Annual Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon: Fundraising Event to Support Education and Youth Ministry

By Jessica Easthope

It’s the biggest turnout the annual Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon has ever had.

Some 900 people all showed support for the same cause, getting the youth of the Diocese of Brooklyn closer to Christ.

It was only fitting that students from St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park were front and center at Russo’s On The Bay catering hall in Howard Beach.

Money raised at this year’s event will go toward Futures in Education scholarships, helping low-income students go to Catholic school and a new youth ministry program called Generations. As the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens turns 25, it’s launching a program that looks to empower young people to explore their faith.

“It just is really tremendous to keep us going with our program’s youth ministry, get a youth minister in all of our parishes,” said Samuel Romanzo, board chairman of Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens. “It’s really gonna be a great thing and we hope all the people really embrace it and support it.”

Bishop Robert Brennan said he only has one thing on his Christmas list this year and it can’t be found under a tree.

“What I want more than anything is to provide opportunities for our young people to know that gift of friendship with Jesus Christ,” Bishop Brennan said.

This year’s event honored three people who have championed Catholic education, past, present, and future. Thomas Sorrentino Jr. received the Emma E. Daniels Award, Michelle Stoddart received the Spirit of Hope Award, and Father Joseph Gibino received the St. John Paul II Distinguished Stewardship Award.

“From Pope Paul VI through our present pontiff, Francis, each and every one of the popes have asked us to be evangelizers,” Father Gibino said. “Those who work to spread the good news of the Gospel, and this event is all about how we do that.”

The Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens raised more than $300,000 at the event.

You too can help the young Catholics of Brooklyn and Queens, just go to catholicfoundationbq.org to donate.

Christmas Canceled in Holy Land in Show of Solidarity

By Katie Vasquez

The place of Christ’s birth, quiet for Christmas.

No trees, lights, or decorations gracing the streets of Bethlehem.

Instead, Christmas in the Holy Land is looking different this year.

“There will not be any Christmas tree lightning, no toys, nothing,” said Lina Canavati, a Christian woman in Bethlehem. “But we’ll only focus on praying.”

The Christmas festivities have been canceled.

City and Church leaders called off their usual preparations to show solidarity for those suffering in Gaza.

“This time is so different,” Canavati said. “Parents are ashamed to buy gifts, toys, for their children, when there are a lot of families who cannot provide the basic needs of milk, food and a safe shelter for their children.”

Since the war between Israel and Hamas started on Oct. 7, Gaza officials said the death toll has risen to more than 15,000.

Those numbers include more than 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

“We’re witnessing the killing of kids and women and elderly people,” said Hanna Hanania, mayor of Bethlehem. “So we can’t celebrate while we are in this situation.”

The war and the canceling of the usual festivities is taking its toll on the holiday spirits and Bethlehem’s economy.

“The tourism industry was recovering in a very positive way after the pandemic,” said Majed Ishaq, general director of the Marketing Department, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Palestine. “Now we can say that tourism is zero. Maybe during the war we had only two groups coming to visit Bethlehem.”

Gift shops like the one owned by Roni Tabash are open but no customers are coming.
“This is usually the busiest period for our work,” Tabash said. Now we come here and open not for work, because there is no work.

But Christmas in Bethlehem is now returning to its roots, while most festivities are canceled, all liturgical celebrations will continue, bringing the city of Christ’s birth back to the true reason for the season.

“To pray for God to have peace in the land of the peace, because Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, was born in Bethlehem and always we’re looking to have a real peace in our land,” Hanania said.

“Concentrating on prayer, concentrating on the meaning of Christmas more than concentrating on showing Christmas,” said Father Rami Asakrieh, Latin parish priest of Bethlehem.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 12/6/2023

Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is spreading some Christmas cheer today.

The Tablet’s annual Bright Christmas campaign is underway.

Christmas has been canceled in the Holy Land.

The Peace Light has arrived in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Faith and Flour: Local Bakery Owners Enter Sweet Goodies in the NYC Great Borough Bake-Off

By Jessica Easthope

Sugar, spice, and a skating rink with ice make up this replica of the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza.

Susan Caliendo and Mario Dibiase’s seasonal structure isn’t just detailed, it’s delicious.

“Candy, isomalt, chewing gum, candy horses, the angels, everything there is completely edible and it’s filled with popcorn,” Dibiase said.

Caliendo, owner of Something Sugared in Bay Ridge, and Dibiase, owner of Sottovoce in Park Slope are two of about 25 bakers entered into the Museum of the City of New York’s Gingerbread NYC Great Borough Bake Off.

The two have already won the Best in Brooklyn title, but they’re hoping to also get “People’s Choice” with the help of visitor votes.

You can marvel at the gingerbread molding, but what stands out for Caliendo and Dibiase, is more spiritual than sweet.

“Keeping Christ in Christmas is obviously a big part of it and part of that is gathering and getting together and that’s what Jesus taught us in Scripture,” Dibiase said.

“This exhibit is about soldiers that have defended our country and the angels represent guidance and faith and support from God,” Caliendo said. “So this exhibit completely fills that for me.”

Visitors can vote using a QR code at the exhibit, which is open until Jan. 15.

Christian Tries to Help Family in the Holy Land Selling Handcrafted Pieces at the Mall

The desperation in the Holy Land has motivated another Christian to sell his wares at the mall.

For the first time this Christmas season, Jack Mansour has set up shop at the Staten Island Mall. His kiosk Jerusalem Handcrafts sells carved olive wood items his family members in Bethlehem make.

Mansour is there every day the mall is open through the end of the year.

He said due to the tourism troubles caused by the Israeli-Hamas conflict, his relatives are more desperate than ever to sell enough wares to make ends meet.

Bishop Brennan Celebrates the First Sunday of Advent With San Damiano Mission

This weekend marked the beginning of Advent, a time when Advent wreaths were lit in parishes and dioceses across the country.

Bishop of Brooklyn Robert Brennan spent his first Sunday of Advent at the San Damiano Mission in Williamsburg.

It’s a church that’s directed by the Shalom Catholic Community, an international association of faithful, recognized by the Vatican.

After celebrating Mass, Bishop Brennan joined the community at their weekly breakfast at the Shalom Cafe.

Each of the candles lit on Advent wreaths holds a special meaning. The three purple candles represent prayer, penance and preparation.

Historically, Advent was known as “little Lent”, which is why the color purple is used.

The rose/pink-colored candle, which is lit on the third Sunday, marks the midway point of Advent, and since it’s supposed to be a day for rejoicing, its color is different.

Tourism Troubles Cause Financial Strain for Bethlehem Christians

by Katie Vasquez

The holy items being sold are intricately designed and handcrafted, and made by 200 Christian families in the birthplace of Jesus, bringing a piece of Bethlehem to the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“Most of them [customers] have never been to the Holy Land,” said Samer Awwad, the Land of Peace representative. “So this is as close as they can get.”

Awwad has been selling the items at Brooklyn and Queens churches for more than a decade.

But he isn’t collecting a profit for himself. He’s part of the organization Land of Peace, which sells the art to support organizations and missions in the Middle East.

“Currently we are the only source of income for them. There’s no tourists out there,” Awwad said.

Before the conflict in Gaza began, the Middle East was actually enjoying a boom in visitors.

According to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, the area posted the biggest gain among global regions, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 20% during the first seven months of the year.

“I was actually in the Holy Land in August,” Awwad said. “When I was there, they had mentioned that all the hotels were booked, everything was perfect.”

The war has hurt the tourism industry. Around 90% of hotels in the West Bank are empty.

“There hasn’t been any, [not] a single tourist going to the Holy Land,” Awwad said.

And that’s having a trickle-down effect on the rest of the economy.

“A cycle that restaurants work, buses work, hotels work,” Awwad said. “They are all in the same tourism sector. So when that stops, basically that life is dead there.”

It means each purchase from parishioners at the Shrine Church of St. Jude in Canarsie is a show of support.

“That is the Holy Land, right? This is where Jesus Christ was born. So we have to support them,” said Cecelia Mejia, a parishioner at Shrine Church of St. Jude.

“There is no greater opportunity, especially at this time of the year, in this moment right now for us to give back to God,” said Carmelle Smith, another parishioner at the Shrine Church of St. Jude.

And Awwad hopes soon the artists behind these items will find peace in their homeland.

“A two-state solution that we can both live peacefully. Because without that, I don’t think it will ever be a peace deal there,” Awwad said.

You can also purchase an item on their website: bcfmission.com

St. Anselm Students Raise Money For Church Bell Restoration

A Bay Ridge church lit up some trees for the start of Advent.

St. Anselm held their 12th Annual Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec 2.

The church now has 113 trees that surround it, which were donated by families from the parish.

This year, students from Bay Ridge Catholic Academy also took part by selling cookies and hot chocolate to help restore the church’s bell tower.

They raised more than $1,000.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 12/5/2023

The conflict in the holy land is having a huge effect on the tourism industry there.

The Peace Light has arrived in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated the first Sunday of advent with Mass at the San Damiano mission in williamsburg.

Two bakers from Brooklyn modeled their gingerbread house entry after the Grand Army Plaza arch.

Breakfast With Santa: St. Saviour Students Raise Money for Charity

Students at St. Saviour Catholic Academy got a sneak peek of Santa over the weekend.

The Park Slope school held its annual “Breakfast with Santa” event and it wasn’t just St. Nick doing the giving.

Second graders sold handmade ornaments and Christmas cards for charity.

They raised $137 for St. Saviour Church’s Brown Baggers, a group that makes lunches for people in need.