As school opens, there will be 115 new teachers in the classrooms of Catholic elementary schools in Brooklyn and Queens, 85 of whom are first-time teachers.
Diocesan News
West Indians Celebrate Rich Culture and Faith
Catholics from the Caribbean put their pride on display as people from more than 30 countries celebrated Mass Sept. 3 and a block party at St. Matthew’s Church, Crown Heights.
Two Convents Add to Parish Life in Flushing
St. Mary’s Nativity and St. Ann combined to form one parish in 2012. The merger not only left the parish with two worship sites, but also with two convent buildings.
Caracol Fiesta in Elmhurst Celebrates Filipino Culture
Colorful costumes, dancing and music filled the streets of Elmhurst when the Filipino-American community at St. Adalbert Church held its inaugural Caracol Festival, Aug. 27. The Caracol Festival is the Filipino version of Mardi Gras, and it is meant to spread awareness about the importance of protecting Mother Nature.
Holy Name Church Remains Stable Amidst Ever-Changing Appearance
Holy Name of Jesus parish in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, was established in 1878 by the first bishop of Brooklyn, John Loughlin. Father Thomas O’Reilly, a native of Ireland, was appointed pastor and the first parish Mass was held in a local stable before a permanent worship site was built.
Mercy Sisters Motherhouse Still Serves the Community
This was the motherhouse of the so-called “Walking Sisters” for 146 years. It was also where the order cared for the most vulnerable of the then-poor, mostly Irish-immigrant community. The beautiful complex, complete with a chapel adorned with stained-glass windows and a beautiful garden evoking tranquility was also once home to hundreds of orphans cared for by the Sisters.
Flushing Parish Returns From Annual Mission Trip
The group, from St. Kevin parish, Flushing, had just spent eight days with the staff and the developmentally disabled children and young adults of the Mustard Seed Communities in Diriamba and Managua. They had scrubbed, primed and painted walls, washed windows, and helped with gardening at Mustard Seed’s two facilities in Nicaragua.
Diocese Establishes New Commission on Racism
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is forming a new commission to study the effects of racism in the Church and on the Diocese. He made the announcement Aug. 24 at a specially called Mass for Solidarity and Peace to counter the recent racist overtones of demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va.
Diocese to Launch New Commission on Social Justice
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will announce the establishment of a new diocesan commission for social justice during a special Mass for Solidarity and Peace on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Mass is being offered in response to the recent violent and deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va.
Local Family Leaving for Missionary Work in Detroit
In less than two weeks, Matthew and Stephanie Zinser and their three young sons are leaving everything behind their families, jobs and Glendale home – to answer the call to live as missionary disciples.