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Diocese of Brooklyn’s Growing Number of Hispanic Deacons Reflects Community Commitment

By Katie Vasquez

Deacon Heriberto Cabrera’s journey to the altar has been one of deep faith and commitment. 

Now serving at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Bergen Beach, Deacon Cabrera recalls his search for a closer relationship with God. 

Initially considering the priesthood after attending Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1976, he eventually became a lawyer, but his call to serve remained strong. 

At age 66, Deacon Cabrera was ordained and now joins a growing number of Hispanic deacons in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Nationwide, 20% of deacons are Hispanic, and 3% are Black, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

However, the Diocese of Brooklyn is far more diverse, with 46% of its deacons being Hispanic and 10% Black. 

This trend shows no signs of slowing, as the Diocese is set to ordain 11 new deacons in 2025, including four Hispanic men, six white men, and one Black man.

Deacon Julio Barraneche, Secretary for Clergy Personnel, attributes this diversity to the multicultural fabric of New York City. 

“We’ve been blessed with deacons from Hispanic, Haitian, and other national backgrounds,” Barraneche explains.

Father Mike Tedone, parochial vicar at St. Bernard of Clairvaux, praises Deacon Cabrera for his contributions to the parish. 

“He’s a big help to our community, especially with his native Spanish, as he’s originally from the Dominican Republic,” Father Tedone said.

For Deacon Cabrera, his role is about living his faith and sharing it with others. “To me, it’s like the word of God is touching people, emanating from my very mouth,” he reflects.

This story reflects how the Diocese of Brooklyn continues to buck national trends with its increasingly diverse diaconate.

St. Edmund Prep Unveils Newly Renovated Gym After Major Overhaul

After years of gradual updates, St. Edmund Prep has completed a major renovation of its gym, a space also used for school Masses.

The girls’ volleyball team was the first to use the new features, which include a new floor, wall padding, and moveable bleachers. The Brooklyn Catholic high school spent over $200,000 on the project, unveiling the updated gym on the first day of school.

Students and staff say the improvements make the gym more functional and enjoyable for sports. The school also plans to add more padding and chairs for players in future updates.

Historic Baldacchino at St. Peter’s Basilica Set for Unveiling After Restoration

As preparations ramp up for the Jubilee Year, a major milestone is set to take place at St. Peter’s Basilica: the unveiling of the iconic Baldacchino.

The towering canopy, which stands nearly 30 meters high, has been hidden under scaffolding for the past 10 months as it underwent its first restoration in over 250 years.

This significant project was timed to be completed ahead of the Jubilee Year, a major event in the Catholic Church.

The restored Baldacchino will be revealed by Pope Francis during a special Mass on October 27th, marking a key moment in the lead-up to the celebrations.

Catholics in Florida Prepare for Hurricane Milton as Schools and Churches Close

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Catholics across the state are taking precautions ahead of the anticipated landfall.

The storm, projected to be one of the strongest in Atlantic history, has prompted widespread closures.

Catholic schools, churches, and diocesan offices throughout the state have been closed until further notice.

As residents prepare for the storm, many are securing their homes with sandbags and taking other measures to mitigate damage.

Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg has sent a message of hope and faith to those in the hurricane’s path.

In his prayer, he asks God to guide and protect the community during this challenging time.

For more information and to support recovery efforts, visit https://www.ccdosp.org/post-helene/.

Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria Marks 100 Years of Faith and Community Service with Special Jubilee Celebrations

Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria, Queens, has officially kicked off its centenary celebrations this August.

The festivities began with a Eucharistic procession and the recitation of the Rosary, where Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto lit a jubilee candle before a gathering of 300 parishioners.

The church, whose cornerstone was laid in 1924, has a rich history that reflects the enthusiasm of its early parishioners, leading to the formation of the Holy Name, Rosary, and Altar Societies.

Pastor Monsignor Fernando Ferrarese emphasizes that this community spirit remains strong as the church looks forward to new opportunities for celebration and service in the coming year.

Holy Family Church Hosts Annual Eucharistic Prayer Rally for Diocese of Brooklyn Students

By Jessica Easthope

Building a connection with Christ can take a lifetime, but taking that first step toward one can happen in an instant.

“The presence of God. It was like I felt him with me. And I felt like so like faithful and happy that I was here today,” said sixth grader at Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy, Alexandra Olscewski.

Alexandra and hundreds of other Diocese of Brooklyn students got to explore their own personal relationships to Christ at Holy Family Church’s annual eucharist and prayer rally, Wednesday.

Through music, prayer, talks and a procession around the Fresh Meadows church, students had their own encounters. Pastor, Father Sean Suckiel says the message is clear.

“It’s the truth. The truth is that God loves them. And this is a message that they need to hear often. They’re made to be loved and that they are a gift to others,” Father Sean said.

Superintendent of Diocese of Brooklyn schools, Deacon Kevin McCormack says the closer students get to the eucharist the sooner they can find their life’s purpose.

“The Eucharist is what makes Catholics different. It’s the source and summit of our whole life. And here it is. We get to spend time giving thanks to God for that great gift,” said Deacon McCormack.

And at the rally the students spoke about a kid just like them and how the eucharist transformed his life. After learning more about Blessed Carlo Acutis ahead of his upcoming feast day – inspiration was flowing.

“It really inspired because, like, if I follow down the same path that he went down, I could become Saint. I just need to keep praying and keep going to church,” said sixth grader at Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy Matthew Roder.

Blessed Carlo Acutis is expected to be canonized next year, his feast day is celebrated on October 12.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 10/9/2024

Students from across the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered at Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows for a special Junior High Prayer Rally. This uplifting event brought young people together to strengthen their faith through worship and community. Watch the highlights from this inspiring day of unity and devotion.

After more than a decade of renovations, St. Edmund Prep in Sheepshead Bay has officially unveiled its newly upgraded gym! Over $200,000 was invested in the project, featuring a new floor, wall padding, and moveable bleachers. The girls’ volleyball team is thrilled with the results. Check out the transformation!

Immaculate Conception Church in Astoria is marking a major milestone—100 years of faith and service! In August, the parish celebrated with a beautiful Eucharistic procession and the recitation of the Rosary. Join us as we look back on a century of history and community.

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Catholic schools, churches, and offices have closed in preparation. Catholic Charities is on standby to provide aid to those impacted, continuing their mission to assist disaster victims, including those still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Stay updated on the situation and how you can help.

Meet the New Principal: New Leadership at St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy: Josephine Giudice Takes on Principal Role

By Jessica Easthope

St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park, home to the largest Pre-K program in the Diocese of Brooklyn, is welcoming some exciting changes this school year.

After 10 years as the Pre-K Director, Josephine Giudice is stepping into her new role as the school’s principal.

Giudice reflects on her years with the youngest students, sharing how working with 3- and 4-year-olds taught her patience and helped her see the world through their eyes.

Now, as principal, she continues to nurture many of those same children—nearly 200 students from Kindergarten through 8th grade—who once filled her Pre-K classroom.

“Looking at these students, I feel like they’re all my kids now,” she said. “As a mom, I ask myself, ‘How can I help each child?’ and that shapes my approach every day.”

One of her goals as principal is to reignite parental involvement in their children’s education and faith, a quality she found most present during the Pre-K years but often missing in upper grades.

She emphasizes the importance of working together to strengthen the Catholic school community.

To foster a deeper connection, Giudice plans to engage directly with students—both in the classroom and in the church—encouraging them to take ownership of their faith through hands-on activities like food and clothing drives.

“We don’t want students to participate just because they have to. We want them to be excited about their faith, to be involved, and to give back,” she explains.

For many students, Giudice was their very first teacher, and even as they grow and branch out, she remains a steadfast presence—a guiding figure rooted in their early years at St. Elizabeth.

St. Francis College Students Celebrate Franciscan Month with Rosary Procession

By Katie Vasquez

With rosaries in hand, Christ leads the way in this procession through St. Francis College’s downtown Brooklyn campus.

“I want to do this because I truly want to make the rosary more known by our school,” said Serene Arana, a Senior at St. Francis College. “It’s a beautiful prayer.”

The prayers are a welcome break for the students, who have been so focused on their studies that they were losing their connection with Christ.

“This is, I guess technically, my first time praying in four months,” said Daniel Castro, a Junior at St. Francis College. “I sacrificed the only tutoring hours for physics to be doing this rosary procession today. So one of the best ways to get back into praying is also to sacrifice something to, I guess, carry my cross, if you will. And that’s why I felt so good.”

St. Francis says that’s exactly why they are holding this event. It’s one of many happening throughout October for “Franciscan Month,” a time when the Brooklyn school reflects on the life and legacy of their patron, St. Francis of Assisi.

Sophomore Isa Vidales organized this rosary procession with the goal of getting her classmates to connect with each other and explore their faith.

“I honestly was a little nervous going around the school,” Vidales said. “And sometimes I do feel afraid of my faith and being Catholic, and saying that I’m Catholic out of fear of judgment because I don’t want to be labeled as ‘the church person.’ But I am, so like, what the heck? You know, own up to it.”

St. Francis hopes that these students praying the Joyful Mysteries, along with the community members who joined them, will be some of the many to celebrate Franciscan values across the globe this month.

“Our ultimate goal is to get a designation of October as Franciscan Month around the world in 2026. This year we started in six dioceses in the general area,” “Next year, we’re going national with this.”

And from this event alone, the seeds of faith have already been planted.

“I think I’m ready to go back to it,” Castro said. “So, I will absolutely be spreading the gospel, going back to praying every night.”

“It’s truly fulfilling to start now because God is calling us at every age to be with Him and to pray to Him always,” Arana said.

The Brooklyn Catholic college already has more activities planned for Franciscan Month, including film screenings, volunteer opportunities, and a Mass.