After attending my freshman year at De La Salle from 1958 until 1959, I decided with the counsel of Brother Leo Thomas (later Thomas Power) to aspire to becoming a Christian Brother. I left De La Salle and began my religious formation as a junior novice in September of 1959. The place for beginning this journey was located outside St. Louis at the mother house for the Midwest District, La Salle Institute. The "Juniorate", as it was called, admitted candidates beginning at the sophomore level and extending to high school graduation. The summer after graduation, a junior novice would become a Postulant and then a Novice in the fall. I only lasted until the third quarter of my senior year. In agreement with my Brother Director I decided to give up my religious formation and returned to my family to graduate from De La Salle.
When I began my vocation journey, another young man from a farm family in Wisconsin began his. His name was James Alfred Miller and he was in my class, just 2 weeks my junior in age. We had a chicken house on the property to provide meat and eggs and turkey during the holidays. We did not leave at Thanksgiving or Christmas. We were allowed to see our parents twice a school year and spent only the summer with our families. Jim became the caretaker of the poultry since he had farm experience. I remember telling him once that I thought the turkeys were stupid animals. He actually took offense at that and corrected me. Although we were not close friends, he was always kind and affable. We slept in dark dormitories and were obligated to keep silent during the night after lights out. I think it was during my senior year that I decided to play a trick on my dorm mates. The Christian Brothers habit is black with a rectangular white piece worn in front. This I duplicated by wrapping my army blanket around me and putting a handkerchief in front. I heard someone at the large community washing sink so I went into that wash room and there was Jim Miller. In a gruff voice I said, "What are you doing still up?" He said he had been taking care of the animals. So I ordered him, "Well, get to bed quickly and be quiet." He answered, "Yes, brother." Then I laughed and said, "It's me, Jim! McGrath!" He was pretty mad at me for fooling him. That is my one fond memory of him.
Many American and national religious and priests were involved with the plight of the poor in Central America in the early 80’s. The United States unfortunately supported the right-wing governments which oppressed the poor majorities in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. Their military personnel were often trained in the US. I heard of many who were murdered for their work with the poor during that time and joined in with the voices here crying out against our policies. Jim Miller was not politically involved and was just working with indigenous adolescents and young men in the school. When I heard in February, 1982, that he had been shot down dead on his way back home from the police headquarters, my heart was touched as it had not been before. He was my age! He was my classmate! Now he stands before the throne of God as a beatified martyr. Blessed Jim, pray for me and all of us “Brothers Boys.”
Michael McGrath, class of 1962
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