A Franciscan on the Beach: The Rev. Joseph Brunneman, O.F.M. Conv. (1822-1874)

Last updated on: October 30, 2010 at 10:11 am by Pat McNamara

A Franciscan on the Beach: The Rev. Joseph Brunneman, O.F.M. Conv. (1822-1874) 2010-10-30T10:11:00-06:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Monsignor Sean G. Ogle

The Conventual Franciscans are one of the three major branches of the Franciscan family. During the mid-1800’s, German Conventuals started coming to the United States to help the growing German community. One of the community’s great pioneers in America was Father Joseph Brunneman (1822-1874). Born in Holland, he joined the Conventuals at a young age. After studying in Italy, Belgium and Germany, he was ordained in 1845. A few years later, a German priest serving in the United States visited Father Brunneman’s convent, arousing his interest in missionary work. In 1848, he came to America, the first Conventual whose work here can be documented.

For six years he ministered to German Catholics in Ohio. In 1854, along with his confrere Father Bonaventure Keller, he traveled to the newly erected Diocese of Brooklyn, which had a growing German population. He soon established a German parish in the Winfield section of Queens known as St. Mary’s, and in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint section he laid the foundations for a parish that he named for the Franciscan St. Anthony of Padua.

In 1859, Father Brunneman extended his ministries to Long Island’s eastern end, where he founded parishes and schools in Riverhead, Sag Harbor, Greenport and Southold, where anti-Catholic prejudice was particularly strong. In this area the Irish Catholics outnumbered the Germans. A history of the Brooklyn Diocese notes: “Frail in stature—yet there were few Catholics on the eastern end of Long Island who were not served by Father Joseph Brunneman.”

In 1868, Father Joseph (as he was known by his parishioners) became the first resident pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea parish in Queens’ Far Rockaway section. At the time Far Rockaway was a seaside resort for New York’s privileged classes, and their largely Irish Catholic servants and shopkeepers. During his six-year tenure, Father Brunemann established a school and a parish cemetery. A local newspaper described Easter celebrations at the parish in 1872:

The festival of the resurrection of Jesus was celebrated in this church yesterday with due solemnity. Although the morning was stormy, the religious ardor of this congregation was not much dampened, for at the morning service at 8 o’clock, the church was well-filled, and about one hundred persons partook of the sacred banquet instituted by Our Saviour. High Mass was celebrated at the usual hour, 10 o’clock. After Mass, the Pastor, Rev. J. Brunneman, addressed the congregation. The following are a few extracts from his discourse: ‘He explained the greatest commandments of God, viz., Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, heart, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength, and Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself… As Christ rose triumphantly from the tomb, so we must rise out of the sloth of sin and with the grace of God we can proclaim victory over Satan…” The sanctuary was tastefully decorated. The choir sang a new Mass by Concone passably well; the beautiful hymn “Today He’s Risen,” was sung by Miss Murphy and Miss Wynn, with organ accompaniment by Miss Brandenberg. Vespers at 4 o’clock closed the services for the day.

Father Brunneman’s health broke down after many years of missionary labor, and he died at age fifty-two in Brooklyn’s St. Peter’s Hospital. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Flatbush. For decades his grave lay unmarked until the people of St. Mary’s parish erected a headstone over the grave. Buried a few feet away is Father Michael Curran, who celebrated the first Mass in Far Rockaway in 1848.

Monsignor Ogle is Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Astoria. From 1995 to 2002 he was Pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Far Rockaway. It is due to his interests and efforts that a new headstone was erected to Father Brunneman.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 29, 2010

Newark’s Benedictine Monastery

Next Post

October 30, 2010 College Football Photo of the Week

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Greek word 'Christos' mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Savior Anointed One Redeemer Lord