Brooklyn Diocese Held Mass for Venezuelan Earthquake Victims
The service at St. Matthias Church honored the patroness of Venezuela while gathering aid for recent disaster victims.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Catholicism
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The Diocese of Brooklyn's Venezuelan Apostolate held a Mass at St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood to honor Our Lady of Coromoto. The service also featured a blessing for volunteers who organized relief efforts following deadly earthquakes in Venezuela.
Why it matters
The event provided a spiritual and communal response to the devastating June earthquakes that left thousands dead and displaced. Organizers shifted the traditional feast day date to honor the patroness while respecting the September 11 anniversary.
The June 24 Venezuelan earthquakes registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. These events follow the 1944 proclamation by Pope Pius XII naming Our Lady of Coromoto as the patroness of Venezuela.
The players
Diocese of Brooklyn
The administrative body governing the Catholic Church in Brooklyn and Queens that sponsors various ethnic apostolates.
Bishop Robert Brennan
The current Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn who led the blessing of volunteers during the event.
Our Lady of Coromoto
The patroness of Venezuela, officially proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1944 following reported historical apparitions.
The details
Volunteers throughout Brooklyn and Queens spent the summer months collecting food and essential relief supplies to send to those affected by the destruction. The Mass, originally scheduled for the September 11 feast day, was moved to September 19 to avoid conflicts with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Timeline
June 24, 2026: Two major earthquakes struck Venezuela.
Summer 2026: Volunteers across Brooklyn and Queens collected relief supplies.
August 10, 2026: An earthquake occurred in Colombia causing 330 deaths.
September 11, 2026: The traditional feast day of Our Lady of Coromoto.
September 19, 2026: The Mass was held at St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood.
Culture Shift
This event highlights the enduring influence of the 1944 proclamation of Our Lady of Coromoto as patroness of Venezuela by Pope Pius XII in organizing diaspora communities. It reflects how traditional religious devotions serve as a framework for humanitarian outreach and community resilience.
Local residents in Brooklyn and Queens who participated in the relief drives continue to provide essential resources to displaced families in Venezuela. The apostolate plans to introduce a large statue of Our Lady of Coromoto for future community processions, creating new opportunities for local involvement.
The takeaway
This event demonstrates how the Brooklyn Venezuelan diaspora maintains strong cultural and spiritual connections to their home country during times of crisis. Residents can support ongoing relief efforts by engaging with local diocesan apostolates that coordinate humanitarian aid shipments.
Further reading
For more information on religious events in the region, visit the Catholicism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tablet.
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