Our Founder

Eternal Flame of Hope Ministries is a community of loving service under the watchful gaze of Jesus, Mary and Joseph...If there is no service, there is no love!

― Father Richard Bretone

Curriculum Vitae

Fr. Richard J. Bretone is a Roman Catholic Priest of the Brooklyn Diocese.

Education:

1973

William Cullen Bryant High School - (Graduated)

1979

St. John’s University - Associate of Arts (Graduated)

1981

Fordham University - Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy

Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

1983

Fordham University - Master of Arts - Philosophy

Graduate Assistant, Loyola Fellowship

1984

Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Long Island.  James Newcomb Award.

1989

Ordained Roman Catholic Priest: June 3, 1989 

2008

Pratt Institute - Bachelor of Fine Arts - Sculpture & Jewelry

Service as a priest:

1989-1996

St. Ephrem’s Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

1996-1999

St. Helen’s Church in Howard Beach, Queens

1999-2001

St. Barbara’s Church in Bushwick, Brooklyn

2001-2008

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, as Chaplain, Catholic Campus Ministry

2008-2011

St. Matthias Church in Queens

2011-2019

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, as Chaplain, Catholic Campus Ministry

2012 - 2019

St. francis Xavier Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

2019 - 2021

St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

1999 - present

New York Catholic Kolping Society, Spiritual Director

2016 - present

Catholic Kolping Society of America, National Spiritual Director

2001 - present

Eternal Flame of Hope Ministries, Inc.  Founder and Spiritual Director

2001

Retired - Priest, Brooklyn Diocese

2021 - 2022

St. Anthony of Padua and St. Thomas Aquinas Church (Archdiocese of New York), Non-official Administrator

2022 - present

St. Anthony of Padua and St. Thomas Aquinas Church (Archdiocese of New York), Appointed Pastoral Administrator

Highlights

Created and oversaw the Ignatius 30-Day Retreat in 1983 and 2008.
Taught courses for The Diocesan Pastoral Institute on Vatican II, and the New Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church.
Art work has been featured in articles in The Tablet and he participated in the inaugural art show of A.S.A.P. in Soho, New York.
Led the Days of Recollection and Retreats for Religious, Deacons and the Laity throughout local dioceses in the tristate area.
Conducted Healing Masses. At one of these Healing Masses he was invited to co-lead a pilgrimage to Medjugorge, Bosina. It was here, on this trip that the inspiration for Eternal Flame of Hope Ministries and Heaven’s Embrace was born.