FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com OCTOBER 29, 2015 • TIMES 3 Msgr. Peter Zendzian, pastor of St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood, dies BY ROBERT POZARYCKI [email protected] @robbpoz Faithful members of two local churches are mourning the loss of Msgr. Peter Zendzian, pastor of St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood and former longtime pastor of Maspeth’s Holy Cross Church, who died suddenly on Oct. 23 at the age of 63. Zendzian arrived at St. Matthias in December 2013, succeeding Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, whom Pope Francis had appointed to lead the Diocese of Albany. Although he led the faithful of St. Matthias for nearly two years, Zendzian remained close to his native Maspeth, where he offered prayers during the neighborhood’s annual memorial vigil for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was also coordinator of the Polish Apostolate, an organization serving Polish Catholics. “Msgr. Peter was a wonderful servant of Jesus and a faithful friend to St. Matthias School. His love of its students was evident in his words and actions,” St. Matthias School Principal Barbara Wehnes wrote in a message posted on the school website. “Though we only had 1 1/2 years to share his life, we will always hold him in our hearts. We pray for the repose of his soul and ask him to continue to intercede for us as he rests among the company of the angels and saints.” Zendzian was ordained in February 1979. He previously served as parochial vicar at St. Margaret Church in Middle Village; St. Rose of Lima Church in Rockaway; St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brooklyn; St. Francis de Sales Church in Belle Harbor; and St. Joseph Church in Long Island City. In addition to serving as pastor at Holy Cross and St. Matthias, he was for a time the pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa-St. Casimir Church in Brooklyn. He is survived by sister Barbara Albanese, brother-inlaw Victor and nieces Michelle and Christina. Visitation and a Vigil Mass were held in St. Matthias’ upper church. Zendzian’s Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Matthias, followed by interment at St. John Cemetery in Middle Village. . 104th Precinct hosts first Pink Parade for breast cancer awareness in Ridgewood BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO [email protected] @KellyMMancuso Leaders in local law enforcement teamed up with faculty and students from P.S. 88 in Ridgewood to host its fi rst Pink Parade for Breast Cancer Awareness at the 104th Precinct last week. Students and their teachers dressed in pink marched down Catalpa Avenue on Oct. 22 carrying ribbons and handmade signs of support. They gathered on the precinct steps and were greeting by Executive Commanding Offi cer Captain Mark Wachter and his team as part of the New York City Police Department’s NYPD Blue Goes Pink initiative. “It’s not only about the police department; it’s about the community. It’s about you the students, helping us out, bringing awareness,” Wachter said. “You’re the future. You’re the ones who, 15 or 20 years from now, will be leading this city. We have to invest in you, look after you and care for you.” P.S. 88 Principal Robert Quintana delivered an inspiring and emotional address in which he remembered family members and faculty who have dealt with the disease. “For me, personally, I lost my aunt to it two years ago. P.S. 88 lost one of our own who left behind a husband and two children,” he explained. “It’s a disease that does not discriminate. We’ve come together for one cause, as a community of Ridgewood and a community of humanitarians, to say that we want people to know that there are things we can do to prevent cancer.” P.S. 88 PTA Alexandra Bauza teamed up with fi fth-grade teacher Thomas Brunhuber to create a large, 8-foot-tall pink ribbon adorned with words of encouragement, such as “Fight On” and “Believe,” for those struggling with breast cancer. Brunhuber explained that P.S. 88 is involved in multiple fundraising efforts for a variety of breast cancer organizations, including The Avon Walk for Women, The American Cancer Society and Mammograms in Action. A large pink ribbon was positioned in the precinct’s front door and served as the backdrop for the rally. Captain Wachter used the words displayed on the ribbon to inspire the young students at the rally. Wachter promised to mount the large ribbon on the wall outside the precinct along with the other pink ribbons, signs and décor. The students were each given a pink carnation to bring home to their families in an effort to continue the dialogue about breast cancer and the need for early detection at home. A small group of students read prayers and words of encouragement for the fi ght against breast cancer. They also thanked the offi cers for the 104th Precinct for their dedication and led the group in a moment of silence to honor fallen NYPD Offi cer Randolph Holder. The students held up their signs and the large pink ribbon for an aerial photograph from the precinct’s roof, after which bangs of pink confetti were dropped down onto the crowd, much to the students’ delight. In an added show of hospitality and support, Wachter invited the children to put their handmade signs up inside the precinct. Photo via Facebook/St. Matthias RC Church Msgr. Peter Zendzian, pastor of St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood, died suddenly on Friday morning. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso Students and faculty from P.S. 88 in Ridgewood held up their handmade signs as they walk through the neighborhood during the first annual Pink Parade for Breast Cancer Awareness.
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