Deacon Gustavo Medina, a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Brooklyn who served at the Parish of Saint Catharine of Alexandria, Brooklyn, died July 6 at age 71. Deacon Medina was ordained to the Diaconate on April 20, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Sofia Medina, a daughter, and two sons. Deacon Medina worked as an accountant for 40 years in different accounting firms.
“Deacon Medina served St. Catharine of Alexandria parish since 2002. He served under four different pastors, including
the current pastor, Father José Orellana,” said parish administrator Luis Martinez. “He was very dedicated, always someone the church could count on. Whenever we called on him, his answer was always yes. Whether for baptisms, quinceaneras, wedding preparations, whatever, he was always willing to help.”
Martinez said that by the parish’s count, Deacon Medina performed 994 baptisms in St. Catharine of Alexandria alone.
“Most parishioners will remember him by the beautiful homilies he gave,” Martinez added. “He had a way of breaking down the readings of the day and making sure everyone understood what they meant.”
A wake and vigil for Deacon Medina were held July 8 and a funeral service was held on July 9, also at Saint Catharine of Alexandria Church, followed by interment at Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Grand Lady Delores R. Haynes of St. Clement Pope Church in Jamaica, Queens died on the morning of June 29.
An active member of the parish since the 1950s, she attended St. Clement Pope Elementary School, made all her sacraments and participated in various activities in the church from an early age. She served as a catechist, lector, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, and a choir member.
Delores was dedicated to service for the Lord. She often donated her time, labor and finances to numerous projects, programs and organizations. One ministry close to her heart was the Vicariate for Black Catholic Concerns (formerly known as the Office for Black Catholics) of the Diocese of Brooklyn. There she served as a chaperone for the annual Kujenga Leadership Conference (a Black Catholic youth weekend retreat), where she often sponsored youths to attend. She also co-directed the annual Christmas play and contributed to the annual Christian Seder at St. Clement Pope Church.
Delores was the current Grand Lady and a founding member of Council & Court 333’s Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary. She also served as parish president of the Rosary Altar Society and was on the board of directors for Our Lady Catholic Academy, South Ozone Park.
A wake and viewing were held on July 23 at J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home in St. Albans and a Mass of Christian burial service was held following a 10 a.m. viewing on July 24 at St. Clement Pope Church.
