Bishop Robert Brennan to lead Diocese of Brooklyn, Vatican announces

Bishop Robert Brennan, who was raised in Lindenhurst and ordained on Long Island, has been appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Vatican announced Wednesday.

Brennan, 59, a former auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, has led the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, since 2019. He will be the eighth bishop of the megadiocese of Brooklyn, which also serves Catholics in Queens. The change goes into effect Nov. 30.

"Born in the Bronx, raised and ordained on Long Island and college educated in Queens, Bishop Brennan’s holiness, missionary zeal, humility, intelligence and pastoral experience will serve and inspire the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York City, New York State and the Universal Church," said Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres. "It is a great joy to welcome Bishop Brennan home to New York and to have the opportunity to serve with him again."

Brennan attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic school in Lindenhurst and St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip. He graduated from St. John's University and studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington.

He was ordained a priest of the Rockville Centre diocese in 1989 and his first parish assignment was at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Smithtown. He later served as the pastor of St. Mary of the Isle Roman Catholic Church in Long Beach and was ordained an auxiliary bishop in 2012.

Brennan worked closely with the Hispanic community on Long Island, advocating for immigration reform, celebrating Mass in Spanish at the Nassau County jail, and counseling parishioners through concerns about gang violence.

In a statement, he said he was "heartbroken" to leave Ohio.

"I came to know amazing people in the Diocese of Columbus and there is a tremendous sadness in leaving them behind," he said. "As I prepare for a return to New York, I am ready and eager to embrace the people of Brooklyn and Queens as their pastor."

Brennan will replace Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who was cleared by a Vatican investigation earlier this month of sexual abuse allegations. DiMarzio led the Brooklyn diocese for 18 years.

On Sept. 1, the Archdiocese of New York announced that the Vatican closed its case against DiMarzio after an investigation concluded the allegations against him didn’t have "the semblance of truth." Two men said DiMarzio abused them a half century ago, when he was a priest in New Jersey.

DiMarzio denied the allegations, while the accusers' lawyer said the two men will press forward with civil cases against DiMarzio, 77, who is two years beyond the normal retirement age for bishops.

"On behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn, I welcome Bishop Brennan, who I have known for many years," DiMarzio said. "This is a historic moment for the Diocese of Brooklyn, which is a very active diocese, and Bishop Brennan’s energy makes him a perfect choice."

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who as archbishop of New York is responsible for the Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses, welcomed Brennan home.

"During my over 12 years as archbishop of New York, I have come to know him as a fine priest and bishop, a warm individual, and a good friend," Dolan said.

With AP

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.