Hundreds of the faithful joined Msgr. William Patrick Brennan in celebrating his 49 years of service to God, the church and the people at a retirement Mass and dinner on June 24. Msgr. Brennan, 75, a longtime pastor and principal in the Diocese of Camden, retired on June 30.
Relatives, friends, priests, nuns, deacons, former students and parishioners attended the retirement Mass celebrated by Msgr. Brennan at Christ the King Parish in Haddonfield, where he has been the pastor for the last three years. Four hundred people filled the church for the Mass.
The Mass was followed by the retirement dinner for Msgr. Brennan at Holy Eucharist Parish Hall in Cherry Hill, where he was the pastor at what was then called St. Pius X Parish before he went to Christ the King. Four hundred people filled the hall for the dinner.
“I remember when I first started teaching, a sister friend of mine gave me some advice, which I have used through the years. She said you don’t teach English, history or religion, you teach people,” Msgr. Brennan said. “If you expect good things from your students, you are more than likely to get good things back. Learning to know your students is more important sometimes than knowing your subject matter, but preparing conscientiously for class shows genuine love and respect for your students.”
He said he has used that philosophy in his interactions with parishioners as well as students.
“Whether as a teacher, principal or pastor, you deal with people and getting to know them is so important,” Msgr. Brennan said. “Preparing a class, preparing for a school meeting, preparing a homily is important, because you are showing you care, you are showing respect.”
Kelly Hullihan, a parishioner at Christ the King, said Msgr. Brennan’s faith in God and care for people have inspired her and her family.
“Through his homilies, Msgr. Brennan has enlightened me to see Christ in others, whether it be in Wegmans or during a walk in the park,” she said. “His genuine warmth and humor have inspired me to spread that warmth to others.”
Msgr. Brennan was born on July 8, 1936 in Staten Island, N.Y. He studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, N.J. He was ordained a priest in Camden on May 25, 1963.
He taught history and religion at Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City from 1964 to 1969 and taught history and religion at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill from 1969 to 1973. He was the principal of Gloucester Catholic from 1973 to 1976 and the principal of Camden Catholic from 1976 to 1984.
He was the pastor of Incarnation Parish in Mantua Township from 1985 to 1997 and the pastor of St. Pius X from 1997 to 2009. He has been the pastor of Christ the King since 2009.
Through all those years, Msgr. Brennan said he is grateful for the people he has met and the time he has spent as a priest.
“Someone asked me if I would do it all again,” Msgr. Brennan said. “In a heartbeat.”
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