Annual Dinner
The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn’s Annual Dinner is the highlight of the club’s social calendar and has been the club’s key fund raiser for more than 100 years. The dinner is a time to come together with the Cathedral Club officers, board members, club members, distinguished guests and others to celebrate and promote the true Catholic spirit. The audience is addressed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, as well as our recognized honoree and our selected guest speaker.
From the proceeds of the dinner, a donation is made to the Bishop of Brooklyn’s favorite charity. Some past speakers have included John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Hugh Carey, Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, Steve Forbes, and John Cardinal O’Connor, to name a few. Typically, the dinner is held on the first Thursday in February.
Robert C. Golden Memorial Cigar Night
This relatively new event began in 2021 as a way to honor the memory of former president and long-time Board Member Robert C. Golden. It takes place in May at Gargiulo’s in Coney Island, and features a raffle of various prizes and a 50/50. The event more than pays for itself and joins the Annual Dinner and Golf Outing as the Club’s main fundraisers.
Speaker’s Night
It is the tradition of the club membership to have a Speaker’s Night in springtime. It is a night known for inviting a prominent figure from our community to share their background and experiences as well as to provide insight on what role their organization plays in the Catholic Church. It is on this night that we also present scholarships to Catholic High School Students. The scholarships are awarded to those students that have successfully completed their freshman year and who also have financial need. The recipients are selected by the school principals based on the above-mentioned criteria. The students each receive a scholarship for their three remaining years at high school. The schools are designated from an ongoing list that is held by the Scholarship Committee.
Installation of Officers
The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn’s Installation of Officers is ”the changing of the guard” and typically takes place in June. It is a night to say thank you to the outgoing President for a job well done. As a sign of appreciation, it has become a new tradition to present the outgoing President with a ring decorated with the Cathedral Club crest. The main purpose of the evening is to swear in the new slate of Officers and the Board of Governors first. The new President then reflects on what he/she hopes to accomplish with his/her team in the year ahead. Sometimes this is combined with the Speaker’s night, especially in recent years.
Golf Outing
The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn’s Annual Golf Outing takes place in September each year. This marks a chance for members to socialize in a less formal setting and enjoy an activity that brings people together. Although most attendees are traditionally from the Board of Governors, all Members are invited to attend. This event is the second biggest fundraiser for the Cathedral Club after the Annual Dinner in February.
Memorial Mass & Communion Breakfast
The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn’s Annual Memorial Mass & Communion Breakfast has been a tradition of the club for many years. It is a time that the members and their families can get together to remember members of the club, but also family members of club members. Historically, the Memorial Mass would take place at Visitation in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Recently, the Mass has moved to Our Lady of Angels, which is also in Bay Ridge. Mass is celebrated by the Bishop of Brooklyn and Queens. This Mass features a reading of the names of members and their relatives who have passed away since the previous Memorial Mass. Those members that are Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem dress in their ceremonial uniform. The Knights lead the procession at the beginning and end of the Mass. Following the Mass, all are invited to a Communion Breakfast to continue the celebration.