Xaverian Missions in Kenya Still Places of Hope Amid Pandemic

By Brs. Edmond Juma and Dan Ongeso Ryken Centre for Hope  It’s  a mixed atmosphere here in Kenya with numerous activities  abounding.  Planting season  is underway,  especially for  western region  counties. God has released rains from above and farmers are seriously engaged in farm work including  the  JRCH family. These are good signs for a[read more]

Brother John Collins, CFX

In Memoriam: Brother John M. Collins, C.F.X. (Brother Mark) 1936-2020  The mystery of one man is too great and too profound to beexplained by another man.                                                                           The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen Mystery often describes religious life. The mystery of God’s call. The mystery of attraction.  The mystery of responding to the call. The mystery of living[read more]

Brother Gerard De Beuckelaere, CFX

Simplicity is often cited as a characteristic of the Charism of the Xaverian Brothers. Brother Gerard De Beuckelaere was a man of simplicity. It is said also that simplicity is at the heart of religious life. Moreover, simplicity is not innate. To the contrary, Thomas Merton notes that simplicity is to be cultivated and developed by the practice of a sincere and humble acceptance of one’s gifts and shortcomings. Quoting Saint Bernard, Merton reflects that “As religious if we want union with God, let us be obedient and seek to do what benefits others and not what happens to suit[read more]

Our New General Superior and Council

The 28th General Chapter of the Xaverian Brothers was held in Rome from Sunday, July 21, 2019 through Friday, August 2, 2019. The 30 delegates, representing the congregational regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, and the United States, selected new leadership for the Congregation. Brother Daniel Skala, CFX GENERAL SUPERIOR Brother[read more]

Brother James Mahoney, CFX (Brother Shamus)

Brother James Mahoney was born in Malden, MA in 1933. Upon graduation from Immaculate Conception Boys’ Catholic High School, Brother Jim entered Sacred Heart Novitiate in Fort Monroe, VA where he received the habit of the Xaverian Brothers and religious name, Shamus. Brother Jim is survived by his older brother, Brother John Mahoney (Crispin) in whose footsteps he followed. Brother Jim would pronounce his first vows as a Xaverian Brother on the Feast of Saint Joseph whose humility and devotion to Jesus through his hidden life would provide Brother Jim with examples of how to live his call as a[read more]

Brother Richard Hastings, CFX (Brother Ivo)

John Richard Hasting was the loving son of Raymond and Catherine (née Camerford) Hastings. Richard grew up in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn where he first met the Xaverian Brothers who taught at Holy Cross Elementary School. Richard is survived by his brother, Raymond and his three sisters: Kathleen Larkin, Anne Murphy and Mary Bushey.[read more]

Brother Edwin, CFX

Brother Edwin (Patrick Joseph Boissonneau), our oldest Xaverian Brother, marked seventy-eight years in the Congregation on August 15, 2018. Brother Edwin was born in Black Lake in the Province of Quebec, Canada to Odilon and Orea Boissonneau. Edwin had two sisters, Irene and Fernande, and two brothers, Roland and Roger. Despite his Canadian birthplace, the Boissonneau family lived in Malden, Massachusetts.[read more]