Press Releases

THOUSANDS OF CATHOLICS EXPECTED TO MAKE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO HONOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

THOUSANDS OF CATHOLICS EXPECTED TO MAKE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO HONOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

On Wednesday, December 12, the Diocese of Brooklyn will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, in Prospect Heights, followed by the traditional torch walk to 35 Catholic Churches throughout Brooklyn and Queens.

The day’s events begin at 10:30 a.m. with Catechesis. At noon, the Mass will be celebrated in Spanish by the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, and concelebrated by 20 priests as well as auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros, who will deliver the homily.

Following Mass, at about 1:30 pm, Bishop DiMarzio will bless and light the 35 torches of the faithful. At 1:45 pm, more than 2,000 participants are expected to depart and make their pilgrimage to participating parishes. There are five routes, three will end in Queens, and two will terminate in Brooklyn.

The group of pilgrims represents, in its vast majority, the Mexican-Catholic population of Brooklyn and Queens. According to the 2015 National Census, there are nearly 200,000 Mexicans living in Brooklyn and Queens.

This event is organized by Reverend Jorge Ortiz-Garay, Director of the Mexican Apostolate.

For more information, contact Adriana Rodriguez at (646) 241-9805 or at arodriguez@desalesmedia.org.

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CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT GRAND ARMY PLAZA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT GRAND ARMY PLAZA

On Tuesday, December 11th at 5:00 p.m., Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will bless the life-size Nativity crèche and light a giant Christmas tree at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Parishioners from Brooklyn and Queens will fill the plaza for the annual kickoff to the Christmas season in Brooklyn.

The festivities will be hosted by actor Anthony Mangano, and include performances by the St. Saviour Gospel Choir, 14-year-old budding opera singer Diana Marie Paunetto and cabaret singer Charlie Romo.

The 35-foot Balsam Fir Christmas tree at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is decorated with thousands of colored lights to represent the Diversity of Brooklyn. The tree and Nativity will be on display until early January.

Tomorrow’s tree lighting event is made possible by DeSales Media Group, the Communications, and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

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FOX NEWS ANCHOR TO HEADLINE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN CHRISTMAS CONCERT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

FOX NEWS ANCHOR TO HEADLINE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN CHRISTMAS CONCERT

On December 6, 2018, at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm), the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, will host a live Christmas Concert co-hosted by Currents News Anchor, Liz Faublas and Anthony Mangano, actor and host of City of Churches.

The concert will feature Emmy Award Winning Fox News Anchor, Kelly Wright. Wright is also an accomplished recording artist, who has performed on programs featuring Shirley Caesar, Cissy Houston, Bobby Caldwell, the late James Brown, and more.

Also performing at the concert will be Anthony Mangano and Diana Marie Paunetto, a 14-year-old Opera singer who hails from Bensonhurst and has performed at many parades and festivals in the area.

A coat drive will also be held at the concert. Everyone is invited to donate either new or used coats and other warm clothing for St. Dominic’s Homeless Outreach Center.

For more information on Thursday’s concert, please contact Adriana Rodriguez at arodriguez@desalesmedia.org or at 718-517-3143

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DESALES MEDIA GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF PUBLICATIONS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

DESALES MEDIA GROUP ANNOUNCES
NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF PUBLICATIONS

Editor of Nuestra Voz, Jorge I. Domínguez-López has been promoted to editor-in-chief of publications for DeSales Media Group. The move puts Domínguez-López at the helm of the two award-winning newspapers of the Brooklyn Diocese: the English-language The Tablet and the Spanish-language Nuestra Voz.

“Jorge was the clear choice for this new role,” said Vito Formica, executive director of news content and development. Formica, who leads the DeSales Media Group’s news department, which also includes the nightly newscast Currents News, went on to say, “Jorge’s impressive credentials and his deep understanding of the Church will play a critical role in our strategy to provide all readers in the diocese and beyond with even more high-quality, faith-based journalism across all media platforms.”

A Cuban-American editor and writer, Domínguez-López was born in Havana. He studied cybernetics and mathematics at the University of Havana and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from St. John’s University. In the early 1990s, he was one of the founders of the Studies Center of the Archdiocese of Havana, Cuba, and Vivarium magazine, the first independent and Catholic publication in Cuba since 1959. After immigrating to the United States, Jorge worked as a translator, editor and writer for the Education Department at McGraw-Hill Companies. He has worked as a freelance writer, translator and editor for HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Little, Brown and Company among others. In New York, he was the founding editor of Béisbol Mundial, a sports magazine with a monthly circulation of one million copies. For three decades, Jorge has written for newspapers and digital publications (Miami’s El Nuevo Herald, Madrid’s Diario de Cuba and Barcelona’s Penúltimos Días) about Catholic issues as well as Cuban politics, literature and history.

Since May 2015, he has been the editor of Nuestra Voz. During this time, Nuestra Voz has become one of the leading Spanish Catholic newspapers in North America, with 51 Catholic Press Association awards, including second place for Spanish Publication of the Year, Best Spanish Editorial Page and Editor of the Year. Nuestra Voz has evolved from a monthly print newspaper to a daily online source of Catholic news in Spanish with an international audience. Recently, Nuestra Voz became the most followed page among the Brooklyn Diocese social media pages.

Domínguez-López regularly appears on NET-TV’s Currents News to provide analysis on breaking news stories and during live coverage of papal trips. He is the co-host of Al Pan, Pan, a talk show with Father Tomás del Valle on NET-TV.

Jorge is also a member of the Academy of Cuban History in Exile.

In addition to Domínguez-López’s new role, Formica announced that long-time reporter for The Tablet, Marie Elena Giossi has been promoted to managing editor. Giossi reports to Domínguez-López, and assists him in overseeing the day-to-day operation and production of the newspaper.

Giossi is a Brooklyn native and joined The Tablet staff in 2003. She started as the youth editor and has assumed greater editorial duties through the years.

Highlights of her Tablet career include covering two papal visits to New York, 2008 and 2015; two World Youth Days, Germany, 2005, and Australia, 2008, and the National Catholic Youth Conference in Ohio, 2007.

Giossi says she is proud to have been part of The Tablet teams that won Catholic Press Association Awards for Newspaper of the Year, Best News Writing, Best Reporting on Teenagers, Best Coverage of World Youth Day, Best Coverage of the Year of Mercy and Best Coverage of Mother Teresa’s Canonization.

Previously, she was the health editor and a staff reporter at The Brooklyn Skyline newspaper. She has also written for Catholic News Service, the Knights of Columbus’ Columbia magazine and CatholicMom.com.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Fordham University, Lincoln Center, and has completed graduate courses in religious education at Fordham.

Former editor of The Tablet, Ed Wilkinson will stay on staff as editor emeritus. In his expanded role, Wilkinson will serve as an editorial advisor, he will create a detailed newspaper archive, and he will work directly with Chief Operating Officer of DeSales Media Group William Maier. Together, they are implementing a plan that will reduce bulk newspaper deliveries to parishes by increasing individual subscriptions. Wilkinson will also continue to host his popular TV show On the Block and substitute for Anchor Liz Faublas on Currents News. 

The Tablet and Nuestra Voz are the official newspapers of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which also serves the borough of Queens. Combined, they have a circulation of 92,000 newspapers.

Readers are encouraged to send story ideas and news tips to newstips@desalesmedia.org

DeSales Media Group Newspapers/Shows:
The Tablet: https://thetablet.org/
Nuestra Voz: https://nuestra-voz.org/
Currents News: https://netny.tv/shows/currentsnews/
Al Pan, Pan: https://netny.tv/shows/al-pan-pan/
On the Block: https://netny.tv/shows/on-the-block/

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BISHOP DIMARZIO LEADS DELEGATION OF CATHOLIC AND BUDDHIST LEADERS WHO MET WITH POPE FRANCIS ON GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

BISHOP DIMARZIO LEADS DELEGATION OF CATHOLIC AND BUDDHIST LEADERS
WHO MET WITH POPE FRANCIS ON GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, led a group of Catholic and Buddhist leaders from Brooklyn, Chicago, and Los Angeles at a meeting with Pope Francis Wednesday. The delegation presented the Holy Father with sustainable projects they are working on that will provide affordable housing to serve vulnerable populations, like the elderly and formerly homeless.

The group, which includes Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, and Enterprise Community Partners, is called the Dialogue of Fraternity. They were tasked three years ago by Pope Francis “to plant seeds together.” Inspired by the Holy Father’s commitment to helping the poor and conserving the environment, the group decided on building Green Affordable Housing Dialogue of Fraternity Projects in their cities.

Bishop DiMarzio says this kind of collaboration is something he wants to replicate. “Around the world, it is difficult for interreligious dialogue. In the United States, we do have an ability that other people don’t have, we can work together, we can collaborate, we can give a model to the rest of the world. This is how religions can work together for the benefit of the general population.”

For this project, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is preparing to develop a 100+ unit affordable senior housing residence with social services that will include a senior center on the ground floor. The new building will be a state of the art green building designed for seniors with “Aging in Place” features and sustainable technologies. Right now the exact location has not been determined.

“Our meeting with Pope Francis highlighted three important aspects this delegation has been working on: 1) the need for affordable housing for seniors and the formerly homeless, 2) the importance of sustainable building as stressed by “Laudato Si,” the Pope’s encyclical on the environment and 3) the importance of Catholics to collaborate with leaders of other religions, in this case, the Buddhists,” said Father Patrick Keating, Deputy CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn Queens.

“I’m very proud of my own project in Brooklyn and Queens because as we’re planning for the future, we recognize that we’re in what they call an aging tsunami,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “The baby boomers are coming, and they’re going to be living in the city. And they’re going to have more need for housing, supportive housing, and subsidized housing.”

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is the largest provider of affordable senior housing in New York City with 25 residences, but that is not nearly enough for the demand. A recent survey of 277 New York City-based senior housing providers found that over 200,000 seniors were on waiting lists for this type of housing.

Video of Bishop DiMarzio greeting Pope Francis on Wednesday, September 12:

Bishop DiMarzio presenting the project to Pope Francis:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fr. Patrick Keating handing project document to Pope Francis:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pope Francis looking over project documents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pope Francis with Dialogue of Fraternity delegation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dialogue of Fraternity delegation (Brooklyn group):
Seen from left to right:

Po-Wen Yen, Tzu Chi Foundation, Ven. Chang Hwa (Nan-Jun Yu), Dharma Drum Mountain, Kenny Theam Hock Tan, Dharma Drum Mountain, Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, Most Reverend Miguel Angel Ayuso, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Very Reverend, Patrick J. Keating, Deputy CEO, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Brooklyn; Timothy McManus, VP of Housing, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Brooklyn; William R. Frey, Senior Advisor, Enterprise Community Partners

MARCH AND MASS TODAY AT BROOKLYN’S CO-CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOSEPH  TO HONOR FIREFIGHTERS KILLED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

MARCH AND MASS TODAY AT BROOKLYN’S CO-CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOSEPH
TO HONOR FIREFIGHTERS KILLED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Today a solemn march and Mass will pay tribute to FDNY firefighters and all those who lost their lives in the September 11 terror attacks 17 years ago.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m., firefighters from across the country will join New York City’s bravest and families of the fallen at ground zero in lower Manhattan. From there, the group will march 23 FDNY ceremonial flags in single file across the Brooklyn Bridge. Each flag will represent one of 23 firefighters from Battalion 57 in Brooklyn killed in the line of duty at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The journey from ground zero to Brooklyn serves to symbolically bring the brothers back home. The procession will also include an FDNY ceremonial flag for every New York City Firefighter killed on 9/11 and an American flag, in remembrance of all who died that day.

Led by fire trucks and motorcycles, the procession will march past several firehouses and continue to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. The procession is expected to arrive at around
11:45 a.m. The FDNY Mass in honor of the fallen heroes will be celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph at 12:00 p.m. by Reverend Monsignor Kieran Harrington.

Reporters interested in covering the Mass should contact Adriana Rodriguez at (516) 238-7565.

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DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN RESPONDS TO NEW YORK STATE  ATTORNEY GENERAL’S SUBPOENA AND INVESTIGATION 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN RESPONDS TO NEW YORK STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S SUBPOENA AND INVESTIGATION 

The Diocese of Brooklyn has received the subpoena sent by the New York State Attorney General and we are in the process of reviewing it. We have been collaborating closely with law enforcement for many years and stand ready to work with her office on this investigation.

In 2002, the Diocese of Brooklyn handed over all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or deacon, to the district attorneys in Brooklyn and Queens. Since that time, we have adopted a zero tolerance policy and have reported any and all allegations of sexual abuse to law enforcement.

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CURRENTS NEWS AND CRUX JOIN FORCES TO BRING AUDIENCES COMPREHENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE  OF THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES IN IRELAND 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org


CURRENTS NEWS AND CRUX JOIN FORCES TO BRING AUDIENCES COMPREHENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE
OF THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES IN IRELAND 

Currents News and Crux are partnering up to provide in-depth coverage of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland.

Held every three years, the celebration hosts hundreds of thousands of people and is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families. From August 21 through the 26, the World Meeting of Families will feature a three-day congress, international keynote speakers, workshops, talks, testimonies and an open-air mass with Pope Francis.

The meeting comes in the wake of a vote to reform abortion laws and nearly a decade after Ireland’s clerical sex abuse scandal first broke. Once deemed the most “Catholic country,” the Church in Ireland is in the midst of advocating a new chapter and mission for the family in the context of the 21st century.

Currents News’ Liz Faublas will anchor coverage from New York, along with Ed Wilkinson, the Editor of The Tablet, and Jorge Domínguez, the Editor of Nuestra Voz. Currents’Correspondents Michelle Powers and Tim Harfmann report from Ireland. To lend analysis and expertise, Crux’s John Allen, Christopher White, Inés San Martín, Claire Giangravè, and Elise Harris will appear on the news program. Concurrently, Currents News’ reports will appear on Crux’s website.

During the week-long event, Crux and Currents News will explore theology, doctrine, liturgy, practices, and traditions of Catholicism in the context of the life of modern-day Catholics, giving full voice to disagreements and challenges facing the Church and believers.

Television coverage will take place on Monday, August 20 through Friday, August 24 on NET-TV’s Currents News at 7:30 pm EST.  Extended live coverage will begin with Pope Francis’ arrival in Dublin on Saturday, August 25 at 5:30 am EST, and then again on Sunday, August 26 at 4:15 am EST.

Currents News airs on NET-TV in the New York City area on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; and Verizon Fios, channel 48. Live streaming is available at netny.tv.

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Currents News and Crux join forces for coverage of the World Meeting of Families in Ireland

Posted on

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org


CURRENTS NEWS AND CRUX JOIN FORCES TO BRING AUDIENCES COMPREHENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE
OF THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES IN IRELAND 

Currents News and Crux are partnering up to provide in-depth coverage of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland.

Held every three years, the celebration hosts hundreds of thousands of people and is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families. From August 21 through the 26, the World Meeting of Families will feature a three-day congress, international keynote speakers, workshops, talks, testimonies and an open-air mass with Pope Francis.

The meeting comes in the wake of a vote to reform abortion laws and nearly a decade after Ireland’s clerical sex abuse scandal first broke. Once deemed the most “Catholic country,” the Church in Ireland is in the midst of advocating a new chapter and mission for the family in the context of the 21st century.

Currents News’ Liz Faublas will anchor coverage from New York, while Correspondents Michelle Powers and Tim Harfmann report from Ireland. To lend analysis and expertise, Crux’s John Allen, Christopher White, Inés San Martín, Claire Giangravè, and Elise Harris will appear on the news program. Concurrently, Currents News’ reports will appear on Crux’s website.

During the week-long event, Crux and Currents News will explore theology, doctrine, liturgy, practices, and traditions of Catholicism in the context of the life of modern-day Catholics, giving full voice to disagreements and challenges facing the Church and believers.

Television coverage will take place on Monday, August 20 through Friday, August 24 on NET-TV’s Currents News at 7:30 pm EST.  Extended live coverage will begin with Pope Francis’ arrival in Dublin on Saturday, August 25 at 5:30 am EST, and then again on Sunday, August 26 at 4:15 am EST.

Currents News airs on NET-TV in the New York City area on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; and Verizon Fios, channel 48. Live streaming is available at netny.tv.

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NET-TV’S CURRENTS NEWS WINS TWO TELLY AWARDS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2018

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carolyn Erstad
323-384-7098
cerstad@desalesmedia.org

Adriana Rodriguez
516-238-7565
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

NET-TV’S CURRENTS NEWS WINS TWO TELLY AWARDS

Currents News, New York’s daily Catholic television news show, has won two Telly Awards, in the General News and General Live Events categories.

The Rebuilding Puerto Rico series won in the General News category. In those reports, Jorge Dominguez, Editor of the Spanish language monthly newspaper Nuestra Voz, reported on the dire situation from the hurricane-ravaged island. Dominguez told the stories of a wrecked Church that became the hub of the recovery and of resilient people who looked for a silver lining amid the tragedy.

Coverage of the Pope in Chile & Peru won the Telly Award in the General Live Events category. New York’s Pope station provided extensive live coverage and analysis of the Pope’s historic trip to South America.

Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. “The awards are a recognition of our team’s mission to provide excellent news coverage,” said Vito Formica, Executive Director of News Content & Development for DeSales Media Group, the communications arm for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Currents News is produced by New Evangelization Television, an Emmy award-winning cable network of the Brooklyn Diocese featuring news and information with a Catholic point of view. It is available in the New York area on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; and Verizon Fios, channel 48.

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