It was a special Sunday on January 18 as parishioners of Saint Athanasius Church joined members of the New York City Police Department and the families of fallen Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu for a memorial mass held in the slain officers’ honor.
“It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony,” lauded local resident and parishioner Anna Cali stressing that close to 150 police officers from the 77th, 66th and 62nd Precincts attended the memorial, as well as members of the Ramos and Liu families. “In addition to it being a memorial mass for officers Liu and Ramos, it was also a mass to show that we support the NYPD.”
In the spirit of showing support, Cali said, the church handed out homemade blue buttons to police officers.
Photos courtesy of the Thank You NYPD Facebook page
“We wanted to kind of combine it,” she said, calling the sermon by Monsignor David Cassato, a police chaplain, among the most wonderful parts of all. “He is such a wonderful speaker.”
The whole church – some brought to tears, others to their feet – seemed to agree.
“My brothers and sisters, Detective Liu and Detective Ramos are martyrs,” Cassato told the congregation. “Today we come to remember them.”
Liu, a 32-year-old newlywed from Bensonhurst and Ramos, a 40-year-old Sunset Park native, husband and father of two, were shot at point-blank range in their marked NYPD car on Saturday, December 20.
Just before the procession, all of Saint Athanasius gave the families – including Liu’s mother, dressed in an NYPD t-shirt – a standing ovation.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
