FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 16, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
Foundation raises $300K to support Catholic education and youth programs
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e 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.
Th e 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 diff erence. You
make an enormous diff erence in the lives
of so many children and so many families.
One of the things I oft en 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 offi ce, 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.”
Th ree honorees were also recognized at
the luncheon for their dedication to education:
Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio,
received the St. John Paul II Distinguished
Stewardship Award
(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.
Th e 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.
Photo courtesy of The Diocese of Brooklyn
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.
East Flushing
East Flushing
Freash Meadows
Freash Meadows
Expert doctors
close to home.
Queens, we've
got you covered.
• Primary care physicians
and specialists, including
Weill Cornell Medicine doctors
• 35 locations in Queens
• Video visits and safe in-person
appointments available
• Same-day, early, late and
weekend hours
• Most insurance accepted
To find a doctor today,
visit nyp.org/medgroupqueens
or call 718-732-1540 now.
/medgroupqueens
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link