He studied philosophy at St. John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria and theology at the Missionary Institute of Mill Hill in London.

[9] In January 2018, Brislin visited the Gaza Strip as part of the annual Holy Land Coordination, an international effort of bishops in support of peace and communication.

[13][14] On 28 October 2024, Pope Francis appointed Brislin to serve as Cardinal Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, succeeding Archbishop-Emeritus Buti Joseph Tlhagale.

The Acacia tree, maize and wheat are the common signs of life and fruit of labour in the Free State.

Archbishop Brislin did however introduce an additional charge in his Arms when he arrived in Cape Town, namely including a bunch of Grapes that he placed in the center base of the shield.

This addition represents the fruitfulness of the Western Cape - a well-known and popular location for vineyards - and deepens the allusion in his previous Arms.

The many workers on board the ships that dock daily in Cape Town are able to find a home in the Church and in the Archdiocese.

Whilst the latter links itself to the naval allusions of the Anchor, the former speaks to the fact that even the Holy Family had experiences of being a refugee as they sought refuge in a foreign land.

The Basotho hat is in honour point representing the concern that the Cardinal has in never forgetting his roots and where he came from in Welkom - a town that in English translation means 'Welcome' and is the attitude of hospitality Catholicism, and in particular Pope Francis, has called the Church to embody, welcoming the stranger.

The Cardinal’s motto “Veritas in Caritate” (Truth in Charity) taken from Ephesians 4:15, is also a homage to Pope Benedict XVI who originally appointed him to the episcopate and whose third Encyclical bears a similar name "Caritas in Veritate", and has remained a constant in his Arms since 2007.

Brislin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Pastoral Leadership by the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, USA, on 5 May 2023.