Having served in various ministerial capacities over his career, most recently as the Provincial Superior of the Canadian Redemptorist Province after leading the worldwide Redemptorist order, Brehl now finds himself in a unique position to serve, albeit one he could have never imagined.
“From a young age I was certainly very interested in the possibility of serving as a priest, something that began to take more root in me during my time at university. As surprised as I was when I was later elected the Redemptorist Superior General in Rome, I never really thought that I would be, or could be, a bishop,” he said.
Born in Toronto in 1955, It wasn’t until his last year of studies for his B.A. in philosophy at the University of St. Michael’s College that Brehl met the Redemptorist congregation, a group of men he says he instantly felt “very much at home with.” This September marks 50 years since he first entered formation at 19 years old, after which he professed his vows as a Redemptorist in 1976, followed by his ordination to the priesthood four years later.
“The Redemptorists have always had a strong focus on going to the abandoned or the materially poor, desiring to be a presence of the Church with the Gospel in those circumstances which are often on the margins of society. That really drew my heart and very much became something I found attractive,” he recalled.
Following his ordination in 1980, Brehl held various pastoral roles, first serving as associate pastor for four years at St. Teresa’s Parish in St. John’s, NL. It was during this time, and with the help of his mentor Fr. Eugene O'Reilly, Brhel learned what it truly means to "be there" for people.
“I arrived in 1979 as the fishery was shutting down and as the oil reserves had not yet been as developed as it is now so it was a complicated situation. I learned there that a lot of the time, I can not solve the crises that people are facing, but I can accompany them and I can walk with them in those moments,” he said. “That was a profoundly powerful experience for me.”
After roles ministering in Toronto and Sudbury, working in formation for his order in Windsor and Toronto and most recently as associate pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish, Brehl admits the recent years and months have been a proverbial rollercoaster for him. He credits a strong habit of talking with a spiritual director to discuss his life and prayers as one way he has been able to serve so abundantly.
What his spiritual advisor could not have fully prepared him for, however, was the call he received while on his annual retreat to a Redemptorist house in the United States earlier this year.
“I had a message from the nuncio to please call him in Ottawa and so I phoned him and he said to me that the Holy Father has appointed me Bishop of Pembroke… I was just shocked and it completely froze me in my tracks as this was not something I had been expecting,” Brehl said. “I had figured that at 69 years of age they were not going to make me a bishop and that I was too old, but he asked me to take some time to myself to pray and get back to him and I did just that.”
On June 17, Brehl ventured to Pembroke, Ont., for a preliminary visit where he met with the diocesan administrator, priests and diocesan staff to begin understanding the diocese he will oversee.
Brehl’s ordination will take place at the Cathedral of St. Columbkille in Pembroke on Aug. 15, where he will officially become the 10th Bishop of the diocese, succeeding Archbishop Guy Desrochers. It is an occasion that although exciting, requires a great deal of responsibility that Brehl has already begun to undertake.
“I do not know the Diocese of Pembroke yet, and so I first need to understand what is the reality, the culture and how they have been functioning. Before I can serve them, I have to know them.”
He pointed to the prospect of continuing to be directly involved in the community of over 60,000 Catholics across 55 parishes and missions as something he looks forward to.
“To my understanding, the first and most important role of the bishop in the diocese is to be a shepherd, a pastor to the flock, to preach the word, to celebrate the sacraments, to encourage people and to welcome them into an encounter with Christ while building up the community. While I do not know how long that will take, I would like to begin to visit the parishes and meet people where they are,” he said.
Brehl looks forward to starting the newest chapter in his life in Pembroke.
“The welcome so far from the people running the Diocese in Pembroke has been extraordinary. I am blown away at all the time the pastors and parish staff have given and are willing to give not only for the good of the diocese but also to make me feel welcome at home… I can not wait to continue working with this team,” he said.