The New Brother

Kevin was accepted into the community in June 2008 and moved to Upstate New York two months later.

• Syracuse was the site of the Formation House of the United States Federation, the alliance of the three U.S. provinces of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart - New Orleans, New York, and New England. The only candidate, he lived with three brothers.
• Kevin finished a bachelor's degree in Philosophy at LeMoyne, a Jesuit university in Syracuse. He then spent the summer of '09 at a program in Lyons, France, where the Brothers of the Sacred Heart were founded in 1821.
• Upon his return, he began his Novitiate, an 18-month period of religious studies mandated by Canon Law before making profession. Three days each month, he and his Novice Master, Brother Daniel St. Jacques of the New England Province, participated in a program at Ossining NY with eight novices from various communities, seven other men and one woman.
• Kevin spent the summer of 2010 in the Philippines. He lived at Cor Jesu College, which encompasses kindergarten through college. He helped with Campus Ministry, contributing the key ideas for the Novena to the Sacred Heart, which culminated in a procession through the town. He enjoyed living with Filipino brothers close to his age.
• He experienced no language problem although he quickly learned that when a native put a finger under the nose, that meant he was gushing too fast and needed to speak slower.
• From his experience in Asia, he learned to enjoy every moment. "The people there suffer from poverty but still try to make their way through school. It makes you appreciate what you have."
• His last year of novitiate mirrored the first except that the inter-community program met in Morristown NJ and involved a larger and more diverse group of participants. Kevin became the social director for the contingent, organizing bowling trips, board games, and birthday celebrations.
• He taught religious education to fifth graders at the local parish. Bussed from the public school, many didn't want to be there and didn't listen. "I learned that I don't ever want to work with fifth graders ever again."

Brother Kevin professes first vows before Brother Ray Hebert, S.C. at St. Pius X Church

Brother Kevin lives at the City Park residence.

• He spends each morning at Brother Martin observing Bill Gallagher's first- and third-period senior religion classes and proctoring the Mall second period.
• He is starting a Master's program in Religious Education at Loyola. The Provincial Council also wants him to become fluent in Spanish.
• As for longer range goals, "I hope I can help out in Vocation Ministry as much as possible. I do want to teach but don't want teaching to be the main thing I do. I hope to work in campus and youth ministry programs, spiritual direction, help out at retreats." His crusade is to raise awareness of the vocation of brother in the Church.