News and Trends from Brooklyn’s Houses of Worship

Francesca Norsen Tate, editor

Assumption Church’s Pastor Views His Ministry as a ‘Bridge That Brings People Together’

Rev. James King was officially installed as pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church on Sunday. The Most Rev. Ignatius Catanello, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, presided at the Installation Rite and was the chief celebrant at the Mass. A delegation of parish trustees and representatives presented their pastor-elect to Bishop Catanello. The Rev. Monsignor Steven A. Ferrari, Vicar of Brooklyn, read the Document of Appointment from Diocesan Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

Father King, who began his duties at Assumption in July, spoke at the conclusion of Mass. Describing his walks on the Brooklyn Bridge observing people and watching the sunsets, Fr. King saluted his precursor, Fr. Carrano, for the work he had started many years ago “to reach out into the community. A bridge does much the same. It brings different people together; it gets them to where they’re going. And that’s what I think is my role as a pastor — to bring people together on the way to the kingdom…Today we celebrate a new beginning in this parish.�

Jazz and Classical Fusion Sets Mood For St. Charles’ 2nd Annual Concert

Last year, St. Charles Borromeo Church sponsored a staged revue, “Pages From The Great American Songbook,� as part of its 160th anniversary celebration. Attendance packed the St. Francis College Theatre. By popular demand, St. Charles Church is building an annual tradition and will present its Second Annual Fall Concert of Jazz and Classical Fusion Music on November 14.

Featured performers will be Sergio Sandi, St. Charles Church’s music director, on piano; Fredrick J. Miuzzo, on piano; tenor Ulises Solano; and Alexander Violette, on saxophone. They will present works by Felix Mata, Frederic Chopin, Cole Porter, Henry Mancini, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Harry Warren, Duke Ellington and more.

The Saturday, November 14, concert begins at 8 p.m. and is hosted in the church sanctuary (Sidney Place), known for its beautiful acoustics. All tickets include performance and the post-concert reception. Tickets at Friend level are $25, Patron level $50. To order tickets call the Rectory at 718-625-1177 or email stcharlesbklyn@aol.com. For concertgoers’ convenience, all tickets will be held at the door.

Spirit Ensemble Celebrates Music of African Diaspora

Jazz with a different flavor is also featured this Saturday night at the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, as part of the church’s First Acoustics series.

First Acoustics, which offers a season of folk and jazz concerts, presents Spirit Ensemble, which has established itself as a primary source for music that traverses the African Diaspora. Each ensemble member is a master percussionist who has dedicated his life to the study and sharing of this music. Together, the enchanting sounds of the mbira, kora, steel pan and bamboo flute comprise the essence of Spirit’s sound and provide the foundation for rhythmic exploration.

Spirit Ensemble performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, at the church, Pierrepont St. and Monroe Place. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. All tickets purchased will be held at the door. Visit www.firstacoustics.org for more information.

First Unitarian Church collects non-perishable food for donation to a local food bank. Attendees are encouraged to bring a can or box of something nutritious to the show and join the effort to fill New York’s food pantries this winter.

Holiday Outreach Programs Begin

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church holds a pre-Thanksgiving Food Drive for Brooklyn’s less fortunate families. Non-perishable (canned and dry) foods will be accepted at a table in the rear of the church sanctuary through Sunday, November 22.

Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims’ annual Christmas Toy Drive begins this Sunday, 11/15. The Christian Help committee will collect toys for the children of Colony-South Brooklyn Houses in Boerum Hill, which serves over 900 children with nine daycare centers, 4 afterschool programs, and other programs and services for youth and families. Donations of new, unwrapped toys for children 3-12 will be collected through the second week of December.

Youngsters Meet World Of Judaism at New Neighborhood Gan Program

A new program at Congregation Mount Sinai introduces pre-schoolers (ages 3 and 4) to Jewish culture through holidays, religious symbols and traditions. The Gan program, which begins this Thursday, November 12, running from 3:30 to 5 p.m., will help nurture the children experience of Judaism through craft, song and movement. Enrollment is limited, interested parents should call Mount Sinai at 718-875-9124 for further information about tuition.

Brooklynite Among Finalists for Jewish Community Hero Awards

Brooklynite Devora Benjamin, who has personally assisted less fortunate couples with their wedding arrangements for the past 15 years, has been named as one of five finalists in the first annual Jewish Community Hero Awards. The UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America, collectively among the top 10 charities on the continent, have established these awards.

Three other Brooklynites, along with Devora Benjamin, had also earlier been selected as semifinalists. Alex Budnitsky, a long time reporter and current chief operating officer of the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, has dedicated his life to caring for Jews in need and helping thousands of Jewish youth and young adults to understand the complexities of being a Jew today. Aryeh Goldsmith has used new technologies to help build and strengthen the Jewish community for more than a decade. William Levin is a witty cartoonist of Jewish tradition.

The five finalists were honored at UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Washington, DC earlier this week. The Hero of the Year, as of press time for this column, to be selected by a 10-judge panel, and named on November 10, received $25,000 to apply towards his or her work. The four additional finalists each received $1,000 to put toward their own community service work.

This General Assembly is considered the premier annual North American Jewish conference, attracting Federation lay leaders and professionals as well as the leadership of partner organizations and other important national Jewish organizations. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were both expected to attend.

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