Vincent DePaul Breen

Who was Vincent DePaul Breen?

Vincent DePaul Breen was the third bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen in central New Jersey from 1997 until his resignation in 2002. Bishop Breen was born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. He died of pneumonia in 2003, aged 66, following a long illness consistent with Alzheimer's disease.

Breen was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Edward and Irene Breen, and attended St. Francis Preparatory School. He continued his studies at Cathedral College in Douglaston, Queens. After 2 years of studies he was sent to Rome where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University and resided at the Pontifical North American College. On July 15, 1962, he was ordained a priest in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, Rome. A year later, he graduated from North American College, Gregorian University, Rome, with a licentiate in sacred theology.

Breen worked as a parish priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn for a short period of time and then was quickly appointed to be assistant superintendent of education for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Breen became an honorary prelate in 1977. In 1978 he was appointed as the Superintendent of Education for the Diocese of Brooklyn.