Press Releases

CATHOLICS REMAIN HOPEFUL NYC WILL HONOR MOTHER CABRINI, SUPPORTERS TO GATHER SUNDAY

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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BROOKLYN DIOCESE KEEPS HOPE ALIVE FOR MOTHER CABRINI STATUE

Bishop DiMarzio Begins Fundraising to Honor St. Frances Cabrini’s Legacy

 

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, and the Italian Apostolate of the Diocese of Brooklyn, today announced plans to host a procession and Mass this Sunday, October 6, 2019, and the start of a fundraising campaign, in support of the construction of a public statue recognizing Mother Cabrini.

 

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will lead the procession from Mother Cabrini Park, located at 41 President Street in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, starting at 3 PM.  The park is located at the former site of a church building where Mother Cabrini first ministered to the poor immigrants of the Italian community. The procession will continue to Sacred Hearts – St. Stephen Church located at 125 Summit Street, where Mass will begin at 4 PM.

 

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants, arrived in New York in 1889 with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Mother Cabrini recently received the most votes in the “She Built NYC” competition, which aims to build more statues honoring women. But despite earning this top ranking, a public statue honoring her life is not being planned.

 

“Mother Frances Cabrini was certainly one of the women who built New York City. Her work to establish orphanages, schools, and a hospital, along with her commitment to immigrants, absolutely should be recognized. The failure to honor Mother Cabrini with a public statue would be an affront to many New Yorkers, especially Italian-Americans, who see her as most deserving,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

 

The Cabrini Statue fundraising campaign, through the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens, is raising funds to have a statue of St. Frances Cabrini built. The Diocese is working with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to have Mother Cabrini included in the She Built NYC program, with a preference for a statue to be constructed in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall.  Individuals looking to donate may visit https://catholicfoundationbq.org/cabrinistatue/

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN ANNOUNCES FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FATHER ANTONIUS HO, PASTOR OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY IN FLUSHING

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN ANNOUNCES FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FATHER ANTONIUS HO, PASTOR OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY IN FLUSHING

The Diocese of Brooklyn has announced the passing of Reverend Phi Phu (Antonius) Ho, C.S.J.B., a priest of the Congregation of Saint John the Baptist, who was currently serving as Pastor of Saint John Vianney in Flushing.

Fr. Ho ministered in the Diocese of Brooklyn for the past thirteen years and was also the Diocesan Coordinator of the Queens Chinese Apostolate. Father Ho was born on December 1, 1965, in Vietnam, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 2, 1995, and died on Monday, September 23, 2019.

The arrangements are as follows:

The wake will be held at the Central Funeral Home, located at 162-14 Sanford Avenue in the Flushing section of Queens, on Friday, September 27, 2019, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.  A Vigil Mass will follow at Saint John Vianney R.C. Church at 7:30 PM.

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at 10:00 AM at St. John Vianney.

St. John Vianney R.C. Church, is located at 140-10 34th Avenue, in Flushing, New York.

QUEENS CHURCH STARTS GO FUND ME PAGE TO REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY VANDALISM

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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***CHURCH STARTS RAISING MONEY TO REPAIR DAMAGE***

This is an update to the press release issued by the Diocese of Brooklyn earlier: 

***Father Josephjude Gannon, Pastor of St. Gerard Majella, has established a Go Fund Me page this afternoon to raise money to help the church pay for the necessary repairs to the garden and shrine, which were vandalized three times within the last two weeks.

The link can be found at:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/saint-gerard-majella-garden-restoration

Earlier, the Diocese of Brooklyn announced an arrest of a 69-yeard old woman has been made in this case. St. Gerard Majella is located at 188-16 91st Avenue in Hollis, Queens.

QUEENS CATHOLIC CHURCH VANDALIZED TWO SUNDAYS IN A ROW

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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NYPD INVESTIGATING VANDALISM TWO SUNDAYS IN A ROW AT QUEENS CHURCH

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing they are working with the New York City Police

Department in response to two acts of vandalism, which occurred this past week, on the property at St. Gerard Majella in the Hollis section of Queens.

 

This past Sunday evening, a woman broke into the parking lot and caused significant damage to the Rosary Stations which were crafted in Italy, the parish signs affixed to the fence and the sprinkler system. The pastor estimates the value of the damage at approximately $10,000.  The woman seen in the surveillance video, which has been handed over to the 103rd Precinct, is the same person who the Sunday before, on September 8, was captured on video in the parking lot ripping down signs and damaging potted plants bearing the parish name.

 

“The things damaged were all purchased through the fundraising of parishioners and the Generation of Faith Diocesan campaign. These are hurtful attacks against the image of Mary and the parish.  Such acts of religious intolerance have no place within our society, and every house of worship, regardless of their beliefs, should be respected. We are praying for the person and for justice,” said Father Josephjude C. Gannon, Pastor of St. Gerard Majella.

 

Anyone with information is asked to call CRIME STOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. St. Gerard Majella is located at 188-16 91st Avenue in Hollis, Queens.

 

 

 

Photos Courtesy of The Tablet

SPECIAL COLLECTION SET IN DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE DORIAN

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Urges Support for Hurricane Dorian Victims in the Bahamas

 

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, is asking the faithful of every parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn, throughout all of Brooklyn and Queens, to take up a special collection for the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas at all Masses this weekend (September 14 and 15) and next weekend (September 21 and 22).

 

“We have all seen the painful images of devastation and heard of the deaths caused by the slow-moving Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by this terrible natural disaster, the most devastating of its kind on record. I am asking the Lord to extend His blessings upon our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas during this difficult time, and thanking the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens for their continued compassion,” said The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

 

The money collected will be sent to the Archdiocese of Nassau. If someone wishes to donate by check, it should be made payable to the Compostela Fund and write Bahamas in the memo section.

 

For those who wish to mail in their donation, it can be sent to Compostela Fund, 310 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215.

QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL TO BLESS UPGRADED ART AND MUSIC CLASSROOMS TOMORROW

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 12, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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UPGRADED ART AND MUSIC ROOMS TO BE OFFICIALLY OPENED AND BLESSED AT QUEENS CATHOLIC ACADEMY TOMORROW

            The Diocese of Brooklyn and the Office of the Superintendent of Schools has announced that Auxiliary Bishop James Massa, Vicar for Education, will bless the newly renovated art and music rooms at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Bayside, Queens, tomorrow, Friday, September 13, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.

 

Additionally, as part of Bishop Massa’s special visit to the school, celebrating the start of the new school year, he will lead a school-wide Mass beginning at 2:00 p.m.

 

The school is located at 216-01 38th Avenue (between 216th and 217th Streets).

 

Members of the media are invited to attend.

Mass in Brooklyn to honor firefighters killed on September 11, 2001

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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John Quaglione 
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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 18 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 across the Brooklyn Bridge with flags representing the 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 on the way 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.

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SPECIAL BLESSING TO START NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT BROOKLYN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 9, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
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arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

SPECIAL BLESSING TO START NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT BROOKLYN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

            The Diocese of Brooklyn and the Office of the Superintendent of Schools is announcing that Auxiliary Bishop James Massa, Vicar for Education, will bless the new STEM Lab and playground, as well as the renovated auditorium, at St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy in Brooklyn tomorrow, Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at 1:15 p.m.

 

Additionally, as part of Bishop Massa’s special visit, celebrating the start of the new school year, he will lead a school-wide Mass beginning at 2:00 p.m.

 

The school is located at 438 Grove Street (corner of St. Nicholas Avenue) in Brooklyn.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend.

STATEMENT BY BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO AS NEW YORK’S CHILD VICTIMS ACT TAKES EFFECT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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STATEMENT BY BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO AS

NEW YORK’S CHILD VICTIMS ACT TAKES EFFECT

 

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, today has issued the following statement on the first day of the one-year lookback window for claims of child sexual abuse following the passage of the New York State Child Victim’s Act this past session:

“Today, we stand with victims who were sexually abused as children. We have reached this point because too many victims all across society have sadly carried this heavy cross for far too long. Sexual abuse is a heinous crime, and victim-survivors now have a new avenue to seek redress through the Child Victims Act.

For anyone abused by a priest, employee or volunteer — I am sorry that a member of our church who you trusted became the source of pain and anguish. You should know the Diocese of Brooklyn has instituted the most aggressive policies to prevent any future abuse and to protect children.

We have also worked to put survivors first through many programs. Our Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program has settled with nearly 500 victims. It is our hope and intention to continue the IRCP. Our various support groups and our yearly Mass of Hope and Healing highlight our commitment. I have also personally met with victim-survivors to hear their heart-wrenching stories.

The Diocese of Brooklyn will never stop fighting sexual abuse. We will never stop supporting those who need healing and will forever work to restore the faith of those we have failed,” said DiMarzio.

The link to a video recording of the above statement by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is below.

To date, the Diocese of Brooklyn has worked with nearly 500 victims and has paid over $90 million in settlements.  Earlier this year, the Diocese of Brooklyn published a list of credibly accused clergy who have served the Diocese throughout its 166-year history.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has put victim-survivors first through the resources offered by the Victim Assistance Ministry. The Diocese provides independent licensed therapists and support groups to help victim-survivors through the healing process. The Bishop also celebrates a yearly Mass of Hope and Healing bringing the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens together to pray for victim-survivors of clergy sex abuse.

Throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn, significant programs have been instituted to prevent future abuse and to protect children. They include a Zero Tolerance policy which states that any clergy member credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor is permanently removed from ministry.

The Diocese also conducts initial and ongoing background checks of all employees and volunteers and provides age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness training for children and adults.

Over 82,000 adults have been trained in sexual abuse awareness including all clergy, teachers, parish and academy/school employees, catechists and volunteers who work directly with children. Each year, over 60,000 children are instructed in the Child Lures Prevention Program.

A video explanation of the role of the Diocesan Review Board has been published on our website today. In it, Joseph Esposito, Chairperson of the Diocesan Review Board and retired NYPD Chief of Department, explains how the board handles allegations of sexual abuse against a cleric. The link to the video is below.

For more information about the ongoing efforts in the Diocese of Brooklyn, visit https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/sex-abuse-crisis-response/.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Video Statement:
https://vimeo.com/353811094

Diocesan Review Board Explainer Video:
https://vimeo.com/353795404

 

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DECLARACIÓN DEL OBISPO NICHOLAS DIMARZIOLA LEY DE VÍCTIMAS INFANTILES DE NEW YORK ES EFECTIVA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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DECLARACIÓN DEL OBISPO NICHOLAS DIMARZIO

LA LEY DE VÍCTIMAS INFANTILES DE NEW YORK ES EFECTIVA

 
Luego de la entrada en vigencia de la nueva Ley de Victimas Infantiles aprobadas por el Estado de Nueva York que abrió por un año la ventana restrospectiva que amplía el tiempo de prescripción de los delitos de abusos sexuales a menores, Monseñor Nicholas DiMarzio, Obispo de Brooklyn, emitió hoy la siguiente declaración:

 
“Hoy, estamos con víctimas que fueron abusadas sexualmente cuando eran niños. Hemos llegado a este punto porque muchas víctimas, en toda la sociedad, han llevado tristemente esta pesada cruz durante demasiado tiempo. El abuso sexual es un crimen atroz, pero los sobrevivientes ahora tienen una nueva vía para buscar reparación a través de la Ley de víctimas infantiles.

Frente a cualquier persona maltratada por un sacerdote, empleado o voluntario, lamento que un miembro de nuestra Iglesia, en quien usted confiaba, se convirtiera en una fuente de dolor y angustia. Debe saber que la Diócesis de Brooklyn ha instituido las políticas más agresivas para prevenir futuros abusos y proteger a los niños.

También hemos trabajado para poner a las víctimas en primer lugar a través de muchos programas. Nuestro programa independiente de reconciliación y compensación (IRCP) ha indemnizado ya a casi 500 víctimas. Es nuestra esperanza e intención continuar con el IRCP. Nuestros diversos grupos de apoyo y la Misa anual de Esperanza y Sanación destacan nuestro compromiso. También me he reunido personalmente con víctimas y sobrevivientes para escuchar sus desgarradoras historias.

La Diócesis de Brooklyn nunca dejará de luchar contra el abuso sexual. Nunca dejaremos de apoyar a quienes necesitan curación y trabajaremos siempre para restaurar la fe de aquellos a quienes le hemos fallado .”

 
Al final de la nota está disponible un enlace donde se puede ver la declaración del obispo en el idioma original.

 
Hasta la fecha, la Diócesis de Brooklyn ha trabajado con casi 500 víctimas y ha pagado más de $ 90 millones en indemnizaciones. A principios de este año, la Diócesis de Brooklyn publicó una lista de clérigos acusados creiblemente que han servido a la Diócesis a lo largo de sus 166 años de historia.

 
La Diócesis de Brooklyn ha puesto a las víctimas y sobrevivientes en el primer lugar a través de los recursos ofrecidos por el Ministerio de Asistencia a las Víctimas. Además de  proporcionarles terapeutas con licencia independientes y grupos de apoyo para ayudarlos a través del proceso de sanación. El Obispo también celebra una Misa anual de Esperanza y Sanación que reúne a los fieles de Brooklyn y Queens para rezar por las víctimas-sobrevivientes del abuso sexual del clero.

A lo largo de la jurisdicción diocesana, se han instituido importantes programas para prevenir futuros abusos y proteger a los niños. Incluyen una política de Tolerancia Cero que establece que cualquier miembro del clero acusado creíblemente de abuso sexual de un menor es removido permanentemente del ministerio.

 
La Diócesis también lleva a cabo verificaciones de antecedentes iniciales y continuas de todos los empleados y voluntarios y brinda capacitación de concientización sobre abuso sexual apropiada para niños y adultos.

 
Más de 82,000 adultos han recibido capacitación sobre el abuso sexual, incluidos todos clerigos, empleados, maestros de parroquias y academias / escuelas, catequistas y voluntarios que trabajan directamente con los niños. Cada año, más de 60,000 niños reciben instrucción en el Programa de prevención de señuelos infantiles.

 
Hoy se ha publicado en nuestro sitio web una explicación en video del papel de la Junta de Revisión Diocesana. En él, Joseph Esposito, presidente de la Junta de Revisión Diocesana y Jefe retirado del Departamento de Policía de Nueva York, explica cómo la junta maneja las denuncias de abuso sexual contra un clérigo. El enlace al video está abajo.

 
Para obtener más información sobre los esfuerzos en curso en la Diócesis de Brooklyn, visite https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/sex-abuse-crisis-response/.

 
Declaración en video del obispo Nicholas DiMarzio:

https://vimeo.com/353811094

 
Video explicativo de la Junta de Revisión Diocesana:

https://vimeo.com/353795404

 
 

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