FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 5, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

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

***VIDEO/STILLS UPDATE***
https://vimeo.com/377687158
Please courtesy: DeSales Media Group

 

17,000 RED LIGHTS TO SHINE ON GRAND ARMY PLAZA CHRISTMAS TREE TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

 

The DeSales Media Group, along with the Diocese of Brooklyn and Aid to the Church in Need, will officially light the 2019 Diocesan Christmas tree at a ceremony tomorrow, Thursday, December 5, 2019, at 5 p.m., in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch located at 20 Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.

The ceremony will include spiritual reflection and song, a candle lighting vigil and moment of silence, and a special performance by the St. Saviour’s High School Gospel Choir.

Emmy-Award Winning TV News Journalist Kelly Wright will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Ben Harney, 1982 Tony-Award winner for his performance as Curtis Taylor, Jr. in Dream Girls, will recite Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Christmas Bells poem.

The 32-foot Christmas tree has been decorated in approximately 17,000 red lights and 2,500 red bows to honor the memory of Christians who have been victimized for their beliefs.

According to Open Doors USA, in the top 50 World Watch List countries alone, 245 million Christians experience high levels of persecution for their choice to follow Christ. That is 1 in 9 Christians who are suffering for their beliefs.

The tree will remain lit throughout the Christmas season, bringing awareness to the plight of persecuted Christians throughout the world.

Members of the media are welcome to attend.