1922-2019

Words of Remembrance for Brother John Perry, FSC

(Written by Brother Jerome Sullivan, FSC)

Brother John Perry wrote the following words as an introduction to his short autobiography titled “Choosing A Road Less Traveled”.

“Setting one’s life course is serious business-very serious. Taking it lightly is a fool’s way. God has given us a one term life span. Deal with it wisely and reap the lasting rewards; deal with it lightly like a fool and suffer the inevitable consequences. There will be no second chance! Pray that you have the good sense to ponder deeply what your inner voice tells you is your way whatever it might be, trusting The Holy Spirit to guide you in discerning God’s will. Commit your life to live by the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, self-control (St. Paul Galatians 5, 22-24). These are the marks of one’s vocation.”

Brother John’s life began in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn as number nine in a family of ten siblings. His young life was divided between home, church and school. His father died in his early 50’s, and his mother raised the family during the Great Depression. John and his siblings went to the local parish school where tuition was taken care of by the large parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel. John met the Christian Brothers at tuition-free Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. The school was supported by a levy on all Brooklyn parishes and acceptance was by scholarship only.

John admired and liked the Brothers; they were young, vibrant, friendly and great teachers. During his four years at Loughlin John toyed with the idea of joining the Brothers. Finally, upon graduation in June of 1941, John entered the Novitiate in Barrytown, N.Y. He joined other recent high school graduates to form the novitiate class of ’41-’42. John described himself as “a nineteen year old shy, naïve and immature bumpkin. A bumpkin from Brooklyn, no less!”

At the end of the novitiate year, John, now Brother Birillus Bernard, left Barrytown for Washington to begin his four-year scholasticate. Because of the teacher shortages in the Brothers’ schools, John, along with several others, had to leave Washington after their third year to complete their college degrees at Manhattan College. John received his degree in Philosophy.

John spent the next fifteen years in New York City as a wonderful teacher, counselor, coach and moderator at Good Shepherd Grade School, St. Peter’s Junior High School and La Salle Academy. He enjoyed the schools and communities and managed to complete his M.A. in Philosophy at Fordham and start his M.A. in Theology at St. John’s University. He followed Vatican II very closely.

John’s next assignment was as the District’s Vocation Director. He finally learned how to drive, then he visited schools and candidates, published vocation materials, organized workshops, started the Legion of Mary, gave weekend retreats and stirred up enthusiasm for vocation work in our schools.

After five years of vocation work, John was assigned as a staff member to a new venture In Santa Fe. John fell in love with Santa Fe and the new Sangre de Cristo Program. The program was intended for seasoned Christian Brothers who would participate in a one hundred-day-renewal program that would be spiritually and intellectually challenging. John loved it. He gave lectures in theology, scripture, ecclesiology, etc. He said that his three years at Sangre were priceless gifts from heaven that he would forever cherish.

In 1968 John left Sangre and prepared himself for his re-entry to high school work by finishing a degree at Catholic University in Sociology, and earning another M.A. from Manhattan College as a School Psychologist. John was assigned to Paramus Catholic in 1972 and joined their Counseling Department. In the evenings, on weekends and during the summer, John worked as an adjunct faculty member at Bergen Community College, which was just across the road from Paramus Catholic. Many of his students were highly motivated policemen, firemen and nurses, all working for their associate’s degree and an increase in their salaries if they passed the course.

In 1975 John was assigned to St. John’s International School in Belgium, where he taught psychology courses and was Director of Guidance and Counseling Services. John took advantage of his time in Belgium to tour many areas of Europe, the Greek Islands and Turkey. When possible he stayed at the Brothers’ Communities and spent some time in our Generalate in Rome. John returned to Paramus Catholic High School in 1983 and resumed his work in the Guidance Department. The Brothers left Paramus Catholic in 1995, and John retired to Manhattan College.

John’s retirement didn’t last long. While living in the Manhattan College Community, John responded to a financial appeal by Brother James Kempton, a missionary De La Salle Brother ministering to the poorest of the poor in India. As a result, John established an organization called “Reaching the Unreached – USA”. John became the legal administrator of this IRS approved tax-exempt organization. Over $440,000 was raised during John’s nine years of administration. In 2014 John mailed a full accounting of all the enterprises of “Reaching the Unreached- India” to Pope Francis to reassure him that his plea for the needs of the poor was taken most seriously. He noted that Brother James Kempton, FSC, had been quietly taking care of the poor for the last seventy years.

John was well-read and frequently at the cutting edge during his life. He was always prepared for the next challenge. He even took formal training to become a hand-writing analysis expert to make himself more effective in his counseling work. In community he frequently took on kitchen duties as a shopper and a cook. He always made himself available to help others.

Brother John’s final act of love was the donation of his body to the New York Medical College. The Coordinator of the Body Bequeathal Program wrote: “The future clinicians of the New York Medical College’s Schools of Medicine and Health Science & Practice as well as the entire University community are most thankful to the Christian Brothers and the Perry family for the gracious gift of the body donation of Brother John Perry. The students will learn so much from this gift that they shall be forever grateful. They will most certainly be able to serve their patients better during their future careers.”

We lost a great Brother when John passed away at De La Salle Hall on December 4, 2019. His cremains were returned to De La Salle Hall after more than two years and were buried at St. Gabriel’s Cemetery in Marlboro, NJ, on April 21, 2022. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity and self-control” were truly the marks of John’s vocation. May he rest in Peace.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brother John Perry, FSC

Born John Joseph Perry in Brooklyn NY on 22 March 1922

Entered the Barrytown NY Novitiate on 6 June 1941

Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Birillus Bernard, on 7 September 1941

Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Barrytown NY, 1947

Died at De La Salle Hall in Lincroft NJ on 4 December 2019

 

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

Monday, 16 December 2019

Memorial Mass – 4.30pm

De La Salle Hall
810 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft NJ 07738

 

At the request of John’s family’s, a Memorial Mass for John will take place in the spring at Manhattan College. Details will follow.

The District of Eastern North America remembers Brother John with memorial liturgies according to the tradition of the Institute. Through their prayers, communities, and individuals entrust Brother John to God’s loving care.

Brother John passed away peacefully during the late evening at De La Salle Hall. John requested that his body be donated for medical research.

May he rest in peace.

Thursday, 21 April 2022

Graveside Prayer Service & Interment – 11.00am

Saint Gabriel’s Cemetery
549 County Road 520 (Newman Springs Road)
Marlboro NJ 07746

Brother John requested that his body be donated for medical research and education.

This note was received from the Coordinator of the Body Bequeathal Program:

The future clinicians of the New York Medical College’s Schools of Medicine and Health Science & Practice as well as the entire University community are most thankful to the Christian Brothers and the Perry family for the gracious gift of the body donation of Brother John Perry. The students learned so much from this gift that they shall be forever grateful. They will most certainly be able to serve their patients better during their future careers.

A Memorial Service & Convocation of Thanks will be celebrated at NYMC on Friday, 29 April 2022 at 1.00pm.

ASSIGNMENTS

1942–1945
Washington DC
Catholic University of America: study

1945–1950
New York NY
Good Shepherd School: teacher

1950–1953
Staten Island NY
Saint Peter’s Junior High School: teacher

1953–1960
New York NY
La Salle Academy: teacher

1960–1965
New York NY
Provincialate: vocation director

1965–1969
Santa Fe NM
Sangre de Cristo: administrator

1969–1970
Washington DC
De La Salle College: study

1970–1972
Bronx NY
Manhattan College: study

1972–1975
Paramus NJ
Paramus Catholic HS: (residence)
instructor: Bergen County Community College

1975–1976
Brussels Belgium
Saint John’s: teacher and guidance counselor

1976–1978
Paramus NJ
Paramus Catholic HS: teacher

1978–1981
Paramus NJ
Paramus Catholic HS: (residence)
instructor: Bergen County Community College

1981–1983
Brussels Belgium
Saint John’s: teacher and guidance counselor

1983–1995
Paramus NJ
Paramus Catholic HS: teacher

1995–2014
Bronx NY
Manhattan College Community: resident

2014–2019
Lincroft NJ
De La Salle