Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Bishop Thomas V. Daily and appointed Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Camden, N.J., to succeed him as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn on Aug. 1, 2003. Embracing the theme, “Put out into the deep,” Bishop DiMarzio has gone out into the depths of the […]
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Behind the Scenes With Bishop DiMarzio
by Marie Elena Giossi You may not know his name, but you’ve seen his face at almost every Mass, parish celebration and school visit Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has attended over the last decade. Deacon Jaime Varela is the man who works behind the scenes with the man who leads our diocese. His official title is […]
Pope: Don’t Obsess Over Moral Issues
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview with one of his Jesuit confreres, Pope Francis spoke with characteristic frankness about the perils of overemphasizing Catholic teaching on sexual and medical ethics; the reasons for his deliberate and consultative governing style; and his highest priority for the Church today. […]
Communication, Not ‘Theological Brainwashing’
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Helping the Church get the Gospel message out to the digital world depends more on a loving passion for reaching out to others than being tech savvy or a verbal warrior, Pope Francis told Catholic communicators. “I believe that the goal is to understand how to enter into […]
New Novice
Joseph Bach was received into the Novitiate of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn. Pictured, from left, are Brother William Boslet, O.S.F., superior general of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn; Brother Joseph Bach; and Brother Richard Contino, O.S.F., novice director.
Chamber Music Series in Marine Park
The 18th annual chamber music series at Good Shepherd Church, Marine Park, begins on Oct. 6 with a performance by clarinetist Thomas Piercy. The concerts take place on 11 consecutive Sundays at 6 p.m. While admission is free and open to the public, voluntary donations for the performers are encouraged. Michael Fontana, parish music director, […]
Chaplain Candidate Promoted
Brooklyn seminarian Mark Bristol was promoted in the U.S. Navy from the rank of Ensign to Lieutenant Junior Grade as a Chaplain Candidate on Sept. 20 in a ceremony at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, N.Y. Shown are, from left, Navy Commander Msgr. Joseph Mulqueen; Bristol; Navy recruiter Lieutenant Commander Younker; and Lieutenant Msgr. Terrence Mulkerin.
Benedict Defends Record In a Dialogue with Atheist
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In a letter to an atheistic Italian mathematician, retired Pope Benedict XVI defended his own handling of allegations of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and politely criticized the logician’s total reliance on scientific facts for meaning. “I never sought to conceal these things,” the pope said […]
New Class Prepares for Pastoral Ministry
At two recent full-day orientation sessions, the diocese’s Pastoral Institute welcomed 86 new participants for its Lay Ministry Program. Coming from parishes across Brooklyn and Queens, they embarked on a three-year course of intellectual, spiritual, human and pastoral formation that will prepare them for service in their parishes. Thirty-nine will follow the English-language track, while […]
On Sardinia, Pope Pleads For a More Just Economy
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Visiting an Italian region especially hard hit by the European economic crisis, Pope Francis blamed high unemployment on globalization driven by greed and said those who give charitable aid to the poor must treat their beneficiaries with dignity. “We want a just system, a system that lets […]