Former Brooklyn Priest Was a ‘Man With a Great Heart’
Father Isaie Jean-Louis, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cap-Haitien who ministered in the Diocese of Brooklyn, died on Sept. 30. Father Jean-Louis was born on December 30, 1956, and was ordained to the Priesthood on August 14, 1988.
He served the Diocese of Brooklyn as a hospital chaplain for SUNY Downstate Medical Center while residing at Our Lady of Refuge, Brooklyn. He also ministered at the parish of St. Teresa of Avila, Brooklyn.
Father Jean-Louis was born in Haiti to Magloire Jean Louis and Foricia Florestal. He was the eldest of a modest family of five children. He received his primary education at the school of Sacred Heart Brothers of Pilate and his secondary education at the Juvénat College in Carrefour and the College des Frères Adrien in Place Jérémie. He attended the Ecole Normal Superior in Port-au-Prince and became a professor of social sciences.
In 1982, he joined the Notre-Dame seminary in Port-au-Prince to study philosophy and theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 14, 1988.
In 1998, he came to Brooklyn to exercise his ministry as parochial vicar for Saint Teresa of Avila and St Jerome. While serving as a parochial vicar, he earned a master’s degree in psychology of religion.
Father Jean-Louis served as a chaplain at Downstate Hospital for many years until he died last month. From his 33 years of ministry between Haiti and the U.S., he remained a remarkable priest and excellent homilist.
“Although he was very reserved, he was always available to minister to others, primarily homebound parishioners,” said Father Lucon Rigaud, pastor of Our Lady of Refuge, Midwood, Brooklyn. “Father Isaie was a great shy person, but behind that shyness hid a man with a great heart who ignored his own needs to meet those of others.
“He was a very generous person who shared the little he had with those in need.”
A funeral Mass for Father Jean-Louis was celebrated Monday, Oct. 11, at Our Lady of Refuge, Midwood. Father Isaie was buried in Haiti.
Sister James Annette McAuley, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph for 81 years, entered eternal life on Oct. 3.
Growing up in a loving family in Brooklyn, she attended St. Anthony School and Bishop McDonnell High School, graduating in 1939, followed by her entrance into the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood in 1940.
Sister James’ ministry as an elementary educator in Queen of All Saints School (Brooklyn), St. Patrick’s (Long Island City), St. Robert Bellarmine (Bayside), Most Precious Blood (Long Island City), Our Lady of Sorrows (Corona) and Blessed Sacrament (N. Valley Stream), called her to excellence as a teacher.
She received her BA, MA, and certification in English from St. John’s University, and in 1968 began teaching in Bishop McDonnell High School, followed by 21 years at Stella Maris High School (Rockaway Park), continuing to live out the CSJ charism of love of God and neighbor without distinction.
Sister James’ quiet way throughout her life endeared her to students, colleagues, family, friends in the community, and beyond. Her mission continued as she volunteered in Brentwood while living at St. Joseph Convent for 12 years until her move to Maria Regina Residence in 2017, where she died one month short of her 100th birthday.
Her wake and Mass of Christian burial were held on Oct. 7 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood, celebrated by Rev. Thomas Poth, MM, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery on the convent grounds.
Sister Dorothy Egan, O.P. (Sister Dorothy Joseph) was called suddenly to her eternal home, early in the morning on Oct. 9, the feast of Dominican brother, Louis Bertrand. Sister Dottie was 83 years old and had loved and served her God as a Dominican sister for 65 years.
On October 3, 1938, Joseph and Dorothy Rabbitt Egan welcomed Dottie into their family. She and her two sisters, Evelyn and Eleanora, were raised in Bellmore, New York.
After graduating from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School, Sister Dottie entered the novitiate at Amityville on September 8, 1956.
On Aug. 5, 1957, she was clothed in the Dominican habit and received her religious name, Sister Dorothy Joseph. She pronounced first vows on August 7, 1958, and final vows on August 7, 1961.
In 1958, Sister Dottie began her ministry in elementary education, first at St. Fidelis School, College Point, and later at St. Aloysius School in Brooklyn and Christ the King School in Springfield Gardens. Sister Dottie earned a Bachelor of Science at St. John’s University, Jamaica, and a Master of Science in Counselor Education at Queens College, Flushing. After completing her master’s degree, Sister Dottie was a school counselor at St. Agnes Academic High School in College Point and then at Mater Christi High School in Astoria. She also served as a school counselor for the Department of Education in Brooklyn.
The year 1981 marked a change in ministry for Sister Dottie. After completing the program in Clinical Pastoral Care at Calvary Hospital, the Bronx, Sister Dottie then ministered at that hospital for eight years. Her other ministries included Siena Spirituality Center, Water Mill; Our Lady of Consolation Geriatric Care Center, West Islip; Daughters of Wisdom Convent Infirmary, Sound Beach and Dominican Village, Amityville.
Sister Dottie is survived by her loving sisters, Evelyn Byrns and Eleanora Kissel; and by her nephews, Howie (Carol), Jimmy (Denise), and Tim (Melissa); by her niece, Linda (Bryan) and their families.
Sister Dottie’s wake and funeral took place on Oct. 13 in St. Albert Chapel, Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse. Interment in the Sisters’ Cemetery followed.
Sister Dorothy Kane, O.P., (formerly Sister Myra) was welcomed into the fullness of life by the God she loved and served so well on Oct. 9. Dotty was 93 years old and had been a Dominican sister for 76 years.
On Feb. 2, 1946, Sister Dorothy entered the Novitiate in Amityville. The group of women she joined would come to be known fondly as the Lilacs. They were invested and received their habits on Aug. 4, 1946, at which time Sister Dorothy received her religious name, Sister Myra.
She was professed on August 7, 1947, and her first assignment was to teach in St. Patrick Elementary School in Brooklyn.
Sister Dorothy served as teacher and administrator in various schools including in Sacred Heart, Cambria Heights; St. Agnes, Rockville Centre; Maria Regina, Uniondale; Bishop McDonnell High School, Brooklyn; Cure of Ars, Merrick as well as St. Margaret, Middle Village.
In 1960 she went to teach at Santo Tomas Aquino High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and remained there until 1963.
Sister Dorothy served as a supervisor of schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn from 1968-70.
Sister Dorothy’s funeral took place on Oct. 14, at St. Albert’s Chapel, Amityville, New York. Interment followed in the sisters’ cemetery.