VIDEO: Diocese of Brooklyn Honors Priests and Deacons Who Died Over the Past Year
DOUGLASTON — Family members, friends and fellow clergy gathered at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens, for a Mass honoring the lives and ministry of priests and deacons who died over the past year.
Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated the Mass, remembering the clergy members for their years of service to the Church and the lasting impact they had on the communities of Brooklyn and Queens.
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“Our priests and our deacons have touched many, many lives. And they serve the Gospel,” Brennan said.
He reflected on how the ministry of priests and deacons ultimately points to the promise of eternal life.
“They did a lot of good work. But it all points to this moment, to the fact that we were meant to live forever with God, and that God gives us the help, especially through the sacraments, that we need to be able to experience this, eternal life,” he said.
For the family of Deacon Ramon Lima, the celebration held special meaning. Lima had spent countless hours at the Immaculate Conception Center, where he helped educate young men and regularly attended Mass.
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His son, Paul Lima, said the location made the tribute particularly meaningful.
“My dad spent countless hours here, not only schooling some of the young men, but also because he would come here for Mass,” he said. “This was really an amazing tribute. Not only to him, but also to all of the others that had passed away in the last year.”
For other family members, the gathering was an emotional reminder of the bonds shared by the clergy and the communities they served.
Lolita Olaco, a cousin of Father Godofredo Felicitas, said she was moved by the number of priests who attended alongside Brennan.
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“I cried because I didn’t expect the priests. So many priests and the bishop, it was touching me. It was like the Holy Spirit is here,” she said. “When they start the Mass, it’s like the Holy Spirit is coming down.”
The celebration offered families and friends an opportunity to remember their loved ones, give thanks for their years of ministry and find comfort in their shared faith and the promise of eternal life.