2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood for 9 Maryknoll priests and the 50th anniverary of the first oath of 1 Maryknoll Brother. Due to the current pandemic, we can’t celebrate this amazing achievment in person, and so the Maryknoll Mission Archives wanted to highlight the life and work of these men. Below, please enjoy a brief biograhy of each Jubilarian and some photos from their mission work.
Reverend Francis J. Breen, MM
Reverend Francis J. Breen was born on June 18, 1943 in Boston, MA. He joined Maryknoll on September 6, 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. He was assigned to Kenya in 1970 where he worked with various Catholic groups focused on justice and peace issues. From 1986-1988 Fr. Breen was the Assistant Regional Superior for the Kenya Region. Fr. Breen was also a foreign correspondent for Maryknoll Magazine and was assigned to work in the Development Department. He recently completed an extensive history of Maryknoll in Africa. In 2017, he was assigned to work with Maryknoll’s collaborative entity Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns where he holds a consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Reverend John W. Eybel, MM
Reverend John W. Eybel was born on June 18, 1944 in Oakland, CA. He joined Maryknoll on September 6, 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. He was assigned to Tanzania in 1970. One highlight of his career was that Fr. Eybel created the Clinical Pastoral Education program at the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza focusing on AIDS work. Fr. Eybel was also a promotor and organizer of the Boxing Federation of Tanzania, working with the youth population. From 2007 to 2014 he came back to the United States and worked with the Seminarians in Initial Formation, holding the position of Rector from 2008-2014. In 2015, Fr. Eybel returned to Tanzania to continue his mission work.
Reverend Donald J. Glover, MM
Reverend Donald J. Glover was born on October 3, 1943 in Aberdeen, SD. He joined Maryknoll on September 4, 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. Fr. Glover’s first assignment was to Maryknoll’s Development Department promoting Maryknoll within the United States. In 1973, he received his first overseas assignment to Taiwan where he remained in mission. A highlight on his mission career was his work as the Director of the A-V Cinema Forum in Tainan, Taiwan. The Forum used film, art, poetry, theater, et cetera to engage with the local young people. In 2008, Fr. Glover joined the Retirement Community (later known as the Senior Missioner Community).
Reverend Fernand L. Gosselin, MM
Reverend Fernand L. Gosselin was born on April 18, 1942 in Albany, VT. In 1965, he received a BA in Philosophy from St. John’s Seminary in Boston, MA and then joined Maryknoll on September 7, 1966. After ordination to the priesthood on May 23, 1970, Fr. Gosselin was assigned to Guatemala and remained there until 1994. He then returned to the United States and began working in the Development Department (and its predecessor, the Mission Promotion Department). This work continued until 2000. Fr. Gosselin had subsequent mission assignments to Russia (2000-2003) and Korea (2003-2008). In 2008, he returned to the United States and joined the Retirement Community (later known as the Senior Mission Community). In was during this time of “retirement” that Fr. Gosselin became the Director of Maryknoll’s Pachamama Farm, located on its campus in New York. Fruits and vegetables harvested from the farm were donated to local food pantries serving those neighbors in need.
Reverend James H. Huvane, MM
Reverend James H. Huvane was born on May 31, 1942 in New York City, NY. He joined Maryknoll on September 4, 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. His first mission assignment took him to Hong Kong where he remained until 1974. Fr. Huvane then returned to the United States where he began working for Maryknoll’s Development Department, becoming the Director of the Cincinnati Development House in 1975. During this time, Fr. Huvane studied at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he received his MA in Counseling in 1977. He remained as Director of the house until 1986. That same year Fr. Huvane returned to Hong Kong. During this time he was an assistant parish priest in Rosary Parish and in 1989 he started the Church Children’s Catholic Instruction Programme. In 1994, once again, Fr. Huvane found himself back in the United States working for the Development Department. He was appointed the Director of the Cleveland Development House in 1996. Fr. Huvane remained in this position until the close of the house in 2017.
Brother Anthony Lopez, MM
Brother Anthony Lopez was born on January 8, 1947 in Leon, Mexico. He joined Maryknoll on September 10, 1966 and took his First Oath on May 20, 1970. While still a Brother Candidate, Bro. Anthony was assigned to mission in Venezuela from 1973-1980, working in parishes. He took his Perpetual Oath to the Society on February 18, 1976. During the next 25 years Bro. Anthony focused his time and energy on vocation work and the formation of new Brother candidates. From 1980-1985, and then again from 1994-1995, he served in the Formation/Education Department as part of the Formation Team. Bro. Anthony also served in the Development Department from 1985-1989 and again from 1998-1999, and in the Vocations Department from 1989-1994 and from 1995-1998. Bro. Anthony held leadership positions within the Society, serving as Assistant Regional Superior for the US Region from 1994-2000, and 2003-2009 (two terms). In 2000, Bro. Anthony was put in charge of the New York City House.
Reverend Lawrence F. McCulloch, MM
Reverend Lawrence F. McCulloch was born on September 24, 1943 in Detroit, MI. He joined Maryknoll on September 7, 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. His first mission assignment took Fr. McCulloch to the Guatemala Region in 1973, where he consequently served in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. In 1983, he was elected for a three year term as the Assistant Regional Superior of the Guatemala Region. In 1987, Fr. McCulloch returned to the United States and joined Maryknoll’s Development Department. In 1991, he was given a new overseas mission assignment to Taiwan, where he was a university chaplain and founded schools that helped handicapped children. Fr. McCulloch remained in Taiwan until 2000 when he returned to the United States. In 2002, he once again joined the Development Department (then called the Mission Promotion Department). Fr. McCulloch left promotion work in 2009 when he joined the Retirement Community (later known as the Senior Missioner Community).
Reverend Kenneth J. Moody, MM
Reverend Kenneth J. Moody was born on March 23, 1943 in Hackensack, NJ. He joined Maryknoll on September 6, 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. His first mission assignment was to Venezuela in 1970 where he served until 1973. He returned to the United States where he joined Maryknoll’s Development Department. In 1976, Fr. Moody returned to mission in Venezuela. During this time, he served as the Assistant Regional Superior from 1992-1995. Fr. Moody remained in Venezuela until he once again returned to the United States and to the Development Department. He worked in Development until 2005 when we was assigned to a new mission location – Bolivia. Fr. Moody did pastoral work until 2015 when he retired.
Reverend Gerald J. Persha, MM
Reverend Gerald J. Persha was born on September 21, 1943 in Chicago, IL. He joined Maryknoll on September 6, 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. His first mission assignment took Fr. Persha to Venezuela until 1976. He returned from mission and began studying at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada where he received his Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1978. After finishing the degree, Fr. Persha joined Maryknoll’s Formation/Education Department. In 1987, Fr. Persha finished working in FED and received his second mission assignment to Bolivia. Fr. Persha was elected as Regional Superior, serving for two terms from 1989-1995. He left Bolivia in 1996 and re-joined FED for one year. Fr. Persha then received his third mission assignment to El Salvador where he taught in the country’s major seminary. Fr. Persha returned to the United States in 2010 and joined the Retirement Community (later known as the Senior Missioner Community) in 2011.
Reverend John H. Spain, MM
Reverend John H. Spain was born on June 14, 1943 in Troy, NY. He joined Maryknoll on September 4, 1963 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970. His first mission assignment took him to El Salvador where he did parish work. After a short return to the United States in 1981, Fr. Spain received his second mission assignment in 1982, this time to Nicaragua. After 9 years, Fr. Spain returned to El Salvador, working an additional 3 years. In 1995, Fr. Spain again returned to the United States, accepting a 3 year position in the Vocations Department. In 1999, Fr. Spain returned to El Salvador, where he remains. He was elected as the Assistant Regional Superior for the Latin America Region, serving from 2010-2013.
Read about our other 2020 Jubilarians here!
If I had stayed in Maryknoll, I would have been in that ordination class. I attended the Venard (1959-61 and GE 1961-January 1964.
I believe there were 20 ordained in 1970. It would be interesting to know what happened to the rest.
I’m hoping that there will be a belated celebration so we can all get together in person.
Congratulations to all jubilarians and thank you for your devotion to mission! Especially to Fr. Don Glover who did so much to welcome and support the presence of lay missioners in my time in Taiwan. Johanna l