BROOKLYN’S BISHOP LAUNCHES A NEW PODCAST
BIG CITY CATHOLICS

         A big city Catholic since he was a boy, Brooklyn’s new Bishop Robert Brennan now hosts a new weekly podcast titled ” Big City Catholics,” where he talks to the faithful through this modern and popular form of communication.

Raised on Long Island to a father who was a New York City police officer, he often spent time in Brooklyn and Queens, never thinking one day he would be the Bishop of Brooklyn. Now back home in New York, following a brief tenure as Bishop of Columbus, Bishop Brennan’s podcast shares stories of his travels throughout the diocese and the pastoral joys of his episcopal ministry in the “big city.” Co-host Father Christopher Heanue joins Bishop Brennan as they explore questions of faith that impact the everyday lives of parents, friends, and professionals living in the big city with all its challenges.

“For more than two thousand years, the Catholic Church has shared the message of Jesus Christ in every corner of the world and by all means possible. But we know there are people who either haven’t heard or truly do not understand the love and compassion God has for each of us. I pray that this podcast will both reaffirm the faith of listeners and engage those who have stood on the sidelines. May our new audience come to understand and know the power of God,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

“For me, it is an honor to be asked to participate with Bishop Brennan in this great endeavor. In every role we have, Christ has a special purpose in mind for us, and so we explore what it is that Jesus Christ is calling us to do today,” said Father Christopher Heanue, Rector of the Co-Cathedral of St Joseph.

The latest podcast features Monsignor James P. Shea, author of the ground-breaking book, From Christendom to Apostolic Mission. Monsignor Shea has been the sixth president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, since 2009.

Big City Catholics is available on popular podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or on the Diocese of Brooklyn website, podcast.dioceseofbrooklyn.org.

Attached photos: Courtesy: DeSales Media

Bishop Brennan recording in the podcast room

4-year-old Robert Brennan at Unisphere 1966 World’s Fair grounds (B&W)

 

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ABOUT BISHOP BRENNAN:

On November 30, 2021, Bishop Robert Brennan was installed as the Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, serving the people of Brooklyn and Queens. Born in the Bronx and raised in Lindenhurst, Long Island, Bishop Brennan attended St. John’s University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science. He then studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York.

Bishop Brennan was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on May 27, 1989.  He was later ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre on July 25, 2012. On January 31, 2019, Pope Francis announced his selection of Bishop Brennan as the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. He was installed as the Bishop of Columbus on March 29, 2019.

On a national level, Bishop Brennan serves on the Pro-Life committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

ABOUT FATHER HEANUE:

Father Christopher Ryan Heanue is the Rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.

He was ordained a priest by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on June 27, 2015. Father Heanue was raised in Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians parish in the Woodside section of Queens, also known as St. Mary’s Winfield.

He is a graduate of Cathedral Prep, spent one year at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and completed his studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in business from St. John’s University and was awarded a Master of Divinity from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Father Heanue was awarded a Master’s in Business Administration from St. John’s University in May 2021.

In January 2018, Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio named him the leader of the Irish Apostolate of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2022

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Diocese of Brooklyn Announces Former NYPD Detective Appointed
to Key Roles in the Office of Child Protection

The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, has announced the selection of Elizabeth Harris, a retired New York City Police Department Detective, to fill two critical roles in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Office of Protection of Children and Young People – Victim Assistance Coordinator and 1722 Supervisor.

“Detective Harris brings a unique breadth of experience that will further enhance our efforts to protect the faithful with the strong safe environment protocols we already have in place. I am grateful she is now sharing her expertise with the Diocese to assist us in this most important mission,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

Harris served in the NYPD for 21 years, 12 of which she worked in the Manhattan Child Abuse Squad, investigating a high volume of allegations of child sexual abuse. She specialized in interviewing sex assault victims. Before that, Harris spent four years in the NYPD’s sex offender monitoring unit. Since retiring from the NYPD, Harris worked at The Safe Center of Long Island as the Director of Forensic Services, where she worked with victims of physical and sexual abuse.

The Office of Victim Assistance provides pastoral care and assistance to those who have presented themselves to be victims of clergy sexual abuse and is committed to helping them begin the healing process. The 1722 Supervisor is responsible for the monitoring of priests who have been removed from ministry.

Harris received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta, majoring in Sociology and Child and Family Studies.

“I am thrilled to bring my experience to the Diocese of Brooklyn and join their mission to advocate for victims of sexual abuse.  It is impressive to witness the level of commitment by Bishop Brennan and the diocese in their work to eradicate any further abuse of children.  I am so proud to be a part of this movement,” said Elizabeth Harris.

The above-referenced appointments recently took effect.

The photo attached is courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

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BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN PROCESSES WITH FDNY OVER BROOKLYN BRIDGE,

LEADS BROOKLYN FDNY MASS THIS SEPTEMBER 11^TH

            The Most Reverend Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, joined members of the FDNY’s Battalion 57 in Brooklyn for a procession over the Brooklyn Bridge to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. Bishop Brennan met the marchers, who were coming from Lower Manhattan, as they entered Brooklyn. The marchers carried 25 flags; 24 FDNY flags represented the 23 members of Battalion 57 who were lost at the World Trade Center and a Battalion member’s brother who also died that day, and one American flag.

The procession ended at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street in Brooklyn, where the 11 a.m. Mass commemorated the 21^st Anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. At the start of the Mass, the names of the fallen firefighters from Battalion 57 were read aloud.

In his homily, Bishop Brennan preached “That day saw the worst of humanity in those attacks, but you know what, it saw also the greatness of humanity, in the men and women who responded so courageously, and so generously, many of your companions, many of your coworkers, collaborators, colleagues, and many who were in these places before you. We saw the goodness and the bravery, the courage of people.”

         Bishop Brennan continued, “Today as you marched, as you came in here with those flags standing for those firefighters, your companies, from our companies from here, the fire companies who serve us, I saw the icon, stark icon of the horrors of September 11^th, 2001. But as I look beyond and I see all of you here in this church gathered in prayer, I see an icon not only of September 11^th, but I see an icon of September 12th, of September 13^th.  I see an icon of 2002, 2003, 2021, 2022. I see the icon of people who, even in spite of some of those most horrendous things we have witnessed, still stand up and offer themselves in service to their neighbor with courage and generosity; I see you as icons of that courage and generosity; I see you as icons of those who never ever give up.”

Battalion 57 consists of several fire stations and multiple fire companies, including 4 Battalion Chiefs, Engine Companies 217, 219, 230, and 235, as well as Ladder Companies 102 and 105.

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VIMEO: Courtesy of DeSales Media – vimeo.com/748540054

:00 Procession on Brooklyn Bridge and throughout Brooklyn streets

2:10 Procession arriving at Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

2:35 Reading of the names of firefighters lost on 9/11

3:17 Bishop Brennan Quote 1

4:08 Bishop Brennan Quote 2

5:41 God Bless America Recessional

200th ANNIVERSARY MASS CELEBRATED IN BROOKLYN TODAY
FOR FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH ON LONG ISLAND

         His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, celebrated Mass today in Brooklyn to mark the 200^th Anniversary of the parish of St. James, the first Catholic Church to be built on all of Long Island. Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn, and Bishop John Barres of Rockville Centre, concelebrated the 2 p.m. Mass. Hundreds of the faithful filled the pews at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.

“The faith of an inspired layman, Peter Turner, who approached on behalf of a rather tiny Irish village, he approached my predecessor Bishop Connolly for the first church to be built on Long Island. You know in his eloquent simple letter to Bishop Connelly, he said, we just need a place, a place for prayer and the sacraments, to teach the faith and to bury our dead,” preached Cardinal Dolan. “We praise God I would submit mostly for the faith, the faith that has been planted, nurtured, preached and practiced here, the faith extolled by Jesus in this afternoon’s holy Gospel.”

Prior to the construction of St. James, there was no established church on Long Island, which back then was comprised of Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. For residents of the Village of Brooklyn to attend Mass, they had to commute by boat to Manhattan.  On July 25, 1822, on the Feast of St. James, New York Bishop John Connolly traveled from St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral to bless the cornerstone of the Church designated as St. James.

“Generations have come to this community, sharing different cultures over these 200 years. The neighborhood looks quite different than its early days of 1822, much history has passed and so many changes have taken place coming and going. But you know what is constant here is the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the Eucharist, and the encounter of God’s mercy. We have a lot to be thankful for today,” said Bishop Brennan.

In 1972, Bishop Francis Mugavero officially designated St. James as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Brooklyn.  In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited St. James Cathedral, and in 1982, officially designated the Cathedral as a Basilica.

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Photos courtesy: The Tablet/Jeffrey Bruno

Video courtesy: DeSales Media – https://vimeo.com/739506357

:00 Entrance of priests/bishops

:33 Cardinal Dolan

1:14 Cardinal Dolan

1:35 Bishop Brennan

2:11 Faithful

2:45 Consecration

3:37 Communion

3:57 Choir

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2022

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CATHOLIC TRADITION KICKS OFF IN WILLIAMSBURG TONIGHT WITH THE
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL FEAST

The 135^th Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel begins tonight in Brooklyn with an Opening Night Coronation Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, at 7 pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located at 275 N 8th Street in Williamsburg.

After tonight’s Mass, a fireworks show will take place at 9 pm. The Italian American feast in Brooklyn, which dates back to 1887, will take place from July 6^th – July 17^th and include the following special Masses and events:

Sunday, July 10, 11:30 am             Mass in honor of San Paolino

                                                            Celebrated by Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello, Pastor
                                                            Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish

Sunday, July 10, 1:30 pm              Dancing of the Giglio

Wednesday, July 13, 7:30 pm      Giglio Night Lift; Fireworks 9 pm

Saturday, July 16, 10 am               Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Day English Mass
                                                            Celebrated by Monsignor David Cassato

Saturday, July 16, 2 pm                Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Day English/Italian Mass

                                                           Celebrated by Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio
                                                           Bishop Emeritus of Brooklyn

Saturday, July 16, 3 pm                Procession of the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Sunday, July 17, 3 pm                   Old Timers’ Giglio Sunday – Dancing of the Giglio

The Giglio is a seven-story tower structure composed of aluminum, paper-mâché, and plastic painted and decorated with Gigli (flowers) and the image of St. Paulinus. A platform at the base of the tower supports a twelve-piece brass band and singer. The entire assemblage—tower and band—is hoisted and carried by 112 dancing and marching men, the lifters. Each lift begins with the official feast song, written in Williamsburg and used since 1959, “O Giglio e Paradiso.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2022

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BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN TO BLESS ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH
FOLLOWING LAST WEEKEND’S DESECRATION

The Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, will bless St. Augustine Church following last weekend’s desecration and burglary of the church’s tabernacle. The blessing is part of a Penitential Rite of Reparation that will take place during the 5 pm Mass on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, located at 116 6th Avenue in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn.

“A horrendous crime has been committed in our church, and that affects the entire community of the parish,” said Bishop Robert Brennan. “In the commission of this crime, the Holy Eucharist, the body of Christ, was strewn all over the altar. That is a grave and hateful act of sacrilege as the Eucharist is central to our life as Catholics. The ritual I ask the community to join me in prayer is for the reparation of the wrong that has been done to them,” continued Bishop Brennan.

The brazen theft was discovered in the afternoon of Saturday, May 28, 2022. The burglar cut through a metal protective casing and made off with the tabernacle, which dates back to when the church was built in the late 1800s. This holy sacramental receptacle is irreplaceable due to its historical and artistic value. The angels which flanked the tabernacle were decapitated and destroyed.

At the start of the Penitential Rite of Reparation, the altar of the church will already be stripped bare. After entering, Bishop Brennan will bless the water and sprinkle the altar, the congregants, and the walls of the desecrated church as a sign of purification. The altar will then be dressed as the offertory of the Mass takes place. Parishioners will vest the altar and light the candles as they prepare for the liturgy of the Eucharist. The Holy Mass will then be celebrated and the desecrated church is restored to divine service.

“The restoration of the church building to its sacred dignity renews the resolve of the local church in Brooklyn and Queens to grow in holiness and in witness to the presence of our Risen Lord in the world today,” said Bishop Brennan.

Members of the media are invited to attend and should respond to confirm.

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing the New York City Police Department is investigating a brazen crime of disrespect and hate, which desecrated the most Holy Eucharist and the altar at St. Augustine Catholic Church, located at 116 6th Avenue in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn.

The burglar cut through a metal protective casing and made off with the Tabernacle, which dates back to when the church was built in the late 1800s. This holy sacramental receptacle is irreplaceable due to its historical and artistic value. The angels which flanked the Tabernacle were decapitated and destroyed, and the Holy Eucharist housed inside the Tabernacle was thrown all over the altar.

“This is devastating, as the Tabernacle is the central focus of our church outside of worship, holding the Body of Christ, the Eucharist, which is delivered to the sick and homebound,” said Father Frank Tumino, pastor of St. Augustine. “To know that a burglar entered the most sacred space of our beautiful Church and took great pains to cut into a security system is a heinous act of disrespect,” continued Tumino.

The burglary is suspected to have taken place on Friday, May 27, and was discovered by the pastor on Saturday, May 28. A safe in the sacristy was also cut open, but nothing was inside. Photos of the damage, as well as the video of the original Tabernacle, are attached.

Anyone who may have information that can help police with their investigation is asked to call the NYPD at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

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VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/714923634
Credit: DeSales Media Group

 

BISHOP BRENNAN CELEBRATES FIRST EASTER VIGIL AS
BISHOP OF BROOKLYN

         “We are announcing the greatest news of all time. Jesus Christ is Risen,” proclaimed the Most Reverend Robert Brennan, who celebrated the Great Easter Vigil tonight, his first as Bishop of Brooklyn, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street, in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.

“He is Risen from the dead, He lives.  He didn’t just rise to make an appearance 2000 years ago, He lives. He lives now forever and we will be with Him one day. We will die with Him, we die with Him in baptism, but by dying with Him in baptism we know that we will rise with Him. This is the greatest news ever and today we celebrate it with tremendous joy,” preached Bishop Brennan.

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 inside the church, which dramatically lights up to symbolize the Risen Lord.

“We come because we need to be reminded every once in a while, and we go forth from here ready to announce, to bring the news to the world by the way we live our lives with joy, with hope and with confidence, because Jesus is Risen, because our lives have meaning and direction, because we are meant to live forever,” added Bishop Brennan.

Bishop Brennan baptized five new Catholics, who now begin their new life in the Church. Six people were also confirmed during the Easter Vigil.

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Video courtesy of DeSales Media: https://vimeo.com/700128379

:00  Ceremony begins outside

:41  Sharing the light inside the Church

1:31 NATS “Que Viva Jesus Resuscitado”

1:42 Quote 1 – We are announcing … He is Risen from the dead

2:19 Quote 2 – We come because ….

2:50 Baptisms