1930 – 2016
WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE FOR BROTHER RAYMOND SCHELL, FSC
Given by Brother Dominic Viggiani, FSC
Mass of Christian Burial
Loretto Abbey, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
June 6, 2016
Discover to me, O God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven,
the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.
Brother Raymond Schell passed away quietly on June 1, just a few days after his 86th birthday. Born in Saskatchewan, he entered the Brothers in July 1953.
If Brother Raymond had been a hockey player, he would certainly have been described as a journey-man as his tour of service took him to Toronto, Windsor, Pembroke, Renfrew, Montreal, and Yorktown. He would further be called a utility player as he did everything: teacher, principal, director, and ultimately Visitor. From my observation, Brother Raymond did all these things with a sense of duty and commitment and his own rather unflappable manner. Never given to extremes, he was always even-tempered and pleasant. In a day and age when politeness and humility are hard to come by, it can be said of Brother Raymond that he was an honourable man who had a very clear sense of commitment to the Institute and in so many real ways was a man without any pretensions or over-exaggerated ideas of his own abilities and importance. If humility is attentive presence, then Brother Raymond possessed this virtue in an exemplary way.
In community, Brother Raymond was very faithful to the religious exercises of the house. He always did his part whether it was washing the pots and pans after dinner or volunteering to answer the phone or delivering the post. He was prepared to help out in any way he could. As director, Brother Raymond was kind and considerate of others. His years as Visitor, while difficult, showed that he was willing to be of service to his brothers. Brother Raymond confided to me after he had served as Visitor that he did experience periods of loneliness during those trying years but recognized that this was the price of leadership and he saw no point in complaining.
According to the French spiritual writer Leon Bloy, “Every Christian has within his reach the power to become a saint. All he must do is to simply live his life in the daily call to be himself with the gifts that God has given him and in the place the Lord has put him.” It seems to me that Brother Raymond did very much this. He was not so much called to greatness, as some are, but he was called to goodness and he responded willingly and generously.
In his retirement years, Brother Raymond had more time to enjoy the simpler things in life. He enjoyed reading and photography. As we know he loved his sports and was an avid Roughriders supporter and a loyal fan of the Jays. As kids today would say, “Ray liked to just chill.” I think in these years especially, Brother Raymond found the time to live in peace. The evidence, at least, suggests he took the time to deepen his relationship with the Lord who called him to religious life, the same merciful Lord that gave him the necessary graces to persevere for so many faithful years.
I believe in his own way, Brother Raymond had truly come to understand and appreciate that his life as a religious Brother in the Lasallian tradition was a real participation in the plan of God “who wishes all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth,” as he lived out his consecration day after day by devoting himself “as far as he was able” and “together and by association” to the mission of the Institute to which he had given himself freely.
As we continue to pray for the soul of our departed brother, we recall the words of the Gospel of St. John: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and make our home with him.” Brother Raymond has left one home now to journey in God’s mercy to the next and lasting home.
We, his religious Brothers, are very thankful for his fidelity and willingness to serve. We thank his family for having given to the Church and to the Institute a faithful son of St. John Baptist de La Salle. On behalf of the Brothers, I express our gratitude to the Sisters of Loretto who took such good care of him these last couple of years, and to the other care givers Brother Raymond had in his retirement while at La Salle Manor.
As we rest in the belief that the dwelling of our flesh in this world is short and lasts but little time, but the promise of God is great and wonderful, and so is the eternal joy of the Kingdom of the Father which is to come. As believers, we rejoice that there is also the certitude that once the time of purification is over, the soul goes to meet the One it desires.
And now we commend Brother Raymond to the Eternal God of Mercy who judges not according to outward appearances nor according to the thoughts of man, but with truth and goodness. May he rest in peace.
Live, Jesus in our hearts.
Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Brother Raymond Schell, FSC
Born Raymond Zacheus Schell in Cullen, Saskatchewan, CANADA, on May 27, 1930
Entered the Aurora Novitiate in July, 1953
Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Raymond, on August 31, 1953
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Scarborough, Ontario, CANADA on August 31, 1959
Brother Raymond died at North York General Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, on June 1, 2016. Brother Raymond passed away peacefully during the early morning after a brief illness. May he rest in peace.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Viewing from 3:00 – 7:30 pm; prayer service at 7:30 pm
Loretto Abbey Chapel
101 Mason Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5M 3E2
Monday, June 6, 2016
Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am
Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, Ontario CANADA
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER RAYMOND:
District: 50 masses
Loretto Abbey community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
ASSIGNMENTS:
1956-1959
teacher
Toronto, Ontario
De La Salle “Oaklands”
1959-1960
principal; teacher
Windsor, Ontario
De La Salle
1960-1961
teacher
Pembroke, Ontario
St. Columba High School
1961-1964
teacher
Renfrew, Ontario
Bishop Ryan High School
1964-1967
teacher/director (1966-1967)
Montreal, Quebec
D’Arcy McGee High School
1967-1971
teacher; director
Yorktown, Saskatchewan
St. Joseph’s College
1972-1972 (Jan. – Apr.)
Rome, ITALY
CIL
1972-1975
teacher; director
Yorktown, Saskatchewan
St. Joseph’s College
1975-1979
teacher; group home
Toronto, Ontario
Senator O’Connor College School
1979-1985
teacher/Dtr. of Provincialate
Toronto, Ontario
Senator O’Connor College School
1985-1988
director
Windsor, Ontario
Lasallian Center
1988-1989
archivist; director
Toronto, Ontario
De La Salle Centre
1989-1990
director of retreat center
Toronto, Ontario
De La Salle “Oaklands”
1990-1995
director
Scarborough, Ontario
La Salle Manor
1995-1997
visitor
Toronto, Ontario
St. Paul
1997-2001
director; visitor
Scarborough, Ontario
La Salle Manor
2001-2003
administrator
Jackson’s Point, Ontario
De La Salle Camp
2003-2010
director
Toronto, Ontario
De La Salle “Oaklands”
2010-2014
retired; sub-director
Scarborough, Ontario
La Salle Manor
2014-2016
retired; sub-director
Toronto, Ontario
Loretto Abbey