Bishop Emeritus Lawrence E. Brandt, who led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg for 11 years, was not afraid of making difficult decisions at a time of declining church membership, according to those who knew him.
“He will be remembered by me as a man of courage and grace, always the gentleman,” said Bishop Edward Malesic, who succeeded Brandt in 2015 as Greensburg bishop. “He guided me along the way in a role that was very new to me and offered me wise advice when I asked for it.”
Brandt, 86, died Sunday morning. The diocese has not officially released the cause of death. But on Saturday, Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry J. Kulick posted on social media that Brandt had suffered a cardiac event earlier in the week that required hospitalization and extensive surgery.
Malesic recalled how Brandt, who was named by Pope John Paul II to be bishop in 2004, was among the first to welcome him as the new bishop and “did so with great warmth.”
“I remember him with great fondness,” said Malesic, now leader of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Kulick, who worked with Brandt for more than 20 years, said he learned so much from Brandt, who sent him back to school to earn a degree in canon law.
“One of the most important things I learned from Bishop Brandt is something we can all learn from him. He was a man of the church … dedicated to the church. He was our shepherd for a time. In that time, we all benefited from his guidance, his leadership, his encouragement, his laughter and his vision,” Kulick said.
Diocese of Erie Bishop Lawrence Persico once served as Brandt’s vicar general in the Greensburg Diocese. He said he witnessed firsthand Brandt’s deep love for the church and his unwavering commitment to the people he served.
”He brought a thoughtful and pastoral presence to his ministry, always striving to serve the Gospel with devotion and care,” said Persico, a Monessen native.
Brandt grew up in the Erie area. After completing seminary in Ohio, he undertook extensive graduate studies in Europe. He earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Innsbruck in Austria in 1966, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Florence in Italy, and pursued theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
After being ordained to the priesthood in 1969, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Brandt served the church by becoming a diplomat for the Vatican for a decade. His postings included Madagascar, Germany, Algeria and Ecuador.
In 1983, he returned to the U.S. and the Diocese of Erie, where he held various roles and became chancellor in 1991. Brandt was a leading voice within the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, said Persico, who was the Greensburg Diocese’s representative to the Catholic Conference board while Brandt was representing Erie.
In 2004, Brandt was named bishop of the Greensburg Diocese, succeeding Bishop Anthony Bosco.
Greensburg diocesan officials credit Brandt for leading the diocese through a series of changes. That included improving the diocesean finances and dealing with a drop in membership.
“He was very committed as the bishop of Greensburg, doing what had to be done in the Diocese of Greensburg. He made some very difficult decisions involving the closing of parishes,” said Jerry Zufelt of Greensburg, a retired editor of the Catholic Accent, who oversaw the newspaper when Brandt was bishop.
Brandt presided at Masses at all of the affected parishes in order to welcome parishioners to their new parish or partnership configurations and to help parishioners deal with that sense of loss. Zufelt said Brandt would stay at the receptions following the Masses.
“He talked to every one of those who waited to see him. He talked and he listened,” even to those who were displeased with his decision, Zufelt said
The Saint Vincent Archabbey, Seminary and College community recognized Brandt’s outstanding contributions to both the diocese and Saint Vincent.
Brandt had a special affinity for the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, said Saint Vincent Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B.
“His grandfather was one of the craftsmen pictured in an 1896 photograph of the Basilica builders, employed as a bricklayer.”
Brandt was a member of the Saint Vincent Seminary’s board of regents before he became Greensburg bishop, said Edward Mazich, O.S.B., seminary rector.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced by the diocese.