A Recollection of the Life of Br. Denis Murphy, FSC

I recall first meeting Brother Denis when he would come to the Sunday Mass at Loyola University in Chicago when I was a graduate student during the summers of 1987-1990. He struck me as a reflective person with a keen insight into social concerns.

  Photo Credit: Su Casa

Later, when he began the Su Casa Community in Chicago, I would bring groups of students from Roncalli High School in Manitowoc, WI for “Chicago Plunge” experiences. We stayed in the simple dwelling at 51st and Laflin where the Catholic Worker house was emerging. I was always struck by the creativity and ongoing action of Denis in this setting. He was always beginning some new project, some new networking and some new way to expand the ministry of the community. It was amazing what he got donated and accomplished.

Photo Credit: Su Casa

When he began the Brother David Darst Center in 2002 he again exhibited a vision and a passion for the mission of the center; always collaborating and making new paths where none existed. Without doing much preaching, he clearly lived the life of a Brother, straightforward, humble, daring, educating, moving, connecting. I admired his courage and love for those at the margins. He wanted to know their stories and was audacious at introducing his new friends to others.

I recall vividly one story that captures this! I was studying at Loyola one summer in Chicago. The Brothers at the Chicago District Christian Brothers Center Community invited any Brothers studying in the Chicago area to a July 4th celebration. Local Brothers were also invited. One summer Denis came to the cookout accompanied by about twenty newly arrived immigrants of all ages who were temporarily staying at the Su Casa Community. The “guests” received quite a few double takes as they emerged into the dining room. In the midst of all of them was Brother Denis smiling like the Cheshire Cat knowing full well the effect of the arrival of his guests on the gathering. When I shared with him my surprise at the arrival of the entourage he let out his characteristic laugh, which was sort of like a pipe bursting, and grinned from ear to ear saying. “I thought I would shake up the gathering a bit”!

Indeed wherever Br. Denis felt the Spirit call he would go…various inner-city neighborhoods in Chicago, Iraq, Bethlehem, Winona, MN, Albuquerque NM, San Diego, CA, any number of military installations…always passionate about the Catholic Worker movement, peacemaking, the Lasallian Mission and any other wind that carried him forward.

 Photo Credit: Su Casa

He was and is a model for me and a Man of the Spirit! I miss him and will continue to ask for his intercession and guidance!

Live, Jesus, in our hearts!

Forever!

Br. Michael Kadow, FSC