Nine Brothers Celebrate Significant Anniversaries

Brother Aubin Hart, C.F.X., is marking his 70th year as a member of the Xaverian Brothers.

He joined the community on Jan. 6, 1937 and studied at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and St. John’s University, Jamaica, where he specialized in math and science.

He has served as a teacher, principal and superior in Kentucky and Maryland, but spent most of his ministry as a teacher at Nazareth R.H.S. and Xaverian H.S., both in Brooklyn.

He enjoys photography and painting and many of his works are displayed in the brothers’ community residence on Shore Rd., Bay Ridge.

Brother Peter Bonventre, F.S.C., is celebrating 60 years of religious life as a De La Salle Christian Brother.

A native Brooklynite, he graduated from St. Augustine’s H.S., Park Slope.

With advanced degrees in English, he was a master teacher during his 1954-1961 years at Bishop Loughlin M.H.S., Brooklyn. He returned as Principal there from 1966 to 1971. In 1985, he returned to the school as a guidance counselor.

He is an avid follower of the arts, making him the quintessential New Yorker. He is the author of various short literary articles and poems.

Brother Robert Smith, O.S.F. (John D. Smith) was born on Jan. 7, 1929 in Brooklyn. He has been a member of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn for 60 years.

He attended St. Patrick’s School and St. Francis Prep, both in Brooklyn and entered the Franciscan Novitiate Feb. 14, 1947. He was first professed August 18, 1948.

He attended Fordham University, the Bronx; St. John’s University, Jamaica, and holds an honorary doctorate from St. Francis College, Downtown Brooklyn.

Between 1949 and 1955, he taught at various elementary schools in Brooklyn and Long Island and in 1955 was assigned to St. Francis Prep as a teacher and then later as assistant principal. From 1961 to 1963, he was an instructor at St. Francis College.

He was elected to the Superior General’s Council of the Franciscan Brothers in 1961 and continued as General Consultor until June 2003. He also served as Director of Camp Alvernia (1956), Master of Scholastics (1961-1964), Treasurer General (1962-1976), and Secretary General (1985-1988).

Brother Robert served as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Francis College (1961-2005) and continues as a member of the boards of trustees of St. Francis Prep and St. Anthony’s H.S., Huntington.

Brother Thomas Murphy, C.F.X., is observing his 60th year as a member of the Xaverian Brothers.

He entered the community on Feb. 15, 1947 and studied languages, social studies and theology at St. John’s University, Jamaica; the University of Maryland; and The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

His teaching craeer has taken him to Baltimore, Louisville, and Silver Spring, Md.

Most of his teaching has been in Brooklyn where he has taught and done guidance work at Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge.

In 1999, Brother Thomas went to Kenya where he served six years as part of a team of brothers who started initiation programs for young men interested in the Xaverian way of life.

Brother Blaise Rooney, C.F.X., is marking his 60th year as a Xaverian brother.

He entered the community on Feb. 15, 1947 and studied languages at St. John’s University, Jamaica; Laval University, and The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

He taught in the brothers’ schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx, as well as Leonardtown and Silver Spring, Md.
Brother Blaise retired in Brooklyn where he continues to assist at Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge.

Brother John E. Collins, S.M., is celebrating his 50th year of profession as a brother in the Society of Mary.

Born on Feb. 26, 1938, in the Bronx, and raised in New Hyde Park, L.I., he professed his first vows on Sept. 5, 1957, in Marcy, N.Y.

He graduated from Chaminade H.S.., Mineola, L.I.; the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio; and St. John’s University, Jamaica.

His years as a high school teacher with the Society of Mary began at St. James H.S., Chester, Pa. He went on to teach at: Colegio Poncero and Colegio San José, both in Puerto Rico; Cardinal Gibbons in Baltimore; Most Holy Trinity, Williamsburg; St. Agnes, Rockville Centre; and Chaminade-Madonna, Hollywood, Fla.

He currently volunteers at St. John’s Residence for Boys in Rockaway Park, where he serves in the school’s department of social services.

Brother John will celebrate his jubilee at a Mass and reception on Saturday, July 7, in Queens.

Brother Thomas N. Trager, S.M., is celebrating his 50th year of profession as a brother in the Society of Mary.

Born on Oct. 25, 1938, in Queens, and raised in Brooklyn, he professed his first vows on Sept. 5, 1957, in Marcy, N.Y.

He graduated from Most Holy Trinity H.S., Williamsburg; the University of Dayton; Ohio State University; and St. John’s University, Jamaica. He also earned a certificate in social work from Fordham University.

He taught English and religion at Cathedral Latin School, Cleveland; Chaminade H.S., Mineola; and Cardinal Gibbons, Baltimore, where he also served as a guidance counselor.

From 1965 to 1969, he served as director of vocations for the Society of Mary’s former Province of New York. In 1969, he returned to teaching at Colegio San José in Puerto Rico.

In 1970, he returned for a second time to Chaminade where in addition to teaching English he served as the school’s dean of discipline.

In 1971, Brother Thomas moved to St. John’s Residence for Boys, Rockaway Park, for a three-year assignment – and ended up staying as executive director for 36 years. The board of St. John’s will honor Brother Thomas with a jubilee celebration in October.

Brother Thomas resides at the Marianist community in Rockaway Park. He will celebrate his jubilee at a Mass and reception on Saturday, July 7, in Queens.

Brother Patrick Hogan, F.M.S., a native of St. Joan of Arc parish, Jackson Heights, entered the Marist Brothers Novitiate in Tyngsboro, Mass., in 1956.

He taught at Resurrection-Ascension School, Rego Park, 1961-1962.

Since 1962, he has served as teacher/guidance counselor/track coach at Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood.

He served as Vocation Director for the Marist Brothers Esopus Province from 1981 to 1985.

He received his Emergency Medical Technician license from St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Queens. As an EMT, Brother Patrick plays an important role in the athletic program at Archbishop Molloy and the Marist Brothers’ Camp for handicapped children in Esopus, N.Y.
He graduated from Marist College in 1961 and received an MA in theology from the University of Notre Dame.

Brother Francis Leo Leary, C.S.C., is celebrating his 50th year as a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross.

Born in Fall River, Mass., he professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1957.

He studied at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., and St. John’s University, Jamaica.

He has taught at The Vincentian Institute, Albany; College Notre-Dame, Montreal; Cardinal Mooney H.S., Rochester; and Holy Cross H.S., Flushing. He also was principal at Holy Cross H.S., Waterbury, Conn., and Notre Dame H.S., West Haven, Conn

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