(From l. to r.) Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, vicar for Development for the Diocese of Brooklyn, Robert Schirling, Bishop Robert J. Brennan, Ed Wilkinson, Bishop Emeritus
Nicholas DiMarzio, and Mistress of Ceremonies, Juliet Papa of 1010 WINS. Photos courtesy of The Diocese of Brooklyn
Catholic Foundation of Brooklyn and Queens raises
$300K to support Catholic education, youth programs
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The Catholic Foundation of Brooklyn
and Queens hosted its Annual Bishop’s
Christmas Luncheon on Wednesday,
Dec. 8, in Howard Beach raising $300,000
to support its scholarship fund for Catholic
education and youth ministry programs
throughout the Diocese in Brooklyn
and Queens.
The Most Reverend Robert Brennan,
the newly appointed Bishop of Brooklyn,
hosted the event, which took place
at Russo’s on the Bay, located at 162-45
Crossbay Blvd., with nearly 900 guests.
“People like you make a difference.
You make an enormous difference in the
lives of so many children and so many
families. One of the things I often say is
that Catholic education is about a partnership.
Certainly a partnership at the
level of the school, but it is a much broader
network of partnerships that involves
the support of the parishes, the work of
the Diocesan education office, but it also
involves a network of people who really
believe in our children,” Brennan said in
his welcoming remarks at the event. “It
takes people like you who love God, who
love the Church, and who love Catholic
education.”
Three honorees were also recognized
at the luncheon for their dedication to
education:
• Bishop Emeritus Nicholas
DiMarzio, received the St. John
Paul II Distinguished Stewardship
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.10 COM | DEC. 17 - DEC. 23, 2021
Award
• The Tablet’s Editor Emeritus
Ed Wilkinson, received the Emma
A. Daniels Benefactor’s Award
• Robert Schirling, board chair of
Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy,
received the Spirit of Hope Award
Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, vicar
for Development for the Diocese of
Brooklyn, noted the Catholic Foundation’s
support for the youth and
Catholic schools in the Diocese.
“Our supporters make it possible
for more than 95 parishes to have
youth ministers on staff, to build
the future leaders of our church,
and provide scholarships available
so that all who want a Catholic
education can have that chance,”
Gigantiello said.
The event included a performance
by Christopher Macchio, one of the
three New York tenors at Carnegie
Hall and Lincoln Center, who sang
“Ave Maria” and “O Holy Night.”
Students from Divine Wisdom
Catholic Academy in Douglaston
reenacted the nativity scene at the
event. Juliet Papa, a 1010 WINS
reporter, served as the mistress of
ceremonies.
Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy Board Chair Robert Schirling was among the
distinguished honorees at the year’s 2021 Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon.
Ed Wilkinson, editor emeritus of The
Tablet, awarded the Emma A. Daniels
Benefactor Award by Bishop Robert
J. Brennan and Monsignor Jamie
Gigantiello.