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DeSales Media Group’s Coverage of Catholic Day at Citi Field

The Diocese of Brooklyn hosted Catholic Day at Citi Field on Saturday, Sept. 9. The day began with a Mass by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, followed by a Catholic festival featuring live music, food trucks, games and Catholic activities. A sampling of our social media coverage is below.

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On May 17 in Brooklyn, Cardinal Joseph Tobin applied Pope Francis’ World Communications Day message of “communicating hope and trust in our time” to the plight of immigrants in the United States today.

“Congress and the president could pass comprehensive immigration reform tomorrow if they wanted to,” Tobin said. “They could bring 12 million people out of the shadows if they wanted to.”

Cardinal Tobin at World Communications Day

Cardinal Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, NJ, made headlines in March when he accompanied Catalino Guerrero, a 59-year-old grandfather, to a deportation hearing. On Wednesday, in his keynote speech at the DeSales Media Group’s annual Catholic Media Conference, he talked about the message he was trying to convey by standing beside Guerrero.

“First, it put a face on people who are frequently dehumanized,” he said, referring to immigrants. “Secondly, it put a face on us and the call to solidarity.”

Accompanying Guerrero, he said, was a “symbol that communicated hope that the Church does not live in some ivory tower, that our faith has not been privatized, that the Church, the body of Christ, has a right to a voice in the public square.”

Without the solidarity of the brothers and sisters from a variety of faiths who stood up for Guerrero, Tobin said, he might have been taken away.

Tobin was critical of the news media, saying that they needed to resist engendering fear as a way of driving ratings and profits, but he saved his harshest criticism for the Trump administration.

“Congress and the president could pass comprehensive immigration reform tomorrow if they wanted to,” Tobin said. “They could bring 12 million people out of the shadows if they wanted to.”

He continued: “A person unbound by Christian charity would say that you really have to believe in inflicting cruelty on innocent people to choose to support the policies [on immigration] we’ve seen in recent months while possessing the power to change the law.”

Cardinal Tobin, who also received the St. Francis DeSales Distinguished Communicator Award from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, delivered his speech on a day dedicated to examining communication and the media from a Catholic perspective.

Before his keynote, four national television reporters — Howard Kurtz, Ray Suarez, Lauren Ashburn and Antonio Mora — participated in a discussion of the state of their industry entitled “Fact or Fiction: Journalism’s Last Stand?”

From left, Howard Kurtz, Antonio Mora, Lauren Ashburn and Ray Suarez in Wednesday’s media panel.

media member discussion at World Communications Day

In a wide-ranging discussion, the panelists talked about the political polarization of the American public; the blurring of lines between news, opinion and entertainment; the obligations of the media and their audience; the lack of public confidence in the media; and what to do when opposite sides of the political spectrum can’t even seem to agree on the facts.

Early in the discussion, Suarez posed this question to his colleagues: “How are we doing?”

“In a word, lousy,” Kurtz responded. “There’s a credibility crisis fueled in part by a lot of self-inflicted wounds.” He talked about news organizations’ allowing bias to creep into news coverage, about reporters’ motivation to stand out on social media with snark and personality, and about an unwillingness for news organizations to own up to their mistakes.

While the journalists on the panel were certainly self-critical, they also pointed out that some of the change in discourse was due to their audience. Mora said research has shown that the American news consumer is not that interested in international news, not that interested in serious local news, not that interested in civil discourse.

Social media was seen by the panelists as both part of the problem and part of the solution. Everyone can have a voice, Kurtz said, but that can make it hard for news consumers to assess credibility.

Ashburn said it was the media’s responsibility to deliver facts and balanced perspective, and the audience’s responsibility to seek the truth. Social media is one way they can find it, she said, pointing out the Pope’s millions of Twitter followers.

“I challenge the audience to find new ways of understanding and interpreting the news,” she said, “and they’re out there.”

The afternoon was dedicated to a screening of “Sacred,” a documentary that captures milestones of spiritual life across religions and around the world, and a panel discussion with the filmmakers, Thomas Lennon, Dr. William Baker, and Julie Anderson. Tim Glemkowski, a national Catholic speaker and evangelist, moderated the discussion. He also delivered the day’s opening talk and served as emcee.

The day began with an introduction by Rev. Monsignor Kieran Harrington, the Vicar for Communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn, and an original song, “Fear Not,” performed by Christian hip-hop artist Kei-Landa. (You can download it here.)

Joseph William Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, will address the Church’s support for immigrants in his keynote address at the DeSales Media Group’s World Communications Day Catholic Media Conference on Wednesday.

Cardinal Tobin

Cardinal Tobin, a champion of immigrant rights, made news recently when he accompanied a 59-year-old grandfather facing deportation to federal court.

“A person unbound by Christian charity would say that you really have to believe in inflicting cruelty on innocent people to choose to support the policies [on immigration] we’ve seen in recent months while possessing the power to change the law,” Cardinal Tobin said.

A live stream from the conference will begin at WCDnyc.org at 10:45am. Read the complete press release from the Diocese of Brooklyn here.

DeSales Media Group is proud to present the Diocese of Brooklyn’s 26th Annual World Communications Day. This year’s event will be in the BRIC Arts Media House, a media space in Brooklyn dedicated to promoting diversity, a perfect fit for this forward-thinking celebration.

world communications day 2017 logo

The event brings together Catholic film, television, print, and digital content creators, entertainers, newsmakers, educators, innovators, religious leaders, and media executives.

Strengthen your faith, elevate your work, and be a part of an unforgettable experience.

More at WCDnyc.org | Go to Social Wall

By A.M. Brier

With the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops currently underway, it can be challenging to decipher Vatican reports from the press, and even more confusing to follow what’s going on in the Synod Hall. No need to break out encyclicals or dust off your Latin dictionaries (although we hope you do both anyway!). Without further ado, here are eight key Vatican phrases to better understand the Synod.

  1. “Instrumentum Laboris”

A Latin phrase for “working instrument” (in this case a “working document”); a detailed outline composed by a group of bishops selected by the Pope, which the Synod Fathers follow in discussion and dialogue. In preparation, the title of last year’s Instrumentum Laboris for the Extraordinary Synod was “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization,” which focused on topics including communicating the “Gospel of the Family,” pastoral programs in light of new challenges, and openness to life and parenthood. In this Ordinary Synod, the theme of the document is “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the Contemporary World,” with sections addressing topics such as family challenges, discernment of the vocation of family, the mission of the family, and its role in procreation and raising children. Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the General Secretary to both Synods, authored introductions to each document.

  1. “Relatio Synodi”

More commonly referred to as simply a “Relatio,” it is the document which officially concludes a Synod’s work. Pope Francis delegated ten Synod Fathers to draft this final document. The Relatio of last year’s Extraordinary Synod was published publicly, and is serving as groundwork for this year’s Ordinary Synod. Check it out here on the Vatican’s website.

  1. “Lineamenta”

The Lineamenta is a preparatory document sent to bishops of the world for their comments. The Lineamenta for this year’s Synod was derived from last year’s Relatio, and can be best expressed as an updated and edited version of the document. In essence, it is the first of the this Synod’s documents. While this Lineamenta contains much of what was set forth in the Relatio, it focuses on more pointed themes, while introducing a new set of questions for consideration in this year’s Ordinary Synod. It may be found here.

  1. “Interventions”

These are the speeches prepared and given by Synod participants, in response to topics outlined in the Instrumentum Laboris – along with the hopes and concerns of their respective nations. Interventions are generally kept at around three minutes in length (to honor the time that must be divided among many participants) although longer written versions are often composed and submitted. In contrast to last year’s Extraordinary Synod, this year’s delegation is permitted to share their interventions with the public, if they so wish. Many Bishops are doing so via their personal blogs and Diocesan papers – be sure to check them out.

  1. “Circoli minori”

An Italian phrase for “working groups,” these small-group circles of bishops meet to discuss the Synod points and produce reports in response to the Instrumentum Laboris. Perhaps the most interesting component of the circoli is the fact that members are grouped by language and not by geography, which in turn, places figures such as Canadian Bishop Paul-Andre Durocher with Bishop Maurice Piat of Mauritius. The circoli include groups which converse in Italian (Italicus), Spanish (Hibericus), English (Anglicus), French (Gallicus), or German (Germanicus). You can find their reports on the official Vatican website here.

  1. “Modi”

Short for “modifications,” modi are the proposed changes that the circoli recommend in addition to their small group reports, in response to the Instrumentum Laboris. Some modi may be proposals for new or additional sentences, removal of phrases, or even entirely new drafts of paragraphs. Often, they are requests for clarifications, or a re-phrasing of language in order to make it more clear and consistent across the universal Church.

  1. “Familiaris Consortio”

In 1981, Pope Saint John Paul II published this prolific Apostolic Exhortation – a document, which has been often referred to in the Synodal proceedings. Familiaris Consortio focuses on the role of the Christian family in the modern world, and touches particularly upon themes of light and shadows for families, the role of women, the responsibilities of fathers, and the rights of children. Check out the document in its entirety here.

  1. “Parrhesia”

Parrhesia is an ancient Greek word (παρρησία) meaning freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, or boldness. It is close to in spelling, but not to be mistaken for another word often used in the Catholic lexicon, “parousia” (παρουσία); meaning presence, arrival, or official visit. In Catholic theology, “parousia” is almost always used in reference to the second coming of Christ. The importance of the former parrhesia, is that Pope Francis has repeatedly called for spiritual clarity, open dialogue, and frankness in this Synod, in efforts to avoid confusion or campaigning. Parrhesia is a word he has invoked not only at the opening of the Synod, but again and again, throughout his pontificate. At their Canonization Mass, the Holy Father described Saint Popes John XXIII and John Paul II as being filled with the parrhesia of the Holy Spirit. During his Apostolic Journey to the USA, he addressed bishops in Philadelphia, imploring them to “dialogue fearlessly” with each other, their Dioceses, families, and society: “The richer the heritage which you are called to share with parrhesia, the more eloquent should be the humility with which you should offer it.” Pay attention when Pope Francis uses this word; he means business!

Editorial Thanks to Fr. Joseph Zwosta

In policy-driven Washington D.C., you could pick Pope Francis out of a crowd with your eyes closed. No one needs to see his white vestments to know which one he is. All you have to do is listen to the way he speaks about pastoral and political issues.

Pope Francis often speaks in an eschatological vein, interpreting our problems in the present as a lens for understanding who God is and who we are called to be. When he explained his opposition to the death penalty to Congress, he didn’t cite facts and figures on the usefulness of it as a deterrence, and he didn’t speak simply about whether or not the state has the right to take the lives of its citizens.

Instead, he talked about who the condemned were, and what they were made for, saying that “A just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.” Pope Francis grounded his discussion of the death penalty in the truth that all of us are made for hope and rehabilitation.

Instead of talking about what would serve the interests of the state, or what it is or is not allowed to do, Pope Francis looked past the question to tell us who we all are, and what we are made for. By speaking about the dignity of prisoners, he reminded those in the crowd of their own dignity and the God that endowed them with it.

In this way, every problem that the pope discussed became a way to talk about the largest problem — What are we created for? — and to recommit to life in Christ as the answer.

Leah Libresco is a news writer at FiveThirtyEight, a blogger at Patheos, and a contributor to NET TV’s papal coverage.

By Leah Libresco

Everything surrounding the pope is large and complicated. The secret service struggles to keep people fenced in and at a safe distance. Opportunities to be a football field away from him are so sought-after that they have to be distributed by lottery. But while Pope Francis was in Washington, D.C., his focus tended to be small and personal.

When he spoke to his brother bishops about pastoral care, he didn’t keep the conversation abstract. When he asked bishops to support the priests that they supervise, to be sure that they do not “yield to the temptation to become notaries and bureaucrats, but instead reflect the motherhood of the Church, which gives birth to and raises her sons and daughters,” he made it clear exactly how mundane these temptations could be. He told the bishops, “Be vigilant lest they tire of getting up to answer those who knock on their door by night, just when they feel entitled to rest.”

This warning paralleled the advice he gave to priests in his book “Open Mind, Faithful Heart” about the demands they would experience from their flock:

“The people are demanding in matters that relate to religion. Just as they are generally faithful in fulfilling their promises, so they expect those who are responsible for providing pastoral care to be faithful in fulfilling their duties. The priest does not belong to himself. He may sometimes try to escape to other things, but all those ‘other things’ count for little in comparison with the mother who makes him walk many blocks to bless her house.”

His visit may inspire Catholics to be more demanding, in just the way he desires. Just as people shamelessly run up to the Pope to ask for his blessing and his prayers, they may also run up to their parish priest to ask for his prayers, his blessings, and his presence. In all of these small, humble things, a priest pours himself out for his people.

Pope Francis encouraged the bishops to find ways to support their priests, so that they have the strength to welcome all the needs of their people. After he leaves, it will be up to us to have the courage to offer our needs to our priests, in ordinary times, as easily as we do during the festival of the pope’s visit.

Leah Libresco is a news writer at FiveThirtyEight, a blogger at Patheos, and a contributor to NET TV’s papal coverage.

Attention all Tablet Newspaper fans: The Tablet’s website has been redesigned! It now has a more streamlined design and it is much easier to find the news, articles, photos and community stories you love.

There is a brand new homepage layout that highlights columns from the most recent publication, with a new location for Bishop DiMarzio’s column and Ed Wilkinson’s column. Topics are organized so you can quickly find different types of news and opinions, with new sections devoted to Parish and School news. There is also a new poll section where you can vote and be heard on issues featured in The Tablet.

Click here to go to the new site.

As you can see from the comparisons below, The Tablet website has come a long way.

March 2015

April 2014

March 2010

Today, New Evangelization Television (NET TV) announced it’s new upcoming original program Mission of Love, based on the catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families. Premiering Sunday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m., Mission of Love takes an authentic look into the lives of couples and families: their ups and downs, struggles and joys, laughter and tears. The series explores the mystery of marriage and family life with humor, insight and profundity.

Featuring candid, real-life perspective from married couples, Biblical exegesis from Msgr. John Strynkowski, S.T.D. (Diocese of Brooklyn), and catechetical commentary from Dr. Matthew Sutton, Ph.D. (St. John’s University), Mission of Love unpacks the official preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families in ten unique episodes.

Since its inception by Saint John Paul II in 1994, the World Meeting of Families has been held every three years and sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family. The World Meeting of Families is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families. Each World Meeting of Families has a theme that energizes and enlivens the event while adding great depth of meaning to our understanding of families. The theme of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 is “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” emphasizing the impact of the love and life of families on our society.

All subsequent Mission of Love episodes will air on the 2nd Sunday of each month, after the premiere in January. All episodes will be available for viewing online (http://netny.tv/shows/missionoflove/) and on Verizon FiOS OnDemand, following airdates. For a complete schedule including show encores, please visit NET TV’s website www.netny.tv.

NET TV is a cable network featuring news and information with a Catholic point of view, and is available in the New York area on Time Warner Cable, channel 97, Cablevision, channel 30, and nationally on Verizon FIOS on Demand. Viewers can also watch the programming live on NET TV’s website at www.netny.tv/watchnow.