A former runaway slave who grew up to become the first African-American Catholic priest is now one step closer to being the first black American saint.Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtue of Father Augustus Tolton and on June 12 declared him “venerable” within the Church. With that decree, Father Tolton is still two steps away from canonization, but Catholics can pray directly to the priest as an intercessor before God.
On June 16, the day Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio submitted his resignation to the Vatican as required by every bishop when they turn 75, the Brooklyn bishop celebrated Mass at St. Athanasius Church in Bensonhurst.
The annual Collars vs. Scholars game sponsored by DeSales Media, parent group of The Tablet, was part of the Catholic Schools Night celebration June 17 at MCU Park, Coney Island, played prior to the Brooklyn Cyclones-Aberdeen Ironbirds baseball game.
The church had five Sunday Masses scheduled, but no parishioners were inside the building at the time of the fire.
Philip Saffian, a second-grader at Holy Family Catholic Academy, Fresh Meadows, has the “write” stuff. The 8-year-old was chosen as the national elementary school champion in this year’s Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest.
Religious sisters mark their diamond jubilees – having served the Diocese of Brooklyn for more than 60 – 75 years.
Women religious in the Diocese of Brooklyn mark jubilees in religious life.
Three religious brothers from the Diocese of Brooklyn are celebrating their 50th, 60th anniversaries.
On the birthday of the Church, seven students gathered at St. James Cathedral-Basilica in Downtown Brooklyn for their own personal Pentecost.
On the evening of June 18, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will be presiding at a vespers in the chapel of Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, during which he will accept the findings of the diocesan investigation for the cause of the canonization of Msgr. Bernard John Quinn, who felt more comfortable when he was called “Father.”
