The Subway to the Sacred: Brooklyn’s Breathtaking Eucharistic Revival
I’d never ridden the subway with a bishop before.
But then again, how many of us have?
Bishop Robert Brennan from the Diocese of Brooklyn is not your typical bishop — and I mean that with the utmost respect for the men who hold the office. Each is unique, endowed with their own personalities, charisms and abilities. So perhaps don’t go telling your bishop he needs to start riding mass transit just yet.
He’s striking in the way he carries himself: You can sense a deep spirituality and humility within him. He’s genuinely kind and attentive — a true pastor.
If there were a contest for “Most Likely to Ride the Subway With His Flock,” I believe Bishop Brennan would win hands down.
I first met him in 2021, upon his eventful reassignment to Brooklyn. He had barely settled into the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, in 2019 — where the paint in his office was probably still drying — only to be moved, much to the sorrow of the Columbus flock.
On the bright side, he’s a Mets fan. Though their recent performance hasn’t been much of a consolation, maybe his prayers will give them a boost.
So, early on Saturday morning, in anticipation of the Eucharistic Revival at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows, he boarded the 7 Train with members of his flock in tow. With each stop, more of the faithful joined, filling the carriages.
And they did exactly what you would expect a group of Catholics on a subway to do: They sang, they chanted, Viva Cristo Rey! and they laughed with a joy so palpable, it electrified the air.
