After nearly a half century as a priest, and about eight years as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Neil Tiedemann will enter retirement.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Tiedemann’s resignation, which he submitted when he turned 75 in March, as is required by Church law.

Bishop Tiedemann, a Brooklyn native, has been an auxiliary bishop in the diocese since 2016.

In 2020, he was named Episcopal Vicar of Brooklyn. He currently serves as pastor of St. Matthias Parish in Ridgewood, Queens, and he serves as the director of the diocese’s Ministry to Caribbean and Black Catholics.

Bishop Tiedemann said in a statement that he’s been blessed to serve the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“Throughout my priesthood, I have been blessed and I am so grateful. I thank Bishops [Nicholas] DiMarzio and [Robert] Brennan for their kindness, support, and encouragement,” Bishop Tiedemann said. “Of my 48 years as a priest I have spent 21 of them here in the Brooklyn diocese. I am thankful to my brother priests for their friendship, but most importantly, I have been blessed by the wonderful people of our diocese,” he continued. “They make you the priest that you are because they encourage and strengthen you, and teach you so much about life.”

Bishop Brennan thanked Bishop Tiedemann for his work in the diocese.

“I am grateful for Bishop Tiedemann’s many years of dedicated service here in Brooklyn and Queens,” he said in a statement. “Bishop Tiedemann has had extraordinary experience beyond the boundaries of our diocese and therefore was able to enrich us with his knowledge, passion, and dedication to the Church and all its people.”

In a 6-3 vote June 30, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado web designer who doesn’t want to design wedding websites for same-sex couples because it goes against her religious beliefs.

The court said the designer’s First Amendment rights bar Colorado anti-discrimination law from forcing her to create expressive designs with messages the designer doesn’t agree with.

“The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, said, “Today, the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class.”

Colorado designer Lorie Smith, who runs a web design company called 303 Creative, has said she should not be required to create wedding websites for same-sex couples based on her Christian beliefs about marriage.

Residents like Annie Burduck from the Pope John Paul II senior apartments enjoyed local dishes in Bay Ridge as part of the third annual Silver Sunsets Stroll.

Elliott Lamboy of the El-Rose Foundation started it during the height of the pandemic to show seniors a good time.

Local restaurants donated food and a DJ was brought in to keep the seniors entertained. Residents said it’s a great way to get out and enjoy company with friends.

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn on Tuesday, June 28.

More than a thousand parishioners packed the pews of the church to celebrate the patroness of Haiti.

While the academic year is at an end for students in the Diocese of Brooklyn, the best and the brightest were offered one more round of applause for their success Wednesday, June 28, during Catholic Schools Night at Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The 62 valedictorians and salutatorians, clad in red T-shirts, were recognized at the annual event, having their names announced as they received medals prior to the Cyclones matchup against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.

They also got the opportunity to see their school administrators and priests take to the diamond for the “Collars vs. Scholars” softball game. Dressed in black jerseys, the priestly Collars fell early to their counterparts, dressed in white, and eventually invoked the “mercy rule,” losing 11-1.

“It doesn’t matter. None of this matters,” Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, said on the field. He served as head coach for the Scholars. “It’s only about the kids — and the hot dogs.”

The celebration was sponsored by DeSales Media, the ministry that produces The Tablet. Students were also recognized for their contributions to Tablet Jr., a monthly insert in The Tablet newspaper, as well.

The first pitch of the Cyclones game was delivered by Deacon McCormack. While he has taken to the diamond for Catholic Schools Night in games before, this was his first year serving as superintendent of schools for the diocese.

Among those in attendance was Bishop Robert Brennan, grinning as he shook hands with each student after they received their medal.

The beauty and warmth of St. Thomas Aquinas in Flatlands fills you as you enter the church.

Over the years, the families who have filled the pews have changed.

At first it was mostly Italian and Irish, now it’s Caribbeans, Asians, and Hispanics, who come to worship.

The church, itself, has also seen some changes.

It began in the 1880’s as a small mission church on Flatbush Avenue, but later a new, bigger building opened in the 1930’s with a 155-foot tower.

Fast forward a few decades and most wouldn’t have painted a pretty picture when describing it.

Msgr. John Brown decided it was time for a change and envisioned a renaissance.

He turned to the congregation for help, and one parishioner in particular, Christopher Spinelli.

“St. Thomas was always a very warm parish, the people were warm and very welcoming,” Spinelli said. “I never felt the building represented that.”

Spinelli, a well-known artist and art teacher in the REACH program for underserved children, used his skills and artistry to bring out the vibrancy of the church.

Christopher Spinelli from St. Thomas Aquinas in Brooklyn is The Pulse of The Parish.