The religious brothers of the diocese were honored along with women religious at a jubilee celebration May 22 at Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston. They were guests of honor at a liturgy celebrated by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and at the dinner that followed. This year’s men religious jubilarians are:
BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART
75 Years
Brother Julian Przytulski, S.C., was born in New Britain, Conn., attending elementary school in Connecticut, and entering the Juniorate of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Metuchen, N.J., and the novitiate in 1940. He pronounced his first vows a year later on Aug. 15, 1941.
He graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., and later obtained teacher certifications in Mississippi and Louisiana. Before retiring from the classroom in 1986, Brother Julian taught in Muskogee, Okla.; Alexandria, La.; Baton Rouge, La.; Donaldsonville, La.; New Orleans, La.; and Msgr. McClancy Memorial H.S., East Elmhurst.
After the classroom, he served the province as financial assistant.
Now 94, he resides at Ozanam Hall, Bayside, but joins his Brothers at McClancy for special occasions.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
70 Years
Brother Peter Bonventre, F.S.C., a Brooklyn native and graduate of St. Catherine of Genoa School, Flatbush, is a member of the guidance department at Bishop Loughlin Memorial H.S., Brooklyn, where he coordinates scholarship and special programs. He has served there for 45 years.
A graduate of St. Augustine H.S., Park Slope, he earned his bachelor’s in English from The Catholic University of America, a master’s degree in English from Fordham University, a master’s in school administration from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and did doctoral studies in English at Fordham University.
After brief stints at Sacred Heart School, Highbridge, N.Y., and at St. Mary High School, Waltham, Mass., he began his first of three tours of duty at the Fort Greene school in 1954. He taught religion and English and also served as assistant principal. From 1966 to 1971, he was principal of Bishop Loughlin. In 1985 he began his third term there.
In the Lasallian world, Brother Peter participated in the Second Novitiate Program headquartered in Rome and has served in school leadership at La Salle Military Academy in Oakdale, L.I., and St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, RI. He spent a year as teacher of English at La Salle Academy, Providence, RI.
He continues to serve as a moderator of The Familiares, an organization of laypersons who are associates of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is a recipient of the George Centrella Award of The Familiares.
He holds membership in the Catholic Secondary School Counselors Association of New York City, serving as the organization’s treasurer. A writer of poetry, who has dabbled in art and enjoys singing, he is a voracious reader and patron of the theater, cinema and opera.
FRANCISCAN BROTHERS
65 Years
Brother Robert Schaefer, O.S.F., entered the Franciscan Brothers from St. Thomas Aquinas parish, Flatlands, in 1951 and professed first vows two years later.
He taught in the elementary schools at St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope, and Notre Dame, New Hyde Park, 1953-61, before teaching at St. Francis Prep, Brooklyn, 1961-64. He was principal of St. Anthony’s H.S., Smithtown, L.I, 1964-70.
Beginning in 1970, he was registrar of St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, until his retirement from full-time ministry as Dean Emeritus of Registration and Academic Records in 1998.
Since 1998, he has continued teaching mathematics there.
Brother Alan Zodda, O.S.F., entered the Franciscan Brothers from Our Lady of Peace parish, Lynbrook, L.I., in 1951 and professed first vows in 1953.
He taught in the elementary schools at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bedford-Stuyvesant; St. Anthony of Padua in Greenpoint; Our Lady of Lourdes, Bushwick; and St. Patrick’s, Fort Greene, from 1953 to 1962, before teaching at St. Leonard’s H.S., Bushwick; Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope; and St. Francis Prep, both Brooklyn and Fresh Meadows, from 1962 to 1975.
Beginning in 1975, Brother Alan served as an administrative assistant at St. Francis Prep until he retired from full-time ministry.
60 Years
Brother Adrian Fannon, O.S.F., entered the Franciscan Brothers from St. Anthony of Padua parish, Greenpoint, in 1956 and professed first vows in 1958.
He taught in the elementary schools at St. Joseph, Babylon; St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Carroll Gardens; St. Anthony of Padua in Greenpoint; and Our Lady of Angels in Bay Ridge, from 1958 to 1968, before taking over as principal of St. Brigid’s, Bushwick, and the Robert F. Kennedy Incentive Program, from 1976 to 2003.
In 2003, he began teaching at St. Michael’s, Sunset Park; and later at Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope.
He currently ministers at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows.
50 Years
Brother Thomas Barton, O.S.F., entered the Franciscan Brothers from Our Lady of Angels parish, Bay Ridge, in 1966 and professed first vows in 1967.
He taught in the elementary schools at Our Lady of Angels and St. Joseph, Babylon, L.I., before serving in campus ministry at Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope.
He also served as special education administrator for the Diocese of Brooklyn and in other social services areas as well as Franciscan Pilgrimage leader and instructor in the Franciscan Institute of India.
