Activity • Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn

Br. Lawrence Larmann, O.S.F.

Brother Lawrence Larmann was born on September 6, 1947, the eldest of four children, to August R. and Barbara (Mehler) Larmann in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, New York
My sacramental initiations took place at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn. Mom and Dad, along with the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. mary's School nurtured the Gift of Faith during my grammar school years and showed me how to know, love, and serve God.
My family moved to Queens Village in 1960. This is the year I was introduced to the Franciscan Brothers and began a 50 year plus relationship with the Brothers at St. Francis Prep in Williamsburgh, and also at Camp Alvernia as a waiter for campers during the summer months.
Upon the completion of High School I entered St. Francis Novitiate from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Queens Village. I had been introduced to the Franciscan Charism and now began to formalize the response to the calling.
After the Profession of Vows in 1966, I was assigned to our house of studies in Brooklyn Heights, where I also attended St. Francis College.
During the span of 1968-1975, I ministered as a teacher at St. Joseph's School in Babylon, in grades 6, 7 and 8. I also served as baseball and basketball coach.
I also began Theological Studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington. Summers were also occupied with responsibilities at Camp Alvernia, as Director for 4 years.
From 1975-1989 I began my assignment to St. Anthony's High School in Smithtown and Hutington. It was during my years of service at St. Anthony's that I had the opportunity yo teach Theology, Chair the Theology Department, Direct the Office of Campus Ministry, and administer the Offices of Development and Alumni.
From 1989-1991 I accepted an invitation to Direct the Office of Development and Alumni at St. Joseph's High School in Trumbull, Connecticut. The time had come in 1991 to reach outside the formal educational setting to engage God's calling to Parish Ministry. It was at St. Joseph's Church in Astoria (1997-2007) and St. Mel's Church in Flushing (2007-2011) that I ministered as Director of Faith Formation.
Each and every stage of my life were years of Grace and growth. I am grateful to the hundreds of people whom I've met to date on this Journey to the Father.

Br. Campion Lally, O.S.F.

Brother Campion Lally, O.S.F. currently serves the Franciscan Brothers as Business Manager and a member of the Congregational Finance Committee.

Robert Francis Lally, son of the late Francis and Dorothy Lally(nee Simon), entered the Franciscan Brothers in January 1955 from St. Francis Prep, taking the religious name Campion. He received the Franciscan Habit in 1955 and was professed in 1957.

Brother was award a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from St. Francis College in 1964, and a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from Yeshiva University in 1966. He continued his education at St. John's University School of Law where he was awarded a J.D. in 1991. He was admitted to the Bar in New York and Florida. His areas of practice include Elder Law, Trusts and Estates, Wills and Real Estate.

Brother Campion began his teaching career at St. Joseph's School in Babylon in 1956. He subsequently taught at St. Anthony's School in Greenpoint (1957-58) and St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Carroll Gardens (1958-60). In 1960 he was assigned to St. Francis Prep. where he taught Latin and Math. In 1963 he was transferred to Bishop Ford High School. In 1967 he returned to St. Francis Prep as Chairman of the Math Department. He served as Assistant Principal of the Prep from 1983-1990, when he left teaching to complete his law degree.

Brother was active in the New York City Board of Education, having been elected to the Community School Board District 14 (Greenpoint-Williamsburgh) for 19 years, serving as its President for 11 of those years.

In 1993, Brother worked as Attorney in the Legal Department of the NYC Human Resources Administration. From 1994-1997 he served the Diocese of Rockville Centre as Executive Director of the Office of Health Ministry. Among his duties was Secretary of the Boards of Trustees of the Hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes of the Catholic Health Services of Long Island. He served two terms on the Continuing Care Board of the CHS, and is presently a member of the Foundation Board of Our Lady of Consolation Nursing and Rehabilitative Care Center in West Islip, New York. He has been on the Board of Directors of St. Agnes Academic High School College Point, since 1993. Brother served on the General Council of the Franciscan Brothers (1999-2003).

Brother Campion continues to share his talents and Franciscan Charism through his various ministries.

Br. Gerald Patrick Hedrick, O.S.F.

Brother Gerald Patrick Hedrick grew up in Omaha, Nebraska where he attended Sacred Heart grade and High Schools. He Joined the Marine Corps in 1960 and served in Southern California and Okinawa, Japan until his discharge in 1964.
In 1965 he entered novitiate of the Franciscan Brothers in Oyster Bay, NY and he professed his first vows in 1966. His teaching assignments included: St. Bridget's, Bushwick (1967-70), St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope(1970-72), St. Mary Star of the Sea, Carroll Gardens(1972-78) where he was teacher and principal, and Our lady of the Angels, Bay Ridge(1978-86).
From 1986-1992, he worked for Catholic Charities and St. Mary Star of the Sea Senior Housing Apartments, Carroll Gardens. He also worked at St. Anthony's Guild at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan for two years. From 1995 to 2009 he was an attendance officer at Bishop Ford High School, Park Slope.
Since his retirement he has resided at Our Lady of the Angels Friary in Bay Ridge.

Br. Robert Gabriel, O.S.F.

Brother Robert Gabriel was born in 1946, the son of the late John and Marie Gabriel and brother of Jack, he was raised in St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Flatbush, Brooklyn, attending the parish school, being taught by the Dominican Sisters of Kentucky. Upon graduation in 1960, Brother Robert attended St. Francis Prep and joined the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn at St. Francis Novitiate in Upper Brookville, Long Island in 1964. He received the Franciscan Habit in January 1965 and professed temporary vows in January 1966 and his final vows in 1971. He completed his BS in History in 1969 at St. Francis College his MS in Education from Wagner College in 1976.
Brother is very proud of his family: his brother, Jack and sister-in-law, Pat, along with his nephews and nieces, Jack, Lisa, Michael, Donna and Joe and their spouses and children.
IN 1968 Brother Robert was assigned to teach at Our Lady of the Angels School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. In 1977, he was appointed principal of Our Lady of Angels School where e served until coming to St. Anthony's High School in 1992, as a teacher of Freshman and Sophomore Theology courses. He became Chair of the Theology department the following year.
In 1996 he was appointed to serve as Dean of Faculty / Director of Studies at St. Anthony's High School. Brother moderates the National Honor Society and the Altar Servers. Brother Robert continues to share his love of Catholic - Franciscan Education at St. Anthony's High School with the students and faculty.

Br. Richard Contino, O.S.F.

My earliest recollections about the possibility that I had a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life began when I was in grade school and developed into what I can only term an attraction for the Church and the wonderful priests, sisters and brothers that were my models and teachers.
Those earliest moments of discernment took a rather lengthy journey as I considered religious life with the Carmelites and then for a number of years with the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis. It would eventually take me nearly 40 years to discover the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn when I encountered the Brothers at St. Francis College.
What I admired in the priests and religious of my early youth I found genuinely expressed in the brothers I had the opportunity to meet at the College. Their ministry of teaching but also their fraternal concern for one another and the deep dedication they expressed for their students rekindled my attraction for religious life and thankfully towards the process of becoming a Franciscan Brother of Brooklyn.

Twenty years later I thank God every day for that gift of attraction for the life of the brother and for the grace to say yes to the vocation to serve Christ, the Church and my brothers in a ministry of Gospel witness. As a religious educator, I have taught on the high school level in both New York and North Carolina. Serving also as chair of Theology at St. Anthony's High School in Huntington, NY and Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina.
I have been privileged to serve my community as a member of the leadership Council and have served my fellow brothers as Director of Formation. Currently it is my great honor to mentor men who are discerning a vocation to our community in my capacity as Novice and Candidate Director.

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