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The Diocese of Brooklyn will host the first annual Catholic Day at Citi Field on Saturday, September 9, 2017. The day will begin with a 9:45 a.m. Mass, celebrated by the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. The Mass will be followed by food, games, entertainment, and baseball as the New York Mets take on the Cincinnati Reds.
The event is part of the Diocese’s Year of Vocations Campaign, an effort to encourage young people to think about, pray for, and discern their life’s calling.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, September 9, 2017
8:00 a.m. – parking lots open
8:45 a.m. – gates open
9:45 a.m. – Mass with Bishop DiMarzio
11:30 a.m. – Marina Parking Lot entertainment featuring food, performances, carnival games, basketball, and more
4:00 p.m. – Mets Plaza entertainment
7:10 p.m. – New York Mets vs Cincinnati Reds
LOCATION:
Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368
CELEBRITY GUEST SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS AND VIP’s
- Rhett Walker, contemporary Christian rock performer, nominated for several Grammy Awards
- Quinton Aaron, actor, best known for portraying Michael Oher alongside Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”, founder of The Quinton Aaron Foundation, which offers resources and education in the fight against bullying
- Anthony Mangano, actor, host of Net TV’s “City of Churches“, starred on many television shows including “Person of Interest”, “Blue Bloods”, “NYPD Blue”, “CSI”, “The Blacklist”, “Who’s the Boss”, “Seinfeld”, and “Law & Order”
- Joe Estevez, actor in over 200 films, host of Net TV’s “All things Catholic“, brother of actor Martin Sheen
- Jenn Gotzon Chandler, actress, starred in “Frost/Nixon” as well as many family films. Also appeared on “CSI:NY” and “House”
- Stephanie Hanvey, singer, appeared on “American Idol” Season 13
- Alverlis Pena, singer-songwriter, Catholic worship leader
- Santiago Pérez de Camino Gaisse, head of the Vatican’s Church & Sport Office at the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family & Life
For the schedule of events at Catholic Day at Citi Field, click on this link: catholicdaynyc.oncell.com
As part of Catholic Day, the Diocese will ask baseball fans to contribute to “Catholics Care,” a volunteer effort, and text-to-donate campaign for Hurricane victims across the country. Fans can text “Catholics Care” to 917-722-4565.
DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN’S YEAR OF VOCATIONS:
The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Year of Vocations campaign is targeted toward young people of faith who are looking to understand God’s unique purpose for their lives. The initiative educates young Catholics about single and married life in the Church, as well as about becoming a deacon, nun, or priest.
In an effort to encourage more young men to consider becoming priests, the Diocese has created a video showing an unexpected side to the lives of the clergy. The video shows priests surfing, skateboarding and doing martial arts. The friars seen playing basketball in the video will be playing on site at Catholic Day at Citi Field.
The Year of Vocations campaign aims to show young people that serving God does not mean losing the unique qualities that make us who we are. Father Peter Purpura, rector of Saint James Cathedral Basilica, who is featured doing martial arts in the video, said, “Young men should realize that when you become a priest, you bring with you all of your passions, interests, and hobbies. All of these things are what make each priest unique, and in many cases, uniquely effective. Generally, I think that people focus too much on the negative aspects of the priesthood; what we give up or what we don’t have. The truth is that priests receive far more than we give, which is the reason for our priestly joy.” Fr. Purpura will be available for interviews.
For the video of Fr. Purpura: https://bit.ly/2grmGLu
For the Year of Vocations campaign video: https://bit.ly/2xNHAI0