Msgr. John Brinn

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Msgr. John J. Brinn, who served as pastor of St. Mary’s parish in Poughkeepsie for 17 years, died Oct. 31. He was 85.

Msgr. Brinn was pastor of St. Mary’s from 1994 until his retirement in 2011, serving as pastor for the parish’s 125th anniversary in 1998. He also served at St. Martin de Porres, Poughkeepsie, as pastor, 1983-1994, and parochial vicar, 1965-1983.

He was parochial vicar of St. Peter, Liberty, 1962-1965.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 3 in the Main Chapel of the Cardinal O’Connor Pavilion, the Bronx. Cardinal Dolan was the celebrant and Msgr. John Boehning, retired pastor of St. Thomas More parish in Manhattan, delivered the homily.

Msgr. Brinn and Msgr. Boehning met as first-year students at Cathedral Prep and prepared for the priesthood as classmates for 12 years. Cardinal Francis Spellman ordained them on June 2, 1962, and both were named monsignor in 2006.

Msgr. Boehning said they would ride bicycles and go cross-country skiing, and noted that Msgr. Brinn did the grocery shopping and cooking for the priests at St. Mary’s, Poughkeepsie.

He joined Msgr. Brinn at the dedication of Msgr. Brinn Center for Psychiatric Care at what is now MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.

Msgr. Boehning shared insights about what made Msgr. Brinn such a good parish priest.

“A special characteristic is he would do what he could to help people,” Msgr. Boehning said. “He was ready to answer the phone at any time, day or night.

Msgr. Boehning said Msgr. Brinn set an example for others by the way he handled his pain in recent years.

“He was an example of how you should deal with adversity and accept it as God’s will and not burden you with his problem or tell you how he was suffering,” Msgr. Boehning said.

Born in New York City, Msgr. Brinn attended Cathedral Prep and Cathedral College before completing his studies for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie.

Burial was in St. Raymond Cemetery, the Bronx.

Msgr. John J. Brinn