Year of Renewal

As we look forward with hope and prayer in a new year, please know how much I appreciate your ongoing support of Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens. I am happy to share with you that in recognition of the importance of the mission we hold dear, Bishop DiMarzio has deemed 2021 a Year of Renewal for Catholic Education in Brooklyn and Queens. This special year was announced on the Feast of the Epiphany, a reminder to me of how grateful we are for each of you bearing gifts of a Catholic education for the children of God in Brooklyn and Queens. Your gift ensures the continuation of our faith. Thank you.

Our Year of Renewal for Catholic Education recognizes the real importance of Catholic schools and academies for the future faith of our children, and the future of our Church. We know that Catholic school students are more likely to attend weekly Mass, receive their sacraments, enter into religious life, or to simply live their faith through charity and mission work. Throughout this pandemic, our Catholic schools and academies have been a source of strength for devastated communities. Teachers, families and students have joined together to help the afflicted and their families. Our Catholic school learning has been safe, consistent and strong in the face of so much adversity. Our students and our schools continue to succeed. Your gifts have helped support the even brighter beacon of hope that our Catholic schools and academies have been in our communities.

Among the primary focus areas during the Year of Renewal will be to manifest Catholic culture, promote and retain enrollment of students at our schools and academies and renew our focus on academic excellence. The advancement of some of these concepts will extend beyond our schools as well with an emphasis on helping our parish religious education programs grow and flourish. The hope is to engage all our parish and school communities in this process: Pastors, Principals, Teachers, Catechists, Staff, Parents, Students, Diocesan Administration, Directors of Religious Education and of course our faithful donors and parishioners.

Our hope is to keep you fully involved in this Year of Renewal for Catholic Education. We plan to share with you updates throughout this year. In addition, we would love to hear from you and encourage you to share your stories of your journey through Catholic education, or the Angel program. We welcome your feedback and insight on this initiative. Please contact our Futures in Education office by calling (718) 965- 7308 or email info@futuresineducation.org. As always, we of course would love your prayers. Thank you.

As I conclude, I ask you to reflect on St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus. In many ways you play the same important role as he did, in being a spiritual guardian through your sponsorship of our students. Throughout this year, please pray often the prayer for the Year of Renewal that has been enclosed with this letter. Please know that you will be remembered in my prayers – please remember me in yours.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Reverend Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello Vicar for Development