Shining Star Award Dinners in Review

On September 28th and October 5th, 2012, nearly 800 attendees gathered to celebrate this years Shining Star Award recipients.  Both dinners were held at the beautiful Gargiulo’s in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, NY.

Guests were greeted by staff members from Catholic Migration Services and started their evening with a bountiful cocktail reception.  Attendees were able to take individual pictures with The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn, and Fr. Patrick J. Keating, Executive Director of Catholic Migration Services during this time.  The award ceremony began with a processional of our speakers and honorees into the main dining room.  The National Anthem was sung, followed by an Invocation by Reverend Charles Akoto Oduro (Ghanaian Apostolate) at the first night of our dinners, and Reverend Witold Mroziewski (Polish Apostolate) at the second night.

Jeanne Sanon, CMS Immigration Counselor, served as the emcee for both dinners and welcomed our guests.  She introduced Fr. Patrick J. Keating, who shared his thoughts on the wonderful diversity that is our diocese, as well as thanking all those who supported this annual event.  Art Dignam, C.E.O., and Rev. Msgr. Kieran Harrington, President, of DeSales Media Group, presented Catholic Migration Services with a check for $100,000 as the event’s Premier Sponsor.

Jeanne then introduced our next speaker, Rev. Msgr. Ronald T. Marino, Vicar for Migration and Ethnic Apostolates who spoke briefly about the work Catholic Migration does, and the enduring support Bishop DiMarzio has given to its efforts.  He then introduced our Bishop, who gave closing remarks about his gratitude to all those attending the event, and to the honorees for all that they do to spread love, faith, and charity on behalf of The Church.

 

 

Robert McCreanor, Director of Legal Services, announced each of the honorees, and each received their Shining Star Award.  The evening concluded with dinner and dancing.

September Honorees: Neveen Harun – Arabic Speaking Apostolate; Alexssandra de Carvalho – Brazilian Apostolate ;Walter & Gladys Galvan- Columbian Community; Serge & Fely Carrera – Filipino Apostolate; Kwame Agyeman-Budu – Ghanaian Apostolate; Vanes Vieux – Haitian Apostolate; Daniel & Siobhan Dennehy – Irish Apostolate; Yoon Don (Genesius) Choe – Korean Apostolate; Genaro H. Sanchez – Mexican Community; Reverend Anthony T. Nzegwu – Nigerian Apostolate; Felicidad Lopez – Panamanian Community; Hoang (Dominic) Tang – Vietnamese Apostolate

October Honorees: Chui Sheung (Maria) Fung – Chinese (Brooklyn) Apostolate; Yi Chu Zhu – Chinese (Queens) Apostolate; Amada Pablo – Cuban Community; Ruzena Bunza – Czech/Slovak Apostolate; Adalgisa McKinney –Dominican Community; Deacon Ruben & Mrs. Ana Siavichay – Ecuadorian Community; Deacon Manuel Zelaya- El Salvador Community; Celso Yax and Micaela Velasquez-Yax – Guatemalan Community; Thankakuttan Clement – Indian Latin Rite Apostolate; Budi Mangesti – Indonesian Apostolate; Nick & Maria Signorello – Italian Apostolate; Dr. Giedre M. Kumpikas – Lithuanian Apostolate; James W.Cyprian – Pakistani Apostolate; Dr. Malgorzata Witek – Polish Apostolate; Ruth Meletiche – Puerto Rican Community; Deacon Dwayne D. Davis – VBCC; Deacon Christopher Barber – West Indian Apostolate.

 

 

Additional Media Coverage:

Diocese of Brooklyn: http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/ed/

The Tablet: http://thetablet.org/?p=18403

Currents: http://netny.net/currents/video/stories/shining-stars-of-brooklyn-ethnic-apostolates-honored-100212/

 

Please click here to view more photos from our dinners.