August 5, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Last January, when I visited the Holy Land and stayed at the Neocatecumenal Center overlooking the Sea of Galilee, I had the unique occasion to witness a sudden storm which came seemingly out of nowhere and produced large waves on a normally tranquil lake. It truly looked like a sea at that time.

There is a Gospel scene which describes exactly what I experienced on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ disciples were in a boat a long way from shore, and going against the wind, tossed by the waves. They were not able to make it back to shore. But Jesus comes to them walking on the water and says, “Do not be afraid. I am Jesus. Do not be afraid.” And Peter, impetuous as he was, sees Jesus coming on the water and starts to walk on the water himself.

When he realized what he was doing, Peter starts to sink and cries, “Lord, save me!” And the Lord offered His hand and allows Peter to get back into the boat.

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

July 29th, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

During the feast of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, we are called to honor and remember those who have helped shape our lives as Catholics.

St. John Vianney, also known as the “Cure d’ Ars,” was a humble parish priest and a mediator of Christ to His people. During his life, Father John Vianney transformed the hearts and lives of so many people because he enabled them to experience the Lord’s merciful love. He helped bring many to the love and care of Jesus, and eventually became so beloved by people across France that large crowds would come hear him preach every day. Pope Pius XI officially canonized him in 1925.

It is with a grateful hearts that we reflect upon the many contributions of our priests in Brooklyn and Queens. Our diocese has been blessed with the service and leadership of so many remarkable priests. With love and deep commitment, they have guided us to fulfill the Church’s mission. Throughout our lives, in times of joy, and our educational efforts, our priests have been present and have walked alongside us during these times. They are pillars of our Catholic communities in Brooklyn and Queens, and have dedicated their lives for us.

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

July 22, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

As I read the latest Encyclical of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home,” I could not help but remember my own grandfather, who coincidentally was named Francesco. I learned from my grandfather the essentials of human ecology at a time perhaps when it did not even have a name. He taught me respect for the environment; never waste water, always make sure that the lights are turned off, recycle everything that we use, make a compost heap in the garden, make sure that nothing is wasted.

Even in the days when he had a coal stove in the kitchen and a coal furnace in his basement, he always sifted the ashes to find any leftover pieces of coal which could be reused so as not to be wasteful. I am not sure if this was all a product of the Depression or just a concern for the environment.

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

July 15, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

To be called to be a successor of the Apostles is a great honor, but also a great responsibility. During the week of July 5, the two Bishops-elect, James Massa and Witold Mroziewski, and I spent a week on retreat at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie.

This provided us with a time to reflect on the episcopal ministry by studying the lives of the Apostles. We know something about all of the Apostles. Obviously, we know more about Peter and Paul, who was an Apostle born out of time. However, the 12 do present a variety of persons who were called by Christ, Himself, to establish the primitive Church. They are all intercessors for the continued life of the Church.

During our conferences and discussions, we tried to understand better what the apostolic succession is about and how all of us are called to follow Christ as ministers of the Gospel.

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

July 1, 2015 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

The Constitution of the United States is a remarkable document penned by our Founding Fathers that has kept our Union together since its foundation, and gives a spirit of equality to all citizens of the United States of America. With two recent decisions of our Supreme Court, however, we wonder how the Constitution has been used to justify two complex, yet similar, actions. Both decisions are grounded in misunderstanding of human freedom. Individual conscience has been put to the test.

The first decision of the Supreme Court last week is regarding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare, that permits participants to receive federal subsidies even if their states have not set up exchanges, meaning state-sponsored insurance programs. The issue is not really about subsidies, but more importantly about state’s rights in relationships to the federal government.

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

June 17, 2015 – Excerpted From Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Father’s Day is a secular holiday that draws our attention to the role of paternity in our own lives and in our society. It is said to have originated in 1908 in Fairmont, W.Va. Grace Golden Clayton is believed to have been inspired to celebrate fathers after a deadly mine explosion in nearby Monongah killed 360 men, many of them fathers and recent immigrants to the United States from Italy.

Another driving force behind the establishment of Father’s Day in this country was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd of Creston, Wash. Her father, a Civil War veteran, was forced to raise six children by himself on a rural farm in Eastern Washington State. It was only after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising children on his own.

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