The DeSales Media Group hosted its 19th annual golf classic Aug. 14 at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, L.I., and for the first time officially, the outing was named after Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
The Bishop DiMarzio Golf Classic drew 130 golf enthusiasts who enjoyed a competitive day on the links.
“Today was an outstanding day,” said Art Dignam, CEO of the DeSales Media Group. “From yesterday here on Long Island with the weather that we had, to wake up and see this … everybody’s Hail Marys were answered!”
The shortstop of the 1969 World Series champion New York Mets, Buddy Harrelson, was once again a special guest at the outing.
“I should have brought my Army hat because we played ‘military golf’ today … left and then right, and then left and right,” Harrelson said.
The golf classic took on the new name to commemorate Bishop DiMarzio’s 10 years of dedicated service to the Diocese of Brooklyn.
“We thought it was an appropriate thing to have a golf outing like this because he’s (Bishop DiMarzio) been so supportive of DeSales,” Dignam said. “He’s been so supportive of activities in the diocese, and he especially looks forward to being able to do the charitable things we do with the proceeds.”
This year, all the proceeds from the outing will benefit a scholarship fund at Cristo Rey Brooklyn H.S., Flatbush. DeSales donated $100,000 to this fund.
Receiving the donation was Robert Catell, the chairman of the board of Cristo Rey. Catell was honored as a special guest at the outing.
Tremendous Benefit
“It’s a tremendous benefit to the school,” Catell said. “Raising money is always a challenge, so having the proceeds of this outing come to Cristo Rey is a blessing. It makes a big difference in our future.”
“If there’s one thing more than any other that can change a whole family, it’s an education,” said Ambassador Noel Kilkenny, Irish consul general in New York and quite the golf enthusiast. “It’s a credit to this country and it’s a credit to the education system, and it needs support.”
Msgr. Peter Kain, pastor of St. Ephrem’s Church, Dyker Heights, was also a guest of honor.
Msgr. Kain has been a priest for 49 years, the last 17 of which have been as pastor of St. Ephrem’s.
“I’m going into my final year,” the monsignor said. “I’ll be 50 years ordained a year from now, so it’s an honor.”
“Msgr. Kain is one of the most popular pastors in the diocese,” said Ed Wilkinson, editor of The Tablet, which operates under the DeSales Media umbrella. “As a matter of fact, if you were to take a vote among priests in Brooklyn and Queens as to who’s the most popular priest, I think Msgr. Kain would win.”
Once again, DeSales would like to thank the 34 tournament sponsors for making the day a great success. And in the end, it was all for a good cause.[hr]Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmancari@desalesmedia.org.[hr]