Rev. James Manning, SMM - RIP Dec. 14, 2025

 

Litchfield, 1954 

see complete 

photo below

On Gaudete Sunday, December 14, 2025, Father James Manning, S.M.M., 95 years of age, quietly passed over to his Lord. As the reading of that day proclaimed: “Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.” ( Is.35)  Born November 7, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY, to James and Catherine Manning, he was baptized in St. Thomas Parish. As a young boy, he was stricken with Polio, and was a patient at St. Charles Children’s Hospital in Port Jefferson, under the watchful care of the Daughters of Wisdom. Perhaps it is impossible to know the full impact of being so ill at such an early age, but it set the stage for a life of courageously overcoming obstacles, of truly dying and rising over again by the grace of God.

In 1949, Jim entered Montfort Preparatory Seminary and College at Bay Shore. He professed his first vows as a Montfortian at the Novitiate in Hartford City, Indiana on August 15, 1952. Completing his studies in philosophy and theology in Litchfield, CT, he was ordained a priest March 1, 1958. Throughout some 67 years of priestly ministry, Fr. Jim shared his focus and gifts between teaching and parish, pastoral ministry, and also between assignments in the East and in the Midwest. He began in Port Jefferson, then went to Litchfield to teach from 1959-61. After a brief time at St. Andrew’s Parish in Fort Wayne, IN, he began a major part of his life’s work – teaching at Montfort Seminary in Bay Shore, from 1962-70. His influence is still deeply felt in the lives of his former students, some priests, many fathers and grandfathers.

He was again in parish work, at Infant Jesus, from 1971-74; then he went to Washington, DC as formator and Novice Master from 1975-77. Fr. Jim returned to the Midwest, to our parish in Noblesville, IN from 1979-84. Coming back East, he began a fruitful ministry at our Shrines, first at Our Lady of the Island in Manorville, then at Lourdes in Litchfield, from 1993-96. Fr. Jim focused on preaching, based in Bay Shore till 1999, when he moved to the Daughters of Wisdom Community in Sound Beach as chaplain to the sisters. He served them – who had cared for him as a child at St. Charles – until 2015. It was then that his own health began its slow but steady decline. He resided first in our Montfort Retirement Community at Bay Shore, and then from 2022-25 at Maria Regina Nursing Home in Brentwood.

Gregarious, with a spontaneous and lighthearted sense of humor, Fr. Jim always enlivened any community he lived in or visited! But he also had a very serious gift for studying and reading, for quiet prayer and contemplation. As a preacher, a teacher, a confrere, a friend, Fr. Jim touched the lives of countless men and women in the course of his 95 years. Trying to say Goodbye to him, one thinks of the words in the prophet Daniel:

“But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament,

and those who lead the many to justice  shall be like the stars forever.”

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Front Row: Marty Curley, John Breslin, Ted Murphy, John (Doc) McCann, Sal Costagliola;
Second Row: Andy Hoynes, Bill Bennison, Franklin Darling,  Jim Manning. Ed Dilgen, Dick Thienel;
Third Row: George Werner, Al Ryan, Joe Fazzina
Top (going up) Hugh Munro, Ray Drohan, Willie Farrell and (maybe) Bob Canuel. 

Missing: Pat Berkery  

 

   

Neil Boyle, Entered Montfort Prep 1970

 Obituary provided by Doug Miller:

 

Neil Boyle passed away on September 26, 2025, leaving an emptiness in all our hearts. A man of deep kindness, boundless warmth, and a generous spirit, Neil was truly a friend to all he met. His presence brought comfort, his laughter brought joy, and his unwavering support uplifted those lucky enough to know him. Neil touched so many lives unknowingly. All who knew him will agree - the world’s light has dimmed with his absence. 

 

Neil is survived by his devoted wife, Lynne Holzer-Boyle; his beloved children Wayne (Nicole), Jeffrey (Patty), Lori (Louis), Dale (Vinny), Toby (Erica); along with his cherished grandchildren Dylan, Jack, Julie, Anthony, CJ, Luke, Evan, Chase, Gavin, Emma; and his great-grandchildren Penelope, Sophia and Mila. He is also survived by his siblings Alisa (Tommy), Michael, Michelle, John (Jeanne), Peter, Virginia (Matt). He joins in eternal rest his siblings Eddie and Bobby along with his parents Alice and Mike.

 

 

He will be missed by those who knew him

Rev. Bernard (Bernie) Brault, SMM

 Father Bernard Brault, S.M.M., 94 years of age, peacefully
passed over to God on September 22, 2025, at Maria Regina
Residence in Brentwood, NY. A son of Joseph and Isabelle Brault,
he was born in Barre, Vermont and earned a degree in Electrical
Engineering from Norwich University. EnlisLng in the US Army,
he served as a lieutenant in guided missile systems. Upon
discharge, he returned to Vermont to work in his father’s
restaurant, and it was then that he decided to pursue the
priesthood. He entered the St. Philip Neri School for Delayed
VocaLons in Boston at the age of 31. It was there that he studied
the wriLngs of St. Louis Marie de MonUort and felt called to
become a MonUort Missionary. Making is First Profession in
1962, he was ordained a priest March 9, 1968.
Father Bernie spent most of his ministry in MonUort Parishes, at
St. Teresa of Avila, Saint Louis, MO 1968-69; at St. Mary Gate of
Heaven, Ozone Park, NY from 1970-76; at Infant Jesus Parish,
Port Jefferson, NY from 1976-84; and again at Gate of Heaven
from 1985 Lll 2007. Although anchored in the life and ministries
of the parish, Fr. Bernie felt a deep call to reach out to the poorest and most needy in the surrounding
neighborhoods. He and some commi_ed friends founded Faith Mission in Jamaica, NY and worked for
over 30 years with the poor, homeless or addicted, operaLng on a shoestring budget, but with paLence
and compassion, seeing this ministry as a gi` from our Lord, an honor and a privilege to serve. In 2007,
Fr. Bernie went to Litchfield, CT, semi-reLred but assisLng in Masses and pilgrimages at the Shrine of
Lourdes in Litchfield. In 2017 in fully reLred to MonUort Residence in Bay Shore, NY.
Along with his passionate concern for the poor, Fr. Bernie always kept up his training and talents in
electrical ma_ers. He built and installed an enLre phone system for Gate of Parish and MonUort
Provincial House in Ozone Park; he was constantly at work for the Faith Mission. Even in his later years at
Litchfield he would busy himself with extraordinary projects, like a self-spinning plate for wedding cakes
and various electrical and sound system projects where he would vandalize working parts from the
Retreat House to create some new invenLon or vision!
The years of illness and diminishment were long and difficult for him and he was wonderfully
accompanied by Mrs. Hyon Noesch and her son Bobby Noesch and by long Lme community associate
Bob Heck. Fr Bernie o`en wished aloud that God would call him home to heaven; he prayed in the
chapel every night a`er supper, o`en falling asleep right there. May the Lord Jesus and his dear Mother
welcome to the joy of heaven this confrere who lived out the words in MonUort’s Hymn 149:
“Succor poor invalids,
Those overwhelmed by sorrow,
The disabled, the outcasts.
Those whom the world rejects
Ought to touch you the most.
I must love, I must love
God hidden in my neighbor.”

Richard Noel Theriault

December 25, 1948 – May 29, 2025

 

Richard Theriault, 76, of Auburn, Maine, passed away peacefully at home on May 29, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1948, in Lewiston, Maine, Richard was the son of Annonciade and Gerard Theriault. He was the second of five children and grew up in a family that valued faith, service, and hard work. He began his education at St. Peter’s Elementary School in Lewiston and spent two years at Montfort Preparatory Seminary in Long Island, New York. He returned home to complete his high school education and graduated from St. Dominic’s Regional High School.

Richard earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine at Orono, where he participated in the Army ROTC program and later served in the National Guard. While at Orono, he met the love of his life, Barbara, while they were both babysitting during church services. They married in 1972 and built a life grounded in love, faith, and devotion to their family that would include 3 children.

In the 1970s, Richard joined the family business and served as general manager of G.A. Peterson in Auburn, which was owned by Lewiston Crushed Stone. He later managed the Continental Mills in Auburn, a 500,000 square-foot rental facility. He became President and CEO of The Continental Corp and AmeriCon (1980–1999), managing and growing a manufacturing company that expanded from fiberglass stair production to later include injection-molded containers and Gazelle truck caps.

From 2000 to 2003, Richard worked as a project manager on major restoration projects in the Lewiston-Auburn area. These included the renovation of the Central Maine Youth Center for the Lewiston Maniacs, completed in record time, and the restoration of Saints Peter and Paul Basilica.

In 2006, Richard founded Seniors Financial Planning Group, where he worked as a senior consultant providing retirement and Medicare planning services. He managed all aspects of the business, including marketing and client education, and took great pride in helping others navigate life’s next chapter.

Outside of work, Richard loved his family deeply. He loved snuggling with any babies around, and it would not be unusual to find him napping with a baby on his chest. Richard also found great joy in boating, and loved the water. While spending time at the family camp on the water, he even convinced his father to buy a speedboat. This extended into a deep affinity for seafood - specifically lobster! In the mid-1980s, he also earned his pilot’s license and always loved flying. He also had a deep appreciation for games of chance and was a regular at the Oxford Casino in recent years, especially enjoying a good game of blackjack.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Barbara Theriault; his daughter Christine Burke and her husband Arron, and their children Allison and Evan Burke; his son Michael Theriault and his wife Diane Hirsh Theriault, and their children James and Andrew; and his daughter-in-law Barbie Theriault, wife of his late son Jason Theriault, and their children Alexander and Amelia Theriault.

He is also survived by his brother Maurice Theriault and his wife Diane; his brother Roger Theriault and his wife Lorraine; his sister Diane Fortin and her husband Gerry; his sister Rachel St. Pierre and her husband Michael; as well as three brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Gerard and Annonciade Theriault, his son Jason Theriault, and his brother-in-law Jonathan.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd, from 5 PM to 8 PM at The Fortin & Pinette Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 4th, at 11 AM at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 122 Ash Street, Lewiston with Committal Prayers to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Rev. John "Doc" McCann, SMM

 

SMM Missionary

At the age of 98 and a half, with 70 years of priesthood as a Montfort Missionary, Father John Hilton McCann passed over to God on March 30, 2025, at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood.

 

Son of Francis McCann and Ethel Robotham, he was born August 20, 1926. With his two brothers and sister, he was raised in Amityville and attended St. Martin’s Elementary School. After a short time at Seton Hall, Patchogue and Cathedral Prep in Brooklyn, he entered Montfort Prep Seminary in Bay Shore. In August 1948 he entered the Montfort Novitiate in Nicolet, Canada and made his First Profession August 15, 1949. Among the first American Montforts to study in Litchfield, CT, he was ordained a priest March 5, 1955.

 

Fr. McCann’s first assignment was in Indiana, and twenty years later he was to return to the Midwest, to Saint Teresa’s Parish in St. Louis, MO and to Our Lady of Grace Parish in Noblesville, IN.  He also served at Infant Jesus Parish in Port Jefferson from 1963-64 and again from 1979-83. From 1985-91 he was director the Lourdes in Litchfield Shrine. Then he served for three years at the parish in East Falmouth, MA. In 1994 he was named pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Bantam CT and served there for 20 years, until his retirement to Montfort Residence in Bay Shore.

 

Perhaps the most remarkable facet of Father John’s ministry was that, over various periods, he served a total of 17 years as Vocation Director for the Montfort Missionaries – in the Midwest, Ozone Park, and Bay Shore. He was responsible for dozens of young men entering Montfort Prep or Novitiate, some becoming Montfort priests and brothers, others eventually moving on to become wonderful Christian husbands, fathers and grandfathers.

 

His retirement years gradually left him more and more limited in movement and health, and in time he became a resident of Maria Regina. The staff there, along with family and friends, kept a dedicated support and care, until he quietly passed in the early morning of March 30^th.

 

“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matt 25:21

Mark Kintzley RIP August 30, 2024

 

Mark A. Kintzley

Apr 25, 1942 - Aug 30, 2024

Mark A Kintzley was born to Francis and Marie Kintzley on April 25th 1942 and passed away peacefully on August 30th 2024. He was the fourth oldest of 15 children.

He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, was in the Seminary for 2 years and graduated from Fort Collins high school. He joined the Marine Corps in 1964, served in Vietnam, received a Purple Heart and was Honorably discharged in 1967.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother Pat.

He is survived by his wife Dolores (Dee) and his seven children: Mark II (Joy), Steve (Cynthia), Cathy, Courtney (Nick), Alissa (Ryan), Kari and Jack (Kaylee). He has 18 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

He had an immeasurable love of life, God and family.

A viewing will be held at Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by a Rosary service at 6:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins on Thursday, September 5th, 2024 at 9:30 am. Mark will receive a Graveside Service with Military Honors at Cheyenne National Cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Friday, September 6th, 2024 at 11:00 .

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice.