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Father Brian C. Brennan, who served as pastor of Holy Name of Mary in Croton-on-Hudson and St. John the Evangelist in Mahopac, died July 17. He was 73.
Father Brennan was at Holy Name of Mary, 2011-2020, and St. John the Evangelist, 1999-2011, where he previously served as administrator for seven months.
He was parochial vicar of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan, 1990-1999; Holy Name of Jesus, New Rochelle, 1988-1990; St. Joseph, Croton Falls, 1981-1984; and Holy Child, Staten Island, 1979-1981. He taught religion at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, Somers, 1984-1986.
Auxiliary Bishop Edmund J. Whalen, vicar for clergy, celebrated the Funeral Mass July 22 at Holy Name of Mary. Father Ronald D. Lemmert, a Sunday associate at Holy Name of Mary, delivered the homily.
“He always put people at ease,” Father Lemmert told CNY. “He was very compassionate, a good listener, excellent in confession, very kind and had a terrific sense of humor.”
Father Brennan and Father Lemmert were classmates at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie. After they were ordained by Cardinal Terence Cooke in 1979, the two traveled to the Holy Land.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Father Lemmert said. “The Bible came to life everywhere we went.”
Father Lemmert said he and Father Brennan were the best of friends for 45 years.
“Throughout our priesthood, we always supported one another,” Father Lemmert said. “We both had tough assignments at times, and needed to ventilate and did it with one another.
“We shared our joys too. It was a wonderful, mutual friendship, and I am going to miss that.”
Father Brennan, who was born in New Rochelle, served in the U.S. Army, 1968-1971, before studying for the priesthood at Cathedral College, Douglaston, Queens, and St. Joseph’s Seminary.
Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, New Rochelle.
