Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:09 Well welcome, uh, back to another edition of big city Catholics with, uh, Bishop Robert Brennan, the Dias and Bishop of Brooklyn and myself, father Christopher, he, you, uh, this week's edition is, uh, on the road with big city Catholics. That's right. Father Chris. We went up to, uh, the boy scout camp up at 10 mile river. And so we're doing something new today. This is amazing. We're in the back seat of the car and recording our podcast from here. Exactly. So it's, uh, and we're not, there's no city nearby. So this is, uh, country Catholics on the road. Great idea for the summer for a summer podcast. Amen. So we can start with a, a prayer would just perhaps ask our blessed mother to intercede for us and, uh, and to protect us. Certainly as we drive, you can Hiate Vares with us in the car.
Speaker 1 00:01:00 And we ask our bless mother for her interception, the fathers son, and the holy spirit of amen, hail Mary full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of th of Jesus. Holy Mary mother of God. Pray for us. Sin is now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Saint Christopher, pray for us. Um, so Bishop, this was your, uh, first time up in, uh, camp KWA. This is 10 mile river. It's a about a two and a half hour drive from Brooklyn. What was it was the first half hour of which was a half no, a mile trip. <laugh> from, uh, the co cathedral Eagle to the Brooklyn bridge. So Brooklyn bridge, that's when we know it's, when we know we're not in, uh, we're in the city. And so we we've smooth sailing once we got out of Brooklyn that's right.
Speaker 1 00:01:45 Camp Kiawa Bishop Demario. And, uh, so yes, there's a long tradition from what I understand. And Bishop daily, before him would make this an annual visit, a number of our troops from Queens and Brooklyn would be making, uh, the camps at different weeks during the summer, throughout the summer. So, uh, the Bishop was traditionally made one visit each year. Um, and, uh, I, I had a little bit of a tour and an initiation to get a sense of, uh, several of the camps up there. That's right. But also, uh, the chance to offer holy mass in the chapel at camp Q, uh that's right. Yeah. 10 mile river, uh, is, uh, 22,000 acres, LA large. So it's a large campus and it has a rich history. It was really, the land was, will pulled together by, uh, Ella Roosevelt when he was working with scouting as, as volunteer, as president, before he became president of the us.
Speaker 1 00:02:44 And so, uh, a lot of that property and that opportunity thanks to his good work. And then we saw the museum. So we saw a bit of scouting through the years. Yes. Yeah. That was, uh, at the headquarters camp. And so we, we, we had a, a whirlwind of, of an afternoon. So first we arrived at camp QA. Now, Bishop you, yourself, you were a young scout as a Cub scout, is that right? I was in the younger age. I'll be totally, uh, Frank here, the idea of camping didn't appeal to me all that much when I was a kid. So even in pueblos, I, I never went on to camping trips. And I knew that when you got scouting, it's we all part of it because you, in order to do the merit badges and all of that. So I confessed, I never went on to scouting.
Speaker 1 00:03:34 I give a lot of credit to those who have, and I see the great formation that provides, but as I, we were going through and I saw the tents, I can't say that I doubted my choice. <laugh> the tents and the mosquitoes and the mosquitoes. There were plenty of mosquitoes today up there. No's not my speed <laugh>, but again, my hat's off to the people who do it. I, and I mean, that's very sincerely. Yeah, I believe it. I, I, um, on the other hand, you did this for many years and you spent several summers at the different camps, more so the surprises, many who know me now, uh, they can't believe that I used to camp out as a, as a boy scout. I, I, myself was a member of troop 28, which was a troop located in Richmond hill Queens, which was kind of interesting that my first assignment as a priest was back in Richmond hill.
Speaker 1 00:04:22 I didn't grow up in Richmond hill, but my close friends, uh, were members of this scout troop. So, uh, as a, as a child, as a teenager, I came up to 10 mile river every summer. Well, for a few summers, as I was in the Scouts program, uh, to both Kyowa where you celebrated mass today and to camp a Kohanga, which was the neighboring campsite, it was for me, it was, it was nice to come up, cuz I haven't been back to this campsite in years. So to be with you today and, and to visit that kilo where I remember eating in that same mess hall and the, I remember swimming in the lake and taking my swimming me badges in, in that lake and, and then visiting camp AGA where the pool and it's just a very, for me, a very enjoyable experience. So I'm, I'm glad I got to tag along with it.
Speaker 1 00:05:09 Now you were telling me on the way up that, um, in the two camps, there were tradeoffs. There certainly were. Yeah. There's pros and cons to each one. So camp KWA, when we would go up there, we, we enjoyed it because there was a mess hall where there was a staff that did all the cooking for you, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but there was a lake and, you know, to each zone, I, I, myself, wasn't a fan of the lake, the seaweed, the fish kind of gross sand at the bottom of it, but then camp Ahan had a pool and you saw the pool, you saw the slide that they had and a huge, beautiful pool. And that was a lot of fun. But the difference was that camp Ahan, you had to prepare your own food. So you had to send somebody down to the mess hall once a day, three, three times a day and bring up the food to the campsite and someone had to cook it and it was a lot more messier and there was, you had to do dishes.
Speaker 1 00:05:59 And, and what I learned when I was up there is that also becomes a greater burden on the leaders. Oh, for sure. Oh, for sure. Yeah, no, I, you know, I think about it too. We, we're gonna talk a little bit about what an incredible teaching moment. This is for the young boys and, uh, who are involved in the program and leaders, but I give credit and I, I, I often say a prayer of Thanksgiving to my scout master my troop last, you know, because these were grown men and sometimes women who donated of their time to come up. I mean, it was a passion for them, but they really put a lot of work into this program too great dedication. And, you know, it's the work on the scene, but we also know there's an awful lot of work behind the scenes for sure.
Speaker 1 00:06:43 Well, so there are all kinds of meetings and planning and, uh, training, uh, safety. So yeah, thank God for the good people who give generously of themselves. Um, you know, one of the key things is that, um, scouting in itself, um, is a great program of formation for young people. Um, and you, again, you know, it better than I, I, I remember some of these things, but, uh, the, the virtues that are instilled are great human virtues, but they've also very tied. They are Christian Church, for sure. So I I'll never forget it. I was, you know, telling you in the car right up, the scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. You know, those tenants are beautiful. And, and you know, when you and I visited the museum of the Scouts there, we saw this beautiful stained glass window.
Speaker 1 00:07:38 And it said a scout is Reverend. Yes. Um, so the, the kids came here and we heard that a lot today. The scout is ENT. This was an important part of their formation. And so us being there was important because it connects to being Reverend to Catholics and non-Catholics alike to, to everyone being reverence to something that we could be instilled. You see the, the creation, the beauty of God's creation, you know, certainly much more beauty there in 10 mile river than we see in our own world, in our own diocese. So Reverend that would've been a word they used up there today. So they, they included with my visit the visit of a Bishop and, and mass. They encouraged the fellows reminded them of that particular virtue of being reverent. And that's how it connects in with their faith, whatever their faith may be.
Speaker 1 00:08:30 So, um, we, the Catholic, well everybody's invited, but the Catholic, um, Scouts were given the opportunity as they are every week to attend mass. During this week of camping. When we were, when we visited the, the museum at the camp headquarters, there's a beautiful stain glass window. Apparently it was a gift of Bishop Locklin to a, a chapel up in 10 mile river. And it depicted a, a scout making the scout sign. And it said that the scout is reverent. And, uh, that was the first time I've ever seen something like that. That was that's ever seen a scout depicted in stain glass windows. Exactly. Very, very impressive. Yeah, very impressive. And traditionally in every Catholic camp, it would be three chapels sort of Protestant chapel, Catholic chapel, or Jewish chapter chapel, always respecting an individual's own faith, but encouraging them, whatever their faith is to go deeper into that, uh, level of faith.
Speaker 1 00:09:27 And so again, it's good human formation and the faith experience is part of good human formation. So as part of <inaudible> reference today, a celebrated holyness I, what a privilege that was for me to be able to offer mass, uh, you were there of course, father Chris and father mark. One of the priests of the oratory. Who's also a chaplain at St. Edmond's high school. He's been some he's Catholic chaplain up there for the summer. He was with us father <inaudible>. He often goes up there for NA, uh, but today was the three of us and what a beautiful celebration. It's very nice that now that chapel Bishop was recently, uh, renovated and Redd only a few years ago, 2015 or 16, it's a beautiful chapel, right? On the lake of camp KWA. They had a better view, you know, as they're looking at the altar, they were also looking at the lake, you know, and it's a quite, and it was beautiful clear day, so absolutely.
Speaker 1 00:10:25 Yeah. So yeah, it was quite, quite the place to be. Um, it was a hot day, so some of them were in the sun <laugh> I give them a lot of credit that's for sure. But, uh, I want a message too. So the message, the readings were the readings of the day, how powerful between, uh, Jeremiah and, uh, his youth, but also the summer in the seat. And you get the beginning of the, the gospel, Jesus sees the crowds and he goes off in the boat. And so it's all set, right, right there. We couldn't pick this. <laugh>, it's all set right there on the shore of the lake. And so you can place yourself there as you're hearing this gospel. Yeah. And you hear Jesus talking to people about the kingdom of God and inviting them into that into the experience of God's kingdom.
Speaker 1 00:11:13 You said, if you're gonna get in the boat with Jesus, get ready for surprises, get ready for surprises. And, and I, you know, this is just a note to the viewers. There was a point after mass when we were taking photos, uh, with yourself and, and the Scouts. And, and we took a beautiful photo with, uh, the leaders, the camp leaders, these young men who are volunteering their time and their, their whole summer they're up at that camp, you know, for the entirety of the summer, you took like a, a sort of like a group huddle. It was almost like a coach's, uh, message of encouragement to them. What was your message to them? Well, the message to everyone was about be ready for surprises that, and that God, you know, it was the powerful this over in the seed. And so the message to everybody was that in spite of all the obstacles, we, we tend to focus in on the obstacles.
Speaker 1 00:12:01 But the reality is in spite of all those obstacles, some seed did fall, good ground, take fruit, make a difference. And so it was an encouragement to everybody. Let God's word, let God take root in your life. But I spoke to the staff people after and had the chance to say to them, God works through you. You know, sometimes we have the privilege of seeing the fruits of our labors, seeing the difference it makes in somebody's life. And sometimes we don't and they need to trust that God is going to do work through them and that they may or may not see it. But hopefully the experience that these young people will have on this camp will have a positive impact on their lives. Maybe soon after they get home, maybe years from now. But I wanted them to be sure that they could trust what they're doing is making the right.
Speaker 1 00:12:54 What difference, I guess, uh, speaking from my say personally, experiencing the summer camp up there as, as a teenager and realizing to your point, being surprised at the things that you never thought you could do, but that when you push yourself to it and you, you challenge yourself and with the help and assistance of others along the way, uh, that you'd be surprised that you can do. And so, uh, I remember even in some of the tasks that you have to do, Forer badge, for instance, a kayaking me badge, you have to kayak out to the middle of that lake and flip the kayak with yourself in it and get out of the kayak, uh, exit the kayak under the water, flip the kayak back over while you're treading water and get back in the kayak. I thought this is impossible. This would be impossible to do it.
Speaker 1 00:13:40 That was one of the, for me, as I was looking out at that lake, I'll never forget the excitement and the joy that I had when I completed that task. So those little stories they, they do exist in, in currently, and they still are happening. You know, that there are members, there are boy Scouts that are at that camp right now, and they are surprising themselves with what they can do, you know, that they never thought they could do. And that encourages all of us to go that extra mile to say, and, and to let God work in our lives and help us to, uh, to develop the talents that he gives to us, the abilities, the opportunities also to allows us to be surprised, to let God call us and form us. And you know, that that takes food in different kinds of vocations, whether it is in vocation to marriage and to family life, the vocation, it's a single life out and certainly the vocation to religious life.
Speaker 1 00:14:37 So how many of our priests, it's a good number, um, have had the experience of scouting in their youth. And that was a key part of their human formation that led them to be able to hear God's call and then to respond with, with fidelity and, uh, and enthusiasm. Yeah, there's a, there's a, there's a joke, uh, amongst priests from the archdiocese of Philadelphia, they say that Jesus was from Philadelphia. Why do they say that? Well, because he went up to the mountains and a lot of Philadelphia and preschool to the, up to the mountains, to ski, he went to the shore and Philadelphians go to the shore. You know, when you think about it, uh, we went up to the mountains today, you know, we left the big city, we left the noise in the city and we went to that to the silence of the solitude.
Speaker 1 00:15:23 What's the message there, there's something there because you know, our podcast is called big city Catholics. And we're trying to recognize that you hear the voice of Christ, even in the midst of the horns and the honking and the traffic and the, the sirens, but what, what's the message that I think that, that, well, there are two messages. So if let's talk about the shift from the horns and traffic to the quiet of the city and the country and the mountains, um, it is true. Sometimes we need to withdraw like Jesus would, Jesus would withdraw with his apostles. Um, very often proud to follow him, but he would withdraw with apostles so that they could listen. And you know, whether it is that we can withdraw from the city or maybe, maybe that's not so possible, maybe we need to withdraw it to the inner sanct of our room and listen quietly to God for us as Catholics, that moment of quiet inside of church, especially in moment of adoration.
Speaker 1 00:16:27 Some maybe we can't get out to the mountains, but we can always find Christ. And, uh, many of our churches, we have adoration at different points at different times, and to take advantage of some of those moments to withdraw with the Lord, you know, big city Catholics, stepping into the choir, withdrawing into the choir to be Jesus. So that's, that's one message. But the other message goes back to what we were talking about earlier about allowing God to take us beyond our limits. Jesus called on apostles and said, I believe in you and allowed them to, to do things that they never thought they could do. And, and when they were sent out into missionary territory, right after Jesus rose from the dead, they found themselves, they, they didn't sit there and draw a plan and say, okay, you're going to Carmens, you're going to Antioch.
Speaker 1 00:17:23 They found themselves push. It was persecution that pushed them out beyond the city limits. And the holy spirit came pushing them to, to go beyond the limits they themselves would set. Um, but the holy spirit pushed them to be faithful to where Jesus was leading. And so sometimes the, the Lord sends us the holy spirit pushes beyond the limits that we want to impose upon ourselves. And so that's the other one. So, so to withdraw with Jesus, but also to allow the spirit then to push us beyond elements and Bishop, do you, do you, um, in the diocese of Brooklyn, we have, uh, you know, even today you, you asked in the mess hall, it was great to hear you to ask the kids, how many of you guys are here from, from Brooklyn and Queens? And there was a nice crowd, uh, from our diocese and, uh, you know, we have great leadership, uh, in the diocese, in the Catholic committee for scouting.
Speaker 1 00:18:18 Uh, they run a, a dinner every year, uh, and an award ceremony, um, there's, uh, opportunities for the young young Scouts to take a badge or an award called the, a Tari day award, which is the Catholic award, um, in the Scouts. Um, there are a number of those. So the younger children have the, the PA de is the Otari day. And then the girl Scouts had the spirit alive. And I remember when I was, I was in Smithtown at the time, this goes back a few years. It was the first year they were offering the spirit alive. And so we were one of the first groups, at least in this area is to do that. And, you know, in all of those, both of its boys and in with the girls, these merit badges, these religious awards require a great deal of study and hard work.
Speaker 1 00:19:06 It's it really is diving deeper into a study as a sacraments. Yes. So it really is understanding the role of the church and the gospel in your life. We really wanna encourage that. And if your child is in scouting, if you're in one, that's connected by one of our parishes and you have the chance for re religious award, by all means, I encourage you take part in it. But if on the other hand, that's not something afforded to you. I'm sure our Catholic committee on scouting can help this. Somebody, maybe a parish priest can help you connect, but somebody can help your child to find those religious awards, because it really is taking a step in the faith. It is. Yeah. And, and I was, uh, with the, with, with zoom and, and being able to do these things, you can, you can that's right now, you know, again, the civil lining out of the COVID experience, they're doing more through zoom and they've gotten some new opportunities for people to take advantage of these religiou awards.
Speaker 1 00:20:04 For sure. There's a story of a young man who has a interreligious parents. He took this Ary day project, the classes for it, the preparation for it, and, uh, himself has decided to further his understanding of the Catholic faith and, and look enter into the R C a from yes, exactly. So it's a really, it's a great outreach and evangelization tool. So, uh, it's a, it's a pleasure. It was a great time to be out there to see the young boys and, and, and their excitement and their enthusiasm to be there. Do you plan to go back up now next, next year? Oh, of course. I, I think it's built into the, into the calendar now. They did tell me, um, it was a hot, hot day, so we, we, they planned the visit accordingly, but apparently there's a cliff that I have to visit.
Speaker 1 00:20:53 And that today would've been a tough day to do that, but a cliff was a lot of, quite a view when, well, that'll get me there next year's that's next year's project. That's great. That's great. So Bishop now we're on our way back. Uh, we're in the car driving back, you, you know, we're getting closer to New York city because the traffic is building that's right. <laugh> if you don't hear the, the smooth sound of the road in the background anymore, but it's good to withdraw and it's good to return, right. Good to return and, and good to return to the richness of pastoral life in Brooklyn and Queens. So tell us, I mean, it's been a, a pretty busy it's usually summers are supposed to quiet down, but it sounds like you've had you, you continue, obviously on your visits, your parish visits, you've had some, some pretty it's interesting work.
Speaker 1 00:21:35 It's been great. So, yeah, it's, it's nice going simply for Sunday mass and enjoying the, you know, not necessarily events. I always enjoy those events anniversaries and celebrating the sacraments, but it's always, uh, good also just to be part of Sunday life. So last week I was, um, at a lady of the blessed sacrament in, uh, Bayside Queens, and just got a taste of parish life there and enjoyed being with the parish team there. And, uh, and, and meeting so many wonder people. And then on Sunday, I finally made it to Regina PA the, uh, the shrine church of Regina Pache lady of queen and peace. And that's a church that has a rich, um, historical tradition. It's actually only 70 years old, but it's a beautiful, beautiful shrine church. It's, uh, beautiful. You'do has a rich Italian history. Yes, yes. But now is largely Hispanic and, uh, Chinese.
Speaker 1 00:22:33 So, um, I celebrated the mass and English and Spanish, but then I attended choir at the Chinese mass. I visited our Chinese community before this was the first time I actually visited with that Chinese mass. And, uh, and that was fairly enjoyable. Isn't it? It's impressive. Did they receive a large community? Is there a large there's yes. A's significant enough community there. Yes, there is. And, uh, the community needs the priest, father, Joseph, who works with them. He's an intention priest and they're in their chapter. So we pray for the intentions, uh, the they're gathering for chapter this week, but one of the redemptors priests recently ordained he's only a year ordained. Oh, wow. Um, Chinese American priest. So he came to offer mass. One of the men I had the privilege of ordained this year is an American born Chinese, uh, priest. And so they bring great gifts to the community and to the larger church, but there were a number of families.
Speaker 1 00:23:30 There was a children's choir. Um, and, and it was great meeting so many people, and that's a new culture. To me, that's a culture. I have very, uh, limited knowledge. Sure. And so I enjoyed being with them in between the masses father Sisco arranged for the leaders of the different groups and the different communities to come together. And so I could share with them. So that was, that, that was fun. That was, that was a good, an exciting experience this week, too. I had, um, it was a blessing, but it was a sad blessing. I was at St. Andrew's church. I had been there before, but we prayed for father Greg staus. He went home to God last week. So I was in St. Andrews for his funeral. And one of touching experience, it is to be there at a priest funeral and to talk with people and realize the impact that the parish priest plays in their lives.
Speaker 1 00:24:29 And that was particularly true with father St. Whether it be the people there in St. Andrews, people who remembered him from St. Dominic's people who remembered him from St. Simon and Jude, uh, it was just tremendous, tremendous love. And, and one after another, they would talk about two things. One was jumping in and getting fully involved in what was going on in their lives. He was fully involved, fully concerned. I said, somewhat direct. And everybody laughed because he, he, he, he didn't, he didn't hold back on things, which was great, but they also, I don't know if this was a message to us father, but, um, they, they also loved that he had short harmonies that made a point that was very relevant to their lives. And I heard that one person after <laugh>, but again, it was all great. Great love. Yeah. So we prayed for father Greg staus and, uh, uh, and, and it gives me a chance to remember, and to pray for all our priest and we're serving in our parishes and, and to give, thanks to the people of God who support us and encourage us and challenge us for sure.
Speaker 1 00:25:40 I, the, just that the message, your, your, you know, your final words, there are, is a message of a how diverse and, and how our, our diocese is, but yet, uh, we meet the needs. The diocese truly strives to meet the needs of all the faithful, and, and we have to pray for our priests that they remain good and holy and faithful servants that they serve, uh, willingly the people of the diocese. Exactly. And so on that note, you know, let's pray ourselves for the people of our diocese. We, in all of our parishes, you know, these days of summer, give us a chance to withdraw, whether it be to go somewhere or withdraw, just to give some time to the Lord. Let's hope these days of summer can be a little bit rejuvenating for all of us, but that they also give us an opportunity to draw a little bit closer to the Lord and to realize how you, you know, you mentioned the beauty of creation before to realize how God gives us so much, and we use us and everything.
Speaker 1 00:26:40 Um, so we'll just ask the words, blessing on all who are joining us on this podcast. Thank you for joining in on this. Thanks by the way, for listening into these conversations and giving me this chance, just to share some of these great experiences in Brooklyn, Queens, and also the reflections on how they impact my life and our life as a church, the Lord be with you and with your spirit ma mighty God bless you and your families keep you always in his care and the name of the father and of the son and of the spirit. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Bishop. Uh, this has been an addition of on the road of big city Catholics. Uh, we hope that you tune in again next week to join us as we continue our discussions. God bless.
