Podcast: Big City Catholics Podcast

In this special edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue are joined by the Ordination Class of 2023 who reflect on their first year of priestly ministry. Bishop Brennan calls for prayers to vocations, particularly the priesthood, as it is the one that takes great courage and humility.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan is joined by Deacon Kevin McCormack, Superintendent of Schools, who announces the closures of three Catholic schools within our diocese. While they discuss the realities of these changes, Bishop Brennan describes it as a moment of reflection and an opportunity to see the positive impact Catholic education brings to the lives of people.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan is joined by our diocesan Auxiliary Bishop and Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, Bishop James Massa, and Fr. John Cush, faculty of the seminary and editor of Homiletic and Pastoral Review. They discuss seminary formation as a holistic blend of human, spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation to serve Christ. Fr. Cush discusses his book Nothing But You Lord which reflects on the priesthood through the lens of Bishop Robert Barron.

You won’t want to miss this edition of Big City Catholics where Bishop Robert Brennan speaks to Maryellen Quinn, Director of the Office for the Protection of Children and Young People and Elizabeth Harris, a retired NYPD Detective who has worked with sex abuse survivors and is now the Victim Assistance Coordinator. They talk about the important work that has gone on for 20 years to keep children safe and improvements being made to diocesan policies.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue recap the many events surrounding Easter. They explain both the beauty and challenges of this time as it aligns with what we celebrate in the Triduum, the triumph of good over evil, recognizing the great things God is accomplishing right in our midst.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, we listen to Bishop Brennan’s Easter Sunday Homily. He explains that Jesus our risen Lord never gives up on us. Christ meets and walks with us always, appearing to us in the gift of the Eucharist so that we may be more aware of His presence in our lives.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan speaks from the Holy Chrism Mass at The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, a joyous celebration of our unity through the blessing and distribution of the sacred oils for the sacramental life of the Church. Bishop Brennan explains our identity as a people of God united as one through our faith in Jesus Christ and His continued presence in the Church.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue speak about God’s mercy and our faith in Him through difficult times. Bishop Brennan describes how deeply moved he was by the solidarity he witnessed as he celebrated Mass for Haiti at Holy Innocents Church. As we enter Holy Week, Bishop Brennan calls us to trust and walk with God, who has always been faithful to us.