Meet Brother Stephan Markham

Milking cows at five in the morning on his family's Iowa farm was part and parcel of Wiliam Markham's boyhood but it was not to be his lifelong work. William joined the Brothers novitiate with his classmates at the St. Yon Novitiate on the campus of Saint Mary's College in 1962. He would still rise at 5:00 AM but the daily routine did not include the kind of farming he was used to doing. In those days, when a young man entered the novitiate, he was given a new name that signified movement from the normal routines of life "in the world." William became Brother Stephen. During his time at Saint Mary's, Brother Stephen studied Theology, Philosophy, with teaching minors in English and Spanish. His first teaching assignment was at the new Grace High School (now known as Totino-Grace) in Fridley, Minnesota. It was there that he taught freshman Algebra and became chair of the math department. So much for English and Spanish! Later, he was prepared at our Motherhouse in Rome to become a vocation counselor and formator of young men interested in the life of the Brothers. Stephen has always had significant impact in the lives of others, including the young men he worked with as they discerned their purpose in life. Beyond a career in teaching and vocations, Brother Stephen Markham served the Winona District as Auxiliary Visitor. He has served as a District leader, advisor to other leaders, and is a man of strong faith and hope for the future. After the formation of the Midwest District, he served once again as vocation counselor and was influential in helping several young men decide to become Christian Brothers. He also returned to Saint Mary's (now a university) as Vice President for Mission and served as a counselor to the President. While Stephen has always been excited about life, his feet are firmly planted in reality. That may be due to his farming roots that takes the earth so seriously. Brother Stephen has returned to those roots in Iowa where he has served several parishes, is close to family, and is chaplain at the local Catholic high school. We are so glad that William Markham, Brother Stephen, has been our Brother. He has been a good companion on our common journey.

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