Brother Matthew Buckley, FSC 1930-2011

Eulogy given by Brother Edward Gallagher, FSC

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who lives in me and I in him will produce abundantly, for without me you can do nothing. (Jn. 15:5)

When I think about Brother Matthew Buckley, these words of Jesus jump out at me. He was a branch connected to the vine that is Jesus and he did produce abundant fruit.

I first met Matt some 67 years ago when he arrived in the junior novitiate a few weeks after I arrived there. We quickly became friends and we spent the next nine years together in Ammendale, MD, Washington, DC, and Eddington, PA.

From the very beginning, one could sense that Matt was a very good person with a sparkling wit, and a desire to be friendly. During the years of our formation under the leadership of Brothers Gervald Henry, Erminus Joseph, Charles Henry, and Phil Mulligan, Brother Matthew developed a deep Lasallian spirituality, knowing that as he grew in the spirit of faith and zeal, he would be able to touch hearts, to produce abundant fruit.

Our first year of teaching at an orphanage in Eddington was a serious challenge to this belief as we experienced very modest success in the classroom. But before long, Matt got the hang of it, and things got much better. He became a wonderful teacher and was admired and loved by his students. Matt did not take himself too seriously, but he did take his teaching very seriously. He put his heart and soul into it, and it showed. Matt always treated his students with love and respect and they returned both.

Brother Matthew had a varied career: from orphanage to reform school to parish grade school to many different schools in the Philippines to diocesan high school in New Jersey. He was at the disposal of District and Institute leaders to do what was needed. Recognizing his profound spirit of faith, he was appointed Director of Novices in the Philippines, so he continues to have an impact on young men and women through the work of these younger disciples.

Matt also was aware that Jesus said “If you will be my disciple you must carry your cross and walk in my steps”. In the later years of his very fruitful life, Matt did carry the heavy cross of an ever increasing confusion due to Alzheimers disease. He realized this was happening and endured with patience and humor. As the disease got worse, it was hard to tell how much he understood what was happening to him.

But now, thanks be to the gentle Lord, Brother Matthew is enjoying the risen life with the true Vine. We thank God for the beautiful life of Brother Matthew. May he rest in everlasting peace!

The following brief reflection is offered by: Brother Patrick Ellis, FSC De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ

Brother Matthew Buckley was never typical. A glance at his tour of duty indicates 18 assignments in an active life from 1952-2006. This willingness to go where sent was very basic to Matt; and it included two nine-year stints in the Philippines.

After finishing his scholasticate at Catholic University, Brother Matthew served as a protectory prefect for 3 different terms, the longest being 5 years. In between, he taught in elementary schools in his home state of New Jersey. It was really the hidden life. In 1964, Matt began his first nine-year service in the Philippines, divided among Iligan, Bacolod, and Lipa. Then, it was back to the correctional ministry at St. Gabriel’s Hall in Audubon, PA, punctuated by his longest assignment as a teacher at St. Philip Neri School in Philadelphia. Then it was back to the Islands for another nine-year service in positions like community Director (4 places) and novice-master (for 6 years in Lipa). Before and after his formation role, he served as community Director at St. Gabriel’s Hall. One hesitates, at this stage in his life, to come to terms with the air mileage Matthew racked up.

Matt’s clearly evident availability is only to be admired. Toward the end of his life, he was not so easy to know because a fatigue of his speech and perceptions crept in. In spite of his obvious confusion at times, it was clear that his stance remained as total availability to the Lord. There is no record of a mean word ever spoken, despite the frustrations he must have been encountering on the home stretch.

One certain thing is that pity as of now would be completely irrelevant. What all of us can be doing is praying to Matthew so that he in turn may intercede for us in our far less complete situation. May he rest in peace.