Born in Somerville, MA, on April 2, 1910, Thomas Joseph Neylon attended St. John's Preparatory School and graduated in 1927. Prior to graduation on January 6, 1927, he entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate of the Xaverian Brothers in Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Catholic University in 1942, and his MS from St. John's University in 1949. He also took courses at Mt. St. Joseph Junior College in Baltimore, MD, and at Notre Dame University.

His teaching career began in 1928 at St. Xavier High School, the first of three assignments to St. X (1928-31, 1938-40, and 1942-56), where he is fondly remembered by some of his "old boys". In between his first two stays at St. X, he spent one school year at Leonard Hall School in Leonardtown, MD, returned for five years to St. John's Preparatory, and taught at St. Michael's in Brooklyn for a year. After his second assignment to St. X, he spent two years at Catholic University and completed his degree work. The next twelve years were spent teaching in Louisville, KY at St. Xavier. In the period of renovation of Xaverian House in Danvers, when he moved temporarily to Ryken House in Louisville, Brother Joachim providentially enjoyed mutually rewarding conversation with his former students. In 1956 he joined the faculty of Archbishop Stepinac High School in White House Plains for the first of two teaching assignments (1957-60, 1960-62). In between these stays in New York, he returned to the faculty of Mt. St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. In 1962, he began teaching at Notre Dame High School in Utica, NY, for 5 years. From 1967 to his death, he lived in community at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA, before bringing his gentle and quiet presence to Xaverian House in Danvers.

Born in Brugge, Belgium on February 8, 1938, he made his final profession of vows in 1945. Over the years in ministry, a number of outstanding qualities and strengths of Brother Jan earned the admiration of his religious community. He devoted considerable time in silence, to study, read, think and pray in his room, efforts made manifest in the depth and sensitivity of his conversation and in his writings. His two volume work, Rooted in History, The Life and Times of T. J. Ryken, Founder of the Xaverian Brothers, reflects his discipline in scientific thinking and writing, his humbleness and his great attention to details. In his years in leadership, many people invited him into discussion on their personal lives. Brother Jan earned great respect and trust because of his reverence for them and his faithfulness to confidentiality. During his lifetime, he generated wide contact with people from around the world, from as far away as China. "Be not afraid", he often said. In that spirit he would write to politicians, clerics and theologians his convictions on matters of the day.

Keeping "up to date" on the issues of his time was important to him. Writers, such as Jacques Pohier, Eugen Drewerman, Yves Congar, Cardinal Bellarmine, Charles E. Curran, Saint John of the Cross and others, received his attention and study. He greatly appreciated the efforts of Sister Helen Prejean on behalf of those sentenced to death. The international Catholicweekly, The Tablet, and Peace through Justice, a magazine from the Convent of Mercy in Brooklyn, NY, also gave him inspiration. He developed and shared his convictions with great clarity and openness on issues of non- violence, on the church and society, on matters of faith and morals.

In a reflection on Brother Jan, Brother Tillo offered some insights of a dear confrere. He emphasized the courage and perseverance of Brother Jan, who, in spite of his fragile health, served so well and so long. Through his whole way of life, he was a beacon for the young, in Brother Tillo's words, "the salt that gives taste to life, the lamp that give light to everybody in the house." Brother Tillo also pointed out that Brother Jan found his niche in the role of assisting the brother in charge, the Vicar General, councilor, procurator, secretary, positions in the background from which he influenced the congregation significantly. In addition, of course, he was also a born historian of great impact for the future of the congregation through his work on the founder.

The lives of the two brothers in the congregation were quite different. Brother Romaine at the very young age of 22 fulfilled his call from the Lord at the time of his death on May 15, 1941. Brother Daniël's journey in life was much longer. After receiving his teacher's diploma in 1937, he was assigned to the Xaverian primary school in St. Francis Xavier Institute in Brugge, Belgium, the birthplace of the Xaverian Brothers. World War II interrupted his teaching ministry of two years. He served in the army from September, 1939 to June 21, 1940, and became a prisoner of war. His family and his Xaverian Brothers were greatly concerned for him, especially when an exploding mine sank the boat carrying Daniël and other prisoners. All thanked God that he survived.

He taught for 28 years in Knokke, as well as 8 years in Brugge and 1 year in Heist, before retiring in 1979. He served as treasurer of his community in Knokke for most of the years he spent there. He relished life in the open air, enjoying the natural beauty of the land, the sea, and the mountains. A man of very strong health, it was only in the past five years that he declined. He died peacefully after a period of weakness.

Born in Bardstown, KY, on June 2, 1924, Thomas William Spalding attended St. Joseph Preparatory School there, and graduated in 1942. In September of that year, he entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate of the Xaverian Brothers in Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Catholic University in 1948, and his MA from Fordham University in 1955.

His teaching career began in 1948 at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School on 94th Street in New York. After that year, he spent the next nine years at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, NY. In 1958, he joined the faculty of Xaverian College in Silver Spring, MD, teaching many young Xaverian Brother scholastics for the next twelve years. From 1970 to the time of death, he was on faculty at Spalding University in Louisville, KY, except for a single year at Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1990-91.

Tributes to Brother Tom appeared in many publications and from a variety of sources. They cluster around appreciation for his person and the significant historical contributions he authored. Father Richard Lawrence, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Baltimore, MD, captured both aspects extremely well. During the time that Brother Tom was researching and writing the history of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, he worked closely with the current pastor. In the Catholic Review Christopher Gaul wrote a piece on Brother Tom. In it he describes Father Lawrence's great esteem for Brother as a man and historian, "...the Xaverian scholar inherited the mantle of Monsignor John Tracy Ellis as dean of U.S. church history ... a church historian, not a public relations man for the church ...a delightful Christian gentleman." Mr. Gaul also quoted Archbishop William D. Borders, who worked most closely with Brother Tom in completing his effort to write the history of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, commissioned by the late Cardinal Shehan. Bishop Borders, who proofread that history of the oldest Catholic see in the United States, "The Premier See", said, "He was a religious man and a deeply committed scholar. He was a quiet man, not easily ruffled. He was very deliberate, and I enjoyed working with him." Perhaps a key to the great success of this significant contribution to U.S. Catholic history was offered by Brother Tom's own brother, Dr. Henry Spalding, a former Bardstown mayor, when he said, "Baltimore was his second home." Jacques Kelly in his article for the Baltimore Sun, gave some important insights into Brother Tom and the scope of his work. Mr. Kelly pointed out the extent of the first archdiocese that once covered Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. He quoted Rev. Michael Roach of Mt. St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, MD, who noted Brother Tom's revealing admiration for Archbishop Curley for speaking out for racial understanding and choosing to live in poverty. Mr. Kelly also highlighted Brother Tom's sincerity and integrity in the preface to the book; "There was no contract ...I was given full freedom to tell the story of the archdiocese as I saw it." That is what he did over two years of full time work and nearly a dozen Baltimore summers.

Brother Tom Spalding touched many lives. He is remembered gratefully by his Bardstown-based family, by his religious community, by those he taught and informed in the classroom and through his many published articles and books. He left many wanting more. At the time of his death, he was working on a history of the Xaverian Brothers in East Africa.

Born in Utica, NY, on September 9, 1916, Henry Bernard Wameling attended St. Francis High School there, and graduated in 1934. In September of 1934, he entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate of the Xaverian Brothers in Virginia, the start of a sixty-eight year journey. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College in 1942, and his MA from Boston College in 1950. During his long teaching career, he also did course work at Catholic and Fordham Universities, and at Hamilton, Simmons and Fitchburg State Colleges.

His teaching career began in 1939 at Holy Name School in Brooklyn, NY. After that year in elementary teaching, he spent the next eight years at Mission High School in Roxbury, MA, where he had a lasting influence on many lives. (Some of his former Mission students attended his wake and funeral.) In 1948, he joined the faculty of Xaverian College in Silver Spring, MD for another eight-year period. From 1957 to 1962, he was a member of the faculty at three New York high schools; St. Michael's High and Xaverian High School in Brooklyn and Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY. Two years at Mount Loretto in Staten Island preceded his four-year assignment to St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, NJ. Six years at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, MA, preceded his twenty years at Notre Dame High School in Utica, NY (1972-1992), where, in 2000, he was honored for his service to the school by induction into the Notre Dame School Hall of Fame. (In tribute loyal students from Utica joined his relatives for his funeral).In 1992 he joined the community at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, and served as Librarian. In 1995, he became a member of the Xaverian House community in Danvers, MA, his home for the remainder of his life. He was very grateful for the wonderful enhancement of this home by our Xaverian benefactors.

Brother Joseph Gerard closed his eulogy for Brother Rosarius, "So long Claude Lightfoot. You were a sweet and gentle friend. May you rest in peace." The words so well reflected the bond between them and the humor and vivacity they both shared. Claude Lightfoot was a speedy racer-hero of a novel. Brother Joe Gerard thought it an apt nickname for his newly discovered confrere, who was a track star. On the other hand, Brother Joe did not bestow the name of another fictional hero, Tom Playfair, on his competitive friend, because Brother Rosarius humiliated all the other Brothers with his

athletic ability and his insistent refusal to accept any defeat. In a school or camp setting, he was a born cheerleader for the school teams and a master organizer and entertainer for the campers. His ability to generate spirit and to rally the student body on behalf of the home team on the verge of a big game left the community in awe and delight. All of the activity in the classroom, library or field was the gift of a well-grounded man. As Brother Joe Gerard pointed out, Brother Rosarius, "was truly centered on God." This invaluable anchor of life Brother Joe detected in his friend as far back as the time of his putting on the religious habit of the Brothers and receiving the name Rosarius. He referred to "a transformation, an epiphany." Brother at the time readily vowed that he would submit to the rigors of religious life. The light-hearted young Brother became an intensely reserved, serious man, animated only by talk of God and the Blessed Mother. Yet, at social gatherings, he would talk joyfully of his large family, Utica- "the happy valley", the Xaverian Brothers, and ill-fated Red Sox. As Brother Joe said, "A gentleman he remained, but he was primarily God’s gentlemen." He was a man who, at the onset of his terminal illness, could tell his doctor that all his life in religion had prepared him to die.