Despite the steamy temperature, it was a great night for a minor league baseball game.
DeSales Media, in conjunction with the Diocese of Brooklyn, hosted its annual celebration of Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens on June 25 at Maimonides Park in Coney Island, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Hundreds of families and supporters attended. The students of St. Kevin Catholic Academy in Flushing kicked things off by singing the National Anthem.
Prior to the Cyclones game against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, a softball game between the Scholars and the Collars, pitting diocesan priests against school administrators, took place on the field, with the Scholars winning 4-2.
Students were also recognized for excellence in art and writing for their contributions to Tablet, Jr., an insert in The Tablet newspaper produced by diocesan students. During the first inning, Christine Persichette, anchor of NET-TV’s Currents News, also presented students with special honors.
Prior to the start of the game Bishop Robert Brennan, Diocese of Brooklyn Schools Superintendent Deacon Kevin McCormack, and Deputy Superintendent Joan McMaster presented awards and congratulated this year’s 8th grade Catholic school graduates from throughout Brooklyn and Queens for their achievement.
“This is always a great gathering,” Bishop Brennan said. “Imagine the scenery of being here and looking out over the ocean, of the park and the ballfield.”
“It’s just a great family night. It’s a time for families to get together and enjoy a ball game, and basically in our Church and in our schools we are a family of families,” he added. “So tonight we can celebrate our own individual families and our Catholic family here in Brooklyn and Queens.”
Bishop Brennan continued, “And this is also a celebration of Catholic schools and the accomplishments of some of our 8th graders. Our schools are strong and educate not only in the academic subjects, which they do a great job of, but also educate the whole person. Tonight is a great example of how they build on the bonds of family and form our young people in the ways of faith and tradition of our Church.”
Msgr. Joseph Grimaldi, vicar general for the Diocese of Brooklyn, also praised the event for bringing families together.
“Tonight allows us to celebrate our Brooklyn Catholic family, both our parishes, our schools and our valedictorians. And what better place for us to come together and feel like we’re in Brooklyn than here in Coney Island? Msgr. Grimaldi said. “It’s just a great night to also celebrate the ending of our pastoral year, both in our schools and the great successes we’ve had in education and pastoral ministries throughout the diocese.”
Deacon McCormack said it was a terrific evening.
“It lets everybody get together to have a good time and celebrate our scholars for their award-winning academic achievements,” Deacon McCormack said.
This year’s special bobblehead featured two educators in the diocese — Associate Superintendent John O’Brien and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy Principal Chris Scharbach.
Scharbach said it was a great night to celebrate the 2024-2025 school year.
“We all know how great Catholic schools are for everyone in Brooklyn and Queens, and what’s extra special about this year is that we have an American pope who went to a Catholic elementary school,” Scharbach said. “And I’m so excited to have a bobblehead of myself which is literally a dream come true.”