Bishop Joseph V. Brennan

- On May 2, 2019, The Most Reverend Joseph V. Brennan was installed as Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno.
  
  Bishop Brennan was the Episcopal Vicar of the San Fernando Pastoral Region, one of the five Pastoral Regions in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Trofimiana and Auxiliary Bishop in 2015.
  
  Bishop Joseph Brennan received a B.A. in Philosophy from St. John’s Seminary College, in 1976 and a Masters in Divinity from St. John’s Seminary Theologate in 1980.
  
  After his ordination to the priesthood, he served as associate pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Los Angeles, St. Linus in Norwalk and at the Cathedral of St. Vibiana in Los Angeles. Later on, he was a pastor at St. Linus in Norwalk and Holy Trinity in San Pedro. After becoming Moderator of the Curia, he was in residence at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church.
  
  He has been a Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in California, a member of the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and also sits on the Board of the Catholic Education Foundation, the Williams Charitable Trust, and Together in Mission, and Served as Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
- Coat of Arms
  The personal side of Bishop Brennan’s shield is divided down the middle vertically. On the left side as one views the design, appears a blue field on which appears a healthy rendering of grapes and vine. The grapes not only represent the Eucharist but also the warmth of the table of welcome, both at the altar of sacrifice and at the table of each household welcoming stranger and friend alike in the true valued sense of Christian hospitality. On the right side of his shield, as one views it, the red roses of Our Lady of Guadalupe represent the multiple roses that appeared to Juan Diego as they fell from his tilma.
  
  Between these roses, on a blue wavy field, appears the pilgrim’s shell. The blue in this field represents the waters of baptism and the living waters (rivers and waterways) that also nourish the people ofCalifornia. On this field the shell is used as the primary symbol of the Sacrament of Baptism.
  
  The combination of Fleur de Lys for the Blessed Virgin Mary and a pair of angel’s wings on a blue chief being the color reserved for Our Lady and also on the color of the Pacific Ocean that forms one of the borders of Los Angeles.
  
  The pilgrim’s hat is always worked in deep green, the true color of the Office of Bishop. For this rank and office there are six tassels suspended on either side of the hat in a pyramidal style. The interior of the hat is worked in scarlet to represent the martyrdom, real or symbolic, which all bishops, (not only cardinals),are called to at the time of consecration to theEpiscopal dignity.The Episcopal cross above and behind the shield resembles the processional cross used at Mass. The design homage falls to Bishop Brennan’s heritage –the Celtic Cross of Ireland.