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Transitus 2022
F r. Berard J. (Beraldo José) Hanlon, OFM, Br. Richard J. James, OFM and Fr. Benedict M. Taylor, OFM, have now become part of our “Transitus” program. Even if you have never met these Friars, I hope you will find in the story of their lives a real sense of prayer, acceptance, compassion and service that marks the life of a Franciscan. As you read their obituaries below, please pray for them as they did for all of you throughout their lives
Fr. Berard J. (Beraldo José) Hanlon, OFM, 85, a professed friar for 61 years and a priest for 56, has passed away. William was born on April 11, 1934, in Boston, MA, to William and Frances (Sheehan). William discerned a Franciscan vocation and was received into the Order on July 14, 1957, at St. Raphael’s Friary in Lafayette, NJ, taking the religious name of Berard Joseph. He was ordained to the priesthood in Washington, DC on March 2, 1963. Following his ordination, Fr. Berard volunteered to serve in the Province’s mission in the state of Goiás, Brazil, where he would spend the rest of his life. His first assignment there was as a teacher at the Regina Minorum Seminary in Anápolis. In 1968, he began a long career in pairsh ministry, first in Cristalândia, where he
was an associate for two years and then pastor from 1970 to 1979. He then was guardian and pastor in Sant’Ana in Anápolis from 1979 to 1982. In the 1980s, he served several shorter stints: in the parish in Brasília (1982-83); at Goiânia (1983- 85), serving on the formation team and as vocation director; and in Anápolis (1986-89). After working at the Regina Minorum Seminary for another year, he ministered in the parish in Catalão from 1990 to 1994, and then a long stretch in Pires do Rio, where he was an associate for five years and then pastor from 1999 to 2011. He then went to São Francisco in Anápolis, where he ministered as an associate in the parish and as chaplain at the Allegany Sisters’ Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital. Fr. Berard also served as a councilor for the Holy Name Custody in Brazil from 1988 to 1989. He chose to remain in Brazil when the custody became the independent Província do Santíssimo Nome de Jesus in 1989 and would later serve on its provincial council. The Provincial newsletter in Brazil summarized his career as follows: “Friar. Priest. Poet. Musician. Songwriter. Liturgist, but above all a man with a good heart, and a great missionary. He arrived in Brazil in October 1963 and, from then on, his life was marked by hard work, good humor, fraternal joy, apostolic zeal, pastoral care for catechesis and the sacrament of reconciliation.” Sr. Goianira Silva OSF, a Brazilian who is a member of the council of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, shared fond memories of Fr. Berard: “A good, kind, humble person, brother to everyone, he made friends easily. He was free spirited, happy, joyful with a good sense of humor; he ministered with apostolic zeal, always ready to serve.”
Br. Richard J. James, OFM, 86, a professed Franciscan friar for 57 years has passed away. Br. Richard was born on Nov. 9, 1934, in South Colton, St. Lawrence County, in the “North Country” of New York State, to John and Jennie (Lyman) James. On July 14, 1959, Richard reported to the Brothers’ Training School at St. Stephen’s Friary in Croghan, NY, and was received as a Tertiary Brother on April 24, 1960, with the religious name Ignatius John. Br. Ignatius was received into the Order of Friars Minor on July 14, 1962, at St. Raphael’s Novitiate in Lafayette, NJ. Br. Richard’s first assignment after his profession in 1963 was as a tailor at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, MD. He professed his solemn vows on Aug. 22, 1966, at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, NY. In 1967, he was
transferred to St. Francis Friary in Rye Beach, NH as a tailor. Br. Richard then returned to Holy Name College where he continued his tailoring, and began helping Fr. Maurice Brick, OFM, in the procurator’s office. In 1972, Ignatius was assigned to St. Francis Friary in NYC, originally to work in the bookstore attached to the church; at this time, he reverted to using his baptismal name Richard. He also expressed a desire to complete his college degree with the goal of becoming a teacher, so he enrolled at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his bachelor’s degree there in 1974. Br. Richard then began 15 years of teaching in the Brooklyn diocesan elementary schools. Continuing to live at 31st Street in NYC, he commuted to work by subway each morning, teaching math, science, and religion. In 1989, Br. Richard began working for the Archdiocese of New York, teaching at St. Anthony School in Manhattan. He also began working for the Archdiocesan Education Office, as co-author of the Essential Learnings for Science for K through 9 levels of education. In 1991, Br. Richard was assigned to Sacred Heart Friary in East Rutherford, NJ, again in internal ministry making habits. He returned to 31st Street in NYC in 1992, spending two more years in the Franciscan Pilgrimage Office. For the next two decades, Br. Richard mainly worked on the staff at two Provincial retirement houses, first at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, FL. until 2008, when he moved to St. Anthony Residence in Boston, MA. In both places, Br. Richard was very attentive to the needs of the sick and retired friars. He officially retired in 2012.
Fr. Benedict M. Taylor, OFM, 88, a professed Franciscan for 66 years and a priest for 60, has passed away. Fr. Benedict was born John Stone Taylor in Jersey City, NJ, on Dec. 13, 1932, the youngest of seven children. During his senior year of High School, John began feeling a call to the priesthood. His older brothers told him about two kindly Franciscans who presided at the later Masses in their parish; they invited John to visit St. Francis Church in NYC and write the vocation director. On Aug. 12, 1953, he was received into the Franciscan Order by Fr. Cassian Kirk, OFM, at St. Bonaventure Church transferred to St. Francis Friary in Rye Beach, NH as a tailor. Br. Richard then returned to Holy Name College where he continued his tailoring, and began helping
Fr. Maurice Brick, in the procurator’s office. In 1972, Ignatius was assigned to St. Francis Friary in NYC, originally to work in the bookstore attached to the church; at this time, he reverted to using his baptismal name Richard. He also expressed a desire to complete his college degree with the goal of becoming a teacher, so he enrolled at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his bachelor’s degree there in 1974. Br. Richard then began 15 years of teaching in the Brooklyn diocesan elementary schools. Continuing to live at 31st Street in NYC, he commuted to work by subway each morning, teaching math, science, and religion. In 1989, Br. Richard began working for the Archdiocese of New York, teaching at St. Anthony School in Manhattan. He also began working for the Archdiocesan Education Office, as co-author of the Essential Learnings for Science for K through 9 levels of education. In 1991, Br. Richard was assigned to Sacred Heart Friary in East Rutherford, NJ, again in internal ministry making habits. He returned to 31st Street in NYC in 1992, spending two more years in the Franciscan Pilgrimage Office. For the next two decades, Br. Richard mainly worked on the staff at two Provincial retirement houses, first at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, FL. until 2008, when he moved to St. Anthony Residence in Boston, MA. In both places, Br. Richard was very attentive to the needs of the sick and retired friars. He officially retired in 2012.
Fr. David Convertino, OFM
Executive Director,
St. Anthony's Guild
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