Diocesan News

DeSALES MEDIA LAUNCHES PRAYER SITE FOR THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

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DeSales Media Group has launched a new bilingual online prayer community entitled Pray For Me (Reza por Mí). Located at www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org/prayforme, the site enables users to submit their own intentions and also to pray for others who have posted on the site.

“Inspired in Pope Francis’ prayer request refrain ‘Please, pray for me’, we wanted to provide a place where people can request prayers as well as pray for each other’s intentions. Pray for Me is very simple to use, to ask for support, pray for one another, and create a community of prayer,” said Monsignor Kieran Harrington, Chairman of DeSales Media Group.

Pray For Me provides a uniquely Catholic aspect to prayer intentions. The Sisters Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, a contemplative order of nuns cloistered in Borough Park, Brooklyn, will be praying for all submitted intentions from 5:45 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. DeSales Media submits intentions on a daily basis to the nuns, who spend their lives in silence, adoration, and prayer.

The site features two options: “Request a Prayer” and “Pray for Someone.” Users select a prayer topic (Depression, Grief, Family, Finances, Healing, Marriage, Vocations, etc,), type in their personal message, and select whether they would like their prayer posted on the page so community members can pray for them. There is also an option to email the intention to the person that one is praying for. In addition, users can choose to pray for another person by reading the intentions listed on the right-hand side of the site, and clicking the “I prayed for you” button.

To submit a prayer and/or pray for someone’s intentions, visit www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org/prayforme.

DeSales Media is the communications and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn, publishing Catholic news, information, entertainment and religious programming across all media. Their properties include the weekly diocesan newspaper The Tablet, the monthly Hispanic newspaper Nuestra Voz, the cable network New Evangelization Television NET TV and the Catholic Telemedia Network (CTN).

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‘Merciful Like The Father’ by Bishop DiMarzio

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December 2, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

Since the Second Vatican Council, the Popes have never shied away from proclaiming the Doctrine of Mercy. Beginning with Pope John XXIII, who on October 11, 1962, during the opening address of the Second Vatican Council, said, “The Church prefers the medicine of Mercy rather than that of severity: ‘Today, however, Christ’s Bride prefers the balm of mercy to the arm of severity. She believes that present needs are best served by explaining more fully the purport of her doctrines, rather than by publishing condemnations.’”

Pope Paul VI, who concluded the Second Vatican Council, spoke about mercy in his first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Nutiandi, Announcing the Gospel, on December 8, 1975, when he said, “This kingdom and this salvation, which are the key words of Jesus Christ’s evangelization, are available to every human being as grace and mercy, and yet at the same time each individual must gain them by force – they belong to the violent, says the Lord.”

Saint John Paul II, in his Encyclical, Rich in Mercy, Dives in Misericordia, makes it abundantly clear that the “Mercy of God is key to understanding our relationship to him.” He tells us that it is God who is rich in mercy. Jesus Christ reveals the Father to us, and as the Son, He manifests the Father and makes Him known to us.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

PDDM Internet Library

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The Pious Disciples of the Divine Master order of nuns would like to share their new apostolic initiative, the PDDM Internet Library!” It is a culmination of 13 years of work and the fruit of their Eucharistic-contemplative life. It is the most complete collection of LECTIO DIVINA on the Vatican II Lectionary and includes reflections on all the readings of the Sunday Cycles and the Weekday Cycles. The meaning of the readings comes alive through the use of stories, life experiences, personal witness, and more. The PDDM hopes this pastoral tool will be useful for all ministers of the word, especially lectors and homilists.

You can check it out at https://pddm.us/p.library.php.

Decree of Reduction

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Whereas, the historic church of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, dedicated in 1848, was demolished in 1957 after years of disrepair due to a fire;

Whereas, the current church, located at 82 South Second Street, between Berry Street and Wythe Ave, was from its construction provisional in nature;

Whereas, the changing population demographics and financial challenges faced by the parish present serious concerns for the future stability of the Parish of Ss. Peter and Paul;

Whereas, Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, Administrator of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, after having consulted the members of the faithful and having determined that the care of the souls would not be harmed has requested the current church structure as part of a larger strategic plan to ensure the future vibrancy of Ss. Peter and Paul…

Click here to read the full text of the Decree (original document).

Theology On Tap: November 2015

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Join us for the next two editions of Theology On Tap! The first takes place on Tuesday, November 10 with special guest Fr. Kevin Abels discussing Pope Francis and the Joy of the Gospel. The second edition is Tuesday, November 24 with Fr. Carlos Velasquez and he will be discussing the Liturgy: Where Heaven Meets Earth. Both of these events take place at Donovan’s Pub in Woodside. Don’t miss the action! Read more »

‘Steps To Strengthen Marriage’ by Bishop DiMarzio

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November 4, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Family life is beautiful and important. It is in a family that a child comes to know that he or she is loved and first learns to love others. It is in the family where a child first recognizes the gift of faith and the obligations of charity. While beautiful and important, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, also reminds us that no family is perfect.

As you know, Pope Francis convened the Synod of Bishops to discuss the theme of “The Vocation and Mission of The Family in The Church and in The Contemporary World.” Much of the conversation centered on the many challenges that face the family and how we as a Church might support those in distress. In his closing Mass for the Synod, the Holy Father reminded us “Jesus shows that he wants to hear our needs. He wants to talk with each of us about our lives, our real situations, so that nothing is kept from him.”

The bishops participating in the Synod were chosen by their brothers in each region of the world. A smaller number of bishops were invited to participate personally by the Holy Father. Also participating were representatives of the Orthodox Church and the leadership of our separated brethren in the Protestant community. Lastly, certain laymen and women who have particular expertise were invited to give voice to the many complex issues we face in our modern world.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

Cross of the Encuentros

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The National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD) is excited to share that the ‘Cross of the Encuentros,’ blessed by Pope Francis during his recent visit to the states to symbolize hispanic Catholics’ journey of faith, will be displayed in the Main Chapel at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception (440 West Neck Road, Huntington, NY 11743) on Thursday, October 29th for a special time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Read more »

‘Missions Have Universal Appeal’ By Bishop DiMarzio

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October 21, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

Last week, we celebrated the Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, one of the early Bishops of the Church who was ordained a bishop by the Apostles themselves. He was born in the Year 50 in Syria, and he died in Rome sometime after the Year 100 as a Martyr. His remains were taken back to Antioch, today the modern city of Aleppo, which is referred to frequently in news about the current war in Syria. I am not sure what remains of Aleppo. The ancient Antioch, crossroads of the world and a major stop on the trade route to the Far East, was a city of many cultures. It was also the founding site of the early Church, to which the name Christian was first applied.

Today, the title of Ignatius is passed on to the various Eastern Churches that venerate him as their founder. My good friend, Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Younan, is the Catholic patriarch of the Syriac Rite. His residence had been moved to Lebanon years ago because of the unstable situation in Syria.

St. Ignatius, whose feast we celebrated on Oct. 17, is a wonderful example of the founding bishops of the Church. His writings, although some are disputed in their origin, give us a wonderful understanding from the earliest days of the Church of the central tenets of our faith. Without dispute, he named the three parts of the sacrament of Holy Orders; Diaconate, Priesthood and Episcopacy. Ignatius attributed their foundation to Christ Himself. We also learned much about the doctrine of the Eucharist, as for the first time it is referred to as a “blessed sacrament.”

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN WELCOMES RENEW INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM “ARISE Together in Christ”

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Brooklyn, NY— Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio announced today that a comprehensive process of spiritual renewal will serve as a centerpiece of its evangelization efforts. This process, entitled ARISE Together in Christ, will be offered by RENEW International, and all parishes will have the opportunity to participate.

The groundwork has been laid over the past several months. With the bishop’s blessing, clergy, staff, and RENEW International team members have collaborated to plan this effort.

Speaking on the announcement, Bishop DiMarzio remarked, “RENEW’s process represents a timely and well-suited response to Pope Francis’ call for a new evangelization. It provides an excellent means for bringing together clergy, parishioners, and all members of our Catholic community in an endeavor centered on the loving and healing message of Jesus Christ.” Read more »