As we begin the Season of Advent, one of the first feasts we celebrate during this time is the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. Since St. Nicholas is my patron saint, I thought I would take the time to describe the journey of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Turkey, to his more popular transformation into Santa Claus.
Put Out into the Deep
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the seventh Bishop of Brooklyn, has led the Diocese since 2003. He is a forceful voice on behalf of migrants and immigrants, whose causes he has worked for through most of his priestly ministry. Complete Bio
A Watershed Moment for Our Church
Having just returned from the annual November United States Bishops’ General Meeting, I thought that I would share some thoughts with you since the agenda this year was so important.
An Attack on All Catholics
As we approach Thanksgiving, we recognize its origin which reminds us of the Pilgrims who came to the New World seeking protection from religious persecution. I call this issue to mind since we are currently facing a severe curtailment of the religious freedom of the Catholic Church in the U.S.
The Dangers of Populist Nationalism
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
At the end of September of this year, the Vatican offices, the Dicasteries of the Holy See, sponsored a conference entitled, Xenophobia, Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of Global Migration. This issue certainly affects us here in the United States. Perhaps the best term to explain this is the issue of “Populist Nationalism.”
Mary, Our Queen, Mother and Sister
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
This is the full text of Bishop DiMarzio’s homily delivered on Oct. 27 during the diocesan Marian Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
We Are All Called to Personal Sanctity
As we approach All Saints Day, perhaps recognizing the specific contributions that these new saints made might help us to be inspired to live lives of greater holiness. The Gospel of the day was an appropriate one and our Holy Father commented on it in his homily.
The Missionary Impulse of the Church
This Sunday, the Church Universal celebrates Mission Sunday whose theme this year is, “Through Youth To The World: Voices for Mission.” Our Holy Father, Pope Francis addresses his message for this year’s celebration to young people saying to them, “In speaking to you, I also address all Christians who live out in the Church the adventure of their lives as children of God. What leads me to speak to everyone through this conversation with you is the certainty that the Christian faith remains ever young when it is open to the mission that Christ entrusts to us.”
October Is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month
The month of October has been designated as Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Unfortunately, the amount of domestic violence and sexual abuse that occurs today is overwhelming. In the United States, it has been reported that nearly 20 victims per minute suffer physical and/or sexual violence by intimate partners. This fact gives some idea of the prevalence of violence against persons in our society.
We Cannot Remain at the Level of Regret
In my column last week, I made a reference between the comparison of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and our own sexual abuse crisis in the Church. The similarity being that when all the bitterness was over, we are left with a lack of trust; with our country being unable to protect us and the Church being unable to protect, most especially, our children. There is a profound sense of betrayal on the part of our laity and also the clergy because those who abused betrayed not only the lay faithful, but also their brother priests, deacons and their bishops. These abusers have shaken the foundations of trust, which are essential to any organization, especially one which is the Church of Jesus Christ.
Evil Is Not the Last Word
As a Bishop, it is my responsibility to meet with people who have survived sexual abuse by a member of the clergy. It is among the most painful and challenging ministries, but it is also a privilege. On one hand, hearing their stories of abuse involves coming into contact with pure evil. On the other, I also am able to see how God’s grace works in the lives of the survivors. The evil some of my brothers have done shakes my faith, but the courage and testimony of those who survive confirms that evil is not the last word.