Father Joseph Brunemann, O.S.F. (1822-1874)

Today marks the death of Father Joseph Brunemann, a figure of interest in the development of the local Church here on Long Island. Born in Holland, he was ordained a Conventual Franciscan in 1845. After ministering in Europe for three years, he volunteered for the missions in Ohio, where some of his confreres were working. In 1854, Father Brunemann came to Brooklyn, where he briefly worked with the Germans at St. Boniface. He soon went to a German settlement in Queens, where he served as pastor of St. Mary’s. Later Father Joseph (as he was known) moved to Suffolk County, where he was one of two priests ministering fulltime. He was the founder of St. Agnes parish in Greenport (which he may have named for his mother). In 1868, he became the first resident pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea parish in Queens’ Far Rockaway section. He served there until his early death in 1874. For many years Father Brunemann’s grave was lost, until former St. Mary’s pastor Msgr. Sean Ogle rediscovered it in Holy Cross Cemetery, Flatbush, and raised money from the parishioners to put up a new stone over the grave.