Marist Jubiliarians in Miami FL.xml
Media
Part of Marists All: Marist Jubiliarians in Miami FL
content
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
1/6
Marist Jubiliarians in Miami FL
Thanks to Arthur Devlin (1945) who read these histories in the Florida Catholic
when he and his wife were in Florida in February 2011. We appreciate his sending us
a copy of the article, relevant excerpts of which are reprinted here.
Click on the name to go to that section
Brother Chanel Lambert
Brother Rafael G. Martin
Brother Julio Vitores
Brother Michael Brady
Lambert vignettes
Double Diamond Jubilarians: 70 years
Brother Chanel Lambert
Born May 31, 1923, in Lawrence MA,
Brother Lambert grew up in a very faith-
filled Catholic family. His faith was nurtured
in his early formative years at home, by the
sisters in school and by the Marist Fathers in
the parish. Brother Lambert became a
vowed member of the Marist Brothers of the
Schools in 1941 and achieved his degrees in
education at Marist College and Fordham
University.
Members of his family have served as
models of service in the consecrated life. His
brother was a Marist bishop in the missions of the Pacific for 49
years; four aunts were nuns; a nephew is also a Marist
teaching brother; and a grandnephew was ordained for the
Diocese of Tallahassee two years ago.
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
2/6
Over the years,Brother Lambert has served in many different
ministries: high school teaching and coaching sports in schools
in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Oregon, and Miami;
moderator of the Sodality of Our Lady; director of a Marist
summer camp for boys; coordinator of a preventive
maintenance program for schools. At present he is living in a
retirement residence for Marist Brothers in Miami. He said he is
very grateful to God for his vocation and to his parents,
relatives and brothers who have supported him in his Marist
life and ministry over the last 70 years.
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Transcriber's editorial comments. Over Chanel's long
Marist life, he has experiences changes and weathered them
well. But he also has a multitude of anecdotes of Marist life
during that time. A few will suffice here.
In the decades of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, about half of
the newly professed would be assigned to manual labor during
the first year(s) after leaving the Novitiate. Chanel was one of
the lucky ones to 'dodge the bullet' and be assigned to the
scholasticate. One afternoon Brother Louis Omer, the newly
appointed provincial, joined the scholastics for a baseball
game. After the game, Brother Louis Omer motioned to Chanel
and told him to come to his office. He told Chanel: "I am the
new Provincial, and you will be my first appointment. You are
to go to Esopus as the chef!" It seems that Brother James
Thomas, originally assigned to the chef's job, wrenched his
back to the extent that he was not able to lift the large pots
and pans nor handle the bulk food items used for the juniorate.
So Chanel was appointed to be JT's successor.
The job was demanding. The first few months Chanel cooked in
the Superintendent's House (now called Holy Rosary) and
faculty and Juniors ate in the additional room facing east
towards the river. About the middle of November the kitchens
were completed in the mansion, and the operation moved
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
3/6
there. In both cases, there were coal stoves. Chanel's duties
included starting the stoves at 4:30 am; presumably they had
been banked late the pervious evening. I remember Chanel's
officiating at football games and some baseball games.
After Chanel began teaching, Brother Linus William, now
provincial, thanked him for his work the previous year, and
instructed him to take some time off. Brother Linus would
contact him when the appointments for the following school
year were set. Chanel went home to his folks home in
Lawrence MA. One day somebody called the Lambert home
and informed Chanel that he had been transferred to Central
Catholic in Lawrence! The informant had read it in the
Lawrence newspaper.
I think a similar situation happened for Brian Desilets.
Sometime in the mid 1950s, Chanel and William Lee were
given the summer assignment to repoint the exterior walls of
Greystone Library (now the President's office) in Poughkeepsie.
Chanel would ascend the rickety scaffold and Bill Lee would
mix the mortar and sent it up by rope and pulley. One day Bill
Lee did not appear. It seems that he had joined the circus. He
spent several years traveling with the circus, tutoring the
children who appeared in the acts. That ended the pointing
job.
A later provincial, hearing about Chanel's work, gave a
summer assignment to repoint the wall along Route 9W!
All this in addition to Chanel's usual teaching load ...
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Brother Rafael G. Martin
Born in Cruces, Cuba, but raised in Yaguajay, Las Villas,
Brother Martin entered the Marist Brothers' seminary in
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
4/6
Cienfuegos in 1938 and continued his
religious formation in Espira-de-l'Agly,
France, until the novitiate. He moved to
Pontos, Spain, during World War Ii. in 1943,
Brother Martin began teaching elementary
school in Cienfuegos and from 1944 to 1957
he as assigned to teach at Champagnat
School in Havana. in 1957 he became
vocations director for the Marist Brothers in
Cuba. When the brothers left Cuba in
1961a, he worked until late 1962 in
Colombia, when he was transferred to
Miami to work with unaccompanied Cuban
boys, a work he continued in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Since 1965, Brother Martin has worked at Marist High School in
Bayonne, NJH; christopher Columbus High School in miami FL;
Universidad de Monterrey in Monterrey, mexico; and as
director of religious education in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Back
in Miami, he has been a librarian, audio visual coordinator and
in the last years, in charge of the bookstore at Columbus High
School.
Since his retirement in 1995, Brother Martin has become more
involved with the Cuban marists Alumni, an activity he began
in 1969. In 2009, he published a book, Colegio champagnat de
la Vibora, 1915-1961 and is now preparing another ne,
Presencia Marista en Cuba, 1903-1961 ["Marist presence in
Cuba, 1903-1961"].
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Diamond Jubilarian: 60 years
Brother Julio Vitores
Born in Palencia, Spain, in a very religious family, Brother
Vitores spent his formation years, 1946 to 1952 in Turin, Italy,
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
5/6
where he made the novitiate and was
accepted to receive his first vows as a
Marist Brother. From 1952 to 1954, he
continued his studies in Gerona, Spain, and
received a bachelor's degree. From 1954 to
1961, he served in Caibarien and Havana,
Cuba, teaching elementary school. he also
attended St. Tomas de Villanueva University
in Havana, earning a master's degree in
philosophy and letters. When the Castro
regime took over, he was expelled from
Cuba and sent to Spain. he was later sent to
France and Guatemala, where he taught
high school.
In 1967, Brother Vitores was sent to the US, where he taught
at Marist High School in Bayonne NJ. he attended Villa nova
University in Pennsylvania and obtained a master's degree in
education. In 1979, he came to miami to teach at Christopher
Columbus High School. After a year, he left for Kobe, Japan,
where he taught at Marist International High School for two
years. He then spent one year in Fribourg, Switzerland, and
another at the Catholic University in Paris, and obtained a
master's degree in theology.
From 1988 to the present, Brother Vitores has been teaching
at Columbus High School. His activities as a Marist Brother
have been directed toward the teaching of the Christian faith
as well as secular subjects, working with youth groups and
coaching soccer, tennis and track.
He said he gives thanks for the recognition and honor of the
jubilee celebration and most of all for all the prayers, so that
he will be able to continue on the path of St. Marcellin
Champagnat.
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
6/6
Golden Jubilarian: 50 years
Brother Michael Brady
Born in Covington KY i 1943 and raised in an Irish-Catholic
family, Brother Brady joined the Marist Brothers in Esopus NY
after high school in 1960. From there he went to Marist College
in Poughkeepsie Ny graduating in 1965. He taught in high
schools in New Jersey and in 1977 he arrived at Christopher
Columbus High School in Miami, where he has taught history
and religion. He has b3een a member of the campus ministry,
director of admissions and is currently in his third year as
Principal. He said, "This has been a wonderful journey' and
thanks God and Our Lady for multiple blessings.
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Transcribed 8 March 2011
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
1/6
Marist Jubiliarians in Miami FL
Thanks to Arthur Devlin (1945) who read these histories in the Florida Catholic
when he and his wife were in Florida in February 2011. We appreciate his sending us
a copy of the article, relevant excerpts of which are reprinted here.
Click on the name to go to that section
Brother Chanel Lambert
Brother Rafael G. Martin
Brother Julio Vitores
Brother Michael Brady
Lambert vignettes
Double Diamond Jubilarians: 70 years
Brother Chanel Lambert
Born May 31, 1923, in Lawrence MA,
Brother Lambert grew up in a very faith-
filled Catholic family. His faith was nurtured
in his early formative years at home, by the
sisters in school and by the Marist Fathers in
the parish. Brother Lambert became a
vowed member of the Marist Brothers of the
Schools in 1941 and achieved his degrees in
education at Marist College and Fordham
University.
Members of his family have served as
models of service in the consecrated life. His
brother was a Marist bishop in the missions of the Pacific for 49
years; four aunts were nuns; a nephew is also a Marist
teaching brother; and a grandnephew was ordained for the
Diocese of Tallahassee two years ago.
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
2/6
Over the years,Brother Lambert has served in many different
ministries: high school teaching and coaching sports in schools
in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Oregon, and Miami;
moderator of the Sodality of Our Lady; director of a Marist
summer camp for boys; coordinator of a preventive
maintenance program for schools. At present he is living in a
retirement residence for Marist Brothers in Miami. He said he is
very grateful to God for his vocation and to his parents,
relatives and brothers who have supported him in his Marist
life and ministry over the last 70 years.
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Transcriber's editorial comments. Over Chanel's long
Marist life, he has experiences changes and weathered them
well. But he also has a multitude of anecdotes of Marist life
during that time. A few will suffice here.
In the decades of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, about half of
the newly professed would be assigned to manual labor during
the first year(s) after leaving the Novitiate. Chanel was one of
the lucky ones to 'dodge the bullet' and be assigned to the
scholasticate. One afternoon Brother Louis Omer, the newly
appointed provincial, joined the scholastics for a baseball
game. After the game, Brother Louis Omer motioned to Chanel
and told him to come to his office. He told Chanel: "I am the
new Provincial, and you will be my first appointment. You are
to go to Esopus as the chef!" It seems that Brother James
Thomas, originally assigned to the chef's job, wrenched his
back to the extent that he was not able to lift the large pots
and pans nor handle the bulk food items used for the juniorate.
So Chanel was appointed to be JT's successor.
The job was demanding. The first few months Chanel cooked in
the Superintendent's House (now called Holy Rosary) and
faculty and Juniors ate in the additional room facing east
towards the river. About the middle of November the kitchens
were completed in the mansion, and the operation moved
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
3/6
there. In both cases, there were coal stoves. Chanel's duties
included starting the stoves at 4:30 am; presumably they had
been banked late the pervious evening. I remember Chanel's
officiating at football games and some baseball games.
After Chanel began teaching, Brother Linus William, now
provincial, thanked him for his work the previous year, and
instructed him to take some time off. Brother Linus would
contact him when the appointments for the following school
year were set. Chanel went home to his folks home in
Lawrence MA. One day somebody called the Lambert home
and informed Chanel that he had been transferred to Central
Catholic in Lawrence! The informant had read it in the
Lawrence newspaper.
I think a similar situation happened for Brian Desilets.
Sometime in the mid 1950s, Chanel and William Lee were
given the summer assignment to repoint the exterior walls of
Greystone Library (now the President's office) in Poughkeepsie.
Chanel would ascend the rickety scaffold and Bill Lee would
mix the mortar and sent it up by rope and pulley. One day Bill
Lee did not appear. It seems that he had joined the circus. He
spent several years traveling with the circus, tutoring the
children who appeared in the acts. That ended the pointing
job.
A later provincial, hearing about Chanel's work, gave a
summer assignment to repoint the wall along Route 9W!
All this in addition to Chanel's usual teaching load ...
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Brother Rafael G. Martin
Born in Cruces, Cuba, but raised in Yaguajay, Las Villas,
Brother Martin entered the Marist Brothers' seminary in
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
4/6
Cienfuegos in 1938 and continued his
religious formation in Espira-de-l'Agly,
France, until the novitiate. He moved to
Pontos, Spain, during World War Ii. in 1943,
Brother Martin began teaching elementary
school in Cienfuegos and from 1944 to 1957
he as assigned to teach at Champagnat
School in Havana. in 1957 he became
vocations director for the Marist Brothers in
Cuba. When the brothers left Cuba in
1961a, he worked until late 1962 in
Colombia, when he was transferred to
Miami to work with unaccompanied Cuban
boys, a work he continued in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Since 1965, Brother Martin has worked at Marist High School in
Bayonne, NJH; christopher Columbus High School in miami FL;
Universidad de Monterrey in Monterrey, mexico; and as
director of religious education in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Back
in Miami, he has been a librarian, audio visual coordinator and
in the last years, in charge of the bookstore at Columbus High
School.
Since his retirement in 1995, Brother Martin has become more
involved with the Cuban marists Alumni, an activity he began
in 1969. In 2009, he published a book, Colegio champagnat de
la Vibora, 1915-1961 and is now preparing another ne,
Presencia Marista en Cuba, 1903-1961 ["Marist presence in
Cuba, 1903-1961"].
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Diamond Jubilarian: 60 years
Brother Julio Vitores
Born in Palencia, Spain, in a very religious family, Brother
Vitores spent his formation years, 1946 to 1952 in Turin, Italy,
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
5/6
where he made the novitiate and was
accepted to receive his first vows as a
Marist Brother. From 1952 to 1954, he
continued his studies in Gerona, Spain, and
received a bachelor's degree. From 1954 to
1961, he served in Caibarien and Havana,
Cuba, teaching elementary school. he also
attended St. Tomas de Villanueva University
in Havana, earning a master's degree in
philosophy and letters. When the Castro
regime took over, he was expelled from
Cuba and sent to Spain. he was later sent to
France and Guatemala, where he taught
high school.
In 1967, Brother Vitores was sent to the US, where he taught
at Marist High School in Bayonne NJ. he attended Villa nova
University in Pennsylvania and obtained a master's degree in
education. In 1979, he came to miami to teach at Christopher
Columbus High School. After a year, he left for Kobe, Japan,
where he taught at Marist International High School for two
years. He then spent one year in Fribourg, Switzerland, and
another at the Catholic University in Paris, and obtained a
master's degree in theology.
From 1988 to the present, Brother Vitores has been teaching
at Columbus High School. His activities as a Marist Brother
have been directed toward the teaching of the Christian faith
as well as secular subjects, working with youth groups and
coaching soccer, tennis and track.
He said he gives thanks for the recognition and honor of the
jubilee celebration and most of all for all the prayers, so that
he will be able to continue on the path of St. Marcellin
Champagnat.
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
6/29/2021
Untitled Document
https://academic2.marist.edu/foy/maristsall/essays/marist jubiliarians_2011_miami.html
6/6
Golden Jubilarian: 50 years
Brother Michael Brady
Born in Covington KY i 1943 and raised in an Irish-Catholic
family, Brother Brady joined the Marist Brothers in Esopus NY
after high school in 1960. From there he went to Marist College
in Poughkeepsie Ny graduating in 1965. He taught in high
schools in New Jersey and in 1977 he arrived at Christopher
Columbus High School in Miami, where he has taught history
and religion. He has b3een a member of the campus ministry,
director of admissions and is currently in his third year as
Principal. He said, "This has been a wonderful journey' and
thanks God and Our Lady for multiple blessings.
return to
top of page
or
essay list
or
opening page
Transcribed 8 March 2011
