Diocesan News

A Look at Bishop DiMarzio’s Ministry to the Faithful of Brooklyn & Queens

2003

AUG. 1: Appointed by Pope John Paul II, as Seventh Bishop of Brooklyn

OCT. 3: Installed as Seventh Bishop of Brooklyn, Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunset Park

OCT. 4: First speaking engagement as Bishop of Brooklyn at the Immigration Workers Freedom Ride at Flushing Meadow Park

OCT. 18: Writes first “Put Out Into the Deep” weekly column for The Tablet

OCT. 18: Participates for first time in the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants pro-life Mass and rosary vigil, St. Michael’s Church, Sunset Park

NOV. 1: Administers first confirmation as Bishop of Brooklyn‚ St. Rose of Lima, Rockaway Beach

NOV. 13: Elected Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy

NOV. 17-22: Participates in 5th World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Rome, and meets with the Pope John Paul II

DEC. 9: Appointed as the U.S. representative to the UN-sponsored 19-member Global Commission on International Migration

2004

FEB. 28: Issues statement on sexual abuse in the Church, offers an apology, and offers days of prayer and penance for the sins of sexual abuse  

MAY 17-20: Attends Plenary Meeting of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Rome, and offers reflection on “Ecumenical, Inter-Religious, and Intercultural Dialogue in the World of Migrants and Itinerants.”

JUNE 10: Ordains two to the priesthood, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

JULY 11: Celebrates first Giglio Mass as Bishop of Brooklyn during Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Brooklyn

SEPT. 12-15: Attends Global Commission on International Migration meetings as U.S. representative, Cairo, Egypt

OCT. 3: Presents first pastoral letter — “The New Evangelization in Brooklyn and Queens” — as Bishop of Brooklyn, marking first anniversary of his installation 

OCT. 3: Attends first Ad Limina visit to the Holy See as Bishop of Brooklyn. 

OCT. 20: First Rosary Rally for Catholic school children throughout Brooklyn and Queens

OCT. 23: Leads bi-annual diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. 

NOV. 18: Assumes position as chairman of the USCCB Domestic Policy Committee

NOV. 25-26: Attends Global Commission on International Migration meetings as U.S. representative, Budapest, Hungary

2005

FEB. 27-MARCH 1: Attends meeting of the Global Commission on International Migration, as U.S. representative, Cape Town, South Africa

MAY 16-18: Attends Global Commission on International Migration meetings, as U.S. representative, Mexico City

JUNE 4: Ordains six to the priesthood, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

JULY 6: Greets Pope Benedict XVI, at the Wednesday Audience at the Vatican

JULY 25-28: Humanitarian trip to Haiti with Catholic Relief Services following Hurricane Dennis

AUG. 20: Leads diocesan delegation to XX World Youth Day, Cologne, Germany

OCT. 5: Final reporting by all members of the Global Commission on International Migration to the United Nations.

OCT. 7: Shining Star Dinner — first of what becomes an annual celebration for the ethnic apostolates of Brooklyn and Queens

OCT. 11: Leads a four-day retreat on The Prayer Channel on the special “Year of the Eucharist.” 

OCT. 15: Issues second pastoral letter, “The Family: the Hope of the New Evangelization”

NOV. 25-28: Humanitarian visit to Guatemala following Hurricane DeStannnis

2006

MAR: 3-5: First Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

MAY 15-17: Attends Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, at the Holy See. Greets Pope Benedict

JUNE 3: Ordains two to the priesthood, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

AUG. 22: Ordains Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano, Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros, and Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq, to the Episcopacy, Our Lady of Angels Church, Bay Ridge 

OCT. 28: Leads biennial diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

DEC. 12: First annual Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon to benefit the Futures in Education Scholarship Fund

2007

FEB. 24-26: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

MAY 19: Ordains 36 to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese

Cathedral Basilica of St. James

MAY 26: Ordains 16 Spanish-speaking to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese, Cathedral Basilica of St. James

JUNE 2: Ordains eight to the priesthood, Cathedral Basilica of St. James

JUNE 30: Ordains priest who studied at the Pontifical North American College, Cathedral Basilica of St. James

JULY 5: As chair of the finance committee, leads Catholic Relief Services sponsored trip to Mideast. Visits Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria and meets with Iraqi families in exile. 

OCT. 18: Issues third pastoral letter, “Do Not Be Afraid — A Pastoral Vision for the New Evangelization” 

NOV. 14: Introduces “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States” at the U.S. Bishops General Meeting, Baltimore

NOV. 21: Keynote address at the Irish Episcopal Emigration Committee-Conference on Immigration, Maynooth, Ireland

NOV. 24: Attends Mass and Conferral of the Pallium, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

DEC. 8: Ordains transitional deacon, Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington

2008

FEB. 8-10: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

FEB. 24: Mass of thanksgiving, 100th Anniversary of The Tablet, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

APRIL 17: Papal Mass with Pope Benedict XVI, Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

APRIL 18: Welcomes Pope Benedict XVI to New York City at Kennedy Airport. 

APRIL 19: Papal Mass with Pope Benedict, XVI, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan

APRIL 20: Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, and hosts departure ceremony for Pope Benedict at Kennedy Airport

APRIL 20-28: Leads diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and Paris

MAY 13-15: Plenary Assembly, Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Holy See, and greets Pope Benedict, XVI

JUNE 7: Ordains two to the priesthood

JUNE 20-22: Leads diocesan pilgrimage to the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, Quebec City, Canada

JULY 15-20: Leads diocesan delegation to XI World Youth Day, Sydney 

OCT. 4: Mass and dedication of Italian Chapel at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. 

OCT. 25: Leads biennial diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

2009

JANUARY: Announces “Preserving the Vision,” a five-year plan to reorganize Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens

FEB. 19-21: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat

MAY 23: Ordains nine to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese

JUNE 7: Conferral of Papal Honors for seven chaplains of His Holiness, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

JUNE 16: Undergoes quadruple bypass open-heart surgery on 65th birthday

JUNE 27: Three ordained to the priesthood, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

NOV. 5: Visits L’Aquila, Italy, site of Feb. 2009 earthquake

NOV. 9-12: Attends VI World Congress of the Pastoral Care of Migrants Refugees, Rome, and greets Pope Benedict XVI

NOV. 19: Mass and 50th anniversary of dedication of the Great Upper Church, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. 

2010

JAN. 13: A Diocesan committee is formed to organize a response to earthquake victims in Haiti

FEB. 8-10: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

FEB. 12: Celebrates Months Mind Mass for victims of Haiti earthquake

MARCH 1: Issues fourth pastoral letter, “Renewing the Vision: Christ Jesus Our Hope”

MAY 30: Celebrates Mass of thanksgiving on the occasion of 40th anniversary of priesthood ordination, Cathedral Basilica of St. James

JUNE 26: Ordains three to the priesthood

JUNE 29: Attends Mass and Conferral of the Pallium, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

JUNE 24: Cause of canonization for Msgr. Bernard J. Quinn, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn who died in 1940, begins with Mass at St. Peter Claver Church, Brooklyn

JULY 26-29: Participates in humanitarian trip to Nassau and Haiti to meet survivors of the 2009 earthquake in Haiti 

OCT. 30: Leads biennial diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

2011

MARCH 11-13: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

MAY 28: Ordains 27 to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese

JUNE 4: Ordains three to the priesthood

AUG. 16-21: Leads diocesan delegation to World Youth Day, Madrid 

SEPT. 11: Celebrates memorial Mass on 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Cathedral Basilica of St. James

NOV. 10: Merger of the Diocese of Brooklyn seminary system with Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Rockville Centre completed with signing of documents, Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington

NOV. 28-DEC. 1: Region II Ad Limina visit to the Holy See, and meeting with Pope Benedict XVI

2012

FEB. 5: Issues letter to the faithful of the diocese, regarding the Affordable Care Act, identifying the provisions that violate the conscience and rights of Catholics

FEB. 24: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

MARCH 26-29: Participates in Pope Benedict XVI’s papal visit to Cuba 

APRIL 22: Announces plans to petition the Vatican to name St. Joseph’s Church, Prospect Heights, as the Co-Cathedral of the Diocese 

JUNE 23: Ordains six to the priesthood

JULY 11: Ordains Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto and Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez to the Episcopacy 

NOV. 4: Celebrates Mass at St. Thomas More Church, Breezy Point in aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and visits sites affected in Breezy Point and Belle Harbor

NOV. 22: Celebrates Mass on Thanksgiving Day, St. Rose of Lima Church, Rockaway Beach, which was hard hit by Superstorm Sandy. 

DEC. 8: Mass inaugurating Regina Pacis Church as a Minor Basilica, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

2013

FEB. 15-17: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat 

MARCH 3: Announces Holy See approved request to designate St. Joseph Church as the Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Brooklyn

APRIL 28: Vespers and installation of 22 priests as deans to lead diocesan deanery alignment 

MAY 24: Plenary Meeting of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Rome, and greets the new Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the first time

MAY 25: Ordains 17 to the Permanent Diaconate.

JUNE 29: Ordains eight to the priesthood

JULY 23-28: Leads diocesan delegation to World Youth Day, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

SEPT. 19: Concelebrant at installation of Brooklyn priest, Bishop Frank Caggiano as Fifth Bishop of Bridgeport, Conn.

2014

FEBRUARY: Unveils updated organizational chart for central diocesan administration

MARCH 7: Annual Bishop’s Vocations Retreat

MARCH 10: Press conference with Cardinal Dolan to announce campaign for Education Investment Tax Credits

MARCH 18: Joins bishops of the state of New York, Region II, at rally for educational tax credits in Albany during the annual NY State Catholic Conference Public Policy Forum. 

MARCH 25: Attends Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Andrzei Zglejszewski, Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Center

APRIL 10: Concelebrant at Episcopal Ordination and installation of Brooklyn priest, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, as 10th Bishop of Albany

MAY 13: Mass and dedication of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

JUNE 28: Ordains 13 to the priesthood

OCT. 4: Attends beatification, first to take place in the United States, of Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, Sister of Charity, whose order taught Bishop DiMarzio in grammar school, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark

OCT. 25: Leads biennial Diocesan Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

NOV. 21: Participates in VII World Congress of Pontifical Council on the Pastoral Care of Migrant and Itinerant People, Rome, and greets Pope Francis

2015

MARCH  6-8: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat

MARCH 10: Concelebrant at Funeral Mass for Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York

APRIL 11: Mass 75th Anniversary of the Death of Msgr. Bernard Quinn, Servant of God, St. Bridget Church, Westbury, N.Y.

APRIL 15: First Mass of Hope and Healing for victims of clergy sexual abuse, Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn

MAY: Announces the Diocese of Brooklyn Generations of Faith capital campaign

MAY 3: Attends Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Ludovico of Casoria in New Jersey

MAY 23: Ordains 19 to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese

JUNE 27: Ordains 10 to the priesthood

JULY 20: Ordains Auxiliary Bishop James Massa and Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski, to the Episcopacy

SEPT. 23: U.S. Bishops Mid-Day Prayer with Pope Francis, Cathedral of St. Matthew, Washington, D.C. 

SEPT. 24: Leads the welcome of Pope Francis to New York at Kennedy Airport, and joins evening vespers with Holy Father, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan

SEPT. 25: Morning Interfaith Prayer Service at ground zero, midday visit of Pope Francis to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York site, and celebrates evening Mass with Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden

SEPT. 26: Leads prayer vigil at the World Meeting of Families, Archdiocese of Philadelphia

SEPT. 27: Pope Francis meeting with US Bishops, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, and closing Mass for World Meeting of Families, Philadelphia

NOV. 1: Evening prayer and bestowal of papal honors, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

DEC. 5: Issues pastoral letter — “Merciful Like the Father” — for Year of Mercy

DEC. 13: Opens Holy Door for Year of Mercy, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

2016

MARCH 4-6: Annual Bishop’s Vocation Retreat

APRIL 16: Blessing of new Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Way, Our Lady of Hope, Middle Village

APRIL 21: Celebrates annual Mass of Hope and Healing for victims of clergy sexual abuse, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Forest Hills

JUNE 4: Ordains 10 to the priesthood

JUNE 18: Leads diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, Mass.

JULY 7-31: Leads diocesan delegation to World Youth Day, Krakow, Poland

SEPT. 16-28: Leads diocesan pilgrimage for the Extraordinary Holy Year to Rome, Assisi, and the Holy Land

OCT. 29: Leads biennial Diocesan Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

OCT. 30: Mass of thanksgiving, 20th Episcopal Anniversary, Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston

NOV. 19: Mass of installation for Bishop Neil Tiedemann, CP, as Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, St. Matthias Church, Brooklyn

2017

APRIL 5: Dedicates new Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn’s Bishop Thomas V. Daily Residence, Prospect Heights

APRIL 11: Mass of Chrism, declares a Year for Vocations in the diocese, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

APRIL 26: Celebrates annual Mass of Hope and Healing for victims of clergy sexual abuse, St. Anselm, Bay Ridge

APRIL 30: Honored at 25th anniversary of Bridge for Life gala dinner

MAY 18-19: Wake and Funeral Mass for Bishop Thomas Vose Daily, Sixth Bishop of Brooklyn 

MAY 27: Ordains 12 to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese 

JUNE 3: Ordains 10 to the priesthood

AUG. 4: Opening Mass for the Year of Vocations, Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston

AUG. 30 -SEPT 8: Leads diocesan pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes

SEPT. 9: Mass for vocations, during Catholic Day at Citi Field, Flushing. 

OCT. 20: Mass for diocesan Puerto Rican Community following Hurricane Irma in Puerto Rico, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

OCT. 30: Visits hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York 

DEC. 3: Mass and announcement of cause for canonization of Bishop Francis X. Ford, on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of his priesthood ordination, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

DEC. 8: Attends Mass and dedication of the Trinity Dome at the Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Douglaston

2018

MARCH 2-4: Annual Bishop’s Retreat

APRIL 16-19: Visits Puebla and Mexico City with Father Jorge Ortiz, Coordinate of Mexican Apostolate, to bring donations from people of the Diocese of Brooklyn to assist earthquake victims 

APRIL 19: Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

APRIL 25: Celebrates Annual Mass of Hope and Healing for victims of clergy sexual abuse, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Jamaica

JUNE 23: Main celebrant, V Encuentro regional Mass, Albany 

JUNE 30: Ordains four to the priesthood

SEPTEMBER: Attends Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and greets Pope Francis during the meeting 

OCT 6-7: Hosts Magnificat National Conference, Kings Theatre, Brooklyn with Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio, participating.

OCT. 6: Opening Mass of the Magnificat National Conference, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

OCT. 17: Hosts first of four listening sessions at parishes with diocesan laity on the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Church, Our Lady of Angels Church, Brooklyn 

OCT. 27: Leads biennial Diocesan Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

 2019

JAN. 2-8: U.S. Bishops Spiritual Retreat to pray and reflect on the clergy abuse issue, Mundelein Seminary, Chicago

JAN. 24-27: Attends 16th World Youth Day, Panama

MARCH 1-3: Annual Vocation Retreat, Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston

APRIL 16: Mass of Chrism, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

APRIL 18: Celebrates Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday with the washing of the feet of victim-survivor of clergy sexual abuse

APRIL 30: Celebrates annual Mass of Hope and Healing, St. Athanasius Church, Bensonhurst

JUNE 1: Ordains four to the priesthood

JUNE 16: Reaches the age of 75 and submits to the process of normal episcopal resignation to the Holy Father 

JUNE 18: Presides at vespers service to mark the conclusion of diocesan investigation into the cause for canonization of Msgr. Bernard Quinn, Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston

OCT. 3: Appointed by the Holy See to lead apostolic visitation on the investigation of clerical sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo

OCT. 31: Concludes the Holy See’s Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese of Buffalo

NOV. 11-15: Region II Ad Limina Visit to the Holy See, including meeting with the Pope Francis

NOV. 13: Categorically denies an allegation of sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s and says he is confident that he will be fully vindicated

2020

FEB. 26: Mass and distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday with the Asian community as a symbol of solidarity at the outset of the coronavirus, St. Agatha Church, Brooklyn

MARCH 6-8: Annual Vocation Retreat, Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston

MARCH 19: First of a series of reflections for the faithful during the COVID-mandated quarantine

MARCH 29: Announces death of Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, the first U.S. Catholic priest to die from the coronavirus 

APRIL 3: Announces diocese churches will ring Bells for Hope to pray for an end to the pandemic

APRIL 5: Announces death of Father Gioacchino Basile, the second priest in the diocese to die from the coronavirus

APRIL 14: Receives condolences from Pope Francis, upon learning of the deaths of Fathers Ortiz-Garay and Basile

JUNE 26: Speaks to the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens in seven languages on a video, explaining how to best return to Mass safely during the pandemic. 

JUNE 27: Ordains four to the priesthood

JULY 1: Episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Kevin Sweeney as 8th Bishop of Paterson, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Paterson, N.J.

SEPT. 12: Vespers, pontifical honors for nine priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s newly named Monsignor-Chaplains to His Holiness, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

SEPT. 19: Vespers, Pontifical Honors for 57 lay faithful of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Brooklyn

OCT. 8: Diocese of Brooklyn files federal lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for violation of religious freedom stemming from COVID capacity restrictions in Brooklyn and Queens churches

OCT. 12: As a member of the Mother Cabrini Memorial Commission, attends the dedication of the New York State Mother Francis X Cabrini statue, Battery Park 

NOV. 26: Announces U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of the Diocese of Brooklyn on religious freedom case filed due New York COVID capacity restrictions

DEC. 8: Annual Diocesan Christmas Tree lighting and unveils the “Angels Unawares” statue which is a replica of the Vatican sculpture honoring migrants, Grand Army Place, Brooklyn 

2021

FEB. 17: Vehemently denies second accusation of sexual abuse dating back to the late 1970s

MAY 29: Ordains 11 to the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese

JUNE 5: Ordains four to the priesthood

JUNE 11: Mass and dedication of Diocese of Brooklyn statue of St. Frances X. Cabrini in Mother Cabrini Park at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary-St. Stephen’s, Brooklyn

SEPT. 1: Exonerated of the two sexual abuse allegations by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith after a year-long independent investigation led by New York attorney and former prosecutor John O’Donnell, and the firm of former FBI Director Louis Freeh

SEPT. 29:  Pope Francis accepts Bishop DiMarzio’s June 26, 2019, letter of resignation. Holds joint news conference with Bishop Robert Brennan, to announce that he will become the Eighth Bishop of Brooklyn