The Diocese of Brooklyn is changing how it manages and works with local churches under a restructuring plan that Bishop Robert Brennan announced Friday.
Brennan announced the creation of four regional vicars — high-ranking pastors who will consult with the bishop to report on various matters within their churches in their region. The diocese itself is being realigned into four regions and 22 deaneries, or clusters of parishes within each region. The diocese currently has the boroughs broken down by regions, north and south.
The change in governance, Brennan explained, aims to give each individual vicar more involvement “at the parish and deanery level,” partly to compensate for the lesser number of priests ministering to the diocese’s faithful. The regional vicars will also continue to serve as pastors of their own parishes while taking on their new responsibilities.
“I am asking a lot of these priests taking on this new role, all while remaining parish pastors, and so expanding the number of regional vicariates will make the responsibilities more manageable,” said Bishop Brennan. “We have been working hard during the last year to reinvigorate the deaneries, and I am very satisfied with the progress made towards a more proactive working relationship among parishes.
The new regional vicars are Reverend John J. Costello , pastor of St. Luke Church in Flushing; Reverend Joseph M. Hoffman , pastor of St. Barbara Church in Bushwick; Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski , pastor of Holy Cross Church in Little Caribbean; and Reverend Peter Purpura , pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church in Middle Village.
Moreover, the regional vicars will represent the bishop in addressing any sexual abuse allegations made against parish priests or deacons, work to address each situation and address a proper course of action.
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