Br Charles Howard

FROM THE HEADMASTER

With sadness, I advise you of the peaceful death early on Saturday 14 January 2012, of Br Charles Howard AM, at 87 years of age. Br Charles had been in palliative care in recent weeks at the Brothers' community at Campbelltown, and was anointed on Wednesday evening, 11 January, after the community Mass. The Brothers’ community gathered around his bed on Thursday morning with his brother, John, to say the Rosary and sing the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen).  

Formerly known as Br Elias, Br Charles was on the staff at St Joseph's College in 1955-56, and was Headmaster from 1962 to 1967, a period of great change, reform and development resulting from the Second Vatican Council, as well as the Wyndham Scheme and the introduction of the Higher School Certificate. At the conclusion of his term as Headmaster in 1967, and subsequent overseas study leave, Brother was appointed Provincial of the Sydney Province in 1972 and served in that role until 1976, when he was elected to the General Council of the Marist Brothers in Rome. In 1985, he was the first Australian to be elected Superior General of the Marist Brothers, and served as Superior General until 1993. In 1997, he was declared a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his service to the Catholic Church and the community, particularly in the fields of education, social justice and reform. In 2000 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Australian Catholic University.

We give thanks for the extraordinary life of Br Charles and his significant contribution to our College and the broader Church and community, and we extend our sympathy to the Marist Brothers and the Howard family.

The funeral for Br Charles will be held at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill at 11.00 am Tuesday 24 January. Please note that there is no general parking on the College site other than for the funeral cortège and immediate family of Br Charles.

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Mr Ross Tarlinton

Headmaster