Statement on Appointment of Bishop Robert Brennan as Bishop of Brooklyn

Published on September 29th, 2021

Bishop Brennan

Following is a statement from Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, on Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Columbus as the eighth Bishop of Brooklyn, succeeding the retiring Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

“We are so grateful to Pope Francis for sending Bishop Robert Brennan home to New York, as the eighth Bishop of Brooklyn. Bishop Brennan, a born-and-bred New Yorker, was an integral member of the New York State Catholic Conference during his time as a priest and auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. To Bishop Brennan, we say, ‘Welcome home!’

“As we rejoice in Bishop Brennan’s homecoming, we also give thanks for the ministry of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, whose  leadership over the last 18 years has been an incredible gift to the people of Brooklyn and Queens. As perhaps the Catholic Church’s foremost expert on migration issues, he has been an invaluable asset on the state and national level in framing the Bishops’ positions on immigration reform, treatment of refugees, and other issues related to new Americans. Our expectation is that we will continue to rely on Bishop DiMarzio’s counsel on these and many other issues for years to come.

“The Diocese of Brooklyn is perhaps the most diverse and densely populated diocese in the country. With Mass regularly celebrated in 33 languages throughout its 177 parishes, it is a living witness to the universality of the Catholic Church. It is a diocese that has seen tremendous economic, social and demographic change over the last two decades. We are overjoyed that following Bishop DiMarzio’s historic tenure, this dynamic diocese now will be in the very pastoral and capable hands of Bishop Brennan.”