Pope Names Auxiliary Bishops For Diocese Of Rockville Centre, NY

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has namedMsgr. Robert J. Brennan, 50, a pastor and vicar general of the Diocese ofRockville Centre, New York, and Msgr. Nelson J. Perez, 50, a pastor in theArchdiocese of Philadelphia, as auxiliary bishops for the Rockville Centre Diocese.

Theappointments were publicized in Washington June 8, by Archbishop Carlo MariaViganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

RobertJ. Brennan was born June 7, 1962, in New York City, and ordained a priest forthe Rockville Centre Diocese in 1989.

Heholds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from St. John’s University, Queens,New York, and a master of divinity degree from the Seminary of the ImmaculateConception, Huntington, New York. He was named a chaplain to His Holiness,carrying the title monsignor, in 1996, and six years later, in 2002, was nameda prelate of honor.

Afterordination he was named parochial vicar, St. Patrick’s Parish, Smithtown, NewYork, 1989-1994. From 1994-2003, he served a secretary to three bishops ofRockville Centre, Bishop James McHugh, Bishop John McGann and Bishop WilliamMurphy, the current bishop of the diocese. He was named vicar general for thediocese, 2002-present, and pastor of St. Mary of the Isle Parish, Long Beach,New York, 2010-present.

Nelson J. Perez, a priest of the PhiladelphiaArchdiocese, was born June 16, 1961, in Miami, Florida, and ordained a priestfor the Philadelphia Archdiocese in 1989.

Heearned a bachelor of arts degree from Montclair State University and master ofdivinity and master of arts degrees from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary,Philadelphia. He was named a chaplain to His Holiness, carrying the title monsignor,in 1998, and five years later, in 2003, was named a prelate of honor.

Assignmentsafter ordination included parochial vicar, St. Ambrose Parish, Philadelphia,1989-1993; director of the Archdiocesan (Hispanic) Institute for Evangelization,1993-2002; pastor, St. William Parish, Philadelphia, 2002-2009; and pastor, St.Agnes Parish, West Chester, Pennsylvania, 2009-present. He also served asassistant director of the Archdiocesan Office for Hispanic Catholics,1990-1993, and served on the archdiocesan Council of Priests, 2003-2005.

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