***MEDIA ADVISORY***

BISHOP BRENNAN TO BLESS HOLY OILS AT CHRISM MASS

Bishop Robert Brennan will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass tonight, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. During the Mass, the bishop will bless the oils used by priests all year. He will also lead more than 280 priests and bishops in renewing their promises of service to the Church.

The Chrism Mass is one of the most solemn and significant liturgies of the Catholic Church. It is marked by the ceremonial blessing of the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the consecration of the oil of chrism, which will be used in all churches of the Diocese of Brooklyn throughout the liturgical year. The oils are used to anoint the sick, baptize catechumens and infants, ordain priests, and anoint altars. This Mass is celebrated in dioceses around the world.

Members of the media are invited to attend.

Live coverage of the Chrism Mass begins at 7:30 p.m. on NET TV. The Brooklyn Diocesan Cable Channel is available on Channel 97 (Spectrum), Channel 30 (Optimum), and Channel 548 (Fios).

Viewers can also watch the programming live on NET TV’s website at www.netny.tv/watchnow.

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BISHOP BRENNAN LEADS PALM SUNDAY PROCESSIONS IN BROOKLYN

            Bishop Robert Brennan began Holy Week with a special Palm Sunday Procession in Spanish at 12:30 p.m. today at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. After an opening prayer and the blessing of the palms, Bishop Brennan led the pilgrims in procession down Vanderbilt Avenue to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street.  (Video below)

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, where those who greeted Jesus waved palms and set them on the ground along His path. Palms are recognized as a symbol of victory and peace.

“We have begun Holy Week here on the streets of Brooklyn imitating the crowd that cried out to the Lord in the holy city of Jerusalem: processing through the streets, welcoming him with songs of praise, ‘Hosanna! Long live the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in heaven! Now we contemplate the deepest mysteries of our faith: the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and his gift of life, given for us in the Eucharist,’” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

            At 4 p.m. today, Bishop Brennan will lead a Nazarene procession with the Venezuelan community, with the carrying of the Cross. After catechesis and prayers at St. Michael-St. Malachy, located at 237 Jerome Street in East New York, Brooklyn, the procession begins and makes its way toward St. Gabriel’s at 749 Linwood St, also in East New York.

PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION VIDEO – PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN
COURTESY: DeSales Media/Diocese of Brooklyn

https://vimeo.com/814041828

:00 Bishop Brennan blesses the palms at Grand Army Plaza
:08 Procession leaves Grand Army Plaza
:50 Procession along Vanderbilt Avenue
2:09 Procession arrives at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph for Mass

Procession begins at the Arch

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn, in partnership with Timothy Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, invites Catholics to confession on Reconciliation Monday, which will be held this year on Monday, April 3. Churches in the two dioceses and the archdiocese will be open for Catholics to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in advance of Easter.

Every church within the Diocese of Brooklyn will have a priest available for walk-in confessions from 2 PM to 4 PM, and from 6 PM to 9 PM. The scheduled times are the same in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Reconciliation Monday allows the faithful an opportunity to confess their sins in anonymity, as they can go to a parish different from their own.

“Reconciliation Monday is an opportunity to experience the healing power of our Lord. The call to reconciliation before Easter is a powerful one, as we come before the Lord to ask for His mercy and His peace. I encourage many to take the time to confess their sins, so they can prepare for our Lord’s Resurrection free of burdens,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

To find a parish near you in Brooklyn or Queens, visit dioceseofbrooklyn.org.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2023

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN TO CELEBRATE ASH WEDNESDAY AND KICK-OFF DIOCESAN LENTEN PILGRIMAGE 

The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, will celebrate the Noon Mass and distribute ashes tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at St. James Cathedral Basilica, located at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn.

The first ever 2023 Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage will also begin on Ash Wednesday and continue for 40 days, visiting churches throughout Brooklyn and Queens. At the conclusion of the Ash Wednesday Mass, Bishop Brennan will begin the Pilgrimage with Eucharistic Adoration at St. James. At the different churches throughout the pilgrimage, the visits will include Mass, confession, praying the Rosary, and time for reflection. Pilgrims will receive a passport they can get stamped at each church they visit. (PDF attached)

Tomorrow’s Mass and Eucharistic Adoration will be broadcast live on the Brooklyn Diocesan Cable Channel, NET-TV, available on Channel 97 (Spectrum), Channel 30 (Optimum), and Channel 548 (Fios).

Other Masses Bishop Brennan will preside over tomorrow and distribute ashes:

• 7 a.m.     Our Lady of Consolation Church, 184 Metropolitan Avenue,

Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Bi-lingual English & Polish)

• 4 p.m.      St. Patrick’s Church, 39-38 29th Street, Long Island City,

Queens (Bi-lingual English & Spanish)

Ash Wednesday begins the Christian observance of the season of Lent. As is customary, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning the blessed palms distributed the prior year on Palm Sunday. Lent ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days of the year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday will be celebrated this year on April 9, 2023.

Members of the media are welcome to attend and are asked to confirm their attendance via e-mail to arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

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THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN OFFERS MASS TODAY TO HONOR THE
LIFE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

            The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated a Mass in honor of the late Pope Benedict XVI, today, Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 12 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, located at 250 Cathedral Place in Downtown Brooklyn.

Auxiliary Bishop Neil Tiedemann was the main celebrant of the Mass, which was concelebrated by about 20 priests of the diocese. Five deacons were also on hand, along with students from nearly all of the Catholic high schools in the diocese.

“Today, we believe that the promise that Jesus makes to us, the souls of the just, are in his hands. Benedict is with Him. We are told that we are children of God, but what we shall be we don’t know. But we will see God as He is, and we will become like Him. You and I will become like Him, but we pray this morning our brother Benedict, our shepherd, sees God as He is,” preached Bishop Tiedemann. (SOT in the video below)

The video and photos below are courtesy of DeSales Media.

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/786708357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN LIGHTS CHRISTMAS TREE AND BLESSES
NATIVITY SCENE IN GRAND ARMY PLAZA

 

The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, joined DeSales Media at the official Diocesan Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and blessing of the Nativity Scene, in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch located at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn this evening.

“We are going to push back the darkness in the light of this glorious Christmas tree so that all of Brooklyn can see what we are celebrating, that Brooklyn can see our joy, Brooklyn can see our love, Brooklyn can see our unity. And there, in the center of it all – God came to live among us, to bring us peace, to draw us together, to help us along the way,” said Bishop Brennan.

The 28-foot Norway Spruce tree is decorated with 16,000 multi-colored LED lights to represent the diversity of the Diocese of Brooklyn, often referred to as the “Diocese of Immigrants.” The event featured a Christmas musical presentation as well.

Christine Persichette, the anchor of Currents News on NET-TV, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

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VIDEO: Courtesy DeSales Media
https://vimeo.com/781307486