Rocco has the goods on some significant strategic planning underway in Baltimore and Brooklyn that will result in the closing and consolidating of parishes (Brooklyn) and schools (Baltimore).

Here at The Bench, the hardworking staff at the Brooklyn Desk wandered over to the Diocese of Brooklyn website and found an impressive new web page set up to explain just what is about to happen. It includes a link to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s new pastoral letter, “Renewing the Mission: Christ Jesus Our Hope.” There’s also a brief video (produced by, cough, cough, The NET, cough, cough), below.

Keep the good people of Brooklyn in your prayers as this process unfolds. This won’t be easy.