Hundreds Turn Out for Diocese of Brooklyn’s Mass of Hope and Healing

The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated the annual Mass of Hope & Healing Tuesday evening at St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church located at 2154 61st Street in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.

Hundreds of people were in attendance as the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, celebrated the Mass along with dozens of priests. “It’s always a night that’s moving because you know there are victims there, not identified but you know people, some of them are part of the committee, and they come with great faith looking for healing and support from the community. A lot of parishioners here, a lot of people from the diocese and about 60 priests so it was really a wonderful night of support,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

The Mass of Hope & Healing, now in its fifth year, is planned by survivors for survivors, and all those impacted by the sexual abuse crisis. This year for the first time, the Diocesan Survivors Advisory Committee lit the Easter Candle and prayed for the victims of abuse who entered eternal life this past year.

Father Jeffry T. Dillon delivered the homily. Dillon is a victim-survivor of clergy sexual abuse.

B-roll of Mass and SOT of Fr. Dillon can be found here:

https://vimeo.com/333488956

SOT: Fr. Jeffry Dillon / Clergy sex abuse victim
“When it is said that the victims are only coming forth now because of the financial settlements that are being made by various dioceses, I speak from personal experience and from speaking to a number of survivors of sexual abuse, and to a person their response has been, keep your money, give me back my innocence. To those who say it’s a money grab, I say keep your money, give me back my joy.”

Photos attached.