About Us
Serving the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens
EST. 1853
“I encourage you to work tirelessly to eradicate this indifference,” Pope Francis said, “so that when a migrant brother or sister arrives, they will find in the Church a place where they will not feel judged, but welcomed; where hunger and thirst can be quenched, and hope revived.”
– Mar 20, 2024
Pope Francis' quote above captures the spirit of our hospitality and desire to welcome the strange among us, earning the Diocese of Brooklyn the nickname, "The Diocese of Immigrants."
Founded in 1853, the Diocese of Brooklyn sought to address the needs of the more than five million Irish Catholic immigrants who, tired and poor, arrived at the port of New York in search of a better life, many of whom settled in Brooklyn and Queens. Today, the Diocese of Brooklyn continues its vibrant and diverse history, home again to an immigrant population, this time driven by Hispanics. It is presided over by the eighth and current Bishop of Brooklyn, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan.
The boroughs’ combined population stands at more than 4.9 million, of which 1.3 million identify themselves as Catholics. The diocesan cathedral is The Cathedral Basilica of St. James in downtown Brooklyn. The Co–Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights was elevated in February 2013 by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and was dedicated on May 13, 2014, by Bishop DiMarzio. The faces of the people in the pews of St. Joseph’s reflect the diversity of the many cultures that call the Diocese of Brooklyn home. It is also among the largest churches in Brooklyn and Queens.
Due to its multicultural and diverse populations, Masses are regularly held in 26 different languages across the Diocese, throughout 175 parishes in over 200 churches. Its 26 ethnic ministries promote cultural events and provide an opportunity for immigrants to belong to the larger community while preserving and sharing their uniqueness and traditions.
Within its borders is the seventh-largest Catholic school network in the United States, with 69 elementary schools and academies that educate 17,981 students.
The Diocesan Statistical Overview from December 2023 reported the celebration of 9,880 Baptisms, 7,488 First Communions, 7,364 Confirmations, and 1,254 Catholic Marriages annually.
