Msgr. Brady known for building parish around Eucharist

August 7, 2022 at 1:16 p.m.
Msgr. Brady known for building parish around Eucharist
Msgr. Brady known for building parish around Eucharist

From Staff Reports

Celebrating a half-century of priesthood, Msgr. James J. Brady spent more than 20 years of his vocation as pastor in St. Dominic, Brick, from where he retired in 2018. His Irish heritage contributed greatly to his fondness for the Catholic faith and the people of the parishes he served.

Msgr. Brady was born in 1947 in County Cavan, Ireland. He prepared for the priesthood in St. Patrick College and Seminary, Carlow, Ireland, and was ordained a priest June 10, 1972, in Carlow for the Diocese of Trenton.

St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, was the first parish of the Diocese in which Msgr. Brady served as parochial vicar. He followed that assignment with service in various diocesan parishes, including St. James Parish, Red Bank; Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (now Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish), Hamilton; St. James Parish, Woodbridge, and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Old Bridge, both now in the Metuchen Diocese; and Holy Family Parish, Union Beach.
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On April 30, 1987, Msgr. Brady was named temporary administrator of Ascension Parish, Bradley Beach (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach); the following year, on Feb. 10, 1988, he was named temporary administrator of St. Dominic Parish, and after just two months was named pastor.

He was appointed a Chaplain to his Holiness with the title of Reverend Monsignor Dec. 15, 2009. When he was invested as a monsignor by Bishop John M. Smith in 2010, Msgr. Brady spoke of his own faith, kindled in his Irish homestead where family values were nurtured around the table, at Mass and at home with a nightly recitation of the Rosary.

During Mass celebrating his retirement in June 2018, St. Dominic Deacon Edward Buecker said in his homily that Msgr. Brady’s legacy “is in his priesthood and how he was able to get everyone to interact with each other and follow the simple code of conduct in the Gospel: to love God and love our neighbor. His inspiration was to create a peaceful and harmonious parish where everyone could live and work together as a family and get to know God’s love in an intimate way.

“His idea of building a parish was in building a community among each other,” Deacon Buecker continued, “and the main way to do that is to come here in this church and share the family meal in thanksgiving in the Eucharist at Mass. In his eyes, all parish life begins here.”

In addition to his parish assignments, Msgr. Brady has also served on the Vocation Council of Priests and as spiritual moderator of the Holy Name Society in Monmouth County.

Msgr. Brady spent time visiting family in Ireland following his retirement, and now lives in Liberty, N.Y.

 

 

 

 

 

  


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Celebrating a half-century of priesthood, Msgr. James J. Brady spent more than 20 years of his vocation as pastor in St. Dominic, Brick, from where he retired in 2018. His Irish heritage contributed greatly to his fondness for the Catholic faith and the people of the parishes he served.

Msgr. Brady was born in 1947 in County Cavan, Ireland. He prepared for the priesthood in St. Patrick College and Seminary, Carlow, Ireland, and was ordained a priest June 10, 1972, in Carlow for the Diocese of Trenton.

St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, was the first parish of the Diocese in which Msgr. Brady served as parochial vicar. He followed that assignment with service in various diocesan parishes, including St. James Parish, Red Bank; Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (now Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish), Hamilton; St. James Parish, Woodbridge, and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Old Bridge, both now in the Metuchen Diocese; and Holy Family Parish, Union Beach.
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On April 30, 1987, Msgr. Brady was named temporary administrator of Ascension Parish, Bradley Beach (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach); the following year, on Feb. 10, 1988, he was named temporary administrator of St. Dominic Parish, and after just two months was named pastor.

He was appointed a Chaplain to his Holiness with the title of Reverend Monsignor Dec. 15, 2009. When he was invested as a monsignor by Bishop John M. Smith in 2010, Msgr. Brady spoke of his own faith, kindled in his Irish homestead where family values were nurtured around the table, at Mass and at home with a nightly recitation of the Rosary.

During Mass celebrating his retirement in June 2018, St. Dominic Deacon Edward Buecker said in his homily that Msgr. Brady’s legacy “is in his priesthood and how he was able to get everyone to interact with each other and follow the simple code of conduct in the Gospel: to love God and love our neighbor. His inspiration was to create a peaceful and harmonious parish where everyone could live and work together as a family and get to know God’s love in an intimate way.

“His idea of building a parish was in building a community among each other,” Deacon Buecker continued, “and the main way to do that is to come here in this church and share the family meal in thanksgiving in the Eucharist at Mass. In his eyes, all parish life begins here.”

In addition to his parish assignments, Msgr. Brady has also served on the Vocation Council of Priests and as spiritual moderator of the Holy Name Society in Monmouth County.

Msgr. Brady spent time visiting family in Ireland following his retirement, and now lives in Liberty, N.Y.

 

 

 

 

 

  

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