Father Raffeiner, born in Austria, was known as the "Patriarch of German Missionaries." Before he became a priest in 1830, he served as a surgeon in the Austrian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Coming to America in 1833, he did much work with German Catholic immigrants. He established Most Holy Trinity Church, the first German parish in Brooklyn. He was the first Vicar-General for the Brooklyn Diocese (1853-1861). He also brought the Sisters of St. Dominic to Brooklyn in 1856, where they established so many schools.

 

Click here to view the photo album of the people who have made up the Diocese. Click here to view the album of our parishes.