Brother Jude Byrne, O.S.F., a member of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn for 71 years, died Dec. 6 at Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.
Born Alfred E. Byrne in Brooklyn, he entered the Franciscan Brothers in 1947 from St. Patrick’s parish. He taught at the parish schools in St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope; Our Lady of Lourdes, Bushwick; St. Anthony of Padua, Greenpoint, and St. Francis Prep, Brooklyn, from 1949 to 1961. He was also the principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bedford-Stuyvesant, 1961-64.
He served the Franciscan Brothers as assistant novice master, 1964-66, and novice master, 1966-71, and served at St. Francis Prep, 1971-73.
In 1973, he began his ministry as a guidance director at St. Anthony’s H.S., first in Smithtown and then South Huntington, until he retired from active ministry in 2006.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anthony’s H.S., Dec. 11. Burial followed in Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury, L.I.
God Rest his Soul…
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day (Upper Brookville).
Brother Jude was my guidance director when I was attending St. Anthony’s H.S. from 1973 through 1977. Although I was accepted into the university of my first choice, I also enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves during my senior year. That was a rare choice to make in those post-Vietnam war days, especially for someone attending a college-preparatory high school. His mild manner and sensible judgment provided me with an affirmation of my chosen path, even though my decision to join the military was not popular at the time. His guidance provided me the necessary support to follow my desires. As a result, I ended up achieving my childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot after a successful tour flying in the Marine Corps. God bless you, Brother Jude. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. With sympathy, Capt. Mac Donnell