Diocesan News

Catholic Press Association Honors ‘The Tablet’ and ‘Nuestra Voz’

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On Friday, June 20, the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada honored writers and editors of Catholic media during its annual Catholic Media Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Tablet, the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, was recognized in three categories:

  • Columnist Father Jean-Pierre Ruiz, priest of the Diocese and professor of Theology at St. John’s University, obtained second place in the Best Regular Column category for his “Sunday’s Scriptures.”
  • Carrie White, longtime classified advertising manager, took second place for Individual Excellence in advertising and marketing.
  • Antonina Zielinska received an Honorable Mention for the 50th Anniversary of March on Washington Best Coverage, for her report “Sarah Keys Evans: Civil Rights Era Soldier Fought for Her Rights.”

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“What Good Can a Priest Do?” by Bishop DiMarzio

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June 25, 2014 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep”, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

Several months ago, one of our priests ordained seven years ago, Father Raphael Munday Kukana, asked for an appointment to meet with me. At our meeting, he brought me two surprises. The first was the manuscript of a book he wrote in 2013 entitled, “Unworthy Servant: What Good Can A Priest Do?” The book is his personal reflection on his then six years of priesthood and is truly fascinating.

Most importantly, perhaps it is the question that Father asks in the book on which we can meditate as we welcome 13 new priests to the Presbyterate of Brooklyn and Queens. He says, “The underlying question behind this reflection is ‘What good can a priest do?’ This question should really be a starting point because priests are ordained not to do some ‘good,’ but, simply put, to serve.

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

Diocese of Brooklyn’s Ordination Class Is Largest in Nation

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June 20, 2014 – Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will ordain thirteen men, the biggest class of new priests in the country, on June 28 at the newly renovated Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

“These thirteen men represent the great diversity of ethnicity, life experience, and socioeconomic background of the Church of Brooklyn and Queens,” Bishop DiMarzio said. “Yet, all share the one desire: to serve as a priest. I am privileged to ordain them as priests of Christ and welcome them to the Presbyterate of Brooklyn.”

The ordination mass will be held on Saturday, June 28, at 11AM and will be live-streamed on NET TV. For more information on the mass and the men being ordained, see the official press release.

Hit the Links to Support Brooklyn Cristo Rey High School

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Bishop DiMarzio Golf ClassicJune 19, 2014 – The 19th Annual Bishop DiMarzio Golf Glassic will take place on Thursday, Aug. 14, at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset. The day begins at 9 AM with registration and includes breakfast, golf, cocktails, dinner, and raffles. All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School.

We will be honoring Rev. Msgr. Peter Kain of St. Ephrem as Pastor of the Year, as well as Mr. Robert Catell. For more information on the event, and to register as a sponsor or player, please go to desalesmedia.org/bishop-golf-2014.

“Ordinands from Many Different Nations” by Bishop DiMarzio

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June 18, 2014 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep”, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

On Saturday, June 28, through the Grace of God, I will ordain 13 men to the priesthood for service to the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens. Some superstition surrounds the number 13. For some it is bad luck, yet for others, especially for Italians, it is a lucky number since the Feast of St. Anthony falls on the 13th of June.

For many, 13 truly is a baker’s dozen, 12 plus one, a full complement. We are blessed since I am told that our 13 ordinands are the most for any diocese in the U.S. Certainly, this is the most men I will ordain to the priesthood since I began my Episcopal ministry among you ten-and-half years ago. We have great reason to rejoice, for we have no difficulty in placing all of these men in assignments in Brooklyn and Queens, as we are in need of those who can serve the diverse population of the diocese.

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

“Our Fathers, Who Are in Heaven or on Earth” by Bishop DiMarzio

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June 11, 2014 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep”, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

This week, we have the coincidence of celebrating Trinity Sunday and the secular holiday of Father’s Day. It is a happy coincidence, because as we meditate on the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, we recognize that it is the teaching of Jesus that reveals to us the Blessed Trinity, especially His relationship to His Heavenly Father. Jesus told us that He and the Father were one, that He had come to do the Father’s will and that in effect there was no division between them but only a union solidified by complete love, which the Holy Spirit gives to the life of the Trinity.

Also, we cannot forget St. Joseph who was the guardian of Jesus during His life, recognized by most as His earthly father. We recognize in Joseph’s sacrificial paternity the necessary element of sacrifice, which all fathers worth the name must give in order to truly reach the pinnacle of fatherhood. We see in the relationship of Jesus to the one known as His earthly father and His Heavenly Father. It is the ideal relationship that a father must have with his children.

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

Time to Register for C.Y.O. Golf Classic

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CYO Golf Classic Diocese of Brooklyn Annual Catholic AppealThe deadline to register for the 5th Annual C.Y.O. Golf Classic is Thursday, June 12.

The event will be held on Thursday, June 19, at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, and the money raised will benefit the many sports programs sponsored by the C.Y.O. and the spiritual needs of the youth of Brooklyn and Queens.

This year’s outing will honor Joseph Esposito, former N.Y.P.D. Chief of Department.

To register by Thursday, call 718-965-7300 Ext. 1602 or email parishgiving@diobrook.org. More information on the event, including sponsorship opportunities, can be found at annualcatholicappeal.org.

Join the March for Marriage in Washington on June 19

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March for Marriage 2014The Diocese of Brooklyn is sponsoring a bus trip to Washington, D.C., for anyone interested in joining the second annual March for Marriage on Thursday, June 19.

Those who support the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman will have a chance to make their voices heard at this march. Last year more than 10,000 people attended the rally. A promotional video released by the National Organization for Marriage is below.

The bus will stop at Resurrection-Ascension parish (61-11 85th Street, Rego Park) at 6:30AM and St. Patrick parish (9511 Fourth Avenue, Bay Ridge) at 7:30AM. The cost is $20, and passengers should bring lunch. To register, go to bqonlineformation.org or contact Christine Georgi at 718-965-7300 ext. 5416 or cgeorgi@diobrook.org. The deadline to register is June 13.

“The Gifts of the Spirit” by Bishop DiMarzio

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2014-07-21 DimarzioJune 4, 2014 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep”, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost and we recognize that the coming of the Holy Spirit did not just happen to the Church 2,000 years ago, but it is a present event, especially as we receive the Holy Spirit in all the sacraments. Because it is the Holy Spirit that makes our encounter with Jesus possible.

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has a series of catecheses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit beginning in April. It is not yet complete, but he has already covered five of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which I wish also to summarize for you. In my preaching for the Sacrament of Confirmation, I have developed a Confirmation Lectionary based on nine sets of readings which deal with a specific theme. One of them deals with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and I will supply the gifts not covered by the Holy Father.

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

Bishop DiMarzio Invokes Past and Future in Homily at St. Joseph’s Dedication

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St. Josephs Cathedral BrooklynMay 16, 2014 – Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio touched on the past, present and future of the Church in a wide-ranging homily at the dedication of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph’s on May 13.

He told the story of the 100-year-old cathedral, which had fallen into disrepair before being meticulously restored over the past six years. He spoke about St. Joseph’s special place in the Catholic Church, as “the protector not only of Jesus and Mary but also of Christ’s mystical body, the Church.” Finally, he spoke about the future of the Diocese of Brooklyn and this new cathedral’s place in that future.

“And so, today, we come to re-dedicate this magnificent structure to Joseph as now the Co-Cathedral of Brooklyn and Queens,” Bishop DiMarzio said, “to seek his protection for our Diocese and to enable it also to reveal the mystery of the Church to the world.”

He went on to say that the newly restored St. Joseph’s, located in Prospect Heights,  “will be a central gathering place for our Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens.”

“My prayer is that the Lord will find this a fitting temple to give Him worship, and that all find it a place to encounter our Lord,” he said. “My hope is that this place be a symbol that the Church is not closing. Rather, the Church is growing and alive!”

The complete transcript of his homily is here.