Celebration of St. Brigid, Strong Irish Roots of the Catholic Church in Brooklyn

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, will be the main celebrant at a Mass tomorrow, Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 1 p.m., at The Cathedral Basilica of St. James, located at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn, marking the first diocesan observance of the Feast of St. Brigid of Ireland.

Bagpipers will lead the procession into the church, and a program of Irish dance will follow at the end of Mass. A new song titled “St. Brigid of Ireland” will be sung for the first time publicly by its composer, James O’Dea, of Holy Name parish in Windsor Terrace.

The Irish were the founders of St. James, which was the first parish on Long Island. Six of the eight bishops to have served the Diocese of Brooklyn have had Irish roots. Two men of Irish ancestry from the diocese, Bishop Francis X. Ford and Monsignor Bernard Quinn, are candidates for beatification and sainthood.

St. Brigid is honored as the patroness of Ireland, who died 1500 years ago on February 1, 525. The Mass and celebration are sponsored by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Irish Apostolate.

Members of the media are welcome to attend.