Big City Catholics Podcast

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue welcome us into the blessed season of Lent. They invite us to join the Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage, visit participating station churches on our journey to Christ, and download the Free Passport App. Bishop Brennan encourages us to unite ourselves with the Lord through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For more about the 2024 Lenten...

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan is joined by Rev. Joseph Gibino, Director of Evangelization and Catechesis. They discuss Lent as a time of grace where we see God's immense love for us, a season of salvation in Christ, and renewal of our baptismal commitments. They invite us to join them for this year's Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage, an initiative of intentional discipleship of j...

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan speaks to the outpouring of love and support with the passing of his mother. Both he and Fr. Heanue discuss how there can be faith in our mourning, faith in the next generation of priests and leaders, and with the highlight this week on Catholic Schools, faith in the growth of young minds being the future of the Catholic Church.

In this special edition of Big City Catholics, the youth of our diocese reach out to Bishop Brennan and "Ask The Bishop'' anything. This time, we feature the students from World Youth Day Holy Hour and Reunion. Listen in as they "Ask the Bishop" their questions and hear Bishop Brennan's reply.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue discuss the importance of being consistent voices in the fight for life and human dignity. We need to show that we are not living in contradiction, and that we will walk in solidarity as witnesses for life from conception to natural death.

Bishop Brennan hosts this episode of Big City Catholics from St. Louis, Missouri. He is joined by Queens College's campus ministry team, including FOCUS missionaries and students, as they take part in the SEEK24 conference that connects thousands of people seeking to hear the call and have their lives forever changed. They share their personal experiences of the last semester, including their disc...

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan is joined at the SEEK24 Conference by Rev. Jose Diaz, Pastor of Mary's Nativity - St. Ann's Parish. They reflect on the reactions of the joyful, young religious participants, families, and missionaries there. This event provides the opportunity to connect thousands of people desiring to hear Christ's call, with their minds opened, their hearts...

On this special edition of Big City Catholics during the Octave of Christmas, Bishop Brennan explains the meaning of the word "behold" used often in the Bible. It means to look deeply and contemplate. Bishop Brennan calls us to put aside our wants and let the Lord speak to us through our current circumstances.

In this Christmas edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue discuss this fourth Sunday of Advent being a time of  joy and hope as we reflect on the mysteries of our salvation. They explain the Christmas message "Don't be afraid," for God is always accompanying, helping, and fulfilling His promises because He loves us. During the octave or eight days following Christmas, we conti...

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue help guide us into Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. During this time, it is an opportunity to experience John the Baptist’s message of repentance and the joy of God’s mercy. They explain that despite all the discrimination, persecution, and prejudice throughout the world, we must all stand in solidarity and follow St....

As we step into the second week of Advent, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue reflect on the traditions around the diocese in this edition of Big City Catholics. These customs include the Annual Bishop's Christmas Luncheon to support schools and the youth, as well as the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Grand Army Plaza. They both highlight the importance of the nativity scene as a tool of evangelizat...

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue introduce Advent as a penitential season where we prepare our hearts to receive The Christ Child. The diocese is taking the necessary steps to provide prayerful programming and activities for the faithful to eagerly celebrate and rush forth to meet Jesus Christ for the fullness of salvation. Bishop Brennan encourages people to ma...

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue discuss the letter released regarding the statistics and realities of the diocese. They include the decline of Mass attendance and leadership, the needs of the faithful, and cultural adaptations. Bishop Brennan calls us to preserve, practice, enhance, and grow our Catholic life together. The responsibility we each bear as faithfu...

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Robert J. Brennan is joined by Archbishop Nelson Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, who are together again at the US Conference of Bishops Fall Plenary Meeting in Baltimore. They talk about how the two of them were ordained together years ago and reminisce on their interesting journey since then. Bishop Brennan and Archbishop Pérez then speak to what i...

In this week's episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue continue this month's theme of prayer and remembrance by discussing how fragile life is and recognizing our temporal existence on this earth. Bishop Brennan calls us to recognize that throughout our life we are invited towards God. He explains that in the end, we will be judged by love, how we loved, by the one who loves u...

Prayer and remembrance is the theme of this week's Big City Catholics. As Bishop Brennan remarks, prayer is about placing ourselves before God, humbling ourselves before Him, and asking that we and the world be conformed to His will. During the month of November as we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls' Day, we are reminded of the hope for eternal life and our faith in the resurrection.

Lucia Morales, the Associate Director for Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Brooklyn, joins Bishop Brennan on this episode of Big City Catholics. They discuss their experiences together in Lisbon, Portugal during World Youth Day and recount the excitement of the youths united in faith. As young adults of the diocese continue their ministry, Lucia Morales announces the beginning o...

Msgr. Joseph Grimaldi, Vicar General for the Diocese and Pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, joins Bishop Brennan on this episode of Big City Catholics. They have an honest conversation about the convocation meeting of priests and its impact on life in Brooklyn and Queens. Both discuss the living realities and challenges faced, including fewer priests and ministry leadership, d...

Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue discuss the depths of the terrorist attacks on Israel in this episode of Big City Catholics. The Diocese of Brooklyn stands in unity with our Jewish brothers and sisters and all those affected by these crimes against humanity. Bishop Brennan expresses that there is no room for evil in a civil society. As people of hope, we must continue to work for peace around the wo...

Communication, listening to one another, and walking together with Jesus Christ is the encouraging message of Pope Francis and the theme of this week's episode of Big City Catholics. This month of October begins a very special time in the Church where unity in the diversity of Catholics is highlighted. We see this through the beginning of the Synod, the consistory of new cardinals, and the install...

Fr. Gibino, Vicar for Evangelization and Catechesis, joins Bishop Brennan on this episode of Big City Catholics as they discuss the catechetical ministry of knowing Jesus and being rooted in His truth. Fr. Gibino urges us to encounter Jesus and become His living witness to the world. The Diocesan Eucharistical Revival is a great catechetical event where we can be Apostolic believers of the real pr...

In this week's episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue discuss the upcoming Diocesan Eucharistic Revival as a celebration of unity in the diversity of the Church. It allows us to come together in faith as one family to praise God through His presence in the Eucharist. Bishop Brennan urges us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus as well as our shared identity as Catholics.

Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue explain that the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows this week are both celebrations of triumph. It is through Jesus' resurrection that He has conquered sin and death forever. Bishop Brennan points out that the essence of real faith and discipleship is to recognize that even amid sorrowful times, God is doing great things for us. As St. P...

Deacon Kevin McCormack, the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, joins Bishop Brennan as they host this episode of Big City Catholics discussing the theme of family. Families transform the world around us through authentically living the Gospel, rooted in the truth, living in love for each other, but also for those who are in need. Catholic schools play an important role in suppo...

Fr. Jose Diaz, Pastor at Mary's Nativity - St. Ann Parish, Flushing and Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry at Queens College, joins Bishop Brennan on this episode of Big City Catholics. They discuss the spirit of renewal and fellowship at the Catholic Newman Center of Queens College. Fr. Diaz shares the welcoming presence Focus ministries have brought to Queens as they walk with others in fr...