FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2023

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn this morning celebrated a Memorial Day Cemetery Field Mass at St. John Cemetery located in the Middle Village section of Queens.

“We pray for all those who have served and who are present here at this Mass. We remember many who have served honorably and are buried on these sacred grounds. We remember their service, their bravery, and their generosity,” said Bishop Brennan in his homily.

Before the final blessing, Monsignor Michael J. Reid, the CEO and Spiritual Moderator of Catholic Cemeteries of Brooklyn and Queens led those gathered in a Prayer for Our Country.

Memorial Day Cemetery Field Masses were held at all of the cemeteries owned and operated by Catholic Cemeteries of Brooklyn and Queens including Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing, Holy Cross Cemetery in East Flatbush, and St. Charles/Resurrection Cemetery in Farmingdale.

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Video footage can be found here: https://vimeo.com/831279548

The photos and video are courtesy of DeSales Media.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2023

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated Mass this past weekend to mark the occasion of the 150^th Anniversary of St. Elizabeth’s parish in Ozone Park. The Mass was followed by a celebration in the school auditorium.

Prior to the establishment of the parish in 1873, Holy Mass was offered on Sundays by a local priest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hermann on 97^th Avenue. The parish was originally known as St. Joseph’s until the first resident pastor, Father Aloys Steffen, legally changed the name to St. Elizabeth’s on February 8, 1888. Bishop Thomas Molloy formally dedicated the current church on February 8, 1931.

“The proclamation of the Gospel began here in the late 19^th Century. This community of faith formed with the arrival of German immigrants in this part of Queens, facing their own bit of persecution and struggle. This generation has inherited the hard work of the generations that came before us. Many of you here today have been an immensely important part of the building up of this parish. We have inherited a great legacy of faith and friendship with Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

“People in 1873 couldn’t imagine what would be here today. And I can’t begin to imagine what will be here in 50 years – God is always full of surprises,” continued Bishop Robert Brennan.

Following the Mass, a reception was held in the school hall which featured a number of musical performances by parishioners and students of St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy.  Parishioners cooked and provided all the food served at the party.

Father Andrzej Klocek is the Pastor of St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church located at 94-20 85^th Street in the Ozone Park section of Queens.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2023

BISHOP BRENNAN HONORS THE PATRON SAINT OF CANCER AND ANOINTS THE SICK

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, celebrated a Mass earlier this week in honor of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those afflicted with cancer, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church located in the Bayside section of Queens.

A First-class relic of St. Peregrine, a fragment of his bone, was on display at the Mass. Those attending had the opportunity to venerate before the relic, and those afflicted with cancer were able to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

“All of us are here, each of us for different reasons, some now struggling with cancer, others in a period of remission and giving thanks, and others accompanying or representing somebody. We come here with the connection to St. Peregrine, through the relic of St. Peregrine, so that we can be close,” said Bishop Robert Brennan during his Homily.

“Jesus gives us the gift of one another, the gift of this community of faith so that we can support and encourage each other. He gives us the friendship of the saints who have gone before us, who have experienced the same sufferings we are experiencing or have experienced and have united with us in prayer this very night.  Jesus gives us His healing touch, as he gives of himself in the Eucharist when we are anointed,” continued Bishop Brennan.

Some of those in attendance at the Mass brought along a picture of a loved one who died of cancer, or of someone presently suffering from cancer who could not attend. The photos were placed on a remembrance board on the altar next to the relic of St. Peregrine.

The Feast Day of St. Peregrine Laziosi, born in Forli, Italy on November 1, 1260, is celebrated by the Catholic Church annually on May 1^st. The Mass concluded a three-day Novena to St. Peregrine.

The photos are courtesy of DeSales Media.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2023

Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang Roman Catholic Church located in the Flushing section of Queens this past weekend. At the conclusion of the Mass, a reception was held in the parish hall which featured traditional Korean food, dance, song, and music.

The 50^th Anniversary Mass was celebrated exactly 50 years to the day of the first Korean Mass celebrated by St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang Church held on April 29, 1973. The initial parish Mass was celebrated by Father Thomas Jung and attended by 37 people at Our Lady of the Angelus Church in Rego Park. In June of 1984, the current site of the Church was purchased, and the new Church building was consecrated on October 28, 1990.

“50 years ago Brooklyn and Queens, especially Flushing, saw the arrival of a growing community of immigrants from Korea, helping to shape our neighborhoods with Korean culture. They brought many blessings with them, but most importantly they brought their faith. Beginning at Our Lady of the Angelus Church, a parish community was built and eventually, this beautiful Church was built,” said Bishop Robert Brennan, in his homily, acknowledging the original members of the parish in attendance and thanking them for what they have passed on.

During the Mass, Bishop Brennan presented Papal Honors to 15 of the parishioners, and Katarina Choi presented the Bishop with the full transcription of the four Gospels in Korean. The parish prayer group presented records of their recitation of more than 509,000 decades of the Rosary, with a goal to recite one million decades of the Rosary by the end of the anniversary year.

Since its founding 50 years ago, the parish has baptized over 7,000 people and more than 1,000 marriages have been officiated at St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang Church. Today, over 1,500 people attend weekend Masses at the parish.  Father Andrew Kim is the current Pastor of St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang Roman Catholic Church.

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Bishop Robert Brennan will begin Holy Week with a special Palm Sunday Procession in Spanish beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. After an opening prayer and blessing, Bishop Brennan will lead the pilgrims in procession at approximately 12:45 p.m. with their blessed palms down Vanderbilt Avenue to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street. 

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.

Bishop Brennan will be joined by Father Christopher Heanue, the Rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. Following the procession, Bishop Brennan will celebrate the 1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Members of the media are invited to attend and are encouraged to confirm their attendance.

The Palm Sunday Procession will be aired live on the Brooklyn Diocesan Cable Channel, NET-TV, available on Channel 97 (Spectrum), Channel 30 (Optimum), and Channel 548 (Fios).

A clean pool feed of the procession can be found on NY POOL 1 at The Switch from noon to 4 PM EDT on Sunday 4/2.

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