View source for Diocese of Brooklyn

{{Short description|Latin Catholic jurisdiction in the US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction      = Diocese
| name              = Brooklyn
| latin             = Diœcesis Bruklyniensis
| image             = {{multiple image
  | total_width              = 300
  | border                   = infobox
  | caption_align            = center
  | image1                   = James Cathedral north jeh.jpg
  | alt1                     = 
  | caption1                 = Cathedral Basilica of St. James
  | image2                   = Joseph RCC 856 Pacific St jeh.jpg
  | alt2                     = 
  | caption2                 = Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph
}}
| coat              = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Brooklyn.svg
| coat_size         = 150px
| coat_alt          = 
<!---- Locations ---->
| country           = {{flag|United States}}
| territory         = [[Brooklyn]] and [[Queens]]
| province          = [[Archdiocese of New York]]
| metropolitan      = 
| deaneries         = 
| headquarters      = {{ubl | 310 Prospect Park West | [[Brooklyn]], New York, 11215}}
| coordinates       = <!-- Use {{coord}} -->
<!---- Statistics ---->
| area_sqmi         = 179
| area_footnotes    = 
| population        = 5,007,353
| population_as_of  = July 2017
| catholics         = 1,506,000
| catholics_percent = {{percentage|1,506,000|5,007,353|1|%=}} 
| parishes          = 185
| churches          = 211
| congregations     = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese -->
| schools           = 99
| members           = <!-- Number of members in the diocese -->
<!---- Information ---->
| denomination      = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| sui_iuris_church  = [[Latin Church]]
| rite              = [[Roman Rite]]
| established       = {{start date and age|1853|07|29}}
| dissolved         = 
| cathedral         = [[Cathedral Basilica of St. James (Brooklyn)|Cathedral Basilica of St. James]]
| cocathedral       = [[Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph (Brooklyn)|Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph]]
| patron            = 
| priests           = 472
<!---- Current leadership ---->
| pope              = {{Incumbent pope}}
| bishop            = [[Robert J. Brennan]]
| metro_archbishop  = {{ubl | [[Timothy M. Dolan|Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan]] | [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archbishop of New York]]}}
| coadjutor         = 
| auxiliary_bishops = {{ubl | [[James Massa]] | [[Witold Mroziewski]]}}
| apostolic_admin   = 
| vicar_general     = 
| episcopal_vicar   = 
| judicial_vicar    = 
| emeritus_bishops  = {{ubl
  | [[Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio]]
  | [[Octavio Cisneros]]
  | [[Raymond Chappetto|Raymond Francis Chappetto]]
  | [[Paul Sanchez (bishop)|Paul Robert Sanchez]]
  | [[Neil Edward Tiedemann]]
  }}
<!---- Map ---->
| map               = Diocese of Brooklyn map 1.png
| map_size          = 
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = 
<!---- Website ---->
| website           = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes         = 
}}
The '''Diocese of Brooklyn''' ({{langx|la|Diœcesis Bruklyniensis}}) is a [[Latin Church]] ecclesiastical territory, or [[diocese]], of the [[Catholic Church]] in the [[U.S. state|State]] of [[New York (state)|New York]]. It is headquartered in [[Brooklyn]] and its territory encompasses the [[New York City]] boroughs of Brooklyn and [[Queens]], contiguous with [[Kings County, NY|Kings County]] and [[Queens County, NY|Queens County]] respectively.

The Diocese of Brooklyn is a [[suffragan diocese]] in the [[ecclesiastical province]] of the [[metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolitan]] [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archdiocese of New York]]. The diocesan [[cathedral]] is the [[Cathedral Basilica of St. James (Brooklyn)|Cathedral Basilica of St. James]] in Downtown Brooklyn and its co-cathedral is the [[Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph (Brooklyn)|Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph]] in Prospect Heights. Brooklyn is one of the few dioceses in the United States that is made up of 100% urban territory.<ref name="100% urban">Coen, Joseph W.; McNamara, Patrick, J.; Vaccari, Peter I. ''Diocese of Immigrants: The Brooklyn Catholic Experience 1853-2003'', Éditions du Signe, 2004. {{ISBN|2-7468-0912-5}}. p. 120</ref>

As of March 2025, the bishop of Brooklyn is [[Robert J. Brennan]]. He presides from both the Cathedral Basilica of St. James and the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

==History==

=== 1784 to 1800 ===
In 1784, [[Pope Pius VI]] erected the [[Apostolic Prefecture of the United States|Apostolic Prefecture of United States of America]], creating a separate jurisdiction for the new United States from the Catholic Church of Great Britain.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Baltimore (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbalt.html |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> That same year, the new State of New York repealed the Colonial-era law prohibiting Catholic priests from residing in New York.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholics – Encyclopedia of New York City |url=https://virtualny.ashp.cuny.edu/EncyNYC/catholics.html |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=virtualny.ashp.cuny.edu}}</ref>

With the anti-priest law repealed, the French consul in New York City, [[J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur|Hector St. John de Crevecoeur]], organized a group of laymen in 1785 to open [[St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York|St. Peter's Parish]] in Manhattan, the first Catholic parish in New York City. In 1800, the congregation opened a school at St. Peter's, the first Catholic school in New York.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last= |title=History of Schools |url=https://catholicschoolsny.org/about-us/history-of-schools/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1789, Pius VI raised the Apostolic Prefecture of United States to the [[Diocese of Baltimore]], headed by the first American bishop, [[John Carroll (bishop)|John Carroll]]. For the next nine years, Carroll was in charge of the Catholic Church in New York State along with the rest of the nation.<ref name="Mooney">{{cite web |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Archdiocese of New York |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11020a.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121051853/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11020a.htm |archive-date=2020-01-21 |access-date=2006-01-21 |website=New Advent}}</ref><ref name=":02" />

=== 1800 to 1853 ===
Catholic immigration to Brooklyn started with the opening of the [[Brooklyn Navy Yard]] in 1801. It attracted many Catholic immigrants from [[Northern Ireland]] to work there. Since there was no Catholic parish in Brooklyn, they would cross the [[East River]] to Manhattan on Sundays to attend mass at [[St. Peter's Church (Manhattan)|St. Peter's Church]]. Bishop [[John Power (Vicar-General for New York)|John Power]], the vicar apostolic of New York, would celebrate mass in Brooklyn in private homes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Brooklyn |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02798d.htm |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref>

In 1808, [[Pope Pius VII]] erected the Diocese of New York, with jurisdiction over the entire State of New York. By 1814, the diocese had four priests and two churches in New York City, both in Manhattan.<ref name="Odaniel">{{Cite web |title=O'Daniel, Victor F., "Profile: John Connolly, Bishop of New York (1814–1825)", Dominican Province of St. Joseph |url=http://www.dom.edu/sites/default/files/center/mcgreal/files/DaHCHAP03x.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010035554/http://www.dom.edu/sites/default/files/center/mcgreal/files/DaHCHAP03x.pdf |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> The Catholic population of the diocese was approximately 15,000, primarily Irish with some English, French and Germans.<ref name="clarke">{{cite book |last1=Clarke |first1=Richard Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/LivesOfTheDeceasedBishopsV1 |title=Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States |publisher=R. H. Clarke |year=1888 |volume=I |location=New York}}</ref>

The first Catholic parish in the City of Brooklyn was St. James, founded in 1822.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://brooklyncathedral.org/history |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=St. James Cathedral Basilica |language=en}}</ref> By 1826, the Diocese of New York had grown to 18 priests, 12 churches and a Catholic population of 150,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: John Dubois |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05178b.htm |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> The [[Sisters of Charity]] arrived in Brooklyn in 1834, becoming the first women's [[religious institute]] in that city.<ref name=":2" />

=== 1853 to 1900 ===
[[File:Bishop John Loughlin.jpg|thumb|Bishop Loughlin (1914)]]
[[File:St.Monica's Church (Queens) 20180930 ded.1856 02.jpg|thumb|Former St. Monica Church, Queens, New York, founded in 1856 (2018)]]
Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1853 out of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archdiocese of New York]]. The new diocese included the City of Brooklyn, [[Queens|Queens County]] and the two counties in [[Long Island]]. The pope named Reverend [[John Loughlin (bishop)|John Loughlin]] of New York as its first bishop. Loughlin chose St. James Church as his cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 1, 1914 |title=The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. V. 1-3 ... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KL4YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA334 |access-date=Jul 1, 2020 |publisher=Catholic editing Company |via=Google Books}}</ref> The first Catholic church in Queens, St. Monica's, was dedicated in 1856. During his episcopate, Loughlin founded 120 parishes. He started construction of the new, larger Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in 1868, but then stopped work on it to fund charities.<ref name=":2" />

St. Francis Academy for boys was founded in 1858 in Brooklyn by a group of [[Franciscans]] from Ireland. It is today [[St. Francis College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History and Mission |url=https://www.sfc.edu/why-sfc/history-and-mission |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=St. Francis College |language=en}}</ref>

During Loughlin's 38-year tenure, the Catholic population of the diocese increased from about 15,000 to nearly 400,000. During this time, 125 [[Church (building)|churches]] and [[chapel]]s, 93 [[parochial school]]s, two colleges, 10 [[orphanage]]s, five [[hospital]]s, two homes for the elderly and a residence for homeless boys were built.<ref name="catholic">{{cite news |author=Meehan, Thomas |title=Diocese of Brooklyn |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02798d.htm |work=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]}}</ref> He erected the Chapel of the Resurrection at Holy Cross Cemetery in 1855.<ref>[https://www.ccbklyn.org/our-cemeteries/holy-cross-cemetery/ Catholic Cemeteries, Diocese of Brooklyn]; accessed July 12, 2020.</ref> Loughlin started construction of a new cathedral in 1868, but stopped the project so as to spend the funds on diocesan charities.<ref name=":2" />

The Sisters of Charity opened St. Mary's Female Hospital in Brooklyn in 1868.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Photographs of St. Mary's Maternity Hospital: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids |url=https://findingaids.library.nyu.edu/cbh/v1991_125_st_marys_maternity_hospital/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=findingaids.library.nyu.edu |language=en-us}}</ref> That same year, the massive St. John’s Home for Boys opened in Brooklyn.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-02-25 |title=Brooklyn Hospital History |url=https://www.brownstoner.com/brooklyn-life/walkabout-chari-1/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.brownstoner.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd]] opened the House of the Good Shepard, a [[reformatory]] and industrial school for "fallen women".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-23 |title=Documenting New York City's House of the Good Shepherd |url=https://newyorkscapes.org/project/house-of-the-good-shepherd/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=NewYorkScapes |language=en}}</ref>

In 1870, Loughlin invited the [[Congregation of the Mission|Vincentian Order]] to establish a college for the increasing immigrant population. They opened St. John's College in Brooklyn, which is today [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vincentian Heritage {{!}} St. John's University |url=https://www.stjohns.edu/who-we-are/history-and-facts/vincentian-heritage |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.stjohns.edu |language=en}}</ref>

After Loughlin died in 1891, [[Pope Leo XIII]] appointed Monsignor [[Charles Edward McDonnell|Charles McDonnell]] of New York as the second bishop of Brooklyn. The diocese at that time included 250,000 Catholics. As more immigrants from different nationalities entered Brooklyn, McDonnell founded several [[national parish]]es that ministered to this immigrants in their native languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Brooklyn |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02798d.htm |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> He also built three hospitals.

=== 1900 to 1960 ===
[[File:StJohn'sUgate.jpg|thumb|St. John's University, Queens, New York (2020)]]
[[File:245 Clinton Avenue Burns Hall St. Joseph's College.jpg|thumb|St. Joseph University, Brooklyn, New York (2013)]]
The St. Dominic Congregation of the Holy Cross opened the [[Mary Immaculate Hospital]] in the [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]] section of Queens in 1902.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dentch |first=Courtney |date=2003-06-18 |title=Mary Immaculate celebrates 100th anniversary – QNS |url=https://qns.com/2003/06/mary-immaculate-celebrates-100th-anniversary/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}}</ref> McConnell in 1903 dedicated the Pro-Cathedral of St. James. It replaced the original St. James Cathedral, which had been severely damaged by fire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://brooklyncathedral.org/history |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=St. James Cathedral Basilica |language=en}}</ref>

In 1916, the [[Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph]] opened St. Joseph College for Women in the [[Clinton Hill, Brooklyn|Clinton Hill]] neighborhood of Brooklyn. It is today [[St. Joseph's University (New York)|St. Joseph's University]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-14 |title=History |url=https://www.sjny.edu/about/history |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=St. Joseph's University of New York |language=en}}</ref>

Auxiliary Bishop [[Thomas Edmund Molloy|Thomas Molloy]] of Brooklyn was named the third bishop of that diocese by [[Pope Benedict IV]] in 1921.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Thomas Edmund Molloy [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmolloy.html |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> During his 35-year tenure, the number of Catholics in the diocese exceeded one million, making it the most populous one in the country.<ref name="diocese">{{cite news |title=History in Brief |url=http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/about/administration/archives/history.aspx |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001004308/http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/about/administration/archives/history.aspx |archivedate=2009-10-01 |work=Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn}}</ref> During the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], Molloy established a labor school to teach working men the Catholic principles that apply to [[trade union]]ism.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |date=1956-11-27 |title=Archbishop Molloy Dies at 71; Headed Brooklyn See 35 Years |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He also ordered the diocesan clergy to take courses in industrial issues to better instruct their parishioners.<ref name="obituary" /> Molloy died in 1956.

Pope Pius XII split the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Diocese of Rockville Centre]] from Brooklyn on April 6, 1957. Ten days later, the pope named Bishop [[Bryan Joseph McEntegart|Bryan McEntegart]], rector of the [[Catholic University of America]] in Washington, D.C., as the next bishop of Brooklyn. During his tenure he launched a multimillion-dollar building program, which included six [[high school]]s, a hospital and a four-year theological [[seminary]].<ref name="obituary2">{{cite news |date=October 1, 1968 |title=Archbishop Bryan McEntegart, Bishop of Brooklyn, 75, Is Dead |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/10/01/76885954.pdf |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

=== 1960 to 1990 ===
[[File:Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception Brooklyn.jpg|thumb|Immaculate Conception Center, Brooklyn, New York (2012)]]
In 1967, McEntegart restructured Cathedral College due to shrinking enrollment and fewer students becoming priests. The Brooklyn and Queens campuses became four-year seminary high schools. The college programs were transferred into an independent four-year college seminary in [[Douglaston–Little Neck, Queens|Douglaston]] in Queens.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://cathedralseminary.org/about/history/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=Cathedral Seminary House of Formation |language=en-US}}</ref> The college was established to serve seminarians from the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the Archdiocese of New York. The college's inaugural class had 38 students, 22 of whom eventually became priests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Escobar |first=Allyson |date=2019-06-10 |title=Cathedral College Marks 50th Anniversary With Mass and Dinner |url=https://thetablet.org/cathedral-prep-50th-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=The Tablet |language=en-US}}</ref> By the early 1970s, the college had over 370 students and offered over a dozen college majors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immaculate Conception Center - Douglaston (Queens), New York |url=http://www.nycago.org/organs/qns/html/immaculateconctr.html |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=www.nycago.org}}</ref>

McEntegart promoted outreach to the growing [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] population, sending priests and [[Consecrated life (Catholic Church)|religious sisters]] to study [[Spanish language]] and culture.<ref name="brooklyn">{{cite news |title=History in Brief |url=http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/about/administration/archives/history.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001004308/http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/about/administration/archives/history.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2009 |work=Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn}}</ref> McEntegart retired in 1968.

[[Pope Paul VI]] named Reverend [[Francis Mugavero]] of Brooklyn as the first Italian-American bishop of Brooklyn in 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Francis John Mugavero [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmugavero.html |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> In 1971, Mugavero established the Catholic Migration Office to serve immigrants and refugees. He created the first [[apostolate]]s in 1972 for the Italian, Haitian, Polish, Korean, Croatian, and Spanish communities.<ref>[http://catholicmigration.org/history/ "History", Catholic Migration Services]</ref> Mugavero often called Brooklyn "the diocese of immigrants," and was proud that Mass was celebrated there in 14 languages.<ref name="goldman">{{cite news |last=Goldman |first=Ari |date=July 13, 1991 |title=Francis J. Mugavero, 77, Is Dead; Was Bishop of Brooklyn 22 Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/13/obituaries/francis-j-mugavero-77-is-dead-was-bishop-of-brooklyn-22-years.html?src=pm |work=New York Times}}</ref>

Mugavero announced the [[Nehemiah]] project, in association with East Brooklyn Churches, at a press conference in June 1982. The plan was to build houses in the [[Brownsville, Brooklyn|Brownsville]] area of Brooklyn for lower income families. By 1985, the Nehemiah project had produced 300 new row houses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wycliff, Don. "Bricks, Mortar, Hearts and Minds In East Brooklyn, Low-Income Housing Is No Longer a Dream", New York Times, August 27, 1985 |url=http://www.capuchin.org/Documents/Donna%20Links/Pastoral%20Ministry%20links/Nehemiah%20Housing%20continues%20to%20grow.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221300/http://www.capuchin.org/Documents/Donna%20Links/Pastoral%20Ministry%20links/Nehemiah%20Housing%20continues%20to%20grow.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |access-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref>

In 1970, a woman from [[Bayside, Queens|Bayside]] in Queens, [[Veronica Lueken]], had stated that she was seeing apparitions of the [[Virgin Mary]], Jesus, and numerous Catholic saints. Over the years, these apparitions became known as the "visions of Bayside". In 1986, Mugavero issued a declaration on Lueken's visions;<blockquote>"I, the undersigned Diocesan Bishop of Brooklyn, in my role as the legitimate shepherd of this particular Church, wish to confirm the constant position of the Diocese of Brooklyn that a thorough investigation revealed that the alleged "visions of Bayside" completely lacked authenticity".<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/MUGABAY.TXT Mugavero, Bishop Francis. "Declaration Concerning the Bayside Movement", November 4, 1986]</ref></blockquote>Mugavero in 1972 renamed the Pro-Cathedral of St. James as the Cathedral of St. James.<ref name=":3" /> In 1987, Mugavero established the Immaculate Conception Center at the site of the former Cathedral College to house diocesan offices, ministries and a retreat center.<ref>[http://nycago.org/Organs/Qns/html/ImmaculateConCtr.html "Immaculate Conception Center", The New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists]</ref> The Vatican in 1982 designated the Cathedral of St. James as a [[minor basilica]].<ref name=":3" /> Mugavero retired in 1990.

=== 1990 to 2020 ===
[[File:Bishop Robert Brennan.jpg|thumb|Bishop Brennan (2020)]]
[[File:Nicholas A. DiMarzio.jpg|thumb|Bishop DiMarzio (2012)]]
To replace Mugavero, [[Pope John Paul II]] in 1990 appointed Bishop [[Thomas Vose Daily|Thomas Daily]] from the [[Diocese of Palm Beach]] as the next bishop of Brooklyn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Thomas Vose Daily [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdaily.html |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> Shortly after his installation, he stated that New York Governor [[Mario Cuomo]], would not be welcomed as a speaker in the diocese's parishes because of Cuomo's [[pro-choice]] position on [[Abortion|abortion rights]] for women.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldman |first=Ari L. |date=February 21, 1990 |title=New Brooklyn Bishop to Bar Cuomo Over Abortion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/21/nyregion/new-brooklyn-bishop-to-bar-cuomo-over-abortion.html |access-date=May 15, 2017 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Dailey retired in 2003.

The next bishop of Brooklyn was Bishop [[Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio|Nicholas DiMarzio]] of the Diocese of Camden, appointed by John Paul II in 2003. DiMarzio issued three [[pastoral letter]]s as bishop of Brooklyn.

* "The New Evangelization in Brooklyn and Queens", October 2004
* "The Family: The Hope of the New Evangelization", October 2005
* "Do Not Be Afraid - A Pastoral Vision for the New Evangelization", October 2007

St. Joseph's Church in the [[Prospect Heights, Brooklyn|Prospect Heights]] section of Brooklyn as designated as a co-cathedral in February 2013, by Pope [[Benedict XVI]]. DiMarzio had requested the designation due to the small seating capacity of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://brooklyncocathedral.org/about/history |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph - St. Teresa of Avila |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2019, Mark Matzek, a New Jersey resident, alleged that DiMarzio and another priest had repeatedly molested him while he was an [[altar server]] at St. Nicholas Parish and a student at St. Nicholas School in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], in the mid-1970s. DiMarzio was assigned to St. Nicholas during that time. DiMarzio, who retired in 2020, denied the charges.

=== 2020 to present ===
A burglar in May 2020 broke into [[St. Augustine's Church (Brooklyn)|St. Augustine Church]] in the [[Park Slope]] neighborhood of Brooklyn and stole a gold tabernacle valued at $2 million. The thief emptied the host in the tabernacle on the altar and the floor.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Tabernacle stolen from parish |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251406/tabernacle-stolen-from-brooklyn-parish-church |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref> As of 2025, the tabernacle had not been recovered. In September 2021, after an investigation led by former FBI Director [[Louis Freeh]], the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] at the Vatican said that the accusations against DiMarzio were groundless.<ref name=":1" />

[[Pope Francis]] named Bishop [[Robert J. Brennan]] from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus|Diocese of Columbus]] as bishop of Brooklyn in September 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Robert John Brennan [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbrenr.html |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>

The diocese in November 2021 fired Matthew LaBanca from his two music jobs at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Astoria and Corpus Christi Church in [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside]]. He was terminated after entering a [[same-sex marriage]] in August of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Catholic school dismisses teacher who contracted same-sex marriage |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249514/catholic-school-in-brooklyn-diocese-dismisses-teacher-who-contracted-same-sex-marriage |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

Brennan in November 2023 expressed his shock at a music video for singer [[Sabrina Carpenter]] that was filmed inside Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn. Staged for the song [[Feather (song)|''Feather'']], the video showed Carpenter dancing on top of the altar in one sequence. In another sequence, she was not wearing pants.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Brooklyn bishop 'appalled' over music video shot in Catholic church, will investigate |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255900/brooklyn-bishop-appalled-over-music-video-shot-in-catholic-church-will-investigate |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref> Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, the church pastor, later apologized to the parish and was disciplined by Brennan.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Brooklyn pastor apologizes for provocative music video filmed in church |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255931/brooklyn-pastor-apologizes-for-provocative-music-video-in-church-claims-he-had-no-knowledge |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

=== Sexual abuse ===
In September 2018, the Diocese of Brooklyn agreed to a $27.5 million settlement for victims of sexual abuse by its clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/brooklyn-diocese-reaches-record-27-5m-settlement-four-victims-abuse-n910901|title=Diocese of Brooklyn reaches record $27.5M settlement with four victims of abuse by former lay educator|website=NBC News|date=18 September 2018 |access-date=Jul 1, 2020}}</ref> In February 2019, the diocese published a list of 108 clergy who were credibly accused of committing sexual abuse,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/sex-abuse-crisis-response/|title=Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis Response|access-date=Jul 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pix11.com/2019/02/15/brooklyn-diocese-lists-names-of-108-priests-accused-of-sexually-abusing-minors|title=Brooklyn Diocese lists names of 108 clergy accused of sexually abusing minors|date=Feb 15, 2019|website=WPIX|access-date=Jul 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="brooklynlist">{{Cite web|url=https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/sex-abuse-crisis-response/list/|title=List of Diocesan Clergy for whom the Diocese received allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor|access-date=Jul 1, 2020}}</ref> some of whom have also been convicted for their crimes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://app.bishop-accountability.org/member/psearch.jsp?diocese=BROOKLYNNY&lastName=&msearch1=View&op=doSearch&section=a-z&sortBy=&state=|title=Database of Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse|website=app.bishop-accountability.org|access-date=Jul 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="brooklynlist" /> Along with the list, Bishop DiMarzio also issued a letter of apology, asking for forgiveness.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord... | url=https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Most-Reverend-Nicholas-DiMarzio-Letter.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608204918/https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Most-Reverend-Nicholas-DiMarzio-Letter.pdf | archive-date=2019-06-08}}</ref>

In June 2020, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) arrested Reverend Francis Hughes, a priest serving in Queens, on [[child pornography]] charges and sex-related charges involving underage minors.<ref name="hughesconfesses">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/queens-priest-arrested-after-sharing-explicit-texts-photos-with-15-year-old-boy-fbi/2540939/|title=Queens Priest Arrested After Sharing Explicit Texts, Photos with 15-Year-Old Boy: FBI|date=29 July 2020 }}</ref> In a separate case, the Vatican exonerated Bishop DiMarzio of allegations of sexual abuse dating back a half century. After an investigation led by former FBI Director [[Louis Freeh]], the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] at the Vatican said that the accusations against DiMarzio were groundless.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=News |title=Vatican exonerates Brooklyn bishop accused of sexual abuse |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/vatican-exonerates-brooklyn-bishop-accused-sexual-abuse-79767380 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220929172821/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/vatican-exonerates-brooklyn-bishop-accused-sexual-abuse-79767380 |archive-date=2022-09-29 |access-date=2025-03-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2024, the diocese reached an agreement with New York Attorney General [[Letitia James]] to strengthen it policies for handling sexual abuse allegations against priests. The changes included the appointment of a secular, independent monitor to observe how the diocese handles its reporting of abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=NY prosecutor, Brooklyn Diocese reach agreement on abuse mishandling |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257411/new-york-prosecutor-brooklyn-diocese-reach-agreement-over-sex-abuse-mishandling |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

==Parishes==
{{Main|List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn}}As of 2025, the Diocese of Brooklyn operates 185 parishes and 211 churches to serve 1.5 million Catholic residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parishes |url=https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/directories/parishes/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Diocese of Brooklyn |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Bishops==

===Bishops of Brooklyn===

#[[John Loughlin (bishop)|John Loughlin]] (1853 – 1891)
#[[Charles Edward McDonnell]] (1892 – 1921)
#[[Thomas Edmund Molloy]] (1922 – 1956), elevated to [[archbishop]] ''ad personam'' in 1951
#[[Bryan Joseph McEntegart]] (1957 – 1968), elevated to [[archbishop]] ''ad personam'' in 1966
#[[Francis Mugavero]] (1968 – 1990)
#[[Thomas Vose Daily]] (1990 – 2003)
#[[Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio]] (2003 – 2021)
#[[Robert J. Brennan]] (2021 – present)

===Current auxiliary bishops=== 
*[[James Massa]] (2015 – present)
*[[Witold Mroziewski]] (2015 – present)

===Former auxiliary bishops===
*[[George Mundelein]] (1909 – 1915), appointed [[Archbishop of Chicago]] ([[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 1924)
*[[Thomas Edmund Molloy]] (1920-1922), appointed bishop of this diocese
*[[Raymond Augustine Kearney]] (1935 – 1956)
*[[John Joseph Boardman]] (1952 – 1977)
*[[Edmund Joseph Reilly]] (1955 – 1958)
*[[Joseph Peter Michael Denning]] (1959 – 1982)
*[[Charles Richard Mulrooney]] (1959 – 1981)
*[[John J. Snyder]] (1973 – 1979), appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Augustine|Bishop of Saint Augustine]]
*[[Joseph Michael Sullivan]] (1980 – 2005)
*[[René Arnold Valero]] (1980 – 2005)
*[[Anthony Bevilacqua]] (1980 – 1983), appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh|Bishop of Pittsburgh]] and later [[Archbishop of Philadelphia]] (elevated to [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] in 1991)
*[[Ignatius Anthony Catanello]] (1994 – 2010)
*[[Gerald Barbarito]] (1994 – 2000), appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach|Bishop of Palm Beach]]
*[[Guy Sansaricq]] (2006 – 2010)
*[[Frank Joseph Caggiano]] (2006-2013), appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport|Bishop of Bridgeport]]
*[[Octavio Cisneros]] (2006 – 2020), retired on October 30, 2020.
*[[Raymond Chappetto|Raymond Francis Chappetto]] (2012 – 2022), retired on March 7, 2022.
*[[Paul Sanchez (bishop)|Paul Robert Sanchez]] (2012 – 2022), retired on March 30, 2022.
*[[Neil Edward Tiedemann]] (2016 – 2023), retired on June 30, 2023.

=== Other diocesan priests who became bishops ===
* [[George J. Caruana]], appointed [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico|Bishop of Puerto Rico]] in 1921 and later [[Apostolic Nuncio|apostolic nuncio]], [[Apostolic Delegate|apostolic delegate]] and [[Titular Archbishop|titular archbishop]]
* [[James Henry Ambrose Griffiths]], appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Military, USA in 1949 and later [[Archdiocese of New York|Auxiliary Bishop of New York]]
* [[John Joseph Carberry]], appointed Coadjutor Bishop (in 1956) and later [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana|Bishop of Lafayette in Indiana]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus|Bishop of Columbus]], and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis|Archbishop of Saint Louis]] (elevated to [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 1969)
* [[Vincent John Baldwin]] appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre]] in 1962
* [[John R. McGann]] appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre]] in 1970 and later [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Bishop of Rockville Centre]]
* [[James Joseph Daly]] appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre]] in 1977
* [[Gerald Augustine John Ryan]] appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre]] in 1977
* [[Alfred John Markiewicz]] appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre]] in 1986 and later Bishop of Kalamazoo
* [[Emil Aloysius Wcela]] appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre|Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre]] in 1989
* [[Vincent DePaul Breen]], appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen|Bishop of Metuchen]] in 1997
* [[Edward Bernard Scharfenberger]], appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany|Bishop of Albany]] in 2014
*[[Kevin J. Sweeney]], appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson|Bishop of Paterson]] in 2020

===Priests "equivalent to diocesan bishops" affiliated with this diocese===
Leo Joseph White, Apostolic Prefect of [[Garissa]], Kenya, 1976-1984 – incardinated in 1990.

==Education==
[[File:Cathedral Prep High School 001.jpg|thumb|Cathedral Preparatory High School and Seminary, Brooklyn, New York (2017)]]
{{see also|List of schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn}}
The Catholic Schools of Brooklyn and Queens operates the schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Schools Brooklyn & Queens |url=https://www.catholicschoolsbq.org/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Office of Schools – Diocese of Brooklyn |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2025, it runs 15 high schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic High Schools in Brooklyn and Queens |url=https://www.catholicschoolsbq.org/high-school/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Office of Schools – Diocese of Brooklyn |language=en-US}}</ref> The total student population in 2025 was approximately 30,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens |url=https://www.catholicschoolsbq.org/find-a-school/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Office of Schools – Diocese of Brooklyn |language=en-US}}</ref> During the early 2000s, the diocese closed 45 schools.<ref name="nyschoolclosures">{{Cite web |last=McGibney |first=Megan |date=Jun 21, 2019 |title=With Schools Closing, Is Catholic Education Disappearing in Brooklyn? |url=https://bklyner.com/with-schools-closing-is-catholic-education-disappearing-in-brooklyn/ |access-date=Jul 1, 2020}}</ref>

The diocese operates the [[Cathedral Preparatory Seminary (Queens)|Cathedral Preparatory High School and Seminary]] in Queens. It is the only high school in the United States that prepares students for the priesthood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – Cathedral Prep School and Seminary |url=https://www.cathedralprep.org/aboutus/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |language=en}}</ref>

==Cemeteries==
[[File:St. John Cemetery, Queens, NY Main Gate 20200927 160709.jpg|thumb|282x282px|St. John Cemetery, Queens, New York (2020)]]
The Diocese of Brooklyn has nine Catholic cemeteries; two in Brooklyn, five in Queens and three in Long Island in the [[Diocese of Rockville Centre]].

=== Brooklyn ===
[[File:Holy Cross Cemetery gate jeh.jpg|thumb|275x275px|Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York (2011)]]
* [[Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn|Holy Cross Cemetery]] – [[East Flatbush, Brooklyn|East Flatbush]]
* Most Holy Trinity Cemetery – Bushwick

=== Queens ===
* Mount St. Mary Cemetery – [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]]
* Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery – [[Astoria, Queens|Astoria]]
* [[St. John Cemetery (Queens)|St. John Cemetery –]] [[Middle Village, Queens|Middle Village]]
* St. Monica Cemetery – Jamaica

=== Long Island ===

* [[St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries]] – [[Farmingdale, New York|Farmingdale]]
* St. Mary Star of the Sea Cemetery – [[Lawrence, Nassau County, New York|Lawrence]]
* Trinity Cemetery – [[Amityville, New York|Amityville]]

==See also==
{{Portal|New York City|Catholicism}}
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York]]
* [[Irish Americans in New York City]]
* [[History of education in New York City]]
* [[History of the Catholic Church in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/ Official Site]

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn}}
{{Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of New York}}{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Diocese Of Brooklyn}}
[[Category:Diocese of Brooklyn| ]]
[[Category:Culture of Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1853]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 19th century|Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States|Brooklyn]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in New York (state)]]