Maryknoll’s Identical Twins

Happy December 18th everyone! While we are only a week away from Christmas, let’s take today to honor National Twins Day! Some time ago I discovered that Maryknoll had its own set of Identical twins: Fathers Paul J. and Peter C. Brien. In order to celebrate National Twins day, let’s take a look at the lives and careers of Maryknoll’s Twin Fathers.

Paul Joseph and Peter Clement Brien were born in Escanaba, Michigan on September 4th, 1933. It seems being named after two of Jesus’s Apostles was foreshadowing for their future as missioners. Right after elementary school, both Paul and Peter entered the Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin. They entered the Maryknoll Seminary in September 1953 and were ordained 7 years later on June 11th, 1960. Both Fathers were assigned to Taiwan, thus starting a long career at Maryknoll.

Fr. Paul Brien arrived in Taiwan shortly after his ordination and began language calls. Over the next 25 years, Fr. Paul worked in a number of parishes including Nantou, Changhua Hsein, Lukang, and Tien Chung. In 1978, he helped obtain funds to build a new church in Tien Chung, finishing construction in 1980.

Fr. Paul also participated significantly in the Regional Leadership. He was elected as Assistant Regional Superior in 1973 and 1982. In 1985, he was elected as Regional Superior and served two terms from 1985 to 1991. After a year-long sabbatical in 1991, Fr. Paul began working in the Development Houses in the United States. He spent the next 9 years working in Seattle and Detroit, eventually retiring in 2001.

Fr. Peter Brien also went to Taiwan following his Ordination in 1960. After language studies, he served in the parishes of Taichin in the Taichung Diocese. In 1967, he moved to mission with the Bunan aborigine tribe in the Luna parish. Unlike his twin brother, Fr. Peter began Development work much earlier on in his career, starting in 1970.While Fr. Paul spent most of his time in Taiwan, Fr. Peter would spend about an equal amount of time in Development and Taiwan.

Fr. Peter’s first stint in Development was from 1970 to 1982, where he worked in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Chicago, and on the Executive Board of the Department. He returned to Taiwan in 1983, spending the next 13 years missioned in the Taichung Diocese and serving as Assistant Regional Superior from 1991 to 1996. In 1996 Fr. Peter returned to Development work, this time working in Chicago and Washington DC. He did this work until 2002, when he retired to Taiwan to live with his twin.

In 2002, Fr. Paul and Fr. Peter Brien were living together in the Society House in Taichung, Taiwan. Fr. Peter also acted as the Taiwan Regional and Group Superior from 2003 to 2013. The Brien twins were well loved by the Taiwanese people, particularly those of the parishes they served. They were able to celebrate their 50th Jubilee in Taiwan, as well as the 50th Jubilee of the Taichin Church. By 2013, both were back at the Senior Missioner Community at Maryknoll. Fr. Paul J. Brien passed away on July 6, 2016, and Fr. Peter C. Brien passed away a few months later on November 18. 2016.