Episode Transcript
[00:00:10] Speaker A: Hello and welcome to another edition of Big City Catholics. I'm your host, Bishop Robert Brennan, bishop of Brooklyn, serving in Brooklyn and Queens. And as always, I thank you for joining in these podcasts. Today we have a special edition, as earlier in the week, we celebrated the Chrism Mass at the Co cathedral of St. Joseph's in Brooklyn, filled with faith from all over the diocese there. I bless the oil that will be used in the sacramental life of the church. And 290 priests from all over Brooklyn, Queens, gathered to renew their priestly promises of ordination. I invite you to listen into the homily at that Mass for this week's podcast.
[00:00:53] Speaker B: Today, for sure, is a joyous day, a joyous day when we celebrate our identity, who we are as a people of God, the source of our unity, the source of our joy.
We celebrate the sacramental life of the church and the ways that God is working in our midst, especially here in Brooklyn and Queens. Thank you for your presence here today. Gracias. Merci. Boku. We are so, so glad to be together. But it's joy in our hearts, in the festivity of this day. We also feel a twinge of concern and of sadness here in New York City. We join together in solidarity with the residents of New York and particularly with our police departments here in New York City. The NYPD, in mourning the loss of Officer Jonathan Diller, mourn his tragic death, the senseless shooting, the violence that has overtaken his life, and we pray in a very special way for his family. We think of his sacrifice and the sacrifices that so many men and women make on behalf of our communities, in the police departments, in the fire departments, in all of the different rescue, protective and first responders. The tragedy like this reminds us of the debt of gratitude that we must have every single day. I'm so grateful, by the way, for the presence of the police who are here this day, who make it possible for us to gather on a day like this. We're especially grateful for all the assistance.
[00:02:42] Speaker C: That they have given to us.
[00:02:46] Speaker B: At the same time, as a nation, too, our eyes are turned toward Baltimore, and we pray for those who suffered as a result of the collapse of the bridge, and for those who are involved in search and rescue there as well. At a recent meeting of our diocesan Pastoral council, we were discussing the experience of the synod right here in Brooklyn, Queens, and the ways that our conversations at the synod have informed our work and the major themes that they undertook. Communication, ongoing faith formation, concern for youth and young adults, and the collaboration of our parishes and the voices of our people in our diocese as we do planning and look at how we respond to the demographic challenges, the number of priests, and the age and condition of our facilities.
Indeed, we are engaged in much work in this planning with deanery discussions. I've been with a number of priests in the deanery discussions and have a few more to go, and I've enjoyed those immensely. It's such a great experience to hear your wisdom on the ground in these neighborhoods, but it helps me and the responsibilities that I have to undertake when it comes to making decisions and standing behind them. And these conversations will expand in the months to come as we try to draw in voices of our people. Well, the question arose at the conversation at the DPC, the assassin pastoral council, and I'll use my words rather than try to capture them. Exactly.
The question was something along the lines of which is really more important, the process or the results?
We're trying to say, are people making the connection with sinned themes and things that are happening? Which is more important, the process, the conversations or the actual results? Things happening. In response to that, my first thought in answering the question was that, well, for Pope Francis it is largely about the process.
While on the other hand, the american mindset is very much result oriented.
We like to be able to see a problem, solve a problem, and get to it as quickly as possible.
For the Holy Father, he seems to look upon the experience of the synod on synodality less as an event and more as a mindset, as the name itself would indicate, he stresses our walking together and our listening to one another.
The answer to the question, of course, in typical catholic fashion, which is more important? The answer is yes.
The answer is both. Clearly, each viewpoint, certainly for the Holy Father, would see the wisdom of the other. We need both the process and the results.
When we think about process, when we think about. I'll even use the word synodality. When we think about process, walking together and listening to one another, building solidarity, the example that comes to mind is that of families, how we function as families.
When does a family complete its mission as a family?
When do you say as a family, we're done, we got it settled.
[00:07:01] Speaker C: Never really?
Never.
[00:07:06] Speaker B: There were always new needs and challenges, things we have to work out together.
Sadly, sometimes there are fractures along the way.
We let each other down. We need to seek reconciliation.
But at our best, families work things out.
They work things out together.
So when does a family complete its mission?
[00:07:40] Speaker C: Never really.
[00:07:42] Speaker B: As time goes on, through generations, families grow, new families are formed while remaining the extended family.
And we become more and more a family of families, friends. Isn't that the church at its best.
[00:08:06] Speaker C: A family of families?
[00:08:08] Speaker B: You could say that a parish is really a family gathering. Many different families in a neighborhood, together in the common faith, in the Lord.
The local church, the diocese is a family of parishes. And of course, the universal church is a family of local churches.
Actually, you know this.
[00:08:32] Speaker C: The proper term is Koinonia Communio Communion.
[00:08:40] Speaker B: What we are at the heart is.
[00:08:42] Speaker C: A communion of communions.
[00:08:46] Speaker B: Indeed, we experience in the church universal. And boy, oh boy, do we experience it. Here in Brooklyn and Queensland, we experience a great diversity of culture, language, history and expression.
We have different needs, but we are one, united in our faith, in Jesus Christ, in his gospel, his continued presence in the church. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
This evening, we celebrate that union, that.
[00:09:37] Speaker C: Unity, through the blessing and the distribution of the sacred oils for the sacramental life of the church.
[00:09:49] Speaker B: We see in the church in Brooklyn.
[00:09:51] Speaker C: And Queens constant change, don't we?
Demographic shifts, new peoples coming and going.
[00:10:02] Speaker B: Generational changes, attitudinal changes.
We know only one thing, that in terms of these things today, you can't.
[00:10:15] Speaker C: Predict what tomorrow will be.
[00:10:19] Speaker B: But there is one constant, isn't there?
There is one constant.
[00:10:28] Speaker C: Jesus Christ.
Jesus the anointed one. Jesus, the redeemer.
Jesus the Christ who was sent to.
[00:10:39] Speaker B: Bring the good news to the poor, liberty to captive sight to the blind.
Jesus who came to be with his flock, to lead, to guide, to protect and to nourish.
Jesus who gives himself to us in the sacramental life of the church.
Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, calls all the baptized into his mission as priests, prophet and king.
[00:11:08] Speaker C: He anoints us and he sends us.
[00:11:10] Speaker B: Forth through baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. We are all conformed to him, incorporated into his paschal mystery, as the instruction for the blessing of oils tells us, having died and been buried with him and risen with him, we are sharers in his kingly and prophetic ministry, given the spiritual anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, friends, Jesus walks with us.
[00:11:44] Speaker C: He listens to us, he engages us.
[00:11:50] Speaker B: But he's not all talk, is he? He's not all talk and no action. Quite the opposite.
Remember how he says, oh, I've come to light a fire on this earth and how I wish it were ignited?
Indeed, he comes with the power of mercy to lift up, to heal and to give life.
In the first reading, we hear the words of the prophet that Jesus takes upon himself for him and his mission.
He speaks of comforting those who mourn to place on those who mourn in Zion, a diadem instead of ashes, to give the oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.
[00:12:37] Speaker C: Yes, jesus lifts up, heals and gives life.
[00:12:43] Speaker B: He likewise calls us into action, doesn't he? He calls all of us into action, anointing us for mission.
The oils that we will bless this evening mark our unity with one another, our unity with Christ himself, and our unity with his mission.
Thank you one and all for the vibrancy of this local church.
[00:13:13] Speaker C: This is a church fully alive.
Fully alive.
[00:13:20] Speaker B: Thank you for the ways that you work day in and day out, conformed to Jesus Christ, united with one another. A communion of communions, a family of families.
We are strongest at our best when we are working together in this fashion.
[00:13:42] Speaker C: And bringing our various gifts, traditions and devotions.
[00:13:49] Speaker B: Thank you for your witness.
[00:13:50] Speaker C: Bold, joyful and unapologetic.
Your witness to Jesus, the anointed one, the redeemer.
[00:13:59] Speaker B: True, we have many practical things to work out. This will always be the case.
But we keep our eyes on Christ.
[00:14:08] Speaker C: And the mission to which he calls us.
[00:14:12] Speaker B: Did any of you see the film Cabrini?
It's amazing, right?
Really quite amazing. And if you haven't yet, I'm sure it's going to be live streaming real soon.
Talk about being anointed and sent as.
[00:14:27] Speaker C: A witness to Christ.
[00:14:31] Speaker B: We are a big part of her legacy right here in Brooklyn.
Imagine that. A saint ministered here in our midst.
Another came walking among us to visit. There's a line from the film that I've been quoting a lot these days.
One point in a tough situation, she says to the sisters. She explains that she'll be away for a while. And she says, when I'm away, learn to face your fears.
Not just to carry on, but to lead and demonstrate that you can do all things, all things in him who strengthens us.
[00:15:15] Speaker C: Whether I am here or not.
[00:15:19] Speaker B: You and I, we can take this to heart.
In the midst of change and uncertainty, in a fright filled world, in an area that needs a lot of attention, we are made for more than getting by.
Not just to carry on and get by. We're made for more than that.
No, we're meant to lead and demonstrate that we can do all things together.
[00:15:51] Speaker C: In him who strengthens us.
[00:15:55] Speaker B: Again, I thank all of you who are here here, faithful of our diocese, the core and the life of our parishes, our movements, and the diocese I see a number of the pilgrims who've made that Lenten journey these 40 days so proud that you came out tonight as well. I thank you and I offer words of profound gratitude as well to our consecrated religious, religious women and men. We have inherited talk about Cabrini.
[00:16:28] Speaker C: We have inherited so much from our.
[00:16:32] Speaker B: Religious congregations over the generations, but more so even today.
We are enriched and blessed by the charism, the witness, prayers and apostolic works of all of the sisters and brothers ministering here in Brooklyn and Queensland.
I thank our deacons for your dedicated service to our parishes, to our diocese. I thank you for the wisdom you bring, for the sacrifices you make and.
[00:17:06] Speaker C: The work that you do for your commitment to those who are in need.
[00:17:14] Speaker B: Momentarily, I will invite you, priest here present, to renew the promises. The priestly promises of your ordination promises to be more united and more closely conformed with Jesus Christ.
Promises to follow Christ the head and the shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zealous for souls.
This renewal is always, always a profound.
[00:17:50] Speaker C: Moment, but even more powerful than what you will do together.
[00:17:59] Speaker B: Here is the way that you live.
[00:18:02] Speaker C: Out these promises each and every day, not always in the easiest of circumstances.
I'm so moved, so grateful for your holiness and your humble, loving service.
[00:18:24] Speaker B: You are an example and an inspiration.
[00:18:29] Speaker C: To me and at the same time a blessing to the whole church here in Brooklyn and Queens.
[00:18:39] Speaker B: In fact, to the church universal.
[00:18:43] Speaker C: Thank you. Thank you, thank you.
[00:18:48] Speaker B: In June, I look forward to celebrating some of our particular anniversaries.
I see Father Ed Grady is here going to be celebrating 65 years as a priest, huh?
As well as Father Robert Harris.
I see that we're going to be celebrating Father Diego Villegas 50 years. And in our 25 year class we have Father Chris O'Connor and Father Johnson, Janissary.
We have father Joseph Tacko, father Peter Muasi, father Norbert Quitambo, father Paul Fosi, father Juan Ruiz, and father Gregis Stasiak. Looking forward. We want to celebrate you in a very particular way. Also in June, I look forward to the ordination of deacons Luis Marquez, Gaetano Mora, Randy Nguyen and Toby Ophia. Friends, the church is very much alive.
[00:20:00] Speaker C: Here in Brooklyn and Queens. It's alive because Christ is alive. He lives and he anoints us and sends us forth once again.
[00:20:12] Speaker A: I thank you for joining us for this week's podcast and I thank you for your constant prayers and for your.
[00:20:19] Speaker B: Support of the work of the church.
[00:20:21] Speaker A: In Brooklyn and Queensland. We are blessed indeed. Know that I pray for you as we enter into these holy days. I wish to you and your families, to all your loved ones, a very happy Easter. May the blessings of the risen Christ be yours always. And may his resurrection bring you joy and hope and make you faithful, joyful witnesses right here in Brooklyn and queens and beyond.
[00:20:46] Speaker B: God bless.
