PARISHES TO SHOW VIDEO

ON ‘APPEAL WEEKEND’ 

            In a series of thoughtful reflections captured in a video, several priests, Religious, seminarians and lay people explain why the Diocese of Brooklyn relies heavily on the success of the 2005 Annual Catholic Appeal to provide funding for programs and services that enhance parish life and extend the Church’s ministry to the faithful of Brooklyn and Queens.

            The video, which contains a greeting from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, will be viewed in churches of the Diocese at Masses this weekend, March 5-6, called “Appeal Weekend.” Under the theme “Building God’s Kingdom through Generous Hearts---together we serve the Lord and one another,” the appeal has an $8 million goal.

            Featured in the video are Father Kevin J. Sweeney, director of the diocesan Vocation Office; James Rodriguez and Patrick Longalong, third-year students at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, and Msgr. John T. Peyton, the longtime pastor of St. Rita’s Church, East New York.

            Msgr. Michael J. Hardiman, the diocesan Vicar for Education, is also interviewed, as are Priscilla Velasquez, a seventh-grade student at St. Sebastian’s School, Woodside; School Sister of Notre Dame Helen Mary Dolan, of the Pastoral Care Office at Catholic Charities’ SS. Joachim and Anne Residence in Coney Island, and Marge McClain, the niece of a resident there.

            Rosanna Scotto, anchor of Fox 5 News and a product of Brooklyn Catholic schools, is the narrator of the ten-minute video.

            English, Spanish, Polish and Italian versions of the video have been made available to pastors and administrators of the 216 parishes in Brooklyn and Queens.

The foreign-language videos utilize subtitles. The Bishop delivers his message in Spanish and Italian, as well as in English.

While most parishes that use the video will show the English version, 32 parishes will offer it with Spanish subtitles, seven with subtitles in Polish and four with Italian subtitles.

            Shown at receptions hosted recently by Bishop DiMarzio at various locations in the Diocese, the video was “very well received,” said Msgr. Joseph P. Nagle, the pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, Fort Hamilton, where one such event was held Feb. 23.

            “It makes the case for the needs of the Diocese effectively,” Msgr. Nagle said. He chairs the appeal’s 16-member Pastors’ Advisory Committee.

            Thomas F. Flood, director of the diocesan Stewardship and Development Office, stressed that the Annual Catholic Appeal is about “people giving to people,” a message reinforced in the video.

            Seven priorities have been set out as beneficiaries of the appeal, he said, which include Catholic Charities and Catholic education, each of which will receive $2 million of the $8 million goal.

            Parishes are scheduled to receive $1.5 million, since all receipts over goal will be returned to them for local programs and projects.

            The appeal will also direct that $750,000 be used as a new source of funding for select parishes with exceptional needs, and an additional $750,000 will be allocated for support of the vocations efforts of the Diocese.

            Beneficiaries of $500,000 each from the appeal will be religious education programs and migration services.

            Last month, Bishop DiMarzio, in issuing the financial report of the Diocese for the year that ended Aug. 31, 2004, said that a successful appeal will help “bridge the gap” between diocesan revenues and expenditures for programs and services that “serve the Lord through good works” in the community.

            More than 42,000 parishioners contributed to the 2004 appeal of the Diocese, a number that Mr. Flood said he hoped would grow this year. “There is strength in volume,” he said, because “increased participation makes the $8 million goal easier to achieve.”

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