A global pandemic didn’t stop Christ the King Church in Jamaica – religious education continued on because of the passion and commitment of its catechists and students

When in-person classes came to a halt in March, with the guidance and support of Director of Faith Formation Robbin Johnson, catechists quickly adapted.

Johnson and her fellow catechists developed a new system of leaving packets with the learning materials at the church for parents to pick up, bring home to their students to work on and then bring back for assessment. Throughout this time, catechists continued to be an accessible resource, contacting families each week to check in until the program’s finish.

Pleased with the packet program’s success, catechist Odette Jones mentions what drives her commitment: “No religious education, no future spiritual leaders. This year was an awesome experience for me to see each child pray and to know the power of prayers.” Catechist Sandra Sanon adds, “Ministering at Christ the King as a substitute faith formation instructor, I have been blessed to share my love of Jesus, and the experience of my faith journey with the young people as I learn from their participation and input.”

At the end of the program, students were given their final progress report and resources for the summer. Last but most certainly not least, the program capped off with two end-of-term projects coordinated by Johnson. One project involves the students collecting bottle caps to raise funds to provide free dialysis to patients, and the other is to send thank you cards to healthcare workers in Queens General Hospital.

Johnson also credits the parents for the program’s success. “They are hardworking, unified and very supportive in assisting in their children’s faith journeys. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

AnneMarie Greene, Director of Faith Formation at St. Francis DeSales Parish in Belle Harbor, was determined. After months of learning and preparation for the parish children, their First Holy Communion ceremony was sadly and unexpectedly canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over the next few weeks, Greene took note of the parish pastors Father Sweeney and Father Cunningham’s online daily and Sunday masses, and then reached out to the parish academy’s principal, Chris Scharbach, for his technology expertise and know-how.

This inquiry quickly led to what became St. Francis DeSales’ first virtual Holy Communion ceremony, held on May 2, 2020via Principal Scharbach’s Zoom account. Once Greene confirmed she had in-person support and the access to the technology for a virtual event, she immediately went to work on creating the program for this event, a responsibility she welcomed with open arms as this is her passion and forte: to create any program or material around religious education and the faith formation journey.

This Holy Communion ceremony was a wonderful prayer service which included scripture and live music from the parish choir. Along with the 92 Communion celebrants, Principal Scharbach, Father Sweeney, Father Cunningham, Father Gelfant from Blessed Trinity Parish in Breezy Point, catechists and parish academy teachers were also in the Zoom session, sharing in this important milestone for the children and, as Greene mentioned, “looking on in prayer and service to God”. Afterwards, the children – some proudly dressed in their First Communion white attire – swung by the parish rectory to pick up a gift from the parish.

Their gifted crosses and prayer cards in hand, and along with the beautiful prayer service – this is exactly what the catechists and children needed to honor this special day in the Catholic faith.

By Juan Perez, Director of Faith Formation, St. Pancras Church

As the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic increased in great numbers, the State of New York set restrictions for the health and safety of the public. It became apparent that this was going to affect our Parish life. Reverend Francis J. Hughes, Pastor of St. Pancras Roman Catholic Church, and I, as Director of Faith Formation, needed to come up with a plan for completing the rest of the year’s program. The schools were closed, the church was closed, and our program was suspended until further notice.

For us, faith formation is a very important piece in the life of the Church. After meeting with Father Hughes, we spoke about many ideas. As a result, we came to the conclusion that we needed to have the catechists, the parents, and the students involved as much as we could. Our idea was to create PDF remote lessons for the students, and this is how we did it. First, we contacted the 11 catechists, who teach 1^st through 8^th grades, and explained our ideas. Then, we sent an email to the parents, explaining the procedure for the rest of the school year.

• Each catechist was asked to send me an assessment for each chapter, for a total of eight weeks.
• Next, I converted the lessons into fill-in PDF forms.
• The PDF forms were sent to each catechist with the names of the students and respective emails.
• Every week, the catechists sent the remote lessons to the parents with the directions and due dates.
• It was suggested that the parents work with their children to read chapters and complete the lessons. Upon completion, the parents were asked to send the completed lessons to their catechist.
• After the catechists received the completed lessons from the parents, they recorded the students as present on the attendance sheet.
• Every week, I kept in contact with the catechists and my pastor to review how the process was going.

At the conclusion of the school year, we promoted all of those students who were involved in the program. Father Hughes and I met to review the procedures we followed during the pandemic.  We agreed that our plan of having the catechists, the parents, and the children involved with the remote lessons was very successful, and we were pleased with the outcome. In addition, Father and I spoke about registration for the next school year.  Father suggested that we should try implementing online registrations and payments, which are already in motion.

After receiving my Master’s Degree in Systematic Theology in 2015, I wanted to do more for the Church and explore new ways to evangelize by taking advantage of the new technology. As a result, I have been using Facebook Live to preach the Gospel of the Lord in a different way. Thanks to this, about 40,000 people follow my Bible teachings and reflections on my Facebook page, Comunidad Catolica Fuego de Dios, translated in English, Catholic Community of God’s Fire.

In response to the request of many Latinos within the Diocese of Brooklyn and surrounding communities, my online teaching sessions increased enormously. When the coronavirus pandemic broke out, I had to reinvent myself by transforming my bedroom into a mini-stream studio in order to be able to teach online through Zoom and Facebook rooms. To make the lessons more interesting, I incorporated Power Point presentations and prayers. The sessions also include live music with ministers from God’s Fire International Music Ministry, who connected with me through Zoom and Facebook Live. The viewers are given the opportunity to interact and make prayer requests. As a result, each presentation has between 8,000 and 20,000 viewers with very positive feedback.

The online presentations have opened other doors for me. Members of the Latino communities expressed an interest in having me prepare and offer retreats all over the United States, and including some other countries. These retreats are offered to young people, men, women, and families. This experience has changed my life because I see the pain, the suffering, and the desire to have a real and sincere relationship with God.

For years, I have written and produced music and videos for our Catholic community, based in the teachings and the Doctrine of the Church, which have had a very positive impact in the communities I have served. I am also in the process of releasing my new album, We Are Israel, and my upcoming book, Rise Up with Power.

Check me up on Facebook, on Instagram: @juancofgod, and YouTube – Camilo Perez.

On the eve of Pentecost Sunday, May 30, 2020, Brooklyn and Queens had its very first virtual Catholic Youth Day (BQCYD) celebration. Spearheaded by the Secretary of Evangelization & Catechesis Theodore Musco, lead event coordinator Lucia Morales and the BQCYD committee, the event as always consisted of inspirational talks, the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praise and worship and fellowship with and amongst youth from multiple parishes in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The excitement, passion and positive energy was palpable as youth ministers welcomed the online participants and host-emcee the Symbol moved the celebration forward with keynote speaker introductions, warm shout-outs to youth as they joined the online session, personal anecdotes from his own faith journey and good beats in between. There were also peaceful moments of prayer and reflection as Father James Kuroly led the online attendees through the Adoration and Father Henry Torres spoke of how the Holy Spirit is ever-present in everyday lives and that, if one opens his/her heart to the Holy Spirit, one’s gift will be revealed. Last but most certainly not least, youth from across the diocese submitted fun videos as part of a TikTok challenge.

Overall, there were good vibes shared all around. As of June 11, 2020, the YouTube video has garnered 2,900 views. BQCYD was indeed an online success and a testament to a strong and ever-faithful youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

 

May 1, 2020
St. Joseph the Worker

To the Faithful of the Diocese in Brooklyn & Queens:

As you read this letter, we are in the midst of the Easter Season. We rejoice in the risen Jesus and in what that Resurrection means for us who are members of His Body. By His Cross and Resurrection, Christ has set us free.

Yet, as much as we believe and rejoice in that Paschal mystery, we are celebrating in a very difficult and challenging time. Our observance of Lent this year was marked by unexpected and unwelcome penances for which we did not ask. Easter is marred by the same. We always trust in Jesus and His promise to be with us always and His command to us not to fear.

The pandemic we are experiencing has done many things. It has, first of all, taken from us some of our loved ones. Many of us have experienced the suffering of so many sick people.

At the same time we have also seen the strength and resilience of many of our first responders, doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, and so many more who are considered to be essential workers. This has moved us to feel and express a gratitude which we perhaps should have expressed previously. So we mourn our beloved dead, we continue to pray for the sick among us and we thank those who help bravely.

Our spiritual lives have changed, too. We have experienced the closure of our churches. How painful this is to us, who feel that the Church is a “second home” in so many ways. We have been unable to receive the sacraments. I am thinking most especially of the Sacrament of Penance and Eucharist.

Please allow me to reflect on that for a moment. The sacraments are indeed the way that Jesus chose to remain in our lives and the way that we continue to experience His presence and work among us. Nothing can replace that for us. It is most especially true in the Eucharist where Jesus is truly and substantially present to us that we experience Him in a unique and irreplaceable way. However, this experience has also taught us that Jesus cannot be limited.

He cannot be contained. We can and do experience Him in many different ways. A sincere Act of Contrition and a Spiritual Communion, while not replacements for the sacraments, are ways to allow Jesus into our lives. We have even been unable to mourn our dead in the ways we are accustomed to doing. While this is heart breaking, we know that God’s mercy is overwhelming and we can pray for our loved ones at all times.

The closing of our churches has been unavoidable, as Brooklyn and Queens has had nearly 60% of all cases of Covid-19 in New York City. Though there are many who doubt and even publicly speak out against the decisions made to close churches and maintain social distancing, please know that decisions like these have not been taken lightly, especially in this Diocese where Brooklyn and Queens are literally at the epicenter of the crisis in New York City, which is the epicenter of the United States. We have had to resort to these desperate measures to prevent the further loss of life and spread of disease. Life is God’s great gift and we must protect it.

That is why our churches will remain closed until it is safe to reopen them, a decision that will be made by Diocese of Brooklyn with the assistance of Mr. Joseph Esposito (former Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management for New York City) in conjunction with public health authorities. When our churches do reopen, unfortunately, we will not be able to resume church life as we enjoyed it before. There will be changes to keep everyone healthy and safe. We will respond as always, as faithful People of God, to the challenges placed before us. I ask that we all strive to understand, to adapt and to rise up to these challenges. I want to thank our priests and deacons who have learned new ways to minister to you: for streamed Masses and retreats, homilies and talks, and various other engaging events on line which all help us remain close as the parish families we are and keep our spirits lifted as joy- filled Christians.

We continue to pray for our beloved dead, may they rest in peace; and we pray for the sick that they will experience the presence of Christ the Healer; for our governmental leaders; for our dedicated first responders, doctors, nurses, medical personnel, funeral directors, and essential workers; for the clergy and religious of our Diocese and for us all. May the Lord, who is Mercy Itself, lead us out of this difficult time and into a time of good health and new life.

The month of May is dedicated in a particular way to our Blessed Mother. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked us to pray the Rosary most fervently this month for an end to this pandemic. We place our trust in the intercession of Mary and of her blessed spouse St. Joseph whose feast we celebrate today, May 1st. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us! St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us!

With an assurance of my continued remembrance of you in prayer, I am Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D.
Bishop of Brooklyn

 

1 de mayo de 2020
San José el Trabajador

A los fieles de la Diócesis en Brooklyn y Queens:

El leer esta carta, nosotros estamos en medio de la celebración de la Pascua. Nos regocijamos en Jesús resucitado y en lo que esa resurrección significa para nosotros quienes somos miembros de su cuerpo.

Por su cruz y resurrección, Cristo nos ha liberado. Sin embargo, por mucho que creamos y nos regocijemos en ese misterio pascual, estamos celebrando en un momento muy difícil y desafiante. Nuestra observación de la Cuaresma este año estuvo marcada por penitencias inesperadas y desagradables que no solicitamos. La Pascua se ve empañada de la misma forma. Siempre confiamos en Jesús y en su promesa de estar con nosotros siempre y en su mandato a nosotros de no temer.

La pandemia que estamos experimentando ha hecho muchas cosas. En primer lugar, nos ha quitado algunos de nuestros seres queridos. Muchos de nosotros hemos experimentado el sufrimiento de tantas personas enfermas. Al mismo tiempo, también hemos visto la fuerza y la resistencia de muchos de nuestros equipos de primeros auxilios, médicos, enfermeras y otro personal médico, y muchos más que consideramos trabajadores esenciales. Esto nos ha llevado a sentir y expresar una gratitud que quizás deberíamos haber expresado previamente. Lloramos a nuestros seres queridos, seguimos rezando por los enfermos entre nosotros y agradecemos a quienes nos ayudan con valentía.

Nuestras vidas espirituales también han cambiado. Hemos experimentado el cierre de nuestras iglesias. Qué doloroso es esto para nosotros, que sentimos que la Iglesia es un “segundo hogar” en muchos sentidos. No hemos podido recibir los sacramentos. Estoy pensando especialmente en el Sacramento de la Penitencia y la Eucaristía.

Permítame reflexionar sobre esto por un momento. Los sacramentos son, de hecho, la forma en la cual Jesús eligió permanecer en nuestras vidas y la forma como continuamos experimentando su presencia y su trabajo entre nosotros. Nada puede reemplazar eso para nosotros. Esto es especialmente cierto en la Eucaristía, donde Jesús está presente de manera real y sustancial para
nosotros, lo experimentamos de una manera única e insustituible. Sin embargo, esta experiencia también nos ha enseñado que Jesús no puede ser limitado. No puede ser contenido. Podemos y lo experimentamos de muchas maneras diferentes. Un acto de contrición sincero y una comunión espiritual, aunque no reemplazan a los Sacramentos, son formas de permitir que Jesús entre en nuestras vidas. Incluso no hemos podido llorar a nuestros difuntos de la forma en que estamos acostumbrados a hacerlo. Si bien esto es desgarrador, sabemos que la misericordia de Dios es contundente y podemos orar por nuestros seres queridos en todo momento.

El cierre de nuestras Iglesias ha sido inevitable, ya que Brooklyn y Queens han tenido cerca del 60% de todos los casos en la ciudad de Nueva York. Aunque hay muchos que dudan e incluso hablan públicamente en contra de las decisiones tomadas para cerrar Iglesias y mantener el distanciamiento social, sepan que decisiones como estas no se han tomado a la ligera, especialmente en esta Diócesis donde Brooklyn y Queens están literalmente en el epicentro de la crisis en la ciudad de Nueva York,
que es el epicentro de los Estados Unidos. Hemos tenido que recurrir a estas medidas desesperadas para evitar una mayor pérdida de vidas y la propagación de enfermedades. La vida es el gran regalo de Dios y debemos protegerla.

Esta es la razón por la cual nuestras iglesias permanecerán cerradas hasta que sea seguro reabrirlas, una decisión que será tomada por la Diócesis de Brooklyn, con la ayuda del señor Joseph Esposito (ex comisionado de la Oficina de Emergencias de la ciudad de Nueva York) y junto con las autoridades de salud pública. Cuando nuestras iglesias vuelvan a abrir, en el futuro cercano, desafortunadamente no podremos reanudar la vida de la Iglesia como la vivíamos antes. Habrá cambios para mantener a todos saludables y protegidos. Responderemos como siempre, como pueblo fiel de Dios, a los desafíos que se nos presenten. Pido que todos nos esforcemos por comprender, adaptarnos y hacer frente a estos desafíos. Quiero agradecer a nuestros sacerdotes y diáconos que han aprendido nuevas formas de servirle a ustedes: con Misas y retiros, homilías y charlas, y varios otros eventos interesantes transmitidos en las redes, que nos ayudan a permanecer unidos como familias parroquiales y mantener nuestros espíritus levantados como cristianos llenos de alegría.

Continuamos orando por nuestros seres queridos que han fallecido y le pedimos a Dios que descansen en su eterna gloria; por nuestra familia, amigos, sacerdotes, diáconos y religiosos y por los enfermos para que experimenten la presencia de Cristo el Sanador; por nuestros trabajadores esenciales y líderes gubernamentales; por nuestros líderes religiosos y por todos nosotros. Que el Señor, quien es la misericordia misma, nos guíe fuera de este momento difícil y hacia un tiempo de buena salud y vida
nueva.

El mes de mayo está dedicado de manera particular a nuestra Santísima Madre. Nuestro Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco, nos ha pedido rezar el Rosario más fervientemente este mes para poner fin a esta pandemia. Confiamos en la intercesión de María y de su bendito esposo San José, cuya fiesta celebramos hoy, 1 de mayo. María, Madre de la Iglesia, ruega por nosotros. San José, Patrono de la Iglesia Universal, ¡ruega por nosotros!

Con la promesa de mi continuo recuerdo de ustedes en oración,

Sinceramente en Cristo

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio,
Obispo de Brooklyn

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