Diocesan News

Thousands of Faithful Gather for Charismatic Renewal in Upstate N.Y.

September 3, 2024
By
Bishop Robert Brennan claps along to the music as he arrives to celebrate Mass at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, New York, for thousands of Hispanic Catholics who came together for the annual gathering of the diocese’s Charismatic Renewal movement. (Photo: John Lavenburg)

STONY POINT, N.Y. — As Bishop Robert Brennan approached the outdoor altar at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, New York, on Aug. 31, he smiled, waved, and clapped along to the music as more than 3,000 cheering parishioners celebrated his arrival. 

At that moment, as was the case throughout the day at the annual gathering of the diocese’s Hispanic Catholics as part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, it was clear that Bishop Brennan’s presence added to the faithful’s excitement. 

While it was the 49th annual gathering of the diocesan renewal chapter, it was the first for Bishop Brennan. 

“The fact that he’s the head of the churches in Brooklyn and Queens makes it more meaningful to everybody the fact that he took his time to be here with us,” said Erica Colon, a parishioner at All Saints-Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii in Brooklyn. 

Carmen Calle, a parishioner at St. Bartholomew Church in Queens, similarly said Bishop Brennan’s presence was a “blessing” that made the “faith go up” throughout the day. 

In all, more than 3,200 attended the gathering on what was a warm, cloudy day. Some drove, but most arrived via one of the 51 buses that traveled from different diocesan parishes. Those who attended spread out across the shrine’s 160 acres.

Thousands of Hispanic Catholics came together for the closing Mass of the diocese’s Charismatic Renewal movement’s annual gathering. (Photo: The Tablet / John Lavenburg)

Many people brought lawn chairs, blankets, and tents to create a picnic-like atmosphere, while others stuck to the pews around the outdoor altar, singing along with music or participating in the youth rally that took place before Mass.

Participants also lined up to see Bishop Brennan or Msgr. Joseph Malagreca, the pastor of Holy Cross Church in East Flatbush, for confession. 

Msgr. Malagreca, who organizes the day, said the Catholic Charismatic Renewal offers much to the faithful who attend. 

“First of all, it’s right now the Hispanic alley, you know, family, picnic and prayer all together,” Msgr. Malagreca said. “The vision of so many people just joyfully being together and sharing the Lord is very high, so people look forward to this day all year long.” 

Msgr. Malagreca added that Bishop Brennan’s presence shows “he’s close” to the movement.

Bishop Brennan said that it was important for him to attend the gathering because it was a chance to be with so many diocesan parishioners on a day that was so important to them.

Catholics raise their hands to praise God at a rally ahead of the closing Mass of the diocese’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal annual gathering at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, New York. (Photo: The Tablet / John Lavenburg)

“It was so exciting to see everybody up here today, to see such a big crowd, and to feel that energy,” he said after the Mass, which closed the day. “And I have to hand it to people — they sacrificed the last Saturday of the summer to be here, to be together, and to praise God, so you can’t help but get caught up in that excitement.” 

Calle said she was very “blessed” to attend the gathering and spend time with people from different churches and places across the diocese. Colon said that it was nice to “see the families come together and enjoy the time together and to see everybody praying.” 

Juan Serraty, a parishioner at St. Joseph Patron in Bushwick, said that every year, the gathering reminds him how universal the faith is — bringing together people from different parts of Brooklyn and Queens and, more broadly, Latin America. 

Serraty also noted the importance of Bishop Brennan’s presence. 

“[A bishop] is supposed to reach people, and with Bishop Brennan, he’s been intentional with saying he wants to reach people, but also putting it in practice,” Serraty explained. 

Bishop Brennan closed Mass with a message for the many young people in attendance, recognizing that they, too, sacrificed their last Saturday of summer to be there. He told them that they are writing the next chapter in God’s great story of salvation and that they’re already living that with their presence at the gathering and by the witness they give to the faith every day.

“All of our young people are important, but when you have a gathering like this, where you have so many people who are more deeply committed, you really want to nourish that faith, you really want to encourage those young people,” Bishop Brennan said. “It doesn’t take much to drive them away, so we have to really nourish and strengthen them because they’re our best hope.”