Brother James Philip Reilly CSC

James Philip Reilly was born on October 12, 1939 in Lancaster, Ohio. He was the youngest of the five children of Francis Patrick Reilly, a mold maker for the Anchor Hocking glassware company, and Mildred May Carter, who gave up her work as a registered nurse to raise their daughter and four sons. Jim's faith life was centered around the local church, St. Mary's, where he was baptized, confirmed and attended elementary school.
In 1953, when Jim was in the eighth grade, his mother died. His father then sent his children to boarding schools to continue their education. Jim went to Marianist Preparatory School in Beacon, New York, graduating in 1958.
In the years before he came to Holy Cross, Jim felt a certain attraction to religious life. About six years after high school, he went back to the priests and brothers he knew, the Marianists, and became a novice. He lived and worked at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Canoga Park, California. It was evident then that he enjoyed working with young people. After two years as a vowed religious, at age 28, he left the Marianists, but remained close to the Church. He became a third order lay Franciscan, a Catholic Big Brother, a Knight of Columbus, and he was enthusiastically involved in the Charismatic Renewal.
Pursuing his interest in landscaping, in 1973, Jim earned an Associate of Science degree in Horticulture at Pierce Junior College, Woodland Hills, California. For a number of years afterwards, he fed his interest with additional units in horticulture through extension courses at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. James enjoyed working with plants because he could actually see the results of his work. His skills and dedication in groundskeeping and landscaping gained him employment as a grounds foreman, supervising about 25 acres each for such Southern California institutions as the Rockhaven Sanitarium in Verdugo, the Warner Brothers Estate in Beverly Hills, and the Bell and Howell Company in Pasadena. At Occidental College in Los Angeles, he oversaw 200 acres with a crew of 25 workers.
About the time he first began his studies in horticulture, Jim came into contact with the Brothers of Holy Cross at Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth, California. He was attracted by what he saw at Rancho – a community of men who prayed and worked together for the good of the young men at the "Boys Town of the West." Jim stayed in touch with Brothers John Crowe, Richard Hurley and Francis Kjeldgaard, and, as a Holy Cross Associate, was welcome to join them for Mass or community activities whenever he could. Finally, he recognized, "My heart and soul are at peace with Holy Cross."
Almost halfway through his life, at age 44, Jim was accepted as a candidate at Casa Santa Cruz, San Antonio, Texas. He was received into Holy Cross on July 8, 1984 at Holy Cross Novitiate, Waterford, New York, and professed his first vows there on August 10, 1985.
Brother James then returned to Casa Santa Cruz for pastoral formation. He participated in a ministry program at the Mexican-American Cultural Center, attended theology classes at Our Lady of the Lake University and completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Santa Rosa Medical Center. His CPE supervisor wrote: "Jim expresses deep faith in God and a great love for people... Jim's ministry continues to have a down-to-earth flavor, and he is deeply moved by the faith of those to whom he is called to minister."
He was then assigned for two years, 1986-1988, as a staff member at Rancho San Antonio. He worked directly with 6-8 boys in the occupational training program, sharing his talents and experience in groundskeeping and maintenance. Next, he moved to Mountain View, California, where he lived with the Holy Cross Brothers at St. Francis High School for two years while he attended vocational nursing classes at DeAnza College in Cupertino and worked in health care services at Alexian Brothers Hospital in San Jose. Behind the residence of the Holy Cross Brothers, in his spare time, he dug the rocks out of a flower bed, amended the soil and installed a rose garden which became an enduring attraction.
Having earned practical experience in nursing care at a Catholic, mission-based hospital, Jim was assigned in 1990 to assist in health care services at Dujarie House at Notre Dame, living with the Brothers of Holy Cross at Columba Hall. He pronounced his perpetual vows on November 29, 1991 at St. Joseph Chapel at the Holy Cross Brothers Center, Notre Dame, Indiana. This year he would have celebrated the 40th anniversary of his profession of vows.
Two years after the Brother Vincent Pieau Residence opened in Austin, Texas, Brother Jim joined the staff. The facility anticipated the retirement and assisted living needs of the Brothers, but in 1999, many of the Brothers living there were still active and able to care for themselves, and Brother Jim felt that he had more to give. Meanwhile, he made life perilous for the dandelions and other weeds on the ample grounds.
By 2000, he asked to be transferred back to Notre Dame where he could assist with health care needs at Dujarie House and live again at Columba Hall. And there he remained for the rest of his life, blooming where he was planted, continuing to serve others as a volunteer when paid positions were no longer available. He was well understood, guided and appreciated by the superior at Columba Hall, Brother Thomas Shaughnessy. And when Brother Richard Hurley, his old friend at Rancho San Antonio, came to live at Columba Hall, Brother Jim enjoyed taking him out regularly for breakfast and shopping trips.
As a hobby, Brother Jim collected positive quotes, cutting inspirational sayings out of magazines and pasting them into a scrap book. He circulated joke books and comedic videos in an effort to keep his patients in good cheer.
Helping others was what gave joy and meaning to Jim's life. His simplicity and goodness of heart were easily recognized. He was kind and attentive to the needs of others, responding immediately and generously. He was quick to give up his own free time to fill in for others or to be a driver. Comments about him were consistent through the years: able to relate to young and old, friendly to all he meets, knows no stranger, has a great deal of energy and an enthusiasm for hard work, does more than his assigned work, gladly helps others.
This past year, Brother James suffered from recurring bouts of pneumonia and ultimately received a diagnosis of cancer. He was affectionately cared for at Dujarie House, where he himself had served so many Brothers and other patients. There, Brother James passed peacefully to his eternal award on March 2, 2025 at age 85.
Hearing of Jim's 1999 assignment to Texas, Brother Philip Armstrong took the time to write:
I have been greatly impressed over these years by James's dedication to serving the residents of Dujarie House and his exceptional generosity in giving freely of his time and energy His devotion to the residents has been edifying. Even when experiencing health-related difficulties himself, he remained at his post, always exhibiting good humor and cheerfulness.
James will be missed not only at Dujarie House on the job but among us in community as well. His presence and sincerity as a religious have been supportive and are very much appreciated.
I had last year about this time many opportunities to provide direct care for my aging and dying aunt as well as her husband, and I learned many things about the tremendous physical energy and spirit of generosity required simply to accomplish the tasks, most of them not at all what we would choose to do, and about the sacrificial dedication necessary to maintain about us some semblance of equilibrium and good humor. Those who do this work as a ministry day after day are indeed deserving of our affirmation and gratitude.
James has been a fine example among us and we have all benefitted from his presence and his ministry.
May our Brother James rest now from all his labors, unless, of course, he wants to do a little gardening at his Father's house.
-Brother Richard Critz, CSC
The funeral services for Brother James P. Reilly will take place on
Friday, March 7, 2025.
The viewing and funeral Mass will be held in the St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of Holy Cross College, South Bend, Indiana.
9:00 AM – 10 AM – Viewing in the Chapel
10:00 AM – Mass of Christian Burial
Live-streamed: https://bit.ly/41BhY6
11:00 AM – Internment in the Brothers' Cemetery
N.B. All times are EST.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Brother James Philip Reilly, CSC, please visit our floral store.