The next Young Adult Mass of the Archdiocese of New York is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 7:30 p.m., at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Father Enzo Del Brocco, CP. Holy Hour will precede the Mass, with confessions and adoration.

Father Del Brocco has been a Passionist priest since 1991, currently Passionist order vice-provincial in the United States. He also serves as priest associate at the Church of Our Saviour-Chapel of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Manhattan.            

A native of Pittsburgh, he returned with his family at age 11 to Italy, where he became a Passionist in 1991 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He holds a Licentiate in Moral Theology, a master’s degree in human resources, and a certification in Catholic bioethics; he is currently a PhD Student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, in Healthcare Ethics. He has held various positions of leadership within the Passionist order in Italy.       

“I anticipate that I will focus [during the homily] on the readings of the day – on the presence of the Lord in our lives, and how we can be present to Him,” Father Del Brocco told The Good Newsroom in a January 3 phone interview. “The first reading is from the Book of Samuel [about lack of the Lord’s presence]. It kind of reflects our society today, in which God is not present or it’s rare that we hear anything about Him – just looking at all the media outlets, He’s not that present. So thank God for The Good Newsroom.”

The priest noted the importance of having “a prayerful relationship with God…Early in the morning or at nighttime, Jesus took quiet time, separating Himself from everything that was going on, staying with the Father. His days were spent for others, searching for others – to save others. But there’s also a moment when He must recover. So how do we facilitate that presence [with the Father] the way Jesus does?”

The Passionists, officially named the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, abbreviated CP, is a Catholic clerical congregation founded by Paul of the Cross in 1720, with a special emphasis on and devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. 

The monthly Young Adult Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral is sponsored by the Young Adult Outreach office of the Archdiocese of New York. A social gathering will follow the January Mass; this month the gathering will be at Connolly’s on East 47th Street.   

The mission of the outreach program “is to connect Catholic young adults to God and to each other – by helping you get connected to the young adult communities…The office aims to act as a liaison for new and seasoned New Yorkers, whether you are exploring the faith or have grown up in it, to help you find what you’re looking for. Whether you are looking for a parish or bible study, a job or roommate, opportunities to meet other young professionals, or volunteer for your favorite cause.”

For more information about Young Adult Outreach, visit www.catholicnyc.com.