Photos by Ed Wilkinson
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio blessed the life sized creche at the base of the 25-foot Christmas tree adorning Grand Army Plaza Dec. 20 in the presence of the community, student choirs and various religious community members. The Bishop Kearney H.S. Marching Band, the Our Lady of Refuge Children’s Choir, the St. Saviour H.S. Gospel Choir and Charlie Roma provided musical performances during the event what focused on prayer for peace. Rabbi Dina Rosenberg, Iman Manzoor Hussain and Msgr. Kieran Harrington prayed for peace in the Jewish, Islam and Catholic tradition respectively as people held candles in the night and saw the Christmas Tree light up below the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arc. The effort was led by DeSales Media Group, the parent company of The Tablet; the NYC Parks Department; the Prospect Park Alliance and the Diocese of Brooklyn.