Bishop Emeritus Lawrence E. Brandt, J.C.D., who served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg from 2004 to 2015, died on June 8, 2025, at the age of 86.

Bishop Brandt was the bishop who ordained me to the priesthood and had a significant impact on my life. In addition to placing me in the line of Pope Saint John Paul II (Bishop Brandt was ordained a bishop by Cardinal Justin Rigali, who was ordained a bishop by Pope Saint John Paul II), Bishop Brandt encouraged me in three significant ways.

First, he was profoundly supportive of the foundation and operation of We Are One Body® (WAOB®) radio. Participating as a full-time Program Manager and online host for WAOB® for almost ten years, the exposure to the Church’s life, magisterial teaching of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, and the extensive reflections on Scripture, Doctors of the Church, and the Church’s magisterial documents, has deeply influenced and formed all of my ministry as a priest. Bishop Brandt’s belief in WAOB® was even stronger than my own, at times. He repeatedly introduced me personally to bishops who could record programs for us, and enthusiastically encouraged the programming we were producing, even when it was in more nacent forms.

Second, he was first to encourage me to write books. After hearing a homily I preached at the Theology of the Body Congress in 2010, he asked me with a sense of urgency when I was going to start publishing books. He brought up the question multiple times in subsequent years, to the effect that I felt like I was finally fulfilling one of the purposes of my life when, with the help of Fr. Tom Acklin, I published my first book in 2017. I was happy to give him a copy of each subsequent book, as well, because I deeply felt the sincerity of his conviction that it was good for me to write.

Third, he was enthusiastic to the point of urgency about the mission of our Institute for Ministry Formation, particularly in the potential it offers for evangelization. He was delighted that we are offering formation for clergy and laity and from the beginning asked when we would be developing more programs for evangelization. Finally with our collaboration with the Diocese of Greensburg starting in Fall 2024 for the Enlighten! Program, featuring the IMF Catechetics certificate, I received a one-line email from him:

“Dear Father Boniface,
Sincere congratulations on finally landing the plane! Very gratified,
Bishop Brandt”

I am praying for the repose of his soul and remain grateful for the significant ways he has positively impacted my life.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.