FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.orgJohn Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.orgUPDATE: The body of Fr Jorge Ortiz-Garay is now expected to arrive in Mexico on Wednesday due to issues with international travel as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay Begins Journey Home To His Final Resting Place in Mexico
The casket carrying the body of Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, believed to be the first Catholic priest to have died from complications of the coronavirus in the U.S., is on a Delta Airlines flight bound for Mexico. Earlier today, the hearse carrying Fr. Jorge’s body left the Scotto Funeral Home in Brooklyn for the trip to John F. Kennedy International Airport. His body will arrive in Mexico City Monday afternoon after a layover in Atlanta. (UPDATED)
Fr. Jorge, 49, was the pastor of St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, when he died on Friday, March 27, 2020. He had been serving in the Diocese since 2009, first at St. Joseph’s in Prospect Heights, then at St. Brigid’s. Fr. Jorge was ordained to the Priesthood at the Archdiocese of Newark as a member of the Neocatechumenal Way on May 29, 2004.
“Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, and we sent home a good shepherd to Mexico, a son of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said Monsignor Kieran Harrington, Vicar for Communications of the Brooklyn Diocese. Msgr. Harrington gave Fr. Jorge a final blessing before the hearse was closed.
The Diocese of Brooklyn is grateful to United States Senator Charles Schumer and his staff, Governor Andrew Cuomo and his staff as well as members of Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s administration, the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and their Police Department, for their assistance in making it possible to get Father Jorge’s body back to his native Mexico. The arrangements were handled by Funeral Director John Heyer of Scotto Funeral Home and transportation logistics were arranged by Vincent LeVien, Director of External Affairs for DeSales Media Group and the Diocese of Brooklyn Emergency Task Force.
“We pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family, friends, and all those to whom he ministered to in the Diocese of Brooklyn. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord,” concluded Monsignor Harrington.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in honor of Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay in the Diocese of Brooklyn at a later date.
Photos attached; Courtesy: Rob Rich
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Press Releases
Statement by Superintendent of Brooklyn and Queens Catholic Schools Regarding Remainder of 2019-2020 School Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Statement by Superintendent of Brooklyn and Queens Catholic Schools Regarding Remainder of 2019-2020 School Year
Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes all elementary Catholic academies and schools in Brooklyn and Queens, has issued the following statement following Governor Cuomo’s school closure announcement:
“We just learned of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s decision that all elementary and secondary schools shall remain closed for the duration of the current 2019-2020 school year, as New York continues efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. As such, the Catholic academies and parish schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Queens, will remain closed through the end of June. The distance and digital learning platforms in place will serve as the instructional program for our schools for the remainder of this academic year.
I am very proud of our schools and academies, who were successfully able to transition to a distance and digital learning platform almost immediately upon our school buildings being shut down. This would not have been possible without the hard work of our teachers and the leadership of our dedicated principals, who rose to this enormous challenge. Our Catholic schools and academies have continued to provide each of our students with a faith-based academic program, ensuring that they are being challenged to learn every day. Our parents have also contributed immeasurably to the success of this new digital learning environment.
We will be working with our principals and teachers to ensure that our milestone celebrations (graduations, step-up ceremonies, and other achievements) will be honored and recognized. As we have done so far during this pandemic, we will continue to assemble and share resources for our families as we confront this challenging end to the school year.
The Coronavirus statistics indicate that both Brooklyn and Queens have been the hardest-hit areas in New York City and State. As a Catholic school community in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to pray for everyone’s health and safety. Our faith, love, and hope remain central to all we do now and in the future.”
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CATHOLIC STUDENTS IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER, AS OUR NATION IS REDEDICATED TO HER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
CATHOLIC STUDENTS IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER, AS OUR NATION IS REDEDICATED TO HER
Archbishop José Gomez, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and archbishop of Los Angeles, this afternoon led our Nation in the re-consecration of the United States to Mary, the Mother of the Church, on this first day of May, the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The prayer service was broadcast live on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s cable channel NET-TV and was streamed live on the Diocese of Brooklyn Facebook page.
Prior to the broadcast, NET-TV aired a special 3-minute video showing Catholic school students from throughout Brooklyn and Queens paying tribute to the Blessed Mother. The video which begins with a student singing “Hail Mary – Gentle Woman,” features photos of students crowning statues of Mary at their homes, and continues with a compilation of students praying the Hail Mary. The video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/414045179
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops joined the bishops and faithful in Canada who today also consecrated their country to Mary. This moment of unified prayer served as a powerful reminder to pray the Rosary during this time at home, either in isolation or with our families. During this pandemic, we pray to Mary, the Mother of God, asking for peace and blessings upon those who are sick and those who have died, those who are risking their lives for others, and those working to find a cure for COVID-19.
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Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Brings Food To Elmhurst Residents In Need
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Brings Food To Elmhurst Residents In Need
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens assisted more than 1,382 residents and their families at an Emergency Pop-Up Food Distribution event held today at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church located in the Elmhurst section of Queens, a community severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the course of the four-hour event grab-and-go style event, 1,220 meal bags containing three meals each for a family of three, were given out for a total of 10,980 meals. An additional 162 families received bags of produce and $25 supermarket gift cards.
At the conclusion of today’s event, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has now surpassed 40,000 meals provided at emergency Pop-Up Food Distribution sites over the past three and a half weeks. These events are organized and funded by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens as a direct response to neighbors in need in both boroughs. To help, donate to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens at www.ccbq.org.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is also offering access to supportive services via their call center, and assistance with behavioral health services via tele-health.
Photos attached.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to Distribute Bags of Food in Elmhurst, Queens One of the Hardest Hit Communities Impacted by COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to Distribute Bags of Food in Elmhurst, Queens One of the Hardest Hit Communities Impacted by COVID-19
WHAT: Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens will distribute more than 11,000 meals at an Emergency Pop-Up Food Distribution event in Queens tomorrow, Friday, May 1, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church located at 87-34 Whitney Avenue in Elmhurst, a community severely impacted early on by the COVID-19 pandemic and blocks away from Elmhurst Hospital.
At the conclusion of tomorrow’s event, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens will have provided over 40,300 meals at emergency Pop-Up Food Distributions in Brooklyn and Queens over the past three and a half weeks.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens continue to offer assistance to families in this and other impoverished immigrant neighborhoods by setting up these pop-up food pantries, providing access to supportive services via their call center, and to behavioral health services via tele-health. In addition, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens are also providing over 100,000 meals at our food pantries in both boroughs, seeing a 100 percent increase in demand for food at our existing food pantries.
According to the New York City Department of Health, as of April 28, Queens has 49,559 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 4,817 reported deaths, the most in New York City. Brooklyn and Queens account for nearly 60 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the New York metropolitan area. Elmhurst is one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States.
The Emergency 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. To help, donate to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens at www.ccbq.org.
Paterson, NJ Bishop-elect Kevin Sweeney to Celebrate Mass Tomorrow Live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Brooklyn
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Paterson, NJ Bishop-elect Kevin Sweeney to Celebrate Mass Tomorrow
Live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Brooklyn
Bishop-elect Kevin Sweeney, appointed last week by Pope Francis to be the 8th Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, will celebrate the English Mass tomorrow, Sunday, April 26, 2020, at 11 a.m. live from the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.
The Mass can be viewed 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 FIOS by Verizon-channel 48.
The Mass will also be streamed on our website at www.netny.tv/masses and on NET-TV’s Facebook page.
Bishop-elect Sweeney, currently the pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, will succeed retiring Paterson Bishop Arthur Serratelli. Bishop-elect Sweeney is expected to begin his ministry in the Diocese of Paterson later this year.
Mass Graphic attached.
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Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to Host Pop-Up Food Distribution in East New York, Brooklyn for Neighbors in Need Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to Host Pop-Up Food Distribution in East New York, Brooklyn for Neighbors in Need Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
WHAT: Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to host a Pop-Up Food Distribution in East New York at St. Michael – St. Malachy Parish located at 225 Jerome Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207 on Friday, April 24th from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. while supplies last for neighbors in need impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens will provide families and individuals with bags of food and will also provide access to additional assistance, information, and resources, including outreach material encouraging an already undercounted neighborhood to participate and self-respond to the 2020 Census. 60 percent of the COVID-19 cases in New York City are in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
Last week, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens distributed nearly 12,000 meals worth of food at a grab-and-go style event in Corona, Queens which has been one of the hardest-hit communities during this crisis, and families are in dire need of essentials.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is responding to the hardworking families in this and other immigrant neighborhoods by providing pop-up food pantries, access to supportive services via our call center, and behavioral health services via telehealth.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has seen a 40 percent increase in demand for food at our existing food pantries throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Over the last two weeks, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has provided nearly 20,000 meals in Corona, Queens. In addition, we are providing over 100,000 meals at our 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. To donate to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens go to: www.ccbq.org.
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Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Contact:
Lucy.Garrido-Mota@ccbq.org
718-722-6211
REMOTE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY DELIVERED FOR STUDENTS AT SIX CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
The Emergency Task Force of the Diocese of Brooklyn continues to work in partnership with DeSales Media Group to advance the presence of individualized technology for the students of the Catholic schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens.
During last week’s Easter recess, members of the task force were instrumental in delivering nearly 500 iPads for the students at six Catholic academies including St. Patrick’s, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Brooklyn), St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini, St. Peter’s, Our Lady of Sorrows, and St. Leo’s. DeSales Media Group has now distributed more than 10,000 iPads and Chromebooks across the Diocese of Brooklyn’s school system.
“Long before Brooklyn and Queens became the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic, DeSales Media was visionary in our partnership with many of the schools throughout the Diocese, incorporating first-rate technology into the first-rate curriculum,” said Monsignor Kieran E. Harrington, Vicar for Communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn, and Chairman and President of the DeSales Media Group.
“Since the first day we had to shut down our school system, many of our students were already equipped to transition to distance learning. As COVID-19 continues to keep our schools closed, additional schools in our network have reached out to DeSales to help remotely educate their students. We are proud to answer these calls and are grateful to the Diocese’s Emergency Task Force for their commitment to getting this technology to the students.”
“It is an honor to be part of getting this vital equipment to some of the families that need it the most,” said Vincent LeVien, Director of the Brooklyn Diocese’s Emergency Task Force.
Photos of the recent deliveries of Chromebooks are attached.
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Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Provides Meals and Resources for Neighbors in Need Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Provides Meals and Resources for Neighbors in Need Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens today hosted a Pop-Up Food Distribution event at St. Michael – St. Malachy Parish located at 225 Jerome Street in the East New York section of Brooklyn, for individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Emergency Task Force were also present, giving out masks and gloves to people waiting on line.
Over 9,350 meals were distributed today in 1,040 bags of food. Additionally, $2500 in food vouchers were handed out as well as 100 extra bags of produce.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been helping hardworking families throughout this pandemic by providing pop-up food pantries, access to supportive services via their call center, and behavioral health services via telehealth. 60 percent of the COVID-19 cases in New York City are in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has seen a 40 percent increase in demand for food at their existing food pantries throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Over the last two weeks, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has provided nearly 20,000 meals in Corona, Queens. In addition, they are providing over 100,000 meals at their food pantries.
The Pop-Up Food Distribution events are organized and funded by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens as a direct response to neighbors in need in both boroughs. To donate to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens go to www.ccbq.org.
Photos from today’s event are attached.
Video of today’s event can be found at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Vimeo page:
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Provides Food for 1,000 Families At Second Pop-Up Food Distribution in Corona, Queens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Provides Food for 1,000 Families
At Second Pop-Up Food Distribution in Corona, Queens
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted its second Pop-Up food distribution in Corona, Queens, a community severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pop-up food distribution was held today from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Catholic Charities Therese Cervini Early Childhood Development Center located at 35-33 104th Street, Corona, NY 11368.
The success of last week’s grab-and-go style event is proof the community is in dire need of essentials. Catholic Charities provided 1,000 families and individuals bags of food that will feed a family of three for three days. Catholic Charities also provided access to additional assistance, information, and resources, including outreach material encouraging an already undercounted neighborhood to participate and self-respond to the 2020 Census. 60 percent of the COVID-19 cases in New York City are in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been 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. To donate to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens go to www.ccbq.org.
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Video and still pictures of today’s pop-up event:
Courtesy: Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens