FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN TO CELEBRATE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
AND PAY TRIBUTE TO FATHER JORGE ORTIZ-GARAY

           The Diocese of Brooklyn will mark the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a special Mass to be celebrated on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street, in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.

The day’s events will include a special tribute to Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, the beloved pastor at St. Brigid’s Church who died of COVID-19 on March 27, 2020. Father Jorge, believed to be the first Catholic priest to die of Coronavirus in the US, led the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Mexican Ministry for 10 years and was responsible for the coordination of the annual magnificent celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Catholics from throughout Brooklyn and Queens who loved Father Jorge will have the opportunity to be together, to honor his life and all he did for our Diocese. It is very special that we will also be honored by the presence of his parents and siblings. It will for sure be an emotional tribute, and I know Father Jorge will be with us in spirit on Saturday,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

The schedule to mark the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is as follows:

10 a.m. – Cultural program that will include catechesis and folkloric dances.

11:30 a.m. – Tribute to Father Jorge begins.

12 Noon – Mass will be celebrated in Spanish by Bishop DiMarzio and concelebrated by Retired Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros.

This year due to COVID-19 and social distancing rules in place, attendance at the cultural program and the Mass will be strictly limited to three people per parish. There will not be a torch-lit pilgrimage throughout Brooklyn and Queens as in years past. Only one symbolic torch will be lit after the Mass ends at about 1 p.m.

Members of the media are invited to attend. To RSVP, please e-mail Adriana Rodriguez at arodriguez@desalesmedia.org.

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