Diocesan Bishop

Bishop Robert J. Brennan was born June 7, 1962, to Robert and Patricia Brennan in the Bronx, New York. The oldest of five children, Bishop Brennan has two brothers and two sisters, 14 nieces and nephews, two great nephews and one great niece.

He was raised in Lindenhurst, New York, where his father still resides. Bishop Brennan attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Lindenhurst, and St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, West Islip, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science from St. John’s University, Queens, New York.

Bishop Brennan studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, New York. Bishop John McGann ordained him a priest in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, on May 27, 1989. His first priestly assignment was to the Church of St. Patrick in Smithtown, NY. In 1994, he was appointed Secretary to the Bishop, working in this capacity for three bishops: Bishops John McGann, James McHugh, and William Murphy. He resided at St. Agnes Cathedral and served at the parish during those years. In 2002, he was named Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In 2010 he was appointed pastor of the Church of Saint Mary of the Isle, Long Beach, NY.

On July 25, 2012, he was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Leaving his position as pastor in Long Beach at that time, he resided in the parish of Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook. On January 31, 2019, Bishop Brennan was appointed 12th Bishop of Columbus, and he was installed as Bishop of Columbus March 29, 2019.

During his time in Columbus, Bishop Brennan was actively involved in the work of the Catholic community in central and south-central Ohio, including serving on the boards of the Catholic Foundation, Mother Angeline McCrory Manor, and Cristo Rey Columbus Catholic High School. He also has been a board member and the Vice Chancellor of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus.

On November 30, 2021, Bishop Brennan was installed as the Eighth Bishop of Brooklyn, serving the people of Brooklyn and Queens. Bishop Brennan’s greatest strength lies in his commitment to parish pastoral activity.

In 2023, Bishop Brennan instituted a Lenten Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Brooklyn, inviting the faithful to join him in visiting 40 churches during the season of Lent, which greatly increased in participation in 2024 with the introduction of a Lenten Pilgrimage App.

On April 20, 2024, Bishop Brennan led a Eucharistic Revival event, which included Mass, prayer and song, at Louis Armstrong Stadium attended by more than nearly 7,000 faithful of Brooklyn and Queens. The theme of the event, “Whoever Eats This Bread Will Live Forever,” (John 6:51), brought special attention to the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

During the 2024 Memorial Day weekend, Bishop Brennan welcomed the National Eucharistic Revival to Brooklyn, leading a procession from the Brooklyn Bridge through the streets of Brooklyn. In July, Bishop Brennan led a delegation of people from Brooklyn and Queens to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bishop Brennan communicates with the faithful on social media through his weekly video gospel reflections. He also launched a podcast, “Big City Catholics.” The weekly conversations engage the faithful to explore their faith and stay informed of his ministry throughout the diocese.

At the national level, Bishop Brennan has served with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a member of the Committee for Catholic Education, the Administrative Committee, and the Priorities and Plans Committee. He currently serves as the Chairman of the USCCB Cultural Committee on Diversity in the Church, as a Consultant to the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and is a member of the Board of Trustees for The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.