Msgr. Austin P. Bennett, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn for 68 years and a special financial advisor to five diocesan Bishops, died Jan. 31 at Good Shepherd Rectory, Marine Park. He was 93.
He accompanied Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart to the Second Vatican Council and went on to serve as diocesan director of the Office of Finance and vicar for administration.
A native of Brooklyn, he was baptized in Our Lady of Angels Church, Bay Ridge. He attended Regis H.S., Manhattan; Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass.; and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I.; and did post-ordination studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
He was ordained by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy on June 11, 1949 at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.
He served as an assistant at St. Saviour’s, Park Slope, 1949-55, and was then appointed to the Diocesan Curia. He was named director of parish service corp, 1959; administrator of the diocesan pension plan, 1961; director of the diocesan Finance Office, 1985 Vicar for Administration, 1991; and director of the Confraternity of the Precious Blood, 1998.
He earned a doctorate of canon law, was named a monsignor in 1981 and raised to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic in 1997.
He was a member of the diocesan planning committee for the visit of Pope Paul VI in 1965, and served on various board of directors of diocesan agencies.
He lived from 1959 to 2010 at The Chancery residence, in Fort Greene. He then resided at St. Thomas Aquinas rectory, Flatlands, until recently moving to Good Shepherd. He was a long-time weekend assistant at St. Rita’s parish, Long Island City.
A wake was held in the chapel of The Chancery at 310 Prospect Park West, and a Vigil Mass was celebrated there Feb. 2 by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
Living History
“He was the history of the diocese in a living form,” said Bishop DiMarzio of Msgr. Bennett. “He knew things that never were written down, things that never got copied. So we’re really going to miss him.
“He was a great man. He made a great contribution to the life of this diocese over the years – almost 68 years as a priest and 94 years of life. He really gave himself completely so we will miss him but we commend him to God for the reward of his goodness.”
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 3 at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn. Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto, Vicar General, was the main celebrant.
Special concelebrants included Msgrs. Joseph A. Nugent, Joseph P. Nagle, D. Joseph Finnerty and Thomas Colgan, and Fathers Jose Carlos DaSilva and Thomas V. Doyle, who preached the homily.
Father Doyle pointed out that the title “churchman” is not very much in vogue these days.
But he said that Msgr. Bennett surely earned that title.
“Austin lived for no other reason but to preach Jesus in his words, deeds, and example to others,” said Father Doyle.
”He was someone who loved the priesthood and was totally devoted to the service of the Church.”
Describing Msgr. Bennett as someone who respected the law and was a personal consultant to five bishops, he said “he balanced the law of the Church with the love for the individual.”
He added that Msgr. Bennett wanted to be remembered as a good priest and someone who helped bring Jesus to others.
“It might sound simple but it all came down to that for him,” he said.
In closing remarks, Bishop Chappetto recalled Msgr. Bennett as “a great inspiration to all the priests of the diocese… a good role model of what a priest should be.”
Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Flatbush.
