Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Peter D. Gillen, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Gillen was born on August 10, 1951 in New York, was ordained to the Priesthood on February 11, 1978 and died on Friday, July 19, 2024.

Father Gillen served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parishes of Saint Brendan (Brooklyn), Corpus Christi (Woodside), and Saint Rose of Lima (Rockaway Beach). He also served as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Brooklyn), Saint Francis of Assisi (Astoria), American Martyrs (Bayside), Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Ridgewood), and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary & Saint Stephen (Brooklyn); as well as transitional Deacon at the Parish of Saints Simon and Jude (Brooklyn). Father Gillen also ministered as Director of Devotion to the Sacred Heart.

The arrangements are as follows:

WAKE: Saint Brendan R.C. Church 1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Thursday, July 25, 2024 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM

VIGIL MASS: Saint Brendan R.C. Church 1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Thursday, July 25, 2024 7:00 PM

FUNERAL MASS: Saint Brendan R.C. Church 1525 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230 Tel: (718) 339-2828

Friday, July 26, 2024 11:00 AM

BURIAL: Saint John Cemetery Middle Village, New York Father Gillen was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord. If you wish to send condolences, please mail to his sister, Ms. Marie Gillen, 72-28 66 Drive, Middle Village, New York 11379.

Reverend Monsignor Steven J. Aguggia, J.C.L. Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs

DECREE

Changes in the spiritual practices among the faithful, a decrease in available clergy and men and women in consecrated life, changes in the general population within our Diocese, as well as concerns regarding temporal matters have affected the means by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed within the Diocese of Brooklyn. In an effort to respond in the best possible way to the gifts of the Holy Spirit generously given to us in our current situation, I have overseen a comprehensive pastoral plan, which included the whole of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

In an effort to evangelize more effectively the community in Brooklyn, as well to administrate the temporal goods of the faithful more efficiently, Reverend Frank C. Tumino, Pastor of Saint Augustine, located at 116 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11217, and also Pastor of Saint Francis Xavier, located at 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215, petitioned that they be canonically merged.

In keeping with the requirements of the Universal Law of the Church, the Presbyteral Council was consulted on April 11, 2024 (Canon 515 § 2), and after having heard the reasons for the proposed merger its members expressed their support for this action. In addition, after having consulted the territorial Episcopal Vicars, clergy, pastoral ministers and other members of the faithful of the parishes involved, I, the undersigned Bishop of Brooklyn, hereby declare and decree that the Parishes of Saint Augustine and Saint Francis Xavier, both within the Diocese of Brooklyn, shall be merged to form one Parish.

• This one Parish shall be named Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier parish, with the main Parish office to be located 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215.
• Reverend Frank C. Tumino shall be the Pastor of the Parish.
• The territorial boundaries of the new parish shall encompass all of the territory which, up until now, has constituted the territories of Saint Augustine and Saint Francis Xavier.
• All assets and obligations currently belonging to aforementioned parishes are by this canonical merger, transferred to Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier parish.
• The parochial registers and the seals of the aforementioned parishes shall be kept at 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215.
• The Parish shall have two churches for worship: Saint Augustine and Saint Francis Xavier.

This merger shall take effect on July 1, 2024, at which time the public juridic persons of Saint Augustine – Saint Francis Xavier shall be merged. Recourse action may be sought according to the norms of Canons 1732 to 1739 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

Merger Decree: Saint Augustine-Saint Francis Xavier parish

DECREE

Changes in the spiritual practices among the faithful, a decrease in available clergy and men and women in consecrated life, changes in the general population within our Diocese, as well as concerns regarding temporal matters have affected the means by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed within the Diocese of Brooklyn. In an effort to respond in the best possible way to the gifts of the Holy Spirit generously given to us in our current situation, I have overseen a comprehensive pastoral plan, which included the whole of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

In an effort to evangelize more effectively the community in Queens, as well to administrate the temporal goods of the faithful more efficiently, Reverend Gordon P. Kusi, Pastor of Christ the King, located at 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, New York 11434, and also Administrator of Saint Mary Magdalene, located at 218-12 136th Avenue, Springfield Gardens, New York 11413, petitioned that they be canonically merged.

In keeping with the requirements of the Universal Law of the Church, the Presbyteral Council was consulted on April 11, 2024 (Canon 515 § 2), and after having heard the reasons for the proposed merger its members expressed their support for this action. In addition, after having consulted the territorial Episcopal Vicars, clergy, pastoral ministers and other members of the faithful of the parishes involved, I, the undersigned Bishop of Brooklyn, hereby declare and decree that the Parishes of Christ the King and Saint Mary Magdalene, both within the Diocese of Brooklyn, shall be merged to form one Parish.

• This one Parish shall be named Christ the King – Saint Mary Magdalene parish, with the main Parish office to be located 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, New York 11434.
• Reverend Gordon P. Kusi shall be the Pastor of the Parish.
• The territorial boundaries of the new parish shall encompass all of the territory which, up until now, has constituted the territories of Christ the King and Saint Mary Magdalene.
• All assets and obligations currently belonging to aforementioned parishes are by this canonical merger, transferred to Christ the King – Saint Mary Magdalene parish.
• The parochial registers and the seals of the aforementioned parishes shall be kept at 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, New York 11434.
• The Parish shall have two churches for worship: Christ the King and Saint Mary Magdalene.

This merger shall take effect on July 1, 2024, at which time the public juridic persons of Christ the King – Saint Mary Magdalene shall be merged. Recourse action may be sought according to the norms of Canons 1732 to 1739 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

Merger Decree: Christ the King-St. Mary Magdalene Parish