Brother Daniel Conaghan, C.F.X. (Brother Rian)

Daniel – God be my judge,
God guides me, God loves me. Amen!

Dan was the child of Irish immigrants John Conaghan and Grace Curran Conaghan. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, on May 16, 1940. He is survived by his sister Mary Ryan (John), Patricia Gorman (+Jim) and Charles (Frannie). He is predeceased by brothers James and John, and sister Bridget O’Sullivan (Bill). Loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. 

Brother Daniel Conaghan died on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Nazareth Home, Louisville.

You were created by the God of love
in His image and according to His likeness,
to be a unique expression of that love.
Xaverian Fundamental Principles

He first met the Xaverian Brothers as a student at Saint Teresa’s parish in Brooklyn. He attended Saint Francis Prep with the Brooklyn Franciscan Brothers. By God’s grace, Dan chose to enter the Xaverian Brothers in July 1957. He received his habit and religious name – Brother Rian. For many years he attended St. Teresa parish reunions. This year we gratefully acknowledge his sixty-seventh anniversary as a Xaverian Brother. 

Brother Daniel was man of faith, strengthened by an abiding spiritual prayer life and consistent humble service through teaching, coaching, tutoring, and patient works of mercy to Brothers, students, family, and friends. 

Brother Daniel lived and shared the Xaverian charism on three continents, as Brother, classroom teacher, mentor, and friend.

It is through your life of gospel witness
lived in common with your brothers
that God desires to manifest
His care and compassionate love
to those who are separated and estranged,
not only from their neighbors,
but also from their own uniqueness;
to those who suffer
from want, neglect, and injustice:
the poor, the weak, and the oppressed
of this world.
Xaverian Fundamental Principles

He particularly reached out to the marginalized student–the shy, the struggling, isolated young man who found in Dan a listening and accepting adult presence in every mission he served. 

From 1963-74, at Flaget High School, he served as teacher and coach. As a work in progress, Dan was a quick obedient learner when assigned to coach a struggling wrestling team. He succeeded in mentoring a younger Brother Mike McCarthy to help him. Despite his own shyness, Dan moderated SAC, socials, intramurals, and student government. 

A neighborhood boy recalls that in the evening, Brother Dan’s first floor classroom would slowly fill up with students and neighborhood kids wanting to hang out with this understanding Brother. The visitors would climb in the street level windows to feel included.

When Flaget closed, Brother Daniel accepted an assignment to teach at St. Xavier High School from 1974-1978 as a math teacher and coach. Years later he returned to St. X as volunteer tutor and friend to many students, faculty, and Brothers. 

In the years 1978-86, Brother Daniel found his way to Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore. He served there as teacher and CFO for the school.

And then came the call to the foreign missions and Dan readily answered.

In Bolivia from 1986-97, besides living and helping in the formation community, Brother Daniel volunteered at several places helping the growing population of ‘street kids’ in Cochabamba. He was a natural—with his calm, non-judgmental approach. Today Bolivians revere him to be a friend, mentor, and brother. 

Brother Dan had a well-deserved Sabbatical year in 1998 to refresh and renew himself. 

From 1999- 2007, Brother Daniel accepted assignment to Kenya.

Before Brother Daniel arrived there, the then Bishop of Bungoma viewed him as a “Great Treasure”; the bishop drove himself up to Lodwar to alert Brother Louis to Dan’s positive qualities. Kenyans saw in him an advocate and friend and his fellow Americans revered him as a great, humble and generous Brother. 

When Dan arrived in Lodwar, he fit right in and needed little or no time to find his stride. Dan taught Math and Computer Science according to the Kenyan Ministry of Education Syllabus. 

Once again Brother Dan attracted the needy student. Dan worked with the students to help provide them with the necessities they would need to succeed in school – never giving money – he provided students such necessities as pens, pencils, notebooks, textbooks, review texts, assisted some with rents by getting the students, without rooms to bunk four to a nearby room and giving each group a subsidy. Over a hundred students were helped through his assistance. 

He also helped provide subsidies and medical aid. Through donations, Brother Dan also helped the street children at the Ryken Center for Hope, especially with school fees.

The Kenyans revere Brother Dan as “good water” in a land of deserts. During his last years in Kenya, he taught in Nairobi and aided with the formation program for young Brothers. 

2004 saw his return to Louisville to live with Brothers at Ryken House, Louisville. 2004 saw his return to Louisville to live with Brothers at Ryken House. Brother Dan experienced not only the constant support of his fellow Xaverians and Associates, but a continuous stream of Flaget and St. X former students and faculty members accompanying him on his journey with deep affection and support for all he is for them even as they age.

Gradually,
you will realize
that the cost of your discipleship
is your very life,
freely consecrated to God
in poverty, celibacy, and obedience,
and offered to the world
as a sign of His love and care. 
The gift you have receive give as a gift. 
Xaverian Fundamental Principles

Soon Brother Dan was diagnosed with Parkinson disease. Initially, he embraced it as a challenge he could wrestle with through walking, boxing, exercising, and available medications. He fought the good fight, he kept embracing life with help from fellow Xaverians, family, and friends. Eventually memory loss and difficulty swallowing challenged Brother Dan’s interactions. He was relocated to Nazareth Home – Highlands for care.

The presence and support of his Conaghan family has been an inspiring witness to the love and bond they have shared with one another throughout his life. Through the years Dan visited them and travelled to their beloved Ireland on several occasions. In these years, his relatives have made many trips to Louisville to be with their dear brother Danny.

My own experience with Brother Daniel Conaghan was an encounter with goodness, faith, and love on two feet. His engaging smile and gentleness made for a safe and supportive welcoming friendship. And from what has been shared, Brothers, Associates, family, students, colleagues, and friends experienced the same through this loving man.

The Congregation treasures the memory and life of this beloved Xaverian. We are most grateful to our nurse Nancy Zeman, and the staff of Treyton Oak Towers and Nazareth Home for their loving care of Brother Daniel Conaghan.  May he rest in peace. Amen

Prepared by Brother Kenney Gorman, CFX