LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Father James Massa upon the occa-
sion of being promoted to Auxiliary Bishop by Pope Francis on July 20,
2015

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to applaud the just
recognition of men of the cloth who distinguish themselves and the
ministry through their unremitting commitment and long-standing preemi-
nence of service; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, this Legislative Body is proud to
congratulate Father James Massa upon the occasion of being promoted to
Auxiliary Bishop by Pope Francis on July 20, 2015; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated with an Ordina-
tion Ceremony performed by Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on Monday,
July 20, 2015; thenceforth, Father James Massa will help the Bishop tend
to the 1.5 million Catholics spread across Brooklyn and Queens; and
WHEREAS, James Massa was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to the late
Andrew and Irene Gilbert Massa; he earned his Bachelor's degree in both
Theology and History from Boston College in 1982; and
WHEREAS, Three years later, James Massa received a Master's of Divini-
ty Degree from Yale University; in 1997, he furthered his education by
obtaining his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Fordham University,
where he wrote his dissertation under the guidance of the late Cardinal
Avery Dulles; and
WHEREAS, On October 25, 1986, James Massa was ordained to the priest-
hood by the late Bishop Francis J. Mugavero, serving the Diocese of
Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, Father James Massa's first assignment was Parochial Vicar at
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in the Forest Hills section of Queens, a title
he held from 1986-1990; and
WHEREAS, From 1990-1993, Father James Massa served as Campus Minister
at Queens College; in addition, he held the position of Associate
Professor of Theology at several seminaries and universities; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Father James Massa was selected as Executive Direc-
tor of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's Secretariat for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue; and
WHEREAS, Three years later, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as
the Consulter to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and
a member of the Joint Working Group between the Holy See and the World
Council of Churches; and
WHEREAS, Father James Massa returned to the Diocese of Brooklyn in
2011, and coordinated the merger of the Theologates for the Archdiocese
of New York, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and the Diocese of Brook-
lyn; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, Father James Massa held the position of both Associ-
ate Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Director of Assessment and
Accreditation at Saint Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York; he then
went on to serve as the Moderator of the Curia in the Diocese of Brook-
lyn in 2014, a title he will hold until his Ordination Ceremony; and
WHEREAS, Father James Massa has brought to his ministry an overwhelm-
ing spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and enlight-
enment in conducting his administrative and spiritual duties, while
always displaying the highest standards of personal and professional
integrity and dedication; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that indi-
vidual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Father James Massa upon the occasion of being promoted to
Auxiliary Bishop by Pope Francis noting his unremitting and compassion-
ate faith and his exemplary service to God, man, and his community, and
extending to him the heartfelt best wishes of this Legislative Body for
a future of continued purposeful success and well-being; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Father James Massa.