Marist Brother 1951-2011

Br. Declan Murray, who passed away on February 15, 2011 at the age of 79, had an “exceptional gift for changing darkness into light, for infusing laughter and vitality not merely into the commonplace, but into ridiculous and difficult situations.”

His name became synonymous with the personal warmth and vitalizing atmosphere he created in his classroom as well as in the many communities he lived throughout his life.

He entered the Marist Brothers in 1951and after his studies at Marist College, began his teaching career at Central Catholic in Lawrence, MA. He also taught at St. Helena High School in the Bronx, and Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, FL before he joined the Faculty of Archbishop Molloy High School in 1975.

He was the founder of the Molloy Freshman Camp in Esopus which has been a key orientation for generations of students at Molloy. His love and commitment to the many programs that happened in Esopus was obvious by his frequent presence at many of the retreats and camps for a period of more than 45 years.

“Br. Declan lived by the law of compassion, even when challenged by students to defy it.” Once, for example, a rowdy student left a plastic model of a pile of dog droppings on Br. Declan’s desk. Spying it as he entered the classroom, Br. Declan taught the whole class from the center-front of the room, never approaching his desk.

The students were anxiously awaiting a reaction from him. None, however, was forthcoming. When the bell rang, and Br. Declan began to walk out of the room, he turned at the door and said, “By the way, the student who left his lunch on my desk can remove it now”.

Marist Brother 1981-Present

Br. Michael Flanigan was born in Astoria, NY, and attended Mt. Saint Michael Academy and St. Agnes Boy’s High school. From this exposure to the Marist Brothers, he made the decision to profess his vows in 1981 and professed his perpetual vows in 1986.

Br. Michael has worked in many schools including: Our Lady of Lourdes in Poughkeepsie, NY, Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, and St. Agnes High School in Manhattan just to name a few.

While at these schools he taught various subjects such as English, French, Spanish, and Religion and served as Campus Minister, Principal, and President at times as well.

One of his favorite accomplishments was founding a program that served as an alternative to incarceration for juvenile men at the Abraham House, a social services organization in the Bronx.

Br. Michael also served as Vice Provincial of The Marist Brothers and a delegate of the Superior General of the Marist Brothers for Mission Ad Gentes, a mission to open new opportunities for Brothers and Lay Marists in Asia.

Br. Michael currently serves as a Campus Minister at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. He facilitates various men’s spirit groups and organizes weekly community service opportunities for the students on campus. He is also recognized for his November Hunger Month programming that highlights the fight against hunger.

Along with this, he’s on the Board of Directors for the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus.

Marist Brother 1963-Present

Br. Dave Cooney was born in Queens, NY, and after attending Archbishop Molloy High School briefly, began his journey with the Marist Brothers at the juniorate in Esopus in 1958. He took his first vows in 1963.

Br. Dave spent time as a teacher in Canada and in Marist High School Bayonne, before answering a call to special education in 1972. He worked with the Brooklyn Dioceses special education vocational training program.

He was a part of the team that led to the creation of the Mid-Hudson Valley Camp, specifically the special needs camp program. The MHVC now serves hundreds each year. Br. Dave then worked at the Sacred Heart Elementary School in the South Bronx.

After that, he spent 8 years in Liberia, Africa, which is in the process of joining the newly created Marist Brothers West Africa Province. He also spent time in Wheeling, West Virginia, working with the Marist Sisters helping to run a day shelter.

Afterwards, he helped to turn Champagnat Hall in the Bronx into a house of care for the older brothers in the province. Br. Dave felt blessed to return to Liberia for 3 years, seeing the growth of the community there, and witnessing the children he taught grow into Marist Brothers and leaders in the community.

Br. Dave currently lives in the formation house in the Bronx. He enjoys working in his vegetable garden, and is known for turning what comes out of it into delicious soups.

Marist Brother 1959-2021

Brother Don was born in the Bronx, NY and attended St. Helena High School. He became a postulant with the Marist Brothers in 1958 and entered the Marist Brothers Novitiate at Tyngsboro, MA in 1959. He professed his first vows in 1960.

After completing his religious and academic studies at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, he began his ministry serving as a teacher at St. Joseph Academy in Brownsville, TX from 1963 – 74.

He enjoyed many years utilizing his musical talents while he served as Campus Ministry at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, TX. He also led many youth rallies and retreats with the talented musical group he led while working as a youth minster and Pastoral Assistant for St. Joseph parish in Brownsville, TX (1982-85).

He served as the Director of the Marist Brothers Retreat House in Esopus, NY and welcomed almost 5,000 young people annually for retreats or summer camps (1980-82, 1985-2012).

He continued to serve as a Spiritual Director to many up until the time of his death.