these 100 years, and now it is our turn to make this faith community even stronger,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
The first Mass of St. Gabriel’s was celebrated on July 7, 1923, in Stotzky’s Belvedere Park and the cornerstone of the church was laid on June 29, 1924. St. Gabriel Church opened in the location where it stands today on January 1, 1925. The first Spanish Mass was held in the Lower Church in 1971.
The Mass was followed by a reception in the parish hall.
The Feast Day of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated by the Church annually on February 27. Father Nicholas Apollonio is the Pastor.
The video and photos attached are courtesy of John Quaglione/DeSales Media.
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Bishop Brennan preaches at St Gabriel 100th Anniversary
St Gabriel 100th Anniversary MassSt Gabriel 100th Anniversary MassSt Gabriel 100th Anniversary MassSt Gabriel 100th Anniversary MassBishop Brennan and Father Apollonio
The Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing a blatant act of vandalism which occurred last Friday night, February 9, 2024, at St. Rita’s Church in Long Island City, Queens.
At about 8:45 p.m. the pastor, Father Jose Carlos da Silva, who was in the rectory, heard something smash in the church. Father da Silva saw a man in front of the chapel, who ran away after he called out to him from a window. There was a prayer group meeting inside the church at the time. No one was injured.
A stained-glass window was broken. A construction cone was thrown at a statue of the Blessed Mother which stands in front of the window. There was no damage to that statue.
“It was very disturbing and unsettling to hear breaking glass as a prayer group was gathered in the church. Luckily, no one was injured, and the suspect did not try to come in. I believe the orange construction cone that was thrown was intended to hit the Blessed Mother statue, but the vandal missed. Instead, it hit one of our original stained-glass windows behind it. This is a hate crime against the Catholic Church, and the perpetrator must understand that he has caused pain for the entire parish community of St. Rita’s,” said Father Jose Carlos da Silva, the parish pastor.
The cost of the damage to the 60-year-old-stained glass window is estimated at $10,000. The window was broken on the 11th street side of the church near the rectory entrance. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
The broken window at St. Rita’s which was smashed by a vandal who threw a construction cone.The construction cone found at the side of the church which was thrown and smashed the window.
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, led a bi-lingual Mass (English and Chinese) Sunday, February 11, 2024, in honor of the Lunar New Year at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, in Flushing, Queens. This is the Year of the Dragon and symbolizes strength, power, good fortune, and success.
At the conclusion of the Mass, an Ancestors Veneration Ritual ceremony took place. It is a New Year’s tradition in which Chinese people give thanks to God and their ancestors. The rituals include nine bows to God, the offering of fruits, flowers and incense, and the exchange of New Year greetings among the faithful.
The celebration of the Lunar New Year featured cultural singing, dancing, and a special martial arts performance.
“We would be lost if we didn’t have you and we didn’t have all the gifts and the richness of the Chinese culture that you bring,” preached Bishop Brennan.
Father Vincentius Do is the Pastor of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and serves as head of the Chinese Apostolate for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
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Bishop Brennan celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year at St. Michael’s in Flushing.At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Brennan helped to distribute red envelopes to the faithful in attendance.Bishop Brennan joined in the New Year celebration that followed in the parish hall after Mass.Bishop Robert Brennan and some of the Chinese Catholics who attended the special Lunar New Year Mass and reception.
Bishop Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, celebrated Mass and distributed ashes today at the Noon Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.
“During the season of Lent, we focus in on spending this extra time with God, whether it be through your own Lenten practices or with this pilgrimage of faith, to allow God to speak to us. ‘Repent and Believe in the Good News,’ are words we hear as we receive our ashes. Believe that you are loved by God, believe that God wants your heart, and believe that the Lord is reaching out to you,” said Bishop Robert Brennan during his homily.
Today also marked the start of the 2024 Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage in Brooklyn and Queens, where the faithful will have the opportunity to visit different churches over the next 40 days. Individual parishes will offer opportunities for Mass, prayer, and reflection during these visits. The complete schedule can be found online at lent.diobrook.org.
Ash Wednesday begins the Christian observance of the season of Lent. As is customary, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning the blessed palms distributed the prior year on Palm Sunday. Lent ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days of the year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday will be celebrated this year on March 31.
Bishop Robert Brennan distributing ashes today at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.Bishop Robert Brennan on Ash Wednesday, 2024, distributing ashes today at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.
Vimeo and photos are courtesy of John Quaglione/DeSales Media.
Bishop Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, led a special Mass in honor of the start of Catholic Schools Week this morning at St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church, located in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.
Bishop Brennan joined students, faculty, and families of St. Brigid-St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Academy at the Mass. Following the Mass, Bishop Brennan visited the academy for the ribbon cutting ceremony and blessed the recently renovated Kindergarten classroom. The school is working to renovate all the classrooms by September.
In his Homily, Bishop Brennan stated, “Our schools teach everything that you can learn in any other school, math, social studies, and language arts. But we also learn the truth of who we are, and the truth of who God is. We learn what it means to be a child of God who loves us very, very much. We learn to see how God blesses us in our lives to discover our talents and abilities, to share with one another.”
Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week begins annually on the last Sunday of January and is a week dedicated to celebrating Catholic education. The theme this year for National Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.”
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of National Catholic Schools Week. This week, Bishop Brennan is scheduled to visit schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens for a chance to meet students and faculty and catch a glimpse of the incredible education being offered in the Diocese each and every day.
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Bishop Brennan gives a Homily at the opening Mass for Catholic Schools Week at St. Brigid’s.Students from St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy attended Mass as a school community to kick-off Catholic Schools Week.After Mass, Bishop Brennan greeted and blessed many who attended the special Mass dedicated to Catholic Schools Week.Bishop Robert Brennan visited and blessed the newly renovated Kindergarten classroom at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy.
BISHOP BRENNAN LEADS FUNERAL MASS FOR MONSIGNOR JOHN E. DELENDICK,
BELOVED PRIEST, FDNY CHAPLAIN
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, served as the main celebrant at the funeral Mass of Reverend Monsignor John E. Delendick, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, today at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.
The funeral Mass was attended by hundreds of firefighters from the Fire Department of New York and other jurisdictions, dozens of priests, Brooklyn Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, and Archbishop Charles Balvo, the Apostolic Nuncio (Pope’s representative) to Australia and classmate of Monsignor Delendick.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh was among those who offered remarks about Monsignor Delendick’s service to the Department. FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens, former Commissioners Daniel Nigro and Salvatore Cassano, were also in attendance. Monsignor Richard Ahlemeyer, Pastor of St. Camilius – St. Virgilius in the Rockaway Park section of Queens offered a moving tribute in his Homily.
74-year-old Monsignor John E. Delendick passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023, after a long battle with 9/11 related cancer, due to his time at Ground Zero responding as a New York City Fire Department Chaplain in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Monsignor Delendick served as a Chaplain for the FDNY since 1996.
“Monsignor John Delendick led an incredible life of service to God and His people. Throughout his 40 years as a parish priest and administrator in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Monsignor Delendick brought the faith of God to the hearts and minds of countless individuals. He truly was a disciple of the Lord, caring, loving, and praying for the people he encountered in the best and worst of times. May he now receive his eternal reward for his goodness,” said Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.
Born on September 4, 1949, Monsignor Delendick was ordained to the Priesthood on February 12, 1977. In his more than 40 years as a priest, he served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Shrine of Saint Jude (Brooklyn), and the Parishes of Saint Agnes and Sacred Heart Chapel (Brooklyn), and Saint Michael (Brooklyn).
Monsignor Delendick also served as Administrator of the Parishes of Saint Ann and Saint George (Brooklyn); and as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Good Shepherd (Brooklyn) and Saint Catherine of Genoa (Brooklyn). Monsignor Delendick was also a Diocesan Real Estate Board Member, Professor at the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary and was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society.
On February 8, 2003, Monsignor Delendick was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
