Ever since Noel Guzman became more devoted to his faith in high school, he has prioritized his involvement in youth ministry. In addition to being a parishioner at Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann in Flushing, he’s a member of the Newman Center at Queens College.

So, it only made sense for him to come to the Holy Hour offered at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on March 27, he explained, as he made the final stop in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Lenten Pilgrimage. While it was open to all, the diocese called upon its young adults to join one another in prayer.

“After a while, you can’t keep it to yourself. You get the goading to just go out there and proclaim the Word, not only with your actions but with your words,” Guzman, 23, said. “Whether it’s going to adoration or inviting people to come with you, it’s a beautiful way to get them involved in Catholic life and back into the one true faith.”

Dozens came to the Holy Hour for Eucharistic adoration and vespers, or evening prayer. There, a combination of songs, performed by the Music at Co-Cath, and prayer led by Bishop Robert Brennan guided the attendees through an afternoon of worship. The afternoon service marked the 40th, and final, location on the Lenten Pilgrimage, a program introduced by the diocese in 2023 that encourages Catholics to visit a different church every day during Lent.

The program has been a key part of Bishop Brennan’s worship path during Lent, visiting numerous sites throughout the pilgrimage. During the Eucharistic adoration, the bishop sat among the churchgoers in the pews before processing up to the altar for the vespers.

“It was a good experience for me to spend a little time with the Lord, going to different places, to cut out a certain part of the day. It also connected me, in a very powerful way, to almost 40 of our parishes,” Bishop Brennan said.

Any Holy Hour, Bishop Brennan explained, is about “friendship with Jesus Christ,” and he said he hoped the evening reminded the attendees of their relationship with God.

The purpose of the Lenten Pilgrimage in part was to refocus Catholics’ faith in preparation for Easter. Numerous youth groups were invited to participate in the evening prayer, including the Jornada Movement, a Hispanic ministry in the diocese that brings young Catholics together for retreats and faith-building reflections. For its president, Felix Perez, the evening offered him a chance to pray for those working on their next retreat.

“I always take the time to talk to Jesus during these Holy Hours that I go to. Today was special because I really like it when the bishop is a part of things. He is so humble and he has great ideas,” Perez said.

Throughout the Lenten Pilgrimage, several stops were designated for youth and young adults to attend, part of the continual efforts by the diocese to evangelize the future generations of the Church.

“Since Bishop Brennan has come to our diocese, he has focused a great deal of energy and time on evangelization, specifically to our young adults,” said Father James Kuroly, the director of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese. “We have various programs and various opportunities for our young adults … but this is really an opportunity for us to come together as one.”

The Eucharistic adoration was led by the Shalom Catholic Community, an international association of the faithful recognized by the Holy See. The group resides at San Damiano Mission Catholic Church in Williamsburg. As a missionary, Barbara Freitas, 29, lives her life to bring people to the Church, and she sees that emulated through the diocese’s work.

“Just seeing the bishop also very involved in this and trying the most to make young adults close — just his intentional love for them is very fruitful,” Freitas said.

The evening concluded with Bishop Brennan offering thanks to all those who joined him in the pilgrimage and inviting them to the Eucharistic Revival on Saturday, April 20. The full day of celebrating faith and culture within the diocese will be held at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. For more information, visit dioceseofbrooklyn.org.

By Jessica Easthope

Diane DeBernardo was among the many pilgrims pounding the pavement to pray with each other. She hit a milestone of 20 churches along the route throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“I loved seeing the different neighborhoods and the parishioners that you met when you went into the churches, and so many beautiful churches that honestly I would’ve never have been to if I wasn’t inspired, or encouraged to do so with the pilgrimage,” DeBernardo said.

DeBernardo spent Monday at her favorite pilgrimage stop, the home parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Windsor Terrace, with Bishop Robert Brennan.

“I’m very touched by the participation in the pilgrimage by people who have been coming from church to church,” Bishop Brennan said. “The pastors who have been hosting have been so moved by the number of visitors who have come to their parishes to pray to be with the Lord. I think it was a great success, a great grace, thanks to the faithfulness and the effort of so many people.”

This year, pilgrims checked in on the Lenten Pilgrimage app, which was developed by DeSales Media Group, the communications and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn that operates NET TV. Father Joseph Gibino, Vicar for Evangelization and Catechesis, praised the innovation required to get it off the ground.

“I have to thank DeSales Media and acknowledge the incredible team at DeSales,” Father Gibino said. “So yes, bigger and better and year three we are learning every year we learn a little bit more.”

But for pilgrims and diocese officials alike, there was one feature that stood out.

“The one piece that was the most moving to me were the prayer intentions,” Father Gibino said. “What I especially liked about the app was the prayer section.”

People from all over the Diocese of Brooklyn and worldwide got to submit intentions and pray together.

“The thousands of people who requested prayers, prayers, and so that piece alone that united the diocese this year we became an international pilgrimage with the app,” DeBernardo said.

“I really felt like that brought us together and that clicking on the image of I’m praying for all these different intentions that people put, and I just feel like that we were unified in that way, and the app did that the app was able to do that it builds community even in the digital way even an emoji builds community.”

When people reached the end, they realized the pilgrimage was never about taking them to a physical place but about making a place in their hearts for Christ and the community.

By Christine Persichette

Father Andrew Tsui would be one of the first to tell you that St. Bartholomew’s in Elmhurst is a very diverse community.

“You have not only Hispanics, but we have a lot of people from Bangladesh, from Filipinos, Chinese, Indonesians, Burmese,” Father Tsui said.

Masses now accommodate a large number of culturally diverse worshippers.

“Despite the cultural differences and linguistic differences, it’s beautiful to see how everyone comes together in worshiping our Lord in this beautiful church,” Father Tsui said.

That includes the younger generation, who gets together weekly at the church to pray and play. It’s called “Faith and Sports.”

Youth minister Angelica Taveras, a newcomer, leads them. Both as a parishioner, she only came to St. Bartholomew’s a few months ago, and as a first-generation immigrant.

“I was born in the Dominican Republic, but I came to New York ever since I was a little girl,” Taveras said.

So she can relate to the kids. And they listen to her and trust her. Taveras brings the stories of the Bible to life in unique ways.

“Having a space where they can come in and know that they are welcome, know that they are known by name, they are respected and building trust with them, creating a space where they’re also comfortable to explore their faith, ask questions and at the same time have some fun, build friendships and do it through sports,” Taveras said.

Taveras spent 11 years in the corporate world but felt a call to work in the church.

“I was a volunteer in the church, but the need to give more to our young people in a parish setting was just instilled in my heart,” Taveras said. So, I just listened to the call, that mission, and the desire to give more—more of what God has given me.”

The bottom line for Taveras is faith can be fun, and she is right where she needs to be.

“When people ask me if I have children, I say yes, I do. I have many,” Taveras jokes.

Faith and Sports is held twice weekly, one night for middle schoolers and the other for high schoolers.

Some high schoolers have become leaders and helped Angelica out with the younger kids.

Now you know Angelica Taveras from St Bartholomew’s and how she makes up the pulse of the parish.