HCA Welcomes Msgr. John Brennell

Holy Cross Academy welcomes Msgr. John Brennell, recently appointed pastor of Seven Holy Founders, to our community.

Father John, as he prefers to be called, was ordained in 1978. He grew up in Our Lady of Sorrows parish in St. Louis City. His brother and sister-in-law are still members of the church.

He doesn't really contribute his vocation to one significant moment. Growing up, Father John witnessed Father Joe Reilly and Father Edmund Fitzgibbons love of their vocations, and he was drawn to the feeling that he, too, could find joy as a priest. "Happy and fulfilled priests in my life was the theme of my call," he said.

During his almost four decades as a priest, he has served as a deacon at Ascension in Chesterfield; an associate at Our Lady of Mercy in Hazelwood; Transfiguration in Florissant; St. Patrick in Wentzville; and St. Stephen Protomartyr in Holly Hills.

He served as Priest Personnel Director for five years.

Father John served as pastor of St. Peter in Kirkwood for almost 10 years and St. Joseph in Imperial for almost eight years. He comes to Seven Holy Founders from serving as pastor at St. Monica in Creve Coeur since 2012.

Accompanying Father John to Seven Holy Founders is Luke Harley, his 10-year-old rescued Golden Retriever. Luke's original name was Harley. Interestingly enough, the dog came to live with Father John on the feast of St. Luke, so he quickly became Luke Harley.

The two are good buddies.

Luke is Father John's second Golden Retriever. His first Golden, Reggie, went to dog heaven on the Feast of All Souls.

Father John is ready to help members of the Holy Cross Academy community in any way he can.

"Thanks for all the sacrifices that parents, administrators and parishioners are making to not only educate our children, but more importantly, to draw them closer to Christ and His Church. I look forward to assisting in that mission," he said.

The HCA community looks forward to meeting and working with you Father John. May God continue to Bless you and your vocation as you spread His kingdom here on earth.