By Jessica Easthope
The spirit of Christmas and the spirit of giving went hand-in-hand on December 11. Priests, parishioners and donors came together to support the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens, which helps provide Catholic education and youth ministry initiatives in the Diocese of Brooklyn. They’re important causes to Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan.
“The young people just continue to inspire me here in the diocese with our schools, our academies and, high schools and our youth programs,” he told Currents News.
“We need to make them feel like they are a part of this church, and they’re already on their faith journey,” added John Notaro, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens.
Every year the luncheon honors those who have made an impact in their church communities and who are committed to the future of Catholic education. This year, former American Express executive Dominick Ranieri was given the Emma A. Daniels Benefactor’s Award.
“My role, as well as all those on our board, is to help make those decisions that can help us stay sound financially and really extend the life of the school as far into the future as we possibly can,” he said.
Father Joseph Fonti was honored with the St. John Paul II Distinguished Stewardship Award. As pastor of St. Mel’s Church in Flushing, Queens, Fr. Fonti has played a pivotal role in helping build St. Mel’s Catholic Academy back up after it was set to close a few years ago.
“If we work together, educate the mind, fortify heart and soul with faith and love, we would have a success,” he told Currents News.
The Spirit of Hope Award was given to Walter and Eunice Campbell. The Campbells started the George K. Campbell Scholarship Foundation in 2006 in honor of their 20-year-old son who was killed in a car accident. The Campbells are active parishioners of Holy Family Church in Canarsie, Brooklyn and help sustain Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy.
“We help as much as we can. That’s when the tears come to my eyes and what have you, because, he’s still alive as far as I’m concerned,” Walter Campbell said about helping his community in his son’s name.
The event is expected to raise $400,000 for Catholic education and youth ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn.