Remembering Fr. Dean Brackley, S.J. (1946-2011)
BY CHRIS KERR | October 16, 2011
The University of Central America (UCA) in San Salvador, El Salvador, announced earlier today that Fr. Dean Brackley, S.J., passed away this weekend after a brave struggle against cancer. Brackley was sixty-five years old and had been living, teaching, and ministering in El Salvador for the majority of the past eleven years.
After the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests at the UCA in El Salvador, Brackley volunteered to leave the U.S. for the war-torn country and begin ministering as a professor, academic administrator, and pastoral minister to poor communities in El Salvador. He became known as a passionate theologian, writer, and advocate for the poor of Central America and throughout the world. He spoke at many Jesuit universities across the U.S. about solidarity and social justice and at various times taught at a number of them as well. In 2003, Brackley spoke at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, in Columbus, Georgia. In 2004, he released well known book “The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times”.
Brackley entered the Society of Jesus in 1964, became a priest in 1976, and earned a doctorate in Religious Social Ethics from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School in 1980.
Read the statement from the UCA at: https://www.facebook.com/UCA.ElSalvador/posts/10150363510022722
Articles, Audio, and Video Excerpts from Dean Brackley, S.J.:
Higher Standards for Higher Education: The Christian University and Solidarity
Speech at Creighton University – November 4, 1999
Enemies of War: Yanquis Return to El Salvador
PBS – 2001
The Jesuit University in a Broken Wolrd
Loyola Marymount University – January 25, 2005
“Justice in Higher Education” Keynote Address
John Carroll University – October 16, 2005
Audio Interview with Dean Brackley
Commonweal Magazine – February 21, 2008
Brackley Receives Pedro Arrupe Award at University of Scranton
University of Scranton – May 3, 2010
Migrants: Illegals or God’s Ambassdors
National Catholic Reporter – March 14, 2010
Obama’s visit to the land of Romero leaves behind questions
National Catholic Reporter – March 24, 2011
Jesuit who replaced slain Salvadoran priests dies
National Catholic Reporter – October 17, 2011
Meeting the Victim, Loving the Poor (introduction by James Martin, S.J.)
America Magazine – October 19, 2011
Video Reflection created by former students and friends of Fr. Brackley
YouTube – October 20, 2011
Rev. Dean Brackley, 65, Dies; Served in El Salvador
New York Times – October 29, 2011
Books written by Dean Brackley, S.J.:
The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of Ignatius of Loyola Divine Revolution: Salvation and Liberation in Catholic Thought
Chris joined the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) as executive director in 2011. He has over fifteen years of experience in social justice advocacy and leadership in Catholic education and ministry. Prior to ISN he served in multiple roles at John Carroll University, including coordinating international immersion experience and social justice education programming as an inaugural co-director of John Carroll’s Arrupe Scholars Program for Social Action. Prior to his time at John Carroll he served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary and secondary levels in Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Chris speaks regularly at campuses and parishes about social justice education and advocacy, Jesuit mission, and a broad range of social justice issues. He currently serves on the board of directors for Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ). Chris earned a B.A. and M.A. from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He and his family reside in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
I was so fortunate to meet him in November 2009 when a group of us from Albuquerque attended the UCA 20th anniversary commemoration. He was wonderfully generous with his time and so informative about what was happening in the country at that time. And he was a wonderfully warm and welcoming person as well.
Dean had such a profound impact on my life. I knew him from the semester at Fordham University in the Bronx before he left for El Salvador. It was a “happy accident” that we met – the Theology class I signed up for was switched to his Community Service Theology class. Learning from him, being in his presence….you just knew he was special. He taught a classroom of privileged college kids how to SEE the world. Living in the Bronx, so many needed help – soup kitchens, homeless shelters, food pantries. So we got out and made a difference. The most important lesson….these are not charity cases but PEOPLE entitled to RESPECT and DIGNITY. To know he’s gone so soon, breaks my heart a bit. Every Oct.16 I go to church, I light a candle, I say a prayer and I shed a tear. Bless you Fr. Brackley