On reaching 75 years of age last November 2021, Bishop Sanchez submitted his resignation as mandated by Church Law and it was accepted by Pope Francis last week. Thank you, Bishop Sanchez, for your continued service to our parish. May God continue to bless your priestly ministry.
The official statement from the Diocese of Brooklyn, issued on March 30, 2022, follows:
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of Diocese of Brooklyn’s Auxiliary Bishop Paul R. Sanchez. The resignation was publicized in Washington on March 30, 2022, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
As required by Canon (Church) law, at the age of 75, all bishops must submit a letter of resignation from the ecclesiastical office that they hold. It is then a determination of the Holy See as to when to accept the resignation.
“Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Paul Sanchez has faithfully served God and his people throughout his ministry. The Catholic community of Brooklyn and Queens is better because of Bishop Sanchez’s commitment to teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for his guidance, and very much appreciate his will to remain as a spiritual leader here in our Diocese,” said the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.
“I give thanks to Almighty God for his abundant grace and mercy throughout my almost ten years as an auxiliary bishop and my 50 years as a priest. I am grateful to Popes Benedict and Francis, and to Bishops DiMarzio and Brennan for their prayers and support. Countless priests, religious men and women, faithful parishioners and my beloved family have inspired and accompanied me in my journey of faith. For all that has been, I say, thank you God. For all that will be, may God’s will be done,” stated Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Paul R. Sanchez.
“The Catholic community of Brooklyn and Queens is better because of Bishop Sanchez’s commitment to teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for his guidance, and very much appreciate his will to remain as a spiritual leader here in our Diocese.”
Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn
The Most Reverend Paul Sanchez was born in Brooklyn on November 26, 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure’s University, a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1971 at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Throughout his ministry, he was assigned to a number of parishes throughout the Diocese in both Brooklyn and Queens including Our Lady of Mercy in Forest Hills, St. Michael’s in Flushing and St. Sebastian’s in Woodside. Then-Father Sanchez also served as pastor at St. Agatha’s in Brooklyn and at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Astoria, while also serving as administrator of St. Margaret Mary’s in Long Island City.
Then-Father Sanchez was named Vicariate Coordinator for the diocesan Liturgical Commission in January 1975. He also served as a member of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Presbyteral Council and was a member of the diocesan team for ministry to priests. In addition, he served as a subcommittee member of the International Committee on English in the Liturgy.
In 1997, then-Father Sanchez was named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Saint John Paul II. On July 11, 2012, then-Monsignor Sanchez was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn. He previously served as an adjunct professor at St. John’s University and at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Sanchez will remain Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Forest Hills, where he has served since 2012, and serve as an Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn.