Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:10 Thanks for joining us for another edition of our diason podcast, big City Catholics, with Bishop Robert Brennan, the Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, and myself, father Christopher Heu. Just starting this podcast, I'm starting to get hungry. We're, we're gonna talk a little bit about Thanksgiving, the joys of Thanksgiving, the family traditions around it, and really the meaning of Thanksgiving and how it connects so beautifully with our faith. But as we would do it before our Thanksgiving meal, as we would do before every meal as we do before we begin each podcast, let's begin with prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son, the Holy Spirit. Amen. We ask our blessed mother for her intercession as we pray. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thrum Jesus.
Speaker 2 00:00:55 Holy Mary, mother of God. Pray for a sentence now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Speaker 1 00:01:00 In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. I. Amen. Bishop, last time we had our podcast last week, we were talking about the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, your fall plenary, uh, convocation convention down in Baltimore. How was that? How, how did everything go?
Speaker 2 00:01:16 Well, the rest of the week went quite well as we were talking about, uh, the election of new leadership president, vice president and secretary. Well, we ended up voting for new secretary because the secretary was elected president. So Archbishop Broo was elected president of the conference, and really anybody on that list of 10 would've been a great leader. Archbishop Broo was the bishop for the military ordinary. We have a couple of our priests who serve in the military. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> under his direction. He's a wonderful person. I, I've known him for a while. He used to be the Papao in Dominican Republic, and I knew him back when he was over there. But, you know, the, the point of the president is it's not like you are the person in charge, the president of the conference is not the boss of the bishops. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, basically, the president of the conference is the one who convenes us and who gets us to be able to communicate with each other and directs the officers of the conference, the staff, so that we can keep on track with our priorities.
Speaker 2 00:02:21 Uh, it's really part of the job is making sure that every voice is heard and then that we can come to some kind of deliberation and decision together. So he's very well suited for the job. Archbishop Laurie elected as vice president, another wonderful bishop Archbishop for Baltimore. I've worked with him on several things. Most recently, he was the chair for the Pro-Life Committee, of which I'm a member. Just a very steady hand making sure that voices are heard and that we can get some resolution, move forward together, consensus building might say. So those elections were, were really very good. Good. But like I said, anybody on that list would've made a great choice. So we completed all that, elected the chairs of the different committees, you know, the committees do a lot of the work in the in between time. You know, we gather twice a year, but a lot of work is done through committees.
Speaker 2 00:03:13 And so we finished up that. The other thing, we had different reports, which is part of the regular routine, but one report that really touched me was Archbishop Boris Guzik, who is really the principal bishop, you might say in the United States. He's not the only bishop, but of the Eastern Ukrainian Eastern Right. Church. Mm. So he spoke to us about the situation in Ukraine, and we just could see through photographs and his familiarity with these cities, the level of destruction. It's just heartbreaking to see the level of destruction in the different cities, hospitals that have been completely destroyed. Other hospitals that are well destroyed. There's something like, he used this in homes. He said the number, something in a million windows have been broken and the principle glass factor has been destroyed. And so he said, think of Ukraine as being the weather. It's sort of like Minnesota, maybe Chicago.
Speaker 2 00:04:12 He said, just imagine keeping your window open for 24 hours at this time of the year. And he said, that's the situation people are living in. And one woman said, I'd rather live without electricity and live with my son. He spoke about the, uh, people, their desire simply to be free, simply to be themselves. So he spoke with great gratitude for all the support, the prayers, the words of support, and the material support that the churches in the United States have given for relief work. Millions and millions of dollars. And I know the Diocese of Brooklyn has been incredibly generous, and that money has gone over some of it through the Bishop's Conference here, so that it gets to wider needs. Some of it directed to some of the bishops who are connected with some of our own priests come from their diocese, answering particular needs. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> or sisters who are doing work here, but also doing work in Ukraine. So a lot of goodness has come about through this terrible, terrible suffering. And that's not lost on him. He expressed profound appreciation of the people of Ukraine to the people
Speaker 1 00:05:25 Here. Do you know, Bishop, if that presentation was publicly recorded, it was perhaps, you know, that might be a nice thing for our DA and social media page to put up for our viewers so that that message can get out.
Speaker 2 00:05:37 I know that it's being carried live on a lot of diocese and stations, some up replaying it at night. It, it was presented on television and it may be able to get a link to it so that we could connect his discussion. It really was on one level, very, very hopeful, but on another level, which is so sad, so
Speaker 1 00:05:57 Sad. Yeah. When you sit and, and you're struck by these, these moments, uh, of great sadness, but also as you said, the great generosity and love that people have showed in support and prayer, it really, the Irish say, and I'm not sure just the Irish, but there, but for the grace of God go, I, and Right. There's a great recognition of just counting our own blessings. Not in a sense of comparing ourselves against the sorrows of another, but, but really just being grateful for all that we have and in a sense, sharing that those blessings that God has given us with those in need. And just that theme of gratitude is something that's so important in our faith too.
Speaker 2 00:06:37 That's right. And you know, as we come into Thanksgiving this week, it's a nice time for us. We take a lot of enjoyment in that giving thanks. We're calling blessings, being together with the people we love. Thanksgiving always seems to evoke a certain generosity among people in the United States. So, you know, gratitude is a form of being attentive. Gratitude is recognizing God has given us so many things, continues to give us so many things, and is always there walking along with us. It's important. And you know, this isn't certainly, it's a Christian ideal. It's a church ideal that, that thought of giving thanks. But what's interesting is this is an American celebration, American holiday. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> not a church holiday. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And yet so many people make a point of going to man on Thanksgiving because that's how we as Catholics, at least when we move to gratitude, return to the Lord. Jesus said, the Eucharist itself is an act of Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 00:07:32 That's right. Yeah. That's the, a beautiful reminder that the Eucharist is, like you said, an act of Thanksgiving. And we recognize all that God has given us every time that we come to the altar and also come to him to assist us in the crosses that were called to bear. But Thanksgiving is, you know, there is something special about the day. It's, you know, for me, when you think about just sort of secular holidays or national holidays, I always kind of get a little, not depressed, but I don't really find much joy in, in New Year's Day. It's not one of my favorite ones. I guess maybe I think back on everything I could have done this past year and then realize it's not really one of those like, oh, here's the new fresh start. I don't join a gym every January 1st or something. But Thanksgiving is like, is a day where, you know, in my family, apart from the fact that we could never plan where we're gonna have Thanksgiving dinner until maybe a few days before Thanksgiving that we, we come together sitting around the table, sharing stories, just enjoying each other's company.
Speaker 1 00:08:32 And that's a blessing. I know for me, and I know that there are people, unfortunately who don't have many people to sit with at their table. And the church does become a place as well where some parishes in our diocese offer, uh, Thanksgiving breakfast or Thanksgiving brunch, you know, an opportunity for families to come together, people to come out and, and just to be with their parish family on that day. How have you, how do you normally spend Thanksgiving?
Speaker 2 00:08:57 Well, at this point in my life, it's been changing a lot in the last years. But Thanksgiving for a long time when I was first ordained a priest in those years after my brothers and sisters when they were married and their children were younger, that was the one holiday that we were all together for some reason, not by design, but it just happened. And my parents always had a crowd at the house. Not that it was a big house. We had, uh, 25, 30 people all between our dining area and living room are connected. It's, it's all one big room. And so the, the tables would just spread all the way out. And it was a time of great excitement, you know, because especially the kids were little and they were seeing each other. That was a big deal for us. And that was true for many, many years. Now, my brothers and sisters and their spouses, their husbands and wives, their children are older and now it's up for them to try to get their extending families together. For one thing my parents helped becomes a little bit of an issue, um, with age. So we, we can't do the things we did over then. Two years I was, well, I was getting back from Ohio, but now, now that I'm local, I'm not gonna be around for Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 00:10:08 I heard, I mean, it's gonna take on definitely a different feeling for Thanksgiving for you, but you'll still be with family. Yes,
Speaker 2 00:10:15 I'll be with family, but it'll be with extended family. My cousin in Ireland is getting married on the Saturday after our Thanksgiving. They don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland. You know, there are individuals who do have American connections. So I'll be traveling this week and I'll go, I'll be assisting at her wedding in the town is called Eski in county Sligo. It's very near to where my grandfather grew up. This is one of the families that remained in Ireland and tended to the farm. So it'll be a chance to reconnect with some of my cousins. So I'll be with extended family, kind of representing the New York side of the family, <laugh> over in Ireland. Um, and, and, uh, and so my Thanksgiving will be a little bit different this
Speaker 1 00:11:03 Year. I'm sure it'll be a great honor for them. And if you're craving Turkey, you know, in Ireland you just have to go to one of the hotels and they always have a buffet. And you can find the Cary, they say, come to the Cav for, for some, for some Turkey. And you'll have enjoy your, your your cavalry station. That's what they
Speaker 2 00:11:22 That's right. Enjoy. Actually, my last couple of visits to Ireland when I was with priest friends, we, we always found ourselves in Italian restaurant <laugh>. There were more and more Italian restaurants popping up around Ireland.
Speaker 1 00:11:33 <laugh>, the Yeah. Well, the food has gotten better since their incorporation, I think, into the European Union. I think with the entrance of other cultures into Ireland has, has helped the food scene in Ireland. It's definitely, it's definitely getting better <laugh>. It's definitely getting better. Enjoy it very much, Bishop.
Speaker 2 00:11:52 So I'll be be heading over Tuesday night and, uh, I'll be coming back on Sunday. So it's a relatively short trip, but it's a chance to catch up with a few of my priest friends and to be able to connect with family. So, uh, that'll be grand as they say.
Speaker 1 00:12:07 It'll be grand. It'll be a grand time. Exactly. God bless you, Bishop. I hope you have a blessed week over there and to your family, a very happy Thanksgiving. And to all those of our diocese, all those, our our listeners are very blessed Thanksgiving to you all. We give thanks to God always for the gifts that we've received from him and, and we also pray for all those who are in need.
Speaker 2 00:12:28 Sure. Now, um, I'm, I won't be having Turkey, but I will be giving thanks. I wanna say this, that I'll be giving thanks. And one of the chief things I'll be giving thanks to God for is that somehow in his providence, he brought me here to Brooklyn and queens to, to serve in this church, which is so alive, so rich in faith. And I've encountered so many other people. You know, when you first hear you're moving from one place to another, you think, oh, uh, I hate to let go of what I had and I loved, and I really did love Columbus. But you know, God's always surprising us. And so chief among my reasons for giving thanks, will be the chance to be part of this family of faith here in the diocese of Brooklyn.
Speaker 1 00:13:14 That's beautiful. Absolutely. Thank you. And we give thanks to you as well. Like God did bring you to us. I'll ask you, Bishop, if you would end with a prayer, and I hope that you and have a great, great week, uh, abroad, and we'll see you next week again. Very
Speaker 2 00:13:29 Well. And I wish to you and your family very happy Thanksgiving. I hope you did settle on a place to
Speaker 1 00:13:34 Celebrate
Speaker 2 00:13:35 And that you enjoy as well, know that we'll be all united in prayer and as we gather in prayer. Now, let me just say, after the Thanksgiving, we go right into the season of Advent. So we're going to be, we have many good things to look forward to together. So let's ask the Lord for his blessing. The Lord be with you and
Speaker 1 00:13:52 With your spirit.
Speaker 2 00:13:53 May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His faith shine up upon you and be gracious to you. May you look upon you with kindness and grant you his peace and may nighty God bless you, the Father and His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1 00:14:04 Amen. Amen. Bishop, a very blessed week to you and we'll see you next week. To our listeners, thanks for coming back for another edition of this podcast, big City Catholics. We hope that you enjoyed it and that you'll share it with your friends and family. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. God bless.
