The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a special time at her namesake school in Dyker Heights, where students learn about the apparitions that took place in Mexico almost 500 years ago. The appearance of Our Lady to Juan Diego became real as this year’s eighth graders re-enacted the story following a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Robert Romano, pastor.
This year’s feast-day celebration was even more exciting because the school community knew that “their” very own statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe was brought to Madison Square Garden for the Papal Mass during Pope Francis’ visit to New York City this September. And a new statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe was presented to the parish by the Vatican to be placed in the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
Pictured above, from left, Msgr. Romano with students Francesca Romano, Justin Joe, Matthew Casanova, Nicole Abbate, Christopher Cardinali, Sister Dolores F. Crepeau, C.S.J., principal; Leanna Ingravallo; Janet Cullen, music teacher; Deborah Szal, religion teacher; and Elizabeth McManus, mission coordinator. (Photos courtesy Our Lady of Guadalupe School)
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Fallen NYPD Officer Brian Moore is being remembered in a special way at St. Gregory the Great School, Bellerose, this season.
Through the generosity of Charles Landscaping, the school’s snow removal service, a live Christmas tree was planted and decorated on the school grounds in memory of the police officer, who died in the line of duty in May. He served in the 105th Precinct, and was a familiar face providing security at the parish’s annual Gregorian Festival.
St. Gregory’s students, faculty and administration were joined by officers from the 105th Precinct at a dedication ceremony for the new tree. It is located near a garden that was also planted in memory of the fallen officer.
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Have you seen Our Lady of Mercy’s new Facebook page? Find out what’s happening at the Forest Hills parish by visiting www.facebook.com/OLMFHS.
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The Dec. 13 feast of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was cause for celebration in Greenpoint. The religious community of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.) observed their founder’s feast day with a Mass at St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus parish.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto was the main celebrant on the Mass, and a dinner reception with cultural program followed in the parish hall. Currently, there are six C.M.I. priests serving in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
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Can’t get to Manhattan to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center? Stay local! Head over to Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park, to enjoy the tree and the first Nativity scene to be placed there in over a decade.
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The Tablet TALK Top Hat tips twice this week: First, a tip to Syrena Bakery in Greenpoint for its Thanksgiving Day donation of 250 loaves of bread to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. The loaves were distributed to all who attended Mass that day.
The second tip goes to the Father John J. Murray Knights of Columbus Council No. 14666 at American Martyrs parish, Bayside, for collecting over 5,000 pounds of food for the less fortunate over the course of two years.
The most recent collection was just before Thanksgiving. Knights worked with volunteers to collect 112 bags of food, which were distributed to Our Lady of Lourdes parish’s Outreach Program, Queens Village; the NYC Food Bank, northeast Queens; and the St. Vincent DePaul Society food pantry at American Martyrs. The Knights also received $485 in cash donations.
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New Look, New Faces at St. Brigid Academy
This fall, positive changes have come to St. Brigid Catholic Academy, which serves the neighborhoods of Bushwick and Ridgewood. New Principal Catrina Rocco has implemented new academic offerings, including an accelerated reader program and a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiative, to better prepare students for their high school years.
New after-school programs, such as dance, soccer, theatre, tennis and instrumental music offer students the opportunity to express their creativity both inside and outside of the classroom. The interior space has also undergone renovations with new flooring and updated restrooms. Students especially enjoy the colorful murals, at left, that decorate the hallways