Congratulations to former Saint Anthony’s faculty member Mr. Bruce Dexter, now Brother John Joseph, T.O.R., on becoming a Brother of the Third Order Regular.

Some of our Brothers traveled to Loretto, Pennsylvania, to celebrate and congratulate Brother John Joseph on this meaningful milestone in his Franciscan journey.

Recently, we received the latest construction updates from Brother Bernard, O.S.F., as work continues on the new classrooms at St. Francis Secondary School in Lare, Kenya.

The construction of these classrooms represents the newest phase of growth for the school community, following the recent additions of a library, water tower, and school bus.

Together, these improvements continue to expand opportunities for students and strengthen the educational environment at St. Francis Secondary School.

This ongoing progress reflects the Franciscan commitment to education, service, and creating lasting opportunities for young people. We are grateful to all who continue to support this important mission and help make these developments possible.

Please use the following link for funeral mass livestream: Brother Thomas Grady, O.S.F. Funeral Mass

Brother Thomas Grady, O.S.F.  

“Justice is another way of living fraternal relationships.” 

I am forever grateful to my dearly departed Brothers- friends-mentors as we try to follow St. Francis joyfully and faithfully. Pace e Bene!

Brother Thomas Grady, O.S.F., a Franciscan Brother of Brooklyn for 62 years, entered Eternal Life peacefully on May 21, 2026. 

In September 1945, Brother Thomas was born to Edwin R. Grady, Jr. and Alice (née) McMorrow in East Weymouth, MA.  He attended St. Joseph’s High School in Pittsfield, MA, graduating in 1963.  After high school, Brother Tom entered the St. Francis Novitiate in Oyster Bay.  He received the Franciscan Habit in 1964 along with the religious name Adrian Thomas. Brother Tom earned his B.A. in English at St. Francis College (1968). He later completed an M.A. in Social and Public Policy with a concentration in Conflict Resolution at Duquesne University (1997).

After teaching at St. Francis Prep (1968-72), Brother served at St. Francis Xavier Parish and School (1972-77), the first parish our Brothers went to teach the “grades” back in 1859. During this time he joined a new friary at St. Joseph’s on Pacific St.

He joined a Franciscan Studies program in Chicago (1977), from which emerged the “Haversack” project and many enduring friendships. He served in the Office of Prison Ministries in Catholic Charities (1977-80), and was assigned to three pre-novitiate (candidacy) friaries between 1970 and 2007.

Brother Tom served the Congregation as Secretary General (1979-82), Director of Formation (1979-85), Assistant Superior General and Treasurer General (1982-85 and 2007-2011), and for ten years as Superior General (1985-95). 

He served on the boards of St. Francis College (1989-95), St. Anthony’s High School (1985-95 and 2007-11), St. Francis Prep High School (1979-95 and 2007-11), the US Franciscan Federation (1988-91), and the International Franciscan Conference in Rome (1993-97). 

In collaborating with others, Brother Thomas helped bring about the Franciscan Office at the UN, the newly revised Rule for our global Third Order Regular Institutes and the approval of our own, now pontifical Congregation’s revised Constitutions. 

In 1997 he accepted a position at his alma mater, St. Francis College, to create and direct an Office of Campus Ministry, which he described as “a joyous experience for 16 years.” (1997 to 2013).

In his spare time, Brother Tom spent many hours adorning the walls of the friaries in which he lived with vibrant murals depicting the life of St. Francis and symbols of our congregation’s Irish heritage.

Returning to his Brooklyn roots, Brother Tom moved to the retirement community at Our Lady of Angels Assisted Living Friary (2019), then to DeLaSalle Hall in Lincroft, NJ (2025)  where he died peacefully.

Brother Tom is survived by his brothers John (Karen) and David, extended family and his Franciscan Brothers.

Viewing will take place from 9-11 am on Wednesday, May 27 at Our Lady of Angels Friary, 344 73rd Street, Brooklyn. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am on Wednesday, May 27 at Our Lady of Angels Friary, 344 73rd Street, Brooklyn.  Interment is at Holy Cross Cemetery, 3620 Tilden Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a memorial donation to the Franciscan Brothers. The Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed.

Recently, Brother Leonard visited the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Brentwood and had the pleasure of taking Sister Ann out to dinner, an evening filled with gratitude, memories, and celebration.

Many may remember Sister Ann from her earlier years at St. Francis Preparatory School, when she was known as Sister Alta. During the school’s move to Fresh Meadows in the 1970s, she served as Chair of the Music Department and played a pivotal role in shaping its future, most notably hiring Bob Corbino, who continues to lead the department today. She later returned to the Prep in the mid-1980s as a reference librarian, continuing her quiet and impactful service to students.

Sister Ann represents the legacy of the many dedicated Sisters who have helped build and strengthen St. Francis Prep over the years. We are grateful for her contributions and for the enduring spirit of faith and education she embodies.

This past Sunday, Brother Joshua and Brother Leonard had the honor of attending the dedication of the Padre Pio Shrine in Little Neck, a beautiful and inspiring addition to the local faith community.

The blessing was led by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, making the occasion even more special. We were also grateful for the opportunity to spend time speaking with Joe, the owner of Il Bacco, whose vision and generosity helped bring this shrine to life.

A truly memorable day celebrating faith, dedication, and the power of community.

Brother Leonard recently visited Brother James Branigan at the Holy Cross Brothers retirement home in Valatie, NY, just outside Albany. The two share a long history, having served as principals, Brother James at Holy Cross and Brother Leonard at St. Francis Prep, where they frequently attended the spirited “Battle of the Boulevard” games together.

Their friendship continued when Brother James became Headmaster of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT, and invited Brother Leonard to serve on the school’s Board of Trustees, a role he held for six years. Their enduring bond is a testament to a shared commitment to education and the Holy Cross mission.

Our most recent construction progress at the St. Francis Junior School. Construction officially began on February 5.

St. Francis College in Brooklyn celebrated the grand opening of The Lucia and Caesar Cellini Gallery in late February 2026, located in the vestibule of St. Francis Hall. The new space is dedicated to Franciscan tradition, showcasing over 800 years of history, and was made possible by the generosity of the Cellini family, including Brother Gregory Cellini, O.S.F.

Please join us in congratulating Archbishop Hicks on his appointment as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.

We pray for God’s continued blessings as he begins this new chapter of leadership and service to the Church.

Recently, Pope Leo has announced that this year will be "special year of St. Francis" as it aligns with the 800th anniversary of his death.

Read the full article here: Pope Leo XIV proclaims Franciscan Jubilee Year

The New York Post attended this year's choral concert at Saint Anthony's High School. They wrote  a piece about our very own Brother Joshua and his dynamic leadership over the largest catholic high school chorus in the United States. Click here to read the full article.

Brother John Lawrence Dawson, O.S.F.

Brother John Lawrence was born in New York City on September 22, 1947, the son of Joseph and Irene Dawson. He attended grammar school under the direction of his beloved Dominican Sisters of Amityville at Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians in Woodside. He then attended Saint Francis Prep, North 6th Street, graduating in 1965. He then entered the Saint Francis Novitiate, Upper Brookville, on July 5, 1965, received the Habit on January 1, 1966 and professed First Vows on January 7, 1967. He was next assigned to the Brother Columba Reilly Scholasticate in Brooklyn Heights and attended Saint Francis College graduating in 1971 with a BA in French and a Minor in Spanish. In 1976 he earned an MA in Secondary Education with specialty in French and Spanish from Adelphi University. Brother taught at Saint Joseph’s Grammar School in Babylon, before being assigned to Saint Anthony’s High School in January 1970, where he has served as a Spanish, French and Latin teacher, as well as Chairman of the Foreign Language Department. During his tenure at Saint Anthony’s, Brother also taught at Chaminade High School (1979-1980) and Saint Francis Prep (1980-1981). Brother also served in the capacity of moderator of many sports, clubs and associations. Among these were the Track Teams through which he began the very first St. Anthony’s Track Invitational; Basketball Moderator of the famed 1974 New York State High School Basketball Champions; the Mothers’ Guild from 1986-2012. Brother John Lawrence was inducted into the Saint Anthony’s High School Hall of Fame in 1999. Brother John Lawrence enjoyed a passionate interest in travel throughout his life, particularly Europe, and especially, France, Germany and Scandinavia. In all his excursions he always brought back his enthusiastic love of language and culture to his Foreign Language classes.

After suffering a serious stroke during Hurricane Sandy (2012), Brother John Lawrence has been a resident at Maria Regina Residence under the care of the esteemed Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood as well as many caring and dedicated lay administrators and staff.

Generations of students have been blessed to have Brother John Lawrence as their master teacher and respected mentor. This past October 17, 2025, Brother John Lawrence together with his family and friends were blessed to celebrate his 60th Anniversary of Religious Life in the chapel at Maria Regina. Brother John Lawrence passed away on November 18, 2025.

Wake and Funeral Information

Monday, November 24, 2025

Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels

Saint Anthony’s High School

275 Wolf Hill Road

South Huntington, New York 11747

9:00 AM - Viewing Begins

10:40 AM - Closing Ceremony of Transferral

11:00 AM - Funeral Mass

Interment

Franciscan Brothers Plot

Cemetery of the Holy Rood

111 Old Country Road

Westbury, NY 11590

This past weekend, we honored Brother John Lawrence Dawson as he celebrated 60 years of faithful service to God and to the Franciscan mission. His lifelong dedication, humility, and unwavering witness to the Gospel have impacted generations, shaping our community with compassion, joy, and grace.