FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN ANNOUNCES PALM SUNDAY PLANS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Diocese of Brooklyn today is reminding the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens that public celebrations of Mass on Palm Sunday, the final Sunday of Lent and the beginning of the holiest week on the Christian calendar, are prohibited for the safety of all due to the Coronavirus.

The Palm Sunday Liturgy will be aired on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s cable channel, NET-TV, in seven languages, beginning at 8 AM tomorrow, Sunday, April 5, 2020.

The complete schedule is as follows:

8 AM – Italian

9 AM – Creole

10 AM – Polish

11 AM – English

12 PM – Spanish

1 PM – Korean

2 PM – Mandarin

NET-TV can be seen on Channel 97 (Spectrum), Channel 30 (Optimum) and Channel 48 on FIOS by Verizon. The live masses can also be viewed on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s website at www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org/masses

As Brooklyn and Queens remain the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic, and mindful of public health, Churches remain closed. The blessed palms are not to be distributed to the faithful at this time.

It was earlier announced that palms would be available outside each church in the Diocese on Palm Sunday for people to pick up, however, those plans have since changed. Palms will be distributed at a later date to be announced by the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

BISHOP DIMARZIO ANNOUNCES BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CHURCHES TO RING “BELLS OF HOPE” STARTING FRIDAY

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, has announced that he has asked every parish in Brooklyn and Queens with outdoor bells to ring them every day at 3 PM starting tomorrow, Friday, April 3. This initiative, known as “Bells of Hope,” will continue for the duration of the Coronavirus epidemic throughout Brooklyn and Queens.

Bishop DiMarzio is making this announcement as the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord from the dead and the Easter Season is soon approaching. Bishop DiMarzio has selected 3 PM as the daily time, to coincide with the hour of the death of the Lord and of Divine Mercy.

“The ringing of the church bells will inspire us as New Yorkers and citizens of the world, of all faiths, the strongest of believers and the nonbelievers, to unite in prayer against this virus. As our City, and especially our boroughs, remain the epicenter of this Coronavirus pandemic, each day we will ask Almighty God to bring an end to this illness which has caused great pain and suffering for many people of the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest instance of love and hope in the history of the world. In these truly uncertain times, we turn to the Lord ever mindful of this truth, and the power of prayer, to sustain us. We may or may not know for whom these bells will toll, however, we will pause to honor those who are suffering, who have died, and give thanks to God for those putting their lives at risk for others,” continued Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

The Diocese is home to 185 parishes throughout Brooklyn and Queens.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Ten Coronavirus Cases Confirmed at

Diocese of Brooklyn Church Communities

The Diocese of Brooklyn today is announcing it has learned of ten confirmed cases of the Coronavirus within several parish communities in the Diocese.

At Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Queens Village, Queens there are four confirmed cases. One individual last attended Mass on Sunday, March 1, 2020. The other three individuals are from the same family. They last attended Mass on Sunday, February 23, 2020. One of them also attended a bible study group on Monday, February 24, 2020, in the Bethsaida Spirituality Center.

There is one confirmed case of Coronavirus at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Fresh Meadows, Queens. The individual was last at the parish on March 4, 2020, at a soup supper in the Holy Family Catholic Academy school hall.

There are two confirmed cases at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica, Queens. One individual was last at the 11 am Mass on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The other individual has not been at the Church for the last few weeks.

One case of Coronavirus has been reported at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church in Jackson Heights, Queens. The individual was last at the Church on Wednesday, March 5, 2020, for a funeral.

We have one reported case of a parent at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy in Rockaway Beach, Queens. The parent visited the school for a short time to speak to the principal on March 11, 2020, but there was very limited exposure to the rest of the academy.

There is one confirmed case at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn. The individual came from another parish to a meeting of a faith-based group that was held in the convent hall on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

As a result of this information, all of the locations mentioned above have undergone or are undergoing a deep cleaning and sanitization, with approved disinfectants, following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Anyone who was at the above locations during the noted dates and/or times and is concerned about exposure, contact your doctor. If you experience symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath, contact your doctor immediately.

The Diocese of Brooklyn canceled all Masses, as of Monday, March 16, 2020, until further notice.

At all times, but especially now, the safety and well-being of our faith community is our primary concern. The Diocese of Brooklyn will continue to deliver important information in a timely manner.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

**VIDEO: COLUMBUS DAY PARADE/DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN MOTHER CABRINI FLOAT**
https://vimeo.com/366348469

***COURTESY: DeSales Media Group***

STATUE HONORING MOTHER CABRINI PART OF THE COLUMBUS DAY FLOAT SPONSORED BY THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

The Diocese of Brooklyn featured a Mother Cabrini statue aboard their float today at the 2019 New York City Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan.

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn rode on the float, boarding in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Mother Cabrini recently received the most nominations 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 was not chosen as part of the City’s current plans.

Today, Governor Cuomo announced his support for a new memorial to honor Mother Cabrini; a State Commission that will work with the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Diocese of Brooklyn and others to site and fund the new statue.

“I welcome the assistance the Governor is promising in erecting a statue for Mother Cabrini, which we hope is a monument to her for her work on behalf of immigrants. We will work with Governor Cuomo’s office to make it happen,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

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