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Bishop’s Annual Christmas Luncheon Celebrates Catholic Education in the Diocese of Brooklyn

By Jessica Easthope

A group of first-grade students at St. Helen Catholic Academy in Howard Beach are at the beginning of their faith formation. Their Catholic education wouldn’t be possible without support and a mission to give everyone an opportunity.

Because of events like the Bishop’s annual Christmas luncheon, the Catholic Foundation of Brooklyn and Queens is able to give scholarships to 4,500 Catholic school students every year.

“My number one goal if you bring it down to the young people and the schools is that we can transmit the gift of faith to them, we do it by providing an excellent education and tools for life but it’s in that context of friendship with Jesus,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

This year Bishop James Massa was honored with the St. John Paul II award for his work in education and vocations to the priesthood.

“He’s meant so much to me on my own priestly journey and has inspired so many vocations to the priesthood and currently as the rector of a seminary, his teachings, his wisdom and his charisma continues to inspire young people,” Bishop Massa said.

The recipients of the Emma A. Daniels award and Spirit of Hope award were Frank DeRosa and the Pfohl, Quigley and Kirby families, who each said Catholic education has played a significant role in their lives.

“The schools are so important, the responsibility to get kids to learn not only their ABCs but elements of their faith it’s so important to have schools like this,” DeRosa said.

“We just really think a Catholic education is so important to girls specifically but for boys and girls to have the foundation to go forward in life,” said Cannon Quigley-Campbell.

More than 850 people attended the annual luncheon, hoping to continue to make a Catholic education accessible for students in Brooklyn and Queens.

“The importance of the Catholic Foundation is to ensure children have that opportunity no matter where they’re from, what nationality they are, we are there for them, especially in Catholic education and forming young people to be the future of our church,” said Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, vicar for development in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The goal for this year’s event is to raise more than $300,000 to go toward scholarships and youth ministry programs.

Cafe Con Cristo: Dios dice que tú puedes porque eres. Parte 1

Empezaremos la temporada descubriendo y entendiendo nuestra identidad como hijos y herederos del cielo. Este primer cafecito será un espresso doble, porque constará de dos partes. La Patrona y David van directamente a la fuente, la palabra de Dios. Así que busca tu biblia, algo para tomar apuntes y una taza para que disfrutes del primer café de la temporada.

Cafe Con Cristo: Crisis de Jóvenes Adultos

Licenciado Bernardo Dueñas Los jóvenes adultos son un grupo socio demográfico que continuamente, por la naturaleza de esta etapa de vida, está cuestionando, buscando verdades que se alineen con sus interrogantes y creencias. Y por esta razón necesitan un apoyo y una guía que fortalezca su identidad y ayude a crecer en su fe y como seres humanos.

Currents News Special Edition: Because of You

 

Inflation is wearing out Americans – many wondering how they’ll afford their next meal – much less the holidays.

But The Tablet newspaper has a plan for a Bright Christmas: a special fund to make sure every kid has a gift under the tree.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 12/06/22

 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

It’s Election Day in Georgia, again. Voters are hitting the polls for a Senate runoff that has national implications.

The MTA has a plan to beat the fare beaters at their own game.

Diocese of Brooklyn Christmas Tree Arrives in Grand Army Plaza

By Jessica Easthope

A final festive piece to the Christmas season has landed in Brooklyn. Like its famous cousin in Midtown it’s also a Norway spruce. But even without lights and decorations, standing at 28 feet tall it stands out. This year the tree is honoring unity and will be decorated with multicolored lights reflecting the diversity of the Diocese of Immigrants.

“It’s a great way to represent the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, with more than two dozen multicultural Masses it’s actually the foundation of the Diocese,” said director of programming and production for DeSales Media Group Alexandra Pina.

On Tuesday the tree made its journey from a family-owned farm in Pennsylvania that values DeSales Media Group, NET-TV’s parent company’s mission. It was sold to the Diocese of Brooklyn for a fraction of its original cost.

The spruce was cut, transported and set up by the Torsilieri family, their business does the same for the Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park Christmas trees.

“It’s very important that we align ourselves with mission driven vendors, the people that helped us this Christmas season are family-owned businesses that have operated for more than 30 years, it just brings a stronger message.”

Next Wednesday you can join Currents News as we flip the switch on 16,000 multicolored lights on the tree and celebrate the birth of Jesus in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Pope Francis Returns to Public Veneration of Mary for Feast of Immaculate Conception

To mark the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, Pope Francis will place flowers at a statue of the Virgin Mary in Rome.

The tradition dates back to 1953 with Pope Pius XII. Normally, it is open to the public. But the last two years were different due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, Pope Francis made personal visits to the statue early in the morning without the public.

This year’s visit signals a return to normalcy. The Pope is scheduled to pray in front of the monument and leave flowers at a public ceremony.

This is a very special tradition for the people of Rome. It is one of the few times that the Pope makes a visit out in the city as the Bishop of Rome.