CONEY ISLAND — The “pulse” of one Brooklyn parish has become the new heartbeat of The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn.
Harry D’Onofrio, a member of Our Lady of Angels in Bay Ridge, who was recently featured on Currents News’ “Pulse of the Parish,” was installed June 5 as the new president of The Cathedral Club at a ceremony at Gargiulo’s in Coney Island.
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He was introduced to the 130 people in attendance by his longtime friend, Father James Devlin.
Other new officers sworn in included Craig Eaton of St. Anselm’s, Bay Ridge, as vice president; Brian Long of St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor, as recording secretary; and Richard Re as treasurer.
Kings County Judge Dineen Riviezzo presided.
Outgoing president William Neri was praised for his tenure, which saw an increase in the Club’s membership and a boost in scholarship money awarded to local Catholic high school students.
Grants, which were $4,000 per student per academic year, were each increased to $7,000 in recognition of the rising cost of education. On hand to receive their grants were: Nathaniel DaRoy, Xaverian; Emmanaya Chancay, Holy Cross High School; and Sofia Torentino, Archbishop Molloy. Unable to attend were Noah Carabollo, Cathedral Prep and Seminary; and Donovan Ortega, Cristo Rey.
Past president Pat Russo presented Neri with the President’s Ring, a traditional gift to the outgoing president.
The theme of the evening was the advantages of Catholic education.
In addition to the installation, the program also included the club’s annual Speaker’s Night.
Fontbonne Hall Principal Rocco Gentile explained that his parents insisted that each of their children attend a Catholic school.
“I don’t think we celebrate Catholic schools enough,” said Gentile, who attended Catholic schools in Connecticut.
“We educate millions of students worldwide.”
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He said that compassion and hope are the landmarks of a Catholic education.
He added that the schools teach their students how to serve the greater community and are “filled with faith and alive with hope.”
About a dozen Fontbonne alumnae, including Theresa Kelly, Class of 1952, the school’s senior alumna, were recognized and received applause.
Father Kevin Abels, pastor of Our Lady of Angels, St. Anselm’s, and St. Andrew the Apostle, all in Bay Ridge, announced he was stepping down as the club’s spiritual moderator, due to his new pastoral responsibilities. He introduced his successor, Father Michael Falce, the newly appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Ridgewood.
D’Onofrio announced that the next Cathedral Club fundraiser would be its annual golf outing at Battleground Country Club on Sept. 8 and its annual Memorial Mass would be at St. Anselm’s Church on Nov. 23. The club, which traces its roots back to 1900, will hold its annual dinner in February.