Brothers Harry Eccles, Michael McCarthy and William Griffin with orphans in Haiti.

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Brothers at conclusion of Regional meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 8.

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Brother Kenney Gorman spreads cheer as Santa Claus at Holy Family Medical Center in Illinois.

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Most Reverend Peter J. Uglietto, S.T.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, celebrates Mass for the Brothers at Xaverian House in Danvers, MA on December 14.

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At sunrise on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, after “fighting the good fight,” as he said in his last letter to the Mount St. Joseph Community, Brother James Kelly was called home to God surrounded by his sister, Pat, his Brothers, and his friend and Mount St. Joseph Principal, Barry Fitzpatrick. Brother James died in his 64th year and his 46th year in religion. The son of the late Joseph and Dorothy (Vigneault) Kelly, Brother James joined the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier after graduating from Marian High School in Framingham, MA, where he was taught by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston. He always considered himself a “mail order bride,” as he joined the Congregation without having been taught by the Brothers. He made up for his lack of direct experience of Xaverian education by immersing himself in all things Xaverian at the feet of his novitiate teacher and mentor, Brother Aubert Downey. He would become one of the preeminent Xaverian educators and administrators, serving as head of three of our schools, including the two oldest, St. Xavier’s in Louisville and Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore. He was also noted for his knowledge of Xaverian history, especially the anecdotes and trivia of Xaverian life in America. A generation of Xaverian student leaders learned about the history of the Congregation from his talk at the annual student leadership retreat. In a similar fashion, new teachers to Xaverian schools in the US learned both the history of Congregation as well as some sage advice at the annual orientation for new faculty members. Elected as a member of the General Council of the Congregation in 2007, he was eager to learn about and visit the younger members of the Congregation in Kenya and Congo. In addition to his knowledge of Xaverian history, he was a student of the history of other religious congregations, including the Sisters of Mercy and their Foundress, Mother Catherine McCauley, as well as that of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of Bon Secours, and more recently, the Holy Redeemer Sisters, the German Congregation the Xaverian Brothers first brought to America in the early 20th century to work with the Brothers at Mount St. Joseph. His interest in and appreciation for the history of religious life, was deeply rooted in his own sense of vocation as a consecrated religious and a teaching brother. Please pray for the repose of the soul of this dedicated member of the Congregation, who learned first hand the meaning of redemptive suffering from his own battles with cancer. His wake will take place at the Mount St. Joseph Chapel and his funeral at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen followed by burial in the old section of New Cathedral Cemetery at the foot of the statute of St. Francis Xavier.

Brother Lawrence Harvey, CFX

General Superior

Words of Remembrance and Words of Thanks from the funeral service

Catholic Review Column (December 14) by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien on Brother James Kelly

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mount St. Joseph High School 4403 Frederick Ave, Baltimore, MD 21229 or to the Xaverian Brothers Generalate 4409 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229.

A Baltimore Sun article may be found here.

A Catholic Review article may be found here.

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Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien greets some of the Brothers who renewed vows at a Saint Francis Xavier Day Mass celebrated at Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, MD on Thursday, December 1. The Saint Francis Xavier feast day is December 3.

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Ryken Award Winners

During Founders’ Week leading up to the Saint Francis Xavier Feast Day on December 3, Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools present The Theodore James Ryken Award which was established to recognize an adult member of the school community who by her or his commitment and dedication strives:

-To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ;

-To participate in the school’s community of faith and to nurture members of the community;

-To be committed to academic excellence and to recognize the talents of individuals;

-To recognize the importance of educating the whole person;

-To fulfill the Gospel call to peace and justice.

The following individuals are the winner of the Ryken Award for 2011

Mr. David Gilpin, Lowell Catholic High School

Mrs. Elizabeth Paquette, Malden Catholic High School

Brother Charles Cully, CFX, Mount St. Joseph High School

Brother James Kelly, CFX, Mount St. Joseph High School

Ms. Nancy Roberts, Nazareth Regional High School

Mr. Richard Miller, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

Mrs. Cynthia DeLucia, St. Bernard School

Mr. Timothy Williams, St. John’s High School

Mr. Amir Ghali, St. John’s Preparatory School

Mrs. Jane Connelly, St. Mary’s Ryken High School

Mr. Arnold Drury, St. Xavier High School

Mr. Denis Smit,h Xaverian Brothers High School

Mr. Emmanuel, Ejiogu Xaverian High School

Mrs. Kathryn, Lee Xavier High School

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Papal Award Bestowed

Brother James Kelly, President of Mount Saint Joseph High School, was presented with The Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien on Sunday, November 20 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore Catholic Review described the emotional ceremony. Brother James is pictured with some of his students, past and present, who shared in this special day and being assisted by his godson, Colin Novik, and Chris Sapienza of Mount St. Joseph after receiving the Papal Award.

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Brother Leonard Wojtanowski was honored for his 19 years of service by the Nativity Mission Center in New York City during its 40th Anniversary Alumni dinner on Saturday, November 19. Brother Leonard was honored for his “immeasurable role in teaching and embodying what it means to be a man for others.” Pictured are: Mr. Dan Perez, Principal of Nativity, Brother Leonard, and Father Jack Podsiadlo, SJ, Director of Nativity School in New York.

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On Saturday November 12, fourteen Xaverian Brothers Associates gathered to recommit to the three promises of daily prayer, outreach to the poor and marginalized, and communion with the Brothers. Michael and Shelby McGeehin, two of our Associates, are pictured here with Brother Paul Feeney who was the keynote speaker at the recommitment ceremony held at the Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville, Maryland.

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Brother Michael Foley (seated right) with some other teachers at a farewell for senior students at St. Bakhita’s Secondary School, Narus, Sudan.

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Brother Regj Cruz has been appointed by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue (Kenya), as Vice Postulator for the cause for the beatification of the Servant of God, Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga. Brother Regj is being installed on November 11 during a Mass at the Holy Family Minor Basilica. Read about his appointment.

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After a long period of suffering as a result of dementia, Brother John Hickey (Brother Mitchell) passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 16 while in hospice care at Maristhill Nursing Center in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Brother John, a native New Yorker and graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, entered the Xaverian Brothers in September 1949, and, on the Feast of St. Joseph 1950, was invested in the Xaverian habit and given the name Brother Mitchell. John was one of those young Brothers sent out to the missions prior to having the opportunity to complete his undergraduate education. His first mission was at Baltimore’s St. Patrick’s Parish from 1952-58, where he taught grade school while attending classes at Loyola College. In 1958, like many of the 8th grade boys at St. Patrick’s, he went cross town to Mount St. Joseph High School, where he taught and coached until being transferred to Flaget High School, Louisville from 1962-66, followed by a short two-year stint teaching at St. Joe’s Prep, Bardstown. John’s longest assignment was at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland where he taught history and social studies for 16 years from 1968-1984.

In 1984, John accepted the request of the provincial to join the leadership team at the newly renovated retirement home, Ryken House, at St. Xavier’s, Louisville. Here John’s gift of kindness and compassion was shared with his elderly and infirm Brothers who knew, like John’s former students, that behind his raspy voice and gruff exterior was one of the kindest and compassionate of Xaverians. John finished his service at Ryken House in 1991 and then began his career of working with the down and out and those suffering from addictions. He served at Holden Hall, Baltimore, a Catholic Charities facility for formerly homeless and disabled men from 1991-1994, and at Assisi Bridge House, Schriever (Houma), Louisina, a substance abuse center and halfway house administered by Catholic Charities, from 1994-1999, when he joined the community at Orangeburg, South Carolina and volunteered at Cooperative Church Ministries of Orangeburg, an interfaith outreach center overseen by Brother Jerry O’Leary. When the community residence in Organgeburg closed in 2003, John joined the Brother’s community at Xaverian High School, Brooklyn. In 2007, however, with signs of dementia beginning to show, John joined the community at Xaverian House, Danvers where he remained until needing more skilled care and was transferred to Maristhill.

May he rest in peace.

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At the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the opening of school at St John's, Shrewsbury, MA, the newly renovated wing was dedicated as Xaverian Brothers Hall. This wing was the former Brothers' residence and now houses the school's guidance office, advancement office and finance office.

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Brother Lawrence Harvey, General Superior with Brothers Tresor Malenga and Rutal Bulungo who made their first profession of vows at St. Therese Church in Likasi, Democratic Republic of Congo on August 5. Brother Lawrence received their vows in the presence of the Brothers from the region and other guests.

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Independence Day-Southern Sudan

Brother Mike Foley spent the afternoon of July 8 in Freedom Square, Narus, southern Sudan watching the people getting 'warmed up' for the celebration of their July 9 Independence Day. It was non-stop traditional dancing, with each ethnic group trying to out-do the others. Brother Mike notes that still pictures do no justice to the celebratory mood of the people.

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Brothers celebrating their 60th Jubilee at Xaverian Brothers High School, Westwood, MA in June 11.

L to R: Brothers Peter Mahoney, Daniel Lynch, Charles Warthen, Labre Dillon, Thomas Lydon and Larry Nyhan (seated)

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Jubilarians preparing to renew their vows at the Jubilee Celebration

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Congratulations to the Brothers Celebrating a Jubilee in 2011!!

70 Years
Brother James E. Smith
Brother John T. Hart

60 Years
Brother Labre Dillon
Brother Thomas P. Lydon
Brother Daniel Lynch
Brother Peter J. Mahoney
Brother H. Lawrence Nyhan
Brother Charles M. Warthen

50 Years
Brother Charles M. Cully
Brother William J. Cushing
Brother Michael Foley
Brother Clement Kowalchuk
Brother Richard Mazza
Brother Ronald Santoro
Brother John C. Sullivan
Brother Victor Kazadi Lenge Kupupo

A Jubilee Celebration will take place in Westwood, Massachusetts on Saturday, June 11.

PROFICIAT!

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Brother Lawrence Harvey, General Superior, with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu at Saint John's High School, Shrewsbury, MA. Archbishop Tutu spoke at St. John's on Monday, May 23. His topic, "God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Times".

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Brother Clement Kowalchuk enjoys the company of former students as he was feted on his Golden Jubilee in Brooklyn, NY on May 21.

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When the Xaverian Brothers sponsored program for college students, Sant Zaveryen in Port au Prince, Haiti was destroyed in last year’s earthquake, three of the young men were given the opportunity to complete their educations here in the United States. With the assistance of an alumnus of a Xaverian Sponsored school, along with his wife, the men were able to earn degrees at Sienna University. They returned to Haiti on May 25 following graduation. Pictured left to right are Pierre-Louis Joizil, Brother Michael McCarthy, Cenat Esperandieu and Canes Camil at the Xaverian Brothers Generalate in Baltimore, MD.

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Congratulations to Brother Ambrose Waswa Wakwabubi of Kenya (left) who graduated from the Center for Justice and Peace Building at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA with an M.A. in Conflict Transformation. The graduation ceremony took place on Sunday, May 1. With Brother Ambrose are Brothers James Connolly and Cosmas Rubencamp.