Christian Brothers and affiliates in the South and Southwest since

New Orleans-Santa Fe District, 2014
Christian Brothers and affiliates in the South and Southwest
since 1851 who died in June
1. 1960: Brother Gauthier Victor (Pierre M.
Gibelin) died at age 69 in Lafayette, Louisiana, after years of
suffering from the effects of a stroke. He was born on May 12,
1891, in La Chaze in the French department of La Lozère and
entered the junior novitiate in Lembecq, Belgium, on
November 11, 1905. He was sent to the novitiate in Bettange,
Luxemburg, where he received the brother’s robe on October
28, 1907. A year later he returned
to Lembecq for two years of study
in the scholasticate and in June
1910 was sent to Mexico. He
taught in Puebla until the end of
the school year and was sent to
teach in the Instituto del Sagrado
Corazón in Morelia for the school
years 1911 to 1914. When the
General Venustiano Carranza
revolution forced all foreign priests
and religious out of the country in
August 1914 his community
escaped by ship from Vera Cruz to
Cuba. He was among some 65 of
the 175 French brothers in Mexico
Pierre M. Gibelin (Br.
Gauthier Victor)
who accepted the offer to go to the
United States, and he was assigned
to the New York District. He studied English one year in the
scholasticate in Pocantico Hills, New York, and taught two
years in Albany and one in Utica. In 1918 he was sent to
Louisiana and spent the rest of his life there. He was in the
founding community at St. Paul’s College (high school) in
Covington, 1918-1925, except for a short stay at St. Peter’s
College (high school) in New Iberia in the fall of 1922. He
spent seven years, 1925-1932, at De La Salle in Lafayette
providing non-teaching support to the houses of formation. He
taught at Landry Memorial High School in Lake Charles, 19321933, Hanson Memorial High School in Franklin, 1933-1946,
and Cathedral High in Lafayette, 1946-1951. He then had a
stroke which deprived him of speech, and he spent the rest of
his life in the retirement community at De La Salle in
Lafayette.
1. 1973: Mr. James Simms, AFSC, died in
Denver, Colorado. He and his wife raised their large family to
be highly religious. Three of their sons became Christian
Brothers, one became a Jesuit, and a daughter became a Little
Sister of the Poor. He and his wife were affiliated in Denver in
1958.
good neighborhoods with top-notch public schools. During his
career he built over 40,000 such residences. He was a generous
donor to democratic campaigns, educational institutions, and
the needy. He respected the Christian Brothers’ mission and
became a generous contributor to their College of Santa Fe in
Santa Fe, New Mexico (which closed in 2009 and was
succeeded by the Santa Fe University of Art and Design). He
was granted letters of affiliation and joked about being the
brothers’ first Jewish member.
2. 1865: Brother Lucian (Connell Duggan) died
suddenly at age 44 in Albany, New York. He was born in
Grocedore Ireland on August 10, 1820, and entered the
novitiate in Montreal at age 34 in 1854. Due to his poor health,
he was sent to St. Augustine, Florida, where he was the
founding director of Christian Brothers Academy in September
1859, with three more brothers as teachers. It opened with 52
day students and 47 boarders, whose tuition was the only
source of income. The school flourished immediately, but
unfortunately had a short life. When the Union forces
blockaded the city in the spring of 1861 during the War
Between the States, the boarders had to be sent home, the
school closed, and the brothers had to live from hand to mouth
until they were able to get out in 1864. Br. Lucian’s health
suffered from the poverty. He went back to New York and was
assigned to St. Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, but succumbed to his illness on the way and died
in Albany.
2. 1865: Brother Lucian (Connell Duggan)
died suddenly at age 44 in Albany, New York. He was born in
Grocedore Ireland on August 10, 1820, and entered the
novitiate in Montreal at age 34 in 1854. Due to his poor health,
he was sent to St. Augustine, Florida, where he was the
founding director of Christian Brothers Academy in September
1859, with three more brothers as teachers. It opened with 52
day students and 47 boarders, whose tuition was the only
source of income. The school flourished immediately, but
unfortunately had a short life. When the Union forces
blockaded the city in the spring of 1861 during the War
Between the States, the boarders had to be sent home, the
school closed, and the brothers had to live from hand to mouth
until they were able to get out in 1864. Br. Lucian’s health
suffered from the poverty. He went back to New York and was
assigned to St. Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, but succumbed to his illness on the way and died
in Albany.
AFSC, died of cancer at age 86 in Pleasanton, California.
2. 2007: Brother Cassian Emery
(Theodore W. Lange) died peacefully at age 90 in
He was survived by his wife, Jill Tishman, his daughter,
Victoria Tishman Kamerzell, and her daughters, Sofia and
Olivia. He was born a poor Jewish kid in the Bronx but died
legendary real estate developer, philanthropist, and democratic
fundraiser. He described his childhood growing up in
dilapidated apartments as his inspiration for becoming a real
estate developer. He built multi-family low-income housing in
Covington, Louisiana. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana,
on February 10, 1917, graduated from high school, and entered
the novitiate at De La Salle in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1932.
He received the brother’s garb there on Aug. 14, 1933, and a
year later was sent to study in the scholasticate at Sacred
Heart Training College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was
assigned to teach at St. Paul’s College (high school) in
1. 2013: Mr. Donald Howard Tishman,
2
Covington, 1936-1942, the junior novitiate at De La Salle in
Lafayette, 1942-1947, and sent back to St. Paul’s as
subdirector one year and director until 1951. He had a year off
for special studies at the brothers’ international motherhouse in
Rome and then served 12 years as community director and
school principal: St. Peter’s College/Catholic High School in
New Iberia, Louisiana, 1952-1955, St. Paul’s in Covington,
1955-1961, and De La Salle High
School in New Orleans,
Louisiana, 1961-1964. He was
the district’s vocation director the
next six years, the first two in the
West while residing in the
brothers’ community at Mullen
High School in Denver,
Colorado, and the last four in the
South, while residing at De La
Salle in Lafayette. In 1970 he
returned to St. Paul’s for seven
more years, the first two as a
Theodore W. Lange (Br.
counselor and the next five as
Cassian Emery)
community director and school
principal. He was then sent back to De La Salle in New
Orleans and stayed 17 years, 13 as a counselor and then one as
director-principal. In 1991, at age 74, he retired and stayed in
the community but worked part-time in the school. In January
1994, he moved to the retirement community at St. Paul’s in
Covington.
3. 1890: Brother Fredlemid (Ferdinand
Langevin) died of a heart attack at age 63 in Oakland,
California. He was born on October 4, 1826, in La Malbaie in
the Canadian province of Quebec. He entered the novitiate in
Montreal in 1850 at age 24 and received the brother’s robe
there on December 24. He was not a teacher and spent his
whole life in various support services. After assignments in
Canada and in the Northeast, he was sent to Pass Christian
College in Pass Christian, Mississippi, in November 1867, to
St. Joseph parochial school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in
September 1869, back to Pass Christian in August 1870, to the
Midwest in April 1871, and to St. Mary’s College in San
Francisco in April 1878. He moved with the college to Oakland
and died there.
3. 1896: Brother Marcellian, also called
Arcadius Walbert (Arcadius Bilodeau), died at age
53 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was born on March 3, 1843,
in St. Henri-Lavis, Canada, and entered the novitiate in
Montreal on June 15, 1858. He taught in Rochester and Utica,
New York, until 1881 and in St. Louis, Missouri, until he was
assigned to St. Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, in July 1893. He was supervisor of resident
students there two years and in 1895 was appointed director of
La Salle Institute in nearby Las Vegas. He became very sick
and returned to Santa Fe in April 1896 for treatment, but to no
avail.
3. 1963: Dr. John O. Duhon, MD, AFSC,
died in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was affiliated in 1935 for his
professional services to the brothers.
3. 1979: Brother Adelin Ernest (Ernest P.
Cocagne) died peacefully at age 91 in Lafayette, Louisiana.
He was visitor of the district, 1940-1949. He was born on April
24, 1888, in Rennes in the French department of Ille-et-Vilaine.
His mother died shortly after his birth, and his father, a
professional in the French army, put Ernest in a private
religious school, which was
closed in 1903 by the French antireligious laws of 1901. Ernest
heard about a normal school the
Christian Brothers started in
Buzenval, near Paris, in 1904,
and enrolled. A year later, on July
15, 1905, he entered the newlyopened junior novitiate in
Lembecq, Belgium. After two
months he was sent to the new
international novitiate in Bettange
Ernest P. Cocagne (Br.
in the grand duchy of Luxemburg
Adelin Ernest)
and received the brother’s garb
there on October 28, 1905. A year later he was back in
Lembecq studying in the scholasticate and preparing to teach
in Mexico. He arrived in Puebla, Mexico, in January 1908, and
started teaching in Colegio de San Pedro y San Pablo. He
stayed there teaching math and science until the General
Venustiano Carranza revolution forced all foreign priests and
religious out of the country in August 1914. His community
escaped by boat from Vera Cruz to Cuba. He was among some
65 of the 175 French brothers then in Mexico who took the
offer to go to the United States. He was assigned to the New
York District and spent a year each at La Salle Academy and
Manhattan College in New York, a year in Syracuse, New
York, and a year at De La Salle Institute in New York. In 1918
he was faced with his military obligation as a French citizen.
Fortunately, he was allowed to do so in the United States as an
interpreter for the French government in dealings with the
United States army. After his honorable discharge in 1919 he
was sent to Buzenval, near Paris, for special studies. In 1920 he
was assigned to St. Paul’s College (high school) in Covington,
Louisiana, where he taught one year and then received the first
of many administrative appointments: subdirector of St. Paul’s,
1921-1925, founding principal and community director at
Cathedral High School in El Paso, Texas, 1925-1929, principal
and community director of St. Paul’s, 1929-1935, and
subdirector, 1935-1939, director and principal at Cathedral
High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1939-1940, auxiliary
visitor in April 1940, and visitor from October 1940 until 1949.
He was the founding principal and community director at De
La Salle High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1949-1955,
and then subdirector (again!) at St. Paul’s in Covington, 19551956. Finally, back to the classroom, this time for 18 years, as
a professor of math and science at St. Michael’s College
(College of Santa Fe) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1956-1974.
He was also the brothers’ community prodirector the last 16
years. He finally retired in 1974 at age 86 and spent his last
five years at De La Salle in Lafayette. Brother Antel Arsène
“Arsenius” (Aloys Josef Macher) wrote in his memoirs of
3
Ernest’s qualities as an administrator: “He was a wise choice,
because he was a school man in the full meaning of the word,
possessing a deep sense of responsibility, even-tempered, a
wise disciplinarian, putting first things first, laying stress on
intellectual development of the students first, then giving place
to activities.”
4. 1937: Brother Barnabé Marie (Jean Hammès)
died at age 73 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was born on August
28, 1863, in the hamlet of Alpach in the French department of
Moselle, the first of six children in a family of farmers. He had
to quit school early to help on the farm and learned carpentry
to bring in more money in the winter. He entered the novitiate
in Paris at age 23 in November 1886. He received the brother’s
garb there on February 2, 1887, and spent 1888-1890 in the
scholasticate of St. Joseph in Paris, where he completed the
studies for the elementary teaching license. The next 15 years
he taught successfully in a series of schools: St. Nicolas in Issy,
the junior novitiate in Buzenval, a school in Issy-lesMoulineaux, St. Ambroise in Paris for eight years, and a school
in St. Sulpice, two years. When this school was closed in 1905
on account of the French anti-religious laws of 1904, he
enrolled in an intensive course in Spanish in Clermont-Ferrand
that fall. He arrived in Puebla, Mexico, in September 1906 and
joined the community that opened the French brothers’ first
school in Mexico, Colegio de San Pedro y San Pablo in
January 1907. He taught there until August 1914, when the
General Venustiano Carranza revolution forced all foreign
religious and priests out of the country. His community
escaped by boat from Vera Cruz to Cuba, and he chose the
option of remaining in Cuba. He taught in several schools there
until 1922, when he was sent back to Mexico to teach math
and science at the Colegio de la Salle in Mexico City. He
produced a textbook for physics, which was published by the
brothers in Paris. In 1929 he was appointed subdirector of the
newly-reopened novitiate for the District of Mexico. He not
only taught the novices but also produced a considerable
number of textbooks for use in the brothers’ schools in Mexico.
To get away from the ongoing harassment of Mexican
government officials, the Mexican District arranged to move its
novitiate to De La Salle in Lafayette in 1932. There Brother
Barnabé suffered a stroke on May 26 that left half of his body
paralyzed. He died nine days later. He was the first brother
buried in the cemetery at De La Salle in Lafayette.
5. 1963: Brother John Chrysostom (Albert J.
Kilp) died of a stroke at age 86 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was
born in Newport, Kentucky, on September 17, 1874, and
graduated from high school. He went to Chicago, Illinois,
looking for a job and found one as a jewelry salesman. He
joined the Vincent de Paul Society and met the father of
Christian Brother Lawrence Sixtus. At the age of 33 in June
1907 he entered the novitiate in Glencoe, Missouri. He was
assigned to Christian Brothers College in St. Louis and studied
nursing at the Alexian Brothers’ hospital in that city. Among
his many assignments in the St. Louis District was one at St.
Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe, New Mexico,
1915-1916.
6. None
7. 1879: Brother Stanislaus (Miles Whelan) died at
age 49 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born on February 4,
1830, in Ireland. He migrated to New Orleans, Louisiana, and
became a successful businessman. He entered the novitiate in
New Orleans in 1862 at the age of 32. He was assigned to the
Community of New Orleans and taught in St. John the Baptist,
St. Patrick, and St. Theresa parochial schools until 1875. He
then taught at Christian Brothers College (later university) in
Memphis, Tennessee, 1875-1877, and was then sent to St.
Patrick’s community in St. Louis.
7. 1958: Brother Agnel Charles (Charles
Frieden) died at age 63 of abdominal and liver cancer in the
brothers’ retirement home in Athis-Mons, near Paris, France.
He was born on January 18, 1894, in
German-speaking Ehnen-surMoselle, Luxemburg, and entered the
junior novitiate in Bettange,
Luxemburg, on January 10, 1909. He
was transferred to the one in
Lembecq, Belgium, in October,
where his first task was to learn
French. He received the brother’s
garb in the novitiate in Lembecq on
August 30, 1910, and a year later
Charles Frieden (Br.
started his two years of study in the
Agnel Charles)
scholasticate. He studied Spanish and
English so intensely that by the time he finished he was fluent
in four languages at age 19. He was sent to Mexico in 1913
and assigned to the school for the poor in Mixcoac (now part
of Mexico City). Before the school year was over the General
Venustiano Carranza revolution forced all foreign religious and
priests out of the country in August 1914. Brother Agnel was
among some 65 of the 175 French brothers in Mexico who
accepted the offer to go to the United States. He was assigned
to the District of New York, where he spent two months
perfecting his English in the scholasticate at Pocantico Hills
and was then sent to the protectory in Utica, New York, to
supervise students in the shops. In 1916 he was sent to the
Manhattan College community in New York and assigned to
teach in the Melrose primary school for the poor, which had
many German-speaking immigrant children. In 1919 he was
sent to Louisiana to rejoin his French confrères in the founding
community at Cathedral High School in Lafayette. He stayed
until 1925. His former pupils there remember him as the
“brother with the big smile.” In 1925 he was assigned to the
founding community at Cathedral High School in El Paso,
Texas. He was then given the year off for special studies at the
brothers’ international motherhouse in Lembecq. In community
with the brothers and in visits with family and friends he spoke
so enthusiastically about his 15 years in “the States” that they
nicknamed him “the States.” However, by year’s end they had
convinced him to stay in Europe. He had a long, happy, and
fruitful life in many teaching assignments and leadership
positions.
4
8. 2006: Brother Christian Francis (Francis
Vessel) died at age 86 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was born
on October 30, 1921, in Denver, Colorado, and entered the
junior novitiate at Sacred Heart Training College in Las Vegas,
New Mexico, in 1935. He
received the brother’s robe in the
novitiate at De La Salle in
Lafayette, Louisiana, on August
14, 1938, and a year later was
sent back to Las Vegas for college
studies in the scholasticate. He
did his student teaching at St.
Nicholas school in Bernalillo,
New Mexico, 1941-1942, and
went back to Las Vegas to
complete the bachelor’s degree.
Francis Vessel (Br.
He taught at Instituto
Christian Francis)
Regiomontano in Monterrey,
Mexico, 1943-1948, and then had a year off for studies at
Catholic University in Washington, D. C. He was on the
founding faculty at De La Salle High School in New Orleans,
Louisiana, 1949-1954, and then had a year off for a spiritual
renewal program in Compton, Canada. He was community
director and principal at Catholic High School in New Iberia,
Louisiana, 1955-1958, and director of the scholasticate (student
brothers) at St. Michael’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico,
1958-1959. He was on the college faculty until 1963. He was
sent to De La Salle High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, as
subdirector and assistant principal and then taught two years.
He then had a year off to complete the doctorate in Romance
languages at the University of Colorado and returned to the
classroom at St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, 1968-1981. His teaching was interrupted by calls to
the international motherhouse in Rome in the spring of 1972
and the spring of 1974 to be an official interpreter at
international chapters and meetings and to translate official
documents, especially from French and Spanish into English.
He taught at the College of Santa Fe from 1981 until his
retirement in the brothers’ community on campus. He moved
to the retirement home at St. Michael’s High School in 2001.
He is remembered for writing lyrics for the “alma mater” or
fight songs of De La Salle High in New Orleans, Catholic High
in New Iberia, St. Michael’s High and St. Michael’s College in
Santa Fe.
9. 1947: Msgr. J. M. Langlois, AFSC, died in New
Iberia, Louisiana. As pastor of St. Peter’s parish in New Iberia,
he founded St. Peter’s College (high school) in 1918 and
obtained the brothers to operate it.
10. 1936: Brother Immanuel (Marcellin Francia)
died peacefully at age 83 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a
short illness. He was born on April 7, 1853, in Lacraux in the
French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and entered the
novitiate in Marseille in 1875 at age 22. After several years he
became discouraged, left the brothers, and migrated to the
United States. He applied for re-admission and was accepted
at the novitiate in Carondelet, Missouri, where he was again
clothed with the Christian Brother’s garb on September 8,
1884. He was purchaser for the brothers’ communities at
Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, Missouri, and at
Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tennessee. He was
skilled in calligraphy and design and gave courses in Memphis.
He was in the community that opened St. John’s Indian
Mission School in Greyhorse, Oklahoma, in 1907. He taught
a class, prepared the little children for their first communion,
and had a band and a choir. The brothers left the school in
1913, and he went to New Mexico. He taught at St. Michael’s
College (high school) in Santa Fe, 1913-1914, gave lessons in
music at La Salle Institute in Las Vegas, 1914-1916, and
returned to Santa Fe in 1916. He spent the last 20 years of his
life as custodian and tour guide of San Miguel chapel, which
is still used for Sunday Masses over 400 years after its
construction in 1610. He became ill in May 1936, and was
confined to the school infirmary. He died after receiving the
sacrament of the sick and surrounded by brothers of his
community.
10. 1978: Brother Anacletus Michael
(Ernest Michael Ponickvar) died at age 60 in Lafayette,
Louisiana, after a long illness. He was born in Leadville,
Colorado, December 15, 1917,
graduated from Mullen Home
for Boys in Fort Logan,
Colorado, and entered the
novitiate at De La Salle in
Lafayette, Louisiana. He
received the brother’s garb there
on August 14, 1937, and a year
later was sent to study in the
scholasticate at Sacred Heart
Training College in Las Vegas,
New Mexico, 1938-1941. He
taught at St. Peter’s College
(high school) in New Iberia,
Louisiana, 1941-1946, and at
Ernest Michael Ponickvar
Mullen Home for Boys, 1946(Br. Anacletus Michael)
1950. He taught the first
semester of 1950-1951 at Landry Memorial High School in
Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the second at Cathedral High
School in El Paso, Texas. He taught at Instituto Regiomontano
in Monterrey, Mexico, 1951-1954, and St. Paul’s College (high
school), in Covington, Louisiana, 1954-1957. He then
volunteered for the American districts’ schools in Central
America and spent the next 15 years in Nicaragua teaching at
Colegio San José in Bluefields, Nicaragua, 1957-1966, at a
school in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, 1966-1967, Bluefields
again, 1967-1970, and Waspam, Nicaragua, 1970-1972. He
then came back for medical care and had short assignments at
St. Michael’s High School, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the
summer 1972 and at Mullen in Denver that fall. He spent the
spring semester of 1973 at the Sangre de Cristo Center in
Chupadero near Santa Fe for personal renewal. He taught at De
La Salle High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1973-1975.
He tried his hand in the missions again at Puerto Cabezas in the
fall 1975, but had to return to New Orleans in February 1976.
The care he needed forced his transfer to De La Salle in
5
Lafayette in May 1977.
10. 1989: Brother Cecilian Denis (Edmond
Charbonnet) died of cancer at age 68 in New Orleans,
Louisiana. He was born in that city on April 6, 1921, and
entered the junior novitiate at De La Salle in Lafayette,
Louisiana, in 1934. He received the brother’s robe in the
novitiate there on August 14, 1938, and a year later was sent to
study in the scholasticate at Sacred Heart Training College in
Las Vegas, New Mexico. He did
his student teaching at St.
Michael’s College (high school) in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, 19411942, returned to the scholasticate
in 1943, and was kept an extra
year to help with work on the
physical plant. He spent the next
23 years teaching—St. Nicholas
school in Bernalillo, New Mexico,
1944-1946, St. Peter’s College
(high school) in New Iberia,
Louisiana, 1946-1949, Kirwin
High School in Galveston, Texas,
Edmond Charbonnet (Br.
1949-1953, back to St. Peter’s,
Cecilian Denis)
1953-1954, Hanson Memorial
High School in Franklin, Louisiana, 1954-1956, and St. Paul’s
High in Covington, where he remained 11 years, first as a
teacher and then as a supervisor of resident students. He was
sent back to New Iberia in 1967 as community director and
principal of Catholic High School. In 1971 he was assigned to
teach at Mullen High School in Denver, Colorado, 1971-1973,
at St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 19731976, and Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie,
Louisiana, 1976-1977. He founded Christian Brothers
Academy, an upper elementary school with small classes,
nearby, relocated it to New Orleans near Christian Brothers
School, and remained principal and community director until
he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January 1989, some
five months before his death. The academy was unique and
highly valued for students with special learning needs.
10. 2006: Brother Columban Isidore
(Edward Scanlan) died at age 86 in New Orleans,
Louisiana, after a lengthy illness. He
was born in that city on March 22,
1920, and entered the junior novitiate
at De La Salle in Lafayette in 1934.
He received the brother’s garb in the
novitiate there on August 14, 1938,
and a year later was sent to study in
the scholasticate at Sacred Heart
Training College in Las Vegas, New
Mexico. He was sent to St. Michael’s
College (high school) in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, in 1943 as a teacher two Edward Scanlan (Br.
Columban Isidore)
years and as supervisor of resident
students for three more. He taught at
St. Peter’s College (high school) in New Iberia, Louisiana,
1948-1951, St. Paul’s College (high school) in Covington,
Louisiana, 1951-1954, Cathedral High School in El Paso,
Texas, 1954-1955, and at Catholic High School in New Iberia,
1955-1958. He was community subdirector and assistant
principal at Catholic High, 1958-1963. He was appointed
director and principal at Christian Brothers School in New
Orleans and stayed 31 years. He was principal of the nearby
Christian Brothers Academy, 1994-1996, all the while working
vigorously as president of Christian Brothers Foundation. His
leadership in the formation and growth of this foundation
resulted in ongoing major financial support to the district.
11. None
12. 1954: Brother Amolvin-Marie “Martin”
(Jean Pierre Martin Duffau) died of cancer at age 69
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born on September 9,
1884, in La Panouse in the French department of La Lozère
and entered the junior novitiate in Paris on December 13, 1898.
He received the brother’s robe in the novitiate there on
October 28, 1900, studied in the St. Joseph scholasticate in
Paris one year, and taught in the brothers’ school in Igny,
1902-1905. He did his two years of required service in the
French army and then taught in the brothers’ school in
Vaugirard, 1907-1909. When it was closed in 1909 on account
of the French anti-religious laws of 1904, he enrolled in an
intensive course in Spanish that fall and was sent to Mexico the
following June. He taught in Liceo San Juan Bautista de la
Salle in Querétaro in the school years 1911 to 1914. When the
General Venustiano Carranza revolution forced all foreign
priests and religious out of the country in August 1914, the
superiors at the international motherhouse in Belgium ordered
the evacuation of the175 brothers in Mexico and gave them
three choices: return to France, teach in Cuba, or go the United
States. Brother Martin took the third and was assigned to the
District of San Francisco. He studied English and started
teaching. In 1919 he was called to join his confrères in
Louisiana and assigned to St. Peter’s College (high school) in
New Iberia, 1919-1920, Cathedral High in Lafayette, 19201923, St. Paul’s College (high school) in Covington, 19231927, and Landry Memorial High School in Lake Charles,
1927-1930. He spent the rest of his life in non-teaching support
services in New Mexico: in charge of purchasing and physical
plant at St. Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe, 19301941, at Sacred Heart Training College in Las Vegas, 19411947, and finally at the district’s ranch in Bernalillo, from 1947
until his death. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1954 and was
hospitalized in Albuquerque, where he died.
12. 1963: Brother Adelphe Marie
“Edward” (Edouard Bernard) died at age 73 in Santa
Fe, New Mexico, a few days after suffering a stroke. He was
born on June 21, 1890, in Bonnet in the French department of
La Lozère and entered the junior novitiate in the international
motherhouse in Lembecq, Belgium, on November 5, 1905. He
received the brother’s garb in another foreign country in the
novitiate in Bettange, Luxemburg, on June 7, 1907. He was
sent back to Lembecq in 1908 to study in the international
scholasticate there and was sent to Mexico in the fall of 1909.
He taught at Colegio San Juan Bautista de la Salle in Puebla in
the school year 1910, in the free school for the poor in the
village of Acatzingo in 1911, and in Toluca, 1912-1914. With
his confrères, he fled the country in August 1914 during the
6
General Venustiano Carranza
revolution and was assigned to
the District of New York. He
spent four years in Fall River,
Massachusetts, and
one in
Lincolndale, New York. In 1919
he was sent to St. Michael’s
College (high school) in Santa Fe,
New Mexico, and in 1925 to El
Paso, Texas, as a founding
member of the community at
Cathedral High School. He taught
at St. Michael’s in Santa Fe again,
1928-1930, and in the junior Edouard Bernard (Br. Adelphe
Marie “Edward”)
novitiate at De La Salle in
Lafayette, Louisiana, 1930-1931. He was appointed subdirector
of the scholasticate and professor of biology at Sacred Training
College in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1931 and kept these
positions when the scholastics were moved to St. Michael’s
College in Santa Fe in 1947. In 1956 he was relieved of the
subdirectorship but he continued teaching until a few weeks
before he had a stroke.
13. 1904: Brother Cornelius Peter (Nicholas
Endes) died of a heart attack at age 65 in Glencoe, Missouri.
He was born on January 20, 1839, in Lampadon, Prussia,
migrated to the United States, and worked in several
businesses. At age 31 he entered the novitiate in Carondelet,
Missouri, and received the brother’s robe in 1871. He taught in
the Midwest, 1872-1878, and at St. John the Baptist School in
New Orleans, Louisiana, 1878-1881. After another year in the
Midwest, he had minor administrative assignments the rest of
his life, including a year at St. Michael’s College (high school)
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1893-1894. In 1902 over-exertion
and a heart problem forced his assignment to the retirement
community in Glencoe, where he died.
13. 1951: Brother Adelbert Marie (Sylvain
Duret) died peacefully at age 62 in Lafayette, Louisiana, after
years of suffering from diabetes.
He was born in Paris on October
6, 1888. He entered the junior
novitiate in that city on April 18,
1901, and three months later was
sent to the international junior
novitiate at the recently-relocated
motherhouse in Lembecq, Belgium. He was suffering from a
chronic illness. He was sent to a
s e c o n d f o r e i g n co untr y,
Luxemburg, to receive the
brother’s garb in the novitiate in
Sylvain Duret (Br.
Bettange on October 28, 1905. He
Adelbert Marie)
returned to Lembecq in 1906 for
14 months of study in the scholasticate and was sent to Mexico
in January 1908. Three months later, at age 19, he was teaching
in Instituto Científico in Zacatecas. He was assigned to Liceo
Católico in Querétaro for the school years 1913 and 1914.
When the General Venustiano Carranza revolution forced all
foreign priests and religious out of the country in August 1914,
Brother Adelbert was among some 65 of the 175 French
brothers in Mexico who accepted the offer to go to the United
States and was assigned to the New York District. He studied
English in the junior novitiate in Pocantico Hills and then
taught French, Spanish and math successfully at La Salle
Academy (Second Street) in New York City, 1915-1918. In
1918 he was sent to Covington, Louisiana, to be in the
founding community of brothers taking over the operation of
St. Paul’s College (high school), taught at Cathedral High
School in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1921-1926, and returned to St.
Paul’s in Covington as director, 1926-1929. He taught in the
scholasticate at Sacred Heart Training College in Las Vegas,
New Mexico, 1929-1931, and at St. Michael’s College (high
school) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was also
subdirector, 1931-1934. He was principal and community
director at Kirwin High School in Galveston, Texas, 19341940, and at Cathedral High in Lafayette, 1940-1943. He was
on the founding faculty of Instituto Regiomontano in
Monterrey, Mexico, 1943-1946, returned to St. Paul’s in
Covington one year as subdirector, and was on the founding
faculty of St. Michael’s College (College of Santa Fe) in Santa
Fe, New Mexico, 1947-1950. Due to failing health, he was sent
to retire at De La Salle in Lafayette in January 1950. However,
he taught classes in the junior novitiate and the novitiate until
a few weeks before his death. He had a reputation among the
brothers as a scholar of broad interests and an avid reader of
both classical and contemporary books. He became known and
respected for his well-prepared conferences and was frequently
called on to preside over the regular annual eight-day retreats
and the special 30-day retreats. One of his confrères wrote: “It
seems that Brother Adelbert once boasted that he never
repeated a conference. I can easily believe that.” Another
wrote: “His conferences were always well-prepared, full of life
and enthusiasm, well within the spirit of our Rule.”
. 13. 1997: Brother August Raphael
(Richard B. Bodin) was murdered at age 72 by burglars
who broke into his room the night of
June 13-14 and suffocated him in the
city of Ondo in Nigeria, Africa, where
he had been teaching at La Salle
College since 1989. He was born in
Franklin, Louisiana, on March 13,
1925, and was taught by the brothers at
Hanson Memorial High School in that
city. He entered the junior novitiate at
De La Salle in Lafayette, Louisiana, in
1937. He received the brother’s robe in
the novitiate there on August 14, 1941, Richard B. Bodin (Br.
August Raphael)
and a year later was sent to study in the
scholasticate at Sacred Heart Training
College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He did his student
teaching at Landry Memorial High School in Lake Charles,
Louisiana, 1944-1945, and returned to Las Vegas to complete
the bachelor’s degree. He taught at St. Peter’s College (high
school) in New Iberia, Louisiana, 1947-1952, and in the junior
novitiate at De La Salle, 1952-1956. He was then sent to the
brothers’ international motherhouse in Rome for a year of
special studies and returned home to spend most of the next 30
years as an administrator: principal and director of Cathedral
High School in El Paso, Texas, 1957-1960, director-general of
7
De La Salle in Lafayette, 1960-1962, founding directorprincipal of Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie,
Louisiana, 1962-1964, visitor of the district, 1964-1969,
director of the brothers’ community at St. Michael’s High
School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1969-1973. He then had a
year off for graduate studies and returned to his job in Santa
Fe, 1974-1977. He went back to Rummel in Metairie as teacher
and community director, 1977-1981, and was appointed visitor
again, 1981-1987. During his last year as visitor he volunteered
for the missions in Nigeria and was all packed and ready to
leave shortly after his successor as visitor was installed. He
spent 10 years preparing young Africans for the postulancy and
the novitiate, teaching them courses, serving as directorgeneral of the brothers’ compound in Ondo and as secretary
and bursar of the subdistrict. He returned to Louisiana in 1996
for prostate cancer surgery. He was impatient for the doctor’s
approval to return to Africa. He deeply loved his work among
the Nigerians and indicated his desire to be buried in Nigeria.
Many people wrote testimonials. Brother John Johnston,
superior general: “Brother Raphael’s contribution to the
development of the Nigerian sector was outstanding. He was
deeply appreciated. He manifested great generosity in going to
Nigeria ten years ago as well as in returning after his surgery.”
Brother Dominic Ehrmantraut, visitor of the District of
Lwanga: “Brother Raphael was ... filled to the brim with faith
and zeal ... a shining example to all of us in his dedication and
commitment ....” Brother John Fairfax, confrère: “... what I
will always associate with him was his unruffled nature. He
had great composure and patience and gentleness, and he was
a very intelligent person. He never let the difficulties of daily
life or any problems that arise as a school administrator and
later a provincial ruffle him.” Mrs. Zannie Garcia, a friend and
fellow board member in Santa Fe: “My major sense of Brother
Raphael was his gentleness, kindness and wisdom. He was so
unique and so special. ... I count it one of my blessings to have
known him.”
14. 1937: Mr. Pierre Gérac, AFSC, died in
Lafayette, Louisiana. He was affiliated for his generosity to
the brothers.
15. None
17. 1865: Brother Arian (Magloire Lussier) died at
age 28 in Troy, New York. He was born on January 29, 1837,
in Boucherville in the Canadian province of Quebec, and
entered the novitiate in Montreal on September 2, 1853. He
received the brother’s garb there on October 1. Two months
later he was assigned to the brothers’ school in Pointe Lévi and
then to Troy, New York. In 1860 he was sent to Christian
Brothers Academy in St. Augustine, Florida, which had opened
in 1859. Shortly after the War Between the States started in
1861, the Union forces blockaded the city almost immediately,
and the school had to be closed in April. The brothers lived
from hand to mouth until they were able to get out in 1864.
Brother Arian made his way back to Yonkers, New York,
renewed his vows in Troy, New York, on June 11, 1865, and
died six days later.
17. 1911: Rosella Mary (Parker: Mrs. F.
W.) Colquhoun, AFSC, died in New Orleans, Louisiana,
at the age of 90. A native of the city, she became acquainted
with the brothers there during the yellow fever epidemic of
1853. Her husband’s sudden death caused her distress beyond
measure. In order to relieve her mind Father Cyril de La Croix,
associate pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, suggested to her that
she look after the Christian Brothers, who had recently arrived
in the city. When she noticed they were absent from Mass, she
inquired and learned that all were ill with yellow fever. She
went to their residence with some of her friends and offered to
care for them. Brother Andronis, the community director, at
first refused, saying that no women could stay in the house, but
the good lady insisted until she won out. She did not leave the
house for two weeks; she slept on a mattress spread on the
floor. She left only when the last surviving brother was well.
She remained a warm friend of theirs throughout their stay in
the city, and they lovingly referred to her as “Mother
Colquhoun.” They granted her letters of affiliation to the
Institute in 1869. After they withdrew in 1900 she constantly
prayed for their return to the day of her death.
18. 1868: Brother Rudolphus of Mary (Henry H.
McGee) died of yellow fever in Pass Christian, Mississippi,
a few weeks short of age 39. He was born to Irish immigrants
on June 24, 1829, in Quebec, Canada, and entered the
novitiate in Montreal in 1849 at the age of 20. He taught in
three schools in Canada and was then appointed director of a
school in Rochester, New York, in 1857, one in Baltimore,
Maryland, in 1862, and one in Yonkers, New York, in 1864.
His health began to fail, and he was sent to recover at Pass
Christian College on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. He
survived the yellow fever epidemic of 1867 but did not recover
completely and lingered into the following year.
18. 1897: Brother Dosas (Johann J.
Schneider) died at age 75 in Glencoe, Missouri, after
suffering from chronic weakness and fatigue several years. He
was born in Niederzissen, Prussia, on December 16, 1821. He
began a teaching career in 1841.The entire family (parents,
four boys and one girl) migrated
to Detroit, Michigan, in 1851.
Following three of his younger
brothers, he entered the novitiate
in Montreal at age 32 and
received the brother’s garb there
on June 23, 1853. He taught
music and design in brothers’
scho o ls in P hiladelp hia,
Pennsylvania, Baltimore and
Ellicott City, Maryland, New
York City, and Rochester, New
York. He was appointed director
of a school in New York City in
Johann J. Schneider
(Br. Dosas)
1867 and later the same year
director of the novitiate in
Carondelet, Missouri, where he served six years. He was
subdirector 16 years for his younger brother, Brother Botulph,
at St. Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, 1873-1889. He also taught Latin and music. Poor
health forced him to retire to Glencoe.
8
19. 1943: Brother Adriano Benito “Adrian”
(Santiago Bustamante) died at age 34 in Denver,
Colorado, after intestinal surgery.
He was born in Pecos, New
Mexico, on January 4, 1909, one
of five children in a devout
Catholic family. He was taught by
the Loretto Sisters in the parish
school and enrolled in St.
Michael’s College (high school) in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1918.
He entered the junior novitiate at
Sacred Heart Training College in
Las Vegas, New Mexico, on
October 14, 1920, and received
the brother’s robe in the novitiate
there on August 15, 1924. He
studied in the scholasticate on the
same campus one year and was
sent to teach in the junior novitiate Santiago Bustamante (Br.
Adriano Benito “Adrian”)
at De La Salle in Lafayette, 19261929, St. Nicholas school in
Bernalillo, New Mexico, 1929-1931, Landry Memorial High
School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1932-1938, and again in
Franklin, 1938-1939. He taught at Cathedral High School in El
Paso, Texas, 1939-1941, and Mullen Home for Boys in Fort
Logan, Colorado, 1941-1943. Shortly after the end of the
school year he had such severe stomach pain that he was
hospitalized on June 8. He had intestinal surgery and seemed
to be recovering well when he died in his sleep the night of
June 18-19. He had only spotty success in classroom discipline,
but he was always cheerful, accepted suggestions and
corrections with a smile, and loved teaching. One of his
confrères wrote: “Brother Adrian told me many times that his
greatest happiness was to live in community with the brothers,
that he had been privileged to live with confrères who were
very kind and charitable to him.” Once after failing to manage
a class of older students and being assigned to a younger
group in the same school, a brother asked him how he felt. His
answer: “It really doesn’t matter, because we are doing God’s
work. Besides, I am happier with younger students.”
20. 1965: Brother Adole Léon (Léon Brunel) died
five weeks short of age 78 in Napa, California, from brain
damage caused by a stroke. He was born
in La Panouse in the French department
of La Lozère on July 26, 1887, entered
the junior novitiate in Paris in 1900 and
the novitiate in 1903. The novitiate was
closed in 1904 by the French
antireligious laws of that year and the
novices sent home. They were
regrouped in Bettange in the
neighboring royal duchy of Luxemburg
to complete the year-long novitiate.
In1905 they were sent to study in the
Léon Brunel (Br.
scholasticate at the brothers’
Adole Léon)
international motherhouse in Lembecq,
Belgium. Brother Léon left for Mexico in the fall of 1907 and
began his teaching career at age 21 in January 1908 on the first
faculty of Instituto Científico in Morelia and stayed three years.
In the school years 1911 and 1912 he taught at Colegio San
Juan Bautista de la Salle in Saltillo and in 1913 he was at
Colegio San Juan Bautista de la Salle in Puebla. When the
General Venustiano Carranza revolution forced all foreign
priests and religious out of the country in August 1914, Brother
Léon joined some 65 of the 175 French brothers in Mexico
who accepted the offer to go to the United States and was
assigned to the St. Louis District. He made his final vows there
on August 25, 1915. He was assigned to St. Michael’s College
(high school) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1916 to be in the
first community of French brothers taking the school over from
the St. Louis District, and he stayed eight years, except for the
year 1921-1922 at St. Nicholas school in Bernalillo, New
Mexico. He taught in Louisiana at St. Peter’s College (high
school) in New Iberia and Cathedral High School in Lafayette
from 1924 until December 1927, when he was sent back to
Santa Fe. He asked for a transfer to the District of San
Francisco in 1927 and remained there until his death.
21. 1890: Brother Edelwald James (George D.
Gossmann) died at age 22 in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Territory. He was born on October 10, 1867, in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and entered the novitiate in Baltimore,
Maryland, in 1883. He taught in Philadelphia and in Baltimore,
suffered a decline in health, and was sent to St. Michael’s
College (high school) in Santa Fe in 1888 in hope of a
recovery, but to no avail.
22. 1922: Brother Agathon-André (Jean Civet)
died of severe injuries in an automobile accident at age 30 near
Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was born on March 21, 1892, in
Beauzac, in the French department of Haute-Loire, and entered
the junior novitiate in the brothers’ international motherhouse
in Lembecq, Belgium, on September 9, 1906. For the novitiate
he was sent to Bettange in the royal
duchy of Luxemburg, where he was
robed in the brother’s garb on August
5, 1908, and was sent back to Lembecq
a year later to study in the
scholasticate. He arrived in Puebla,
Mexico, in January 1910, and at age 18
began teaching in Colegio San Juan
Bautista de la Salle in Puebla. He
stayed until the General Venustiano
Carranza revolution forced all foreign
Jean Civet (Br.
priests and religious out of the country
Agathon André)
in August 1914. His community
escaped by boat from Vera Cruz to Cuba, where he accepted
the offer to go to the United States. He spent four years in the
District of Baltimore and in 1918 was assigned to St. Michael’s
College (high school) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He taught
there until the fatal truck accident on the highway through
Glorieta Pass.
22. 1922: Brother Charlemagne de Jésus
(Jean B. Lacour) died of severe injuries at age 55 in an
automobile accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was born
on April 1, 1867, in the hamlet of La Mure in the French
9
department of Puy-de-Dôme and received the brother’s garb
in the novitiate at Nantes on December 8, 1883. He studied in
the scholasticate one year and taught 10 years (1885-1895) in
Fontenay. In 1895 he was sent to
Ste.-Madeleine in Nantes, where
he taught three years and was
appointed director in 1898. When
the school was closed in 1906 by
the French antireligious laws of
1904, he enrolled in an intensive
course in Spanish in ClermontFerrand. He was the director of a
group of brothers that left the port
of Barcelona in the spring of 1907
and arrived in Querétaro, Mexico,
in July to found Liceo Católico.
Jean B. Lacour (Br.
When the General Venustiano
Charlemagne de Jésus)
Carranza revolution forced all
foreign priests and religious out of the country in August 1914,
he was among some 65 of the 175 French brothers in Mexico
who chose to go to the United States and was assigned to the
District of New York. He studied English in the houses of
formation in Pocantico Hills and in 1916 was sent to Santa Fe,
New Mexico, to be in the first community of French brothers
taking over St. Michael’s College (high school) from the St.
Louis District. He taught two years and was appointed director
in 1918. He died of severe injuries received in the same truck
accident near Glorieta Pass that also killed Brother Agathon.
22. 1978: Brother Barnaby Solomon
(Redmond S. Castigliola) died of cancer at age 57 in
New Orleans, Louisiana. He was born in that city on January
26, 1921, and entered the junior novitiate at De La Salle in
Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1933. He received the brother’s garb
in the novitiate there on August 14, 1937, and a year later was
sent to study in the scholasticate
at Sacred Heart Training College
in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He
did his student teaching at
Cathedral High School in
Lafayette, 1940-1941, and went
back to the scholasticate to finish
the bachelor’s degree in 1942. He
taught at Cathedral in Lafayette
again, 1942-1944, Kirwin High
School in Galveston, Texas,
1944-1946, Landry Memorial
High School in Lake Charles,
Louisiana, 1946-1948, and St.
Paul’s High School in Covington, Redmond S. Castigliola ( Br.
Barnaby Solomon)
Louisiana, 1948-1953. He was
sent back to Kirwin in Galveston
as a teacher in 1953 and was appointed community director
and principal, 1955-1959. He spent the fall semester of 1959 in
a spiritual renewal program in Compton, Canada, and the
spring semester at De La Salle in Lafayette as director-general.
He was both community subdirector and school assistant
principal at Mullen High School in Denver, Colorado, 19601965, and continued as assistant principal two years more. In
1967 he was appointed dean of students at the College of Santa
Fe (New Mexico), and served until 1975. He moved from the
large brothers’ community on campus to the smaller Hilary
House community in 1973 and was appointed the district
vocation director for the West in 1975. A year later he was
diagnosed with cancer, sent to New Orleans for treatment, and
assigned to the community at De La Salle High School in that
city. The care he needed required his transfer to a local nursing
home, where he died.
23. None
24. 1999: Brother Alexander Gregory (Marshal
J. Louvier) died at age 67 in New Orleans, Louisiana, of a
massive heart attack. He was
born in Galveston, Texas, on
August 11, 1931, and entered the
junior novitiate at De La Salle in
Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1945. He
received the brother’s garb in the
novitiate there on August 14,
1947, and a year later was sent to
study in the scholasticate at St.
Michael’s College in Santa Fe,
New Mexico. He did his student
teaching at St. Michael’s High
School in that city, 1950-1951,
completed the bachelor’s degree
in 1953, and spent the rest of his
Marshall J. Louvier (Br.
life teaching in Louisiana: Landry
Alexander Gregory)
Memorial High School in Lake
Charles, 1953-1955, De La Salle High School in New Orleans,
1955-1957, St. Paul’s High School in Covington, 1957-1962,
and the next 37 years at Christian Brothers School in New
Orleans.
25. 1915: Brother Liguori James (Alphonsus
Raftery) died after surgery for intestinal problems at age 51
in Chicago, Illinois. He was born on September 24, 1859, in
St. Joseph, Missouri. He entered the novitiate in Carondelet,
Missouri, on November 11, 1875, and received the brother’s
garb there on December 25 that year. In 1877 he was assigned
to Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tennessee, and then
to Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, Missouri, where he
taught chemistry and physics nine years. He taught at St.
Michael’s College (high school) in Santa Fe, New Mexico,
1886-1888, and at St. Joseph’s Commercial Academy in New
Orleans, Louisiana, 1888-1889. He was director of Christian
Brothers College in St. Joseph, Missouri, five years and of De
La Salle High School in Chicago, Illinois, 1907-1914, when
poor health forced him to retire.
25. 1897: Brother Lothaire Marie
(Antoine Combes) died at the age of 70 in Fleury Meudon,
France, after spending much of his life in the foreign missions.
He was born in France in 1827 and entered the novitiate in
Paris in 1850 at the age of 23. After several years of teaching
in France, he volunteered for the foreign missions in Vietnam.
He was appointed visitor of the District of Saigon in 1873, but
his health failed after five years, and he was sent to the United
States in early 1878 for medical care. He was assigned to the
District of Baltimore and worked on projects for the brother
10
visitor. A few months later, when a new brother visitor was
needed in the District of St. Louis, he was appointed. The
schools in the Deep South at that time belonged to the St. Louis
District. Again, his health failed, and this time he was sent
back to his home country for medical care. He died there in the
city of Fleury-Meudon.
26. 1888: Brother Albien (Grégoire Cordier) died
at age 71 in Dreux, France. He was born in France in 1817 and
as a child accompanied his mother on her charitable visits to
the sick. Inspired by his uncle, a priest, he entered the brothers’
novitiate in Metz, France, at the age of 22. After teaching at
Dieppe and Beauvais, France, he went to the United States
with three other volunteers to establish St. Vincent school in
New York City in 1848. He was appointed director of Our
Lady of the Gulf School in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, in 1853.
When he arrived there he learned that a yellow fever epidemic
had claimed the lives of his predecessor and all but one of the
other brothers. The school did not reopen. He was sent to
Detroit and in 1856 back to France.
27. 1895: Brother Julian Philip (Michael J.
Shaw) died of a stroke at age 55 in Ellicott City, Maryland.
He was born on August 15, 1840, in Saxony, Canada, and
migrated with his family to New Orleans, Louisiana, as a boy.
He was taught by the brothers at St. Mary’s College in that
city. He was a brilliant student and enrolled in the curriculum
of medical studies. He enlisted in the Confederate army during
the War Between the States. He took part in many bloody
battles in Missouri and was left for dead on the battlefield due
a severe saber wound on the head. However, the victorious
Union General Siegel’s men picked him up with other
wounded men for whom they cared. After healing, he was put
in charge of the hospital for Confederate prisoners. In that
capacity he made frequent trips and found an opportunity to
escape. He rejoined the Confederate army, this time as a
doctor. At war’s end in 1865, he set up a medical practice in
Shreveport, Louisiana. There, for the first time, he thought of
entering the religious life. Despite strong encouragement from
his pastor to pursue the priesthood, he chose the brothers and
entered the novitiate at Pass Christian College, Mississippi, in
1867. He was given college courses to teach and continued
until 1870.He was assigned to teach at St. Mary’s College in
New Orleans, 1870-1873, and the rest of his life in Christian
Brothers’ colleges in Memphis, Tennessee, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and Ellicott City, Maryland, his last assignment.
On an outing to the beach with some of the brothers, he
suffered a stroke while in shallow water, collapsed, and was
pronounced dead from asphyxiation by the attending doctor.
He had a reputation among the brothers for his careful
observance of the rule, his avoidance of any kind of privilege
or recognition, and his thoroughness in preparing his classes .
28. 1995: Brother Pablo Manuel (José
Basterrechea Ichaso), superior general from 1976 to
1986, died at the age of 78 while he was moving by car with
another brother to the brothers’ retirement community in San
Asensio in Logroño, Spain, when they had a fatal accident a
few kilometers short of their destination. He was born in Ontón
in the Spanish province of
Santander on March 22, 1917,
into a family of seven children.
The family was deeply religious
and prayed that God would call
some of their children into the
religious life. Two of the girls
become religious sisters. When
José was five, his father moved
the family to Bilbao and enrolled
him in the brothers’ school on
Iturribide Street. José was an
excellent student and participated
in many activities. He had the
José Basterrechea Ichaso
lead role in a musical production
(Br. Pablo Manuel)
which enthralled the members of
the houses of formation in Bujedo in Burgos. He entered the
junior novitiate there the following year, 1930, at the age of 13
and received the brother’s garb in the novitiate there three
years later with the name Brother Pablo Manuel. He completed
the three-year course of studies in the scholasticate on the
same campus on August 30, 1937.
During his formation and his early years as a teacher
Spain suffered terrible violence from anti-religious laws and
the revolution of 1936 to 1939, during which thousands of
priests, religious, and laymen, among them 165 Christian
Brothers, lost their lives as martyrs. In 1940 Brother Pablo was
assigned to the Colegio Santiago Apóstol in Bilbao and stayed
12 years. He was outstanding as a classroom teacher and as the
sponsor of choral and dramatic performances and producer of
the school’s printed publications. Outside of school time he
attended the University of Madrid, where he earned both an
undergraduate degree in 1945 and the doctorate in 1950. In
1952 he was sent to Rome to participate in a special program
for brothers from all over the world. After stays in England and
Ireland he was appointed community director and auxiliary
visitor of the District of Bilbao in 1953. In 1955 at age 38 he
was appointed visitor and served until 1961. He was a delegate
to the brothers’ international general chapter in Rome in 1956.
As visitor he gave a strong impulse to higher education for the
brothers, to expansion of their mission into new forms for the
laboring class, and to participation in the Spanish Bishops’
Secretariate for professional formation for church apostolates.
He was sent back to Colegio Santiago Apóstol in Bilbao in
1961 and devoted his energy to creating opportunities for
students to travel and study abroad and to put on more musical
and drama productions. He was elected again in 1966 to the
brothers’ international chapter in Rome, which was the
beginning of a 26-year absence from his district and his
country. He was elected one of the 16 assistants to the superior
general and was the vicar general. He was at the disposal of the
superior general for many projects and special assignments, but
the most difficult and time-consuming was the over-all
coordination of the Institute’s missionary activities throughout
the world. This world-wide experience made him well-known
and prepared him for his next job: he was elected superior
general at the general chapter in Rome in 1976. In 1977 Pope
Paul VI had him invited to make a presentation at the bishops’
international Synod on Catechesis and also appointed him an
official observer at the Symposium of European Episcopal
11
Conferences. During his 10-year term he greatly expanded the
Institute’s contacts and missionary endeavors world-wide while
serving as president of the Union of Superiors General and
making contacts with the bishops’ conferences in several
countries. He visited the New Orleans-Santa Fe district in
1981. He enjoyed great credibility with the brothers and the
hundreds of other people he met. At the age of 69 in 1986 he
felt he was too old for another 10-year term as superior general
and retired to the brothers’ community in San Asensio.
However, in 1989 the Union of Superiors General insisted that
he return to Rome as their executive secretary. One of his
major projects was the organization of the International
Congress on Consecrated Life, which had an attendance of
over 500. Its report had a major impact on the subsequent
bishops’ Synod on Consecrated Life and the ensuing papal
document “Vita Consecrata.” He retired again in 1995 and died
on his way to the retirement home in San Asensio.
29. None
30. 2009: John Altobello, AFSC, died at age 89 in
Metairie, Louisiana, after a brief illness. He was born on
October 10, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, to an Italian immigrant
couple. They moved to New Orleans, where John attended
local public schools and graduated from Warren Easton high
school in 1938. He had established himself as a leader in both
academics and athletics, especially in basketball. He started
Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a
basketball scholarship in 1938 but moved to Loyola University
in New Orleans and graduated in 1942, after a successful
basketball career. Since World War II was underway, he
attended Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University and
was commissioned an Ensign in the fall of 1942. He served on
the Admiral’s flagship in the Mediterranean Sea until the end
of the war and held the rank of Lieutenant Commander when
he received his honorable discharge in 1946. He intended to
make the US Navy his career, but one of his college coaches
persuaded him that he had the makings of a good high school
coach and helped him get the then open basketball job at
Aloysius High School in 1947. John was very successful and
was offered a job at the recently opened De La Salle High
School in New Orleans in 1952. He spent the rest of his life
there. He had an extraordinarily successful career as a
basketball and baseball coach and as a teacher of Spanish for
18 years. He retired from coaching in 1970 but continued as
athletic director as a teacher until he retired in 1985. His teams
won numerous championships and John received many
plaques, trophies, and other awards. Unfortunately, the
Christian Brothers did not think to recognize him until 2009
when they did an overdue formal review of the people who had
made outstanding contributions to achieving their mission at
the school. Br. Timothy Coldwell, FSC, visitor of the brothers’
New Orleans-Santa Fe District, explained when he presented
letters of affiliation on May 15, 2009: “Affiliation is a rare
honor extended to our partners in the sacred mission entrusted
to all of us as Christian educators by Jesus Christ in the spirit
of the Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. You distinguished
yourself as a teacher, coach, athletic director over three
decades at De La Salle—it may surprise those present that even
this by itself would not be cause for affiliation. It is your
character, and your daily attention to inculcating in young men
the values and virtues of a man of noble character, that inspires
us brothers to extend this honor. The zeal you brought to your
ministry to the young remains the high bar that others strive
for. Your public and private life as a family man also motivate
us to seek this honor for you.”
Produced by Brother James N. Grahmann, FSC.