BROOKLYN, N.Y. — One of the first things Bishop Robert Brennan did Wednesday as the incoming Bishop of the Brooklyn Diocese was meet with school kids at a Catholic school in Park Slope. 

Brennan says reaching out to young people to get them excited about church will be one of his top priorities.

What You Need To Know

  • Bishop Robert Brennan is a Bronx native who grew up on Long Island

  • Brennan will succeed Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who led the Diocese of Brooklyn for almost 20 years

  • Bishop Brennan says reaching out to young people and immigrant communities will be some of his priorities

“We need to use the new tools such as social media and speak the language, show that the message of the gospel has relevance for people in their life here and now today, not just some time in the past,” said Bishop Brennan. 

This is a homecoming for Brennan. He is a Bronx native who grew up on Long Island. He's been the Bishop of the Columbus, Ohio Diocese since 2019. 

Brennan is fluent in Spanish. He has worked with immigrant communities in Ohio and on Long Island. He says reaching out to immigrants will be another top priority here.

“My own grandfather came from Ireland. So I’m a generation removed. And quite honestly it was the Dominican community in Rockville Center that really embraced me and opened many, many doors for me so I look forward to that,” said Brennan. 

Pope Francis appointed Brennan to take over for Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who led the diocese for 18 years. He submitted his resignation two years ago at the age of 75 as required by Canon Law.

Just a few weeks ago, an investigation cleared DiMarzio of sexual abuse allegations. Two men accused DiMarzio of abusing them when they were young boys 50 years ago while DiMarzio was a priest in New Jersey. DiMarzio still faces civil lawsuits based on those allegations. But the investigation found no “semblance of truth.”

“All I know, nothing ever happened from the beginning. I don’t even know these people. It’s clear there was a thorough investigation,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

To those who still do not trust the church, Brennan says the church has done a lot of work over the past 20 years to make sure abuse never happens again.

“I would say very simply that I understand. That I’m sorry. And that I hope that as you look at was has been done and what we seek to continue to do, we can rebuild that trust,” Brennan said.

In retirement, Bishop DiMarzio plans to continue working on migrant issues.

On a lighter note, Bishop Brennan is a Mets fan, another reason he’s excited to be back in New York. 

He officially starts his new job in November.