The 2021 Catholic Education’s Year of Renewal Summit celebrated the Diocese of Brooklyn’s resilience during the pandemic and encouraged further development of vibrant, rigorous religious education in local schools and faith formation programs.
Diocesan News
Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Students Become Stewards of the Earth
The 85 students at Brooklyn Jesuit Prep (BJP) — spanning across grades five through eight — took their religion lessons outside the classroom on Earth Day. They spent the last hour of their school day becoming stewards of the earth, cleaning up loose litter in their school’s vicinity.
Beloved Long Island Nun Celebrates 108th Birthday
Sister Francis Piscatella, OP, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville for 90 years, turned 108 years old on April 20. She is loved by her fellow sisters and former students, having fostered the faith of so many women and displaying fierce determination in overcoming obstacles and following God’s path.
‘I’ve Worked With Seven Pastors,’ Says Retired Parish Secretary
Eleanor Martucci’s devotion to St. Frances Cabrini Church is as deep as her roots in the parish — the seeds of which were planted more than half a century ago. She became a parishioner before the church was even built in the mid-1960s.
Only In Print: ‘I Felt All Alone After My Abortion’
Theresa Bonopartis can still remember how it felt to be a pregnant teenager with nowhere to turn.
Students’ Art Met with Approval
Renoir, da Vinci, Gris, Degas … Yuricic, Carbonell, and Jurgens? The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which features a collection that includes more than two million works of art spanning 5,000 years, now includes three Mary Louis Academy students’ artwork on display.
Father Basile’s Dream is Realized a Year After His Death from COVID
When he was the pastor of St. Gabriel, Father Gioacchino Basile had a big dream — renovate the church and make it more beautiful for his parishioners. His dream has been realized but, tragically, he didn’t live to see the finished product.
‘A Complete Leap of Faith’: One Teen’s Journey to Becoming a Sister
For Anabell Maradiaga, moving to Puerto Rico has been an eye-opening experience, compared to life in the concrete jungle of Corona, Queens. The 19-year-old is on her way to becoming part of the Missionary Sisters of Mary for Faith Formation.
FEMA Program Helps Families Pay For COVID-Related Funeral Costs
The Federal Emergency (FEMA) has rolled out a COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program that offers up to $9,000 per funeral to reimburse families for expenses in cases of COVID-19 deaths that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
‘This is the Largest Group We’ve Ever Had’
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who has put a lot of time and effort into increasing vocations during his time as the leader of the Diocese of Brooklyn, spent three days planting seeds for a large crop of possible new priests for the future.