BISHOP BRENNAN AT EASTER VIGIL IN BROOKLYN: “CHRIST IS RISEN”

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, marked the celebration of Easter, the holiest day on the Christian calendar, with an Easter Vigil Mass Saturday evening, March 30, 2024, at The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Easter celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, as he was crucified for the sins of the world. The Easter Vigil begins in the dark outside the Church. That is where the Paschal candle is lit and that light is shared with all of the worshippers inside the church. The dramatic lighting of the church symbolizes the Risen Lord.

“We see the reality of sin and death all around us in the world. This morning, I was at a funeral for the police officer who was shot and killed in Queens, an act of terrible, terrible violence. And yet we don’t sing Alleluia tonight because we’re making believe that all is well in the world. We are singing Alleluia tonight because all is not well in the world. But Christ has conquered it, because we know that all is not well in our own lives, and that we need His help. And he gives us that help, and that we can believe, with all our hearts, that yes indeed in the waters of baptism we plunge with him into his death and in the living of ordinary life, we experience sorrow and pain and even our own failings and sins. But too, we rise up with him to live forever. We were made for his glory,” said Bishop Brennan in his homily. 

At the Mass, Bishop Brennan baptized four people, who are among more than 400 new Catholics baptized at Easter Vigil Masses throughout the diocese.

Later today, Sunday, March 31, 2024, Bishop Brennan will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at 11:00 A.M. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James located at 250 Cathedral Place in downtown Brooklyn.

Easter Sunday Mass can be seen live on NET TV, the Diocesan cable channel, available on Spectrum channel 97, Optimum channel 30, and Verizon Fios channel 548, or online at netny.tv

Members of the media are invited to attend.

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Easter Vigil Video: vimeo.com/929220021 – Courtesy: DeSales Media

Easter Vigil Mass: www.youtube.com/watch – Courtesy: DeSales Media

Bishop Brennan quote above can be found at 1:01:27-1:02:33