FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2024

BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN CELEBRATES MASS IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

            Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn which includes Queens, led a Black History Month Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Parish in the Jamaica section of Queens.

The theme of the Mass was “Spiritual Unity Through Cultural Diversity,” but Father Robert Seay, OFM, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Charity in Brooklyn and homilist for the Mass, talked about the difficulties faced by Black Catholics today.

“The frustration that has happened, to especially black people when you listen, is that we are not at the table, that we, the decisions are made, and we are being eaten up by maintenance rather than mission. That’s what I hear. And I hear so many people saying I can’t take it any longer. So, the faith is shattered by a lot right now, but we also can come and celebrate the good times and look towards the future that we will be included in the church,” preached Father Seay.

“That’s exactly what Pope Francis is asking with the Synod – that we listen deeply to one another. And so, it is important for me, as we do some of our planning, to hear the voices of all people, of all races and perspectives in everything we do in the Diocese. One of the lessons I have learned is that we may or may not be able to identify with others, but we need to listen and hear people’s troubles and concerns. And that’s what the Black History Month Mass was about. It’s not just that we listen to one another when there’s something wrong, but that we’re listening to one another in the course of our day to day lives,” said Bishop Brennan.

During his tenure at the Weeksville, Brooklyn Church, Father Seay became known for his work to promote peace, and his leadership led to his membership on the Mayor’s Pastoral Council. He has dedicated his life’s work to educating the youth and improving race relations. Bishop Brennan says Father Seay’s words are important to hear now more than ever.

“The celebration on Sunday was of Black History Month. We remember the history, but we also are writing the history of now. That was a big theme at the National Black Catholic Congress, that we’re writing the history that people will look back on in the future. Coming here to Brooklyn, and Queens, I see great participation and I value the perspectives, the experiences, the hopes and the dreams of all of our people,” continued Bishop Brennan.

This year, the Vicariate Office of Black Catholic Concerns added some new features to the annual Mass. Each black ethnic apostolate was asked to participate, and the national flag of each represented country was flown during the opening procession.

Bishop Brennan is the chairman-elect of the Committee on Cultural Diversity for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sunday’s Mass was organized by the Vicariate Office of Black Catholic Concerns for the Diocese of Brooklyn. The rousing music at the Mass was led by the Sr. Thea Bowman Choir under the direction of Darcel Whitten-Wilamowski.

Diocese of Brooklyn Black History Month Mass

Courtesy: NET TV/DeSales Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgB6Tcfg9ts

Photos 1-3 / Courtesy: DeSales Media

Photos 4-9 / Courtesy: Michael Davis & Jonathan Sims

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2024

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BISHOP BRENNAN CELEBRATES THE 100^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. GABRIEL CHURCH

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn which includes Queens, celebrated the Spanish Mass earlier today to mark the 100^th Anniversary of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Roman Catholic Church located in the East Elmhurst section of Queens.

“St. Gabriel’s has a history of bringing people together to encounter Jesus. In this Church, over the years, many things have changed on the inside and outside. But one thing doesn’t change – we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We inherited a lot over these 100 years, and now it is our turn to make this faith community even stronger,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

The first Mass of St. Gabriel’s was celebrated on July 7, 1923, in Stotzky’s Belvedere Park and the cornerstone of the church was laid on June 29, 1924. St. Gabriel Church opened in the location where it stands today on January 1, 1925. The first Spanish Mass was held in the Lower Church in 1971.

The Mass was followed by a reception in the parish hall.

The Feast Day of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated by the Church annually on February 27. Father Nicholas Apollonio is the Pastor.

Video footage: https://vimeo.com/916528516

The video and photos attached are courtesy of John Quaglione/DeSales Media.

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BISHOP BRENNAN LEADS FUNERAL MASS FOR MONSIGNOR JOHN E. DELENDICK,
BELOVED PRIEST, FDNY CHAPLAIN

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, served as the main celebrant at the funeral Mass of Reverend Monsignor John E. Delendick, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, today at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.

The funeral Mass was attended by hundreds of firefighters from the Fire Department of New York and other jurisdictions, dozens of priests, Brooklyn Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, and Archbishop Charles Balvo, the Apostolic Nuncio (Pope’s representative) to Australia and classmate of Monsignor Delendick.

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh was among those who offered remarks about Monsignor Delendick’s service to the Department. FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens, former Commissioners Daniel Nigro and Salvatore Cassano, were also in attendance. Monsignor Richard Ahlemeyer, Pastor of St. Camilius – St. Virgilius in the Rockaway Park section of Queens offered a moving tribute in his Homily.

74-year-old Monsignor John E. Delendick passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023, after a long battle with 9/11 related cancer, due to his time at Ground Zero responding as a New York City Fire Department Chaplain in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Monsignor Delendick served as a Chaplain for the FDNY since 1996.

“Monsignor John Delendick led an incredible life of service to God and His people. Throughout his 40 years as a parish priest and administrator in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Monsignor Delendick brought the faith of God to the hearts and minds of countless individuals.  He truly was a disciple of the Lord, caring, loving, and praying for the people he encountered in the best and worst of times. May he now receive his eternal reward for his goodness,” said Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.

Born on September 4, 1949, Monsignor Delendick was ordained to the Priesthood on February 12, 1977. In his more than 40 years as a priest, he served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Shrine of Saint Jude (Brooklyn), and the Parishes of Saint Agnes and Sacred Heart Chapel (Brooklyn), and Saint Michael (Brooklyn).

Monsignor Delendick also served as Administrator of the Parishes of Saint Ann and Saint George (Brooklyn); and as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Good Shepherd (Brooklyn) and Saint Catherine of Genoa (Brooklyn). Monsignor Delendick was also a Diocesan Real Estate Board Member, Professor at the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary and was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society.

On February 8, 2003, Monsignor Delendick was named Chaplain of His Holiness.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2023

BISHOP BRENNAN CELEBRATES MASS MARKING THE 120^TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY IN BROOKLYN

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated a special Mass marking the 120^th Anniversary of Our Lady of Charity Roman Catholic Church, located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, this morning, Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

“We look today to our parish anniversary, to our celebration right here. We look at the growth and development of this community of faith, this people of faith. We remember the roots as an Italian parish, founded by an oppressed people which has grown and now represents this beautiful area of Brooklyn. The vineyard of the Lord is right here in Bedford-Stuyvesant comprised of the beautiful people in this community,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

“This is the place where we can lay our fears at the foot of the Cross. Think about these 120 years of Our Lady of Charity, think of the different generations that have come here, through two world wars to pray for loved ones serving abroad. Through all kinds of racial strife and struggle, and the fight for Civil Rights, people came to this neighborhood church to turn to God for hope beyond all hope,” continued Bishop Brennan.

Our Lady of Charity first celebrated Mass in 1903 to accommodate the influx of Italian immigrants who settled in the community. Mass was originally celebrated in a converted animal stable. The parish was officially designated in 1908, and the present Church opened in 1914.

The NYPD’s 77^th Precinct was outside after Mass as part of “National Faith & Blue Weekend” which strives to build safer communities by developing relationships between law enforcement officers and local residents by means of faith-based organizations.

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VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/872360054

The photos attached and the video is courtesy of John Quaglione/DeSales Media.

POPE FRANCIS ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF BROOKLYN DIOCESE
AUXILIARY BISHOP NEIL TIEDEMANN

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Neil Tiedemann, C.P., Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The resignation was publicized earlier today in Washington, D.C., by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

As required by Canon (Church) law, at the age of 75, all bishops must submit a letter of resignation from the ecclesiastical office they hold. It is then a determination of the Holy See when to accept the resignation.

“I am grateful for Bishop Tiedemann’s many years of dedicated service here in Brooklyn and Queens. Bishop Tiedemann has had extraordinary experience beyond the boundaries of our Diocese and therefore was able to enrich us with his knowledge, passion, and dedication to the Church and its people,” said the Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.

“Throughout my priesthood, I have been blessed, and I am so grateful. I thank Bishops DiMarzio and Brennan for their kindness, support, and encouragement. Of my 48 years as a priest, I have spent 21 here in the Brooklyn Diocese. I am thankful to my brother priests for their friendship. Most importantly, I have been blessed by the wonderful people of our diocese. They make you the priest that you are because they encourage and strengthen you. They teach you so much about life and actually become the face of God in your life,” said the Most Reverend Neil Tiedemann.

Bishop Tiedemann, born on March 5, 1948, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was raised in St. Catherine of Sienna Parish in Franklin Square, Long Island. He attended the Passionists’ Holy Cross High School Seminary in Dunkirk, New York, and Holy Family Seminary in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1970, Tiedemann received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from LaSalle University. In 1975 he earned two master’s degrees in Theology and Divinity from St. John’s University in Jamaica, Queens. As a seminarian, Tiedemann was involved in outreach efforts with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens near St. Barbara Parish in Bushwick.

Bishop Tiedemann entered The Passionists, officially the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, in 1970 and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 22, 1974. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1975, in the Brooklyn Diocese by Bishop Francis J. Mugavero. The bishop’s first assignment was as a parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Jamaica, Queens, from 1975-1982, where he continued his outreach work with Catholic Charities.

Bishop Tiedemann went on to serve at the largely Hispanic parishes of St. Joseph & Michael in Union City, New Jersey, and Blessed Sacrament in Springfield, Massachusetts. He also ministered in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, between 1987 and 1994, where he helped found an AIDS hospice called Casa Pasionista.

One of the joys of Tiedemann’s priesthood has been the opportunity to serve between 1998 and 2005 at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the parish where his grandparents were married. While he served there, he oversaw the 150th-anniversary celebration of the parish.

In 2006, Tiedemann was elected to the Provincial Council of the Passionist Congregation. Two years later, Pope Benedict XVI named him the third Bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica.

After eight years of serving on the island of Jamaica, Tiedemann returned home to Brooklyn. He was installed as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Brooklyn in August 2016. In 2020, he was named Episcopal Vicar of Brooklyn. Tiedemann currently serves as pastor of St. Matthias Parish in Ridgewood, Queens, and serves as the Director of the Diocese of Brooklyn Ministry to Caribbean and Black Catholics.

The Most Reverend Neil Tiedemann will now serve as an Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn, effective immediately.

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Photo Courtesy: DeSales Media

USCCB Press Release: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-auxiliary-bishop-neil-tiedemann-cp

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, joined the Polish communities of numerous parishes in Brooklyn this morning to bless the faithful’s Easter food baskets. The Polish tradition includes colorful baskets filled with items such as eggs, meat, sweets, and bread. The food has special significance and is typically blessed on Holy Saturday and enjoyed on Easter Sunday.

“It was important for me to be with the Polish community on Holy Saturday to share in the joy of their rich heritage. During Lent, we fasted because we love Jesus, and now we get to celebrate His glorious Resurrection. It was wonderful to see so many families come out with their beautiful baskets to ask for God’s blessings. In my best Polish, I told them, Szczęść Boże, God Bless you,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

Video of blessings:  https://vimeo.com/815905567 / Courtesy: DeSales Media

:00-:57    St. Stanislaus Kostka – 607 Humboldt Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

:58-1:47  St. Frances de Chantal – 1273 58^th Street, Borough Park, Brooklyn

1:48-2:37 Our Lady of Czestochowa-St Casimir Parish – 224 24th St, Park Slope, Brooklyn

 

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