A Continuation of the Black Brothers Story
The status of the Black Brothers was that of Postulants even though they had already put in time in their house in Camden. During this time they decided to take as an official name that of the FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF CHRIST THE KING. Also they decided to wear the brown habit of the Friars Minor. Both these decisions won the immediate approval of the Bishop.
Relations with the students, teachers and Novices of the sponsoring community were always cordial and fraternal. The Black Brothers were always invited to celebrations either at the Juniorate or the Novitiate. It was at one of their gatherings at Mount St. Francis that they introduced the singing of the Salve Regina after night prayers. They themselves always closed the day with the Salve Regina. These postulants were from the South; some from the Virgin Islands, others from Louisiana; one from New York; one from Chicago with roots in the South. So our first winter and the first snow fascinated most of them. Children could not have been more gleeful when the Novices down the road challenged them to their first snowball skirmish.
The Brothers were recipients from time to time of benefactions: donations of money, a statue of the Infant of Prague (from Brentwood), two heroic sized statues of Christ the King and Mary Queen of Peace which graced the chapel. One night while at supper, a knock at the door caused Brother Leo to rise to answer it. He brought into the refectory a rather large box containing a delicious looking cake. We at once designated it as our dessert for that meal. We wondered who sent it but we were not over-anxious to know; we always enjoyed the ways of Providence!
About half of the richly decorated cake was being consumed when another knock at the door revealed a novice inquiring if a cake had been delivered to us by mistake. Some parent had ordered the cake for her son’s birthday. At the revelation we were hilarious. We thanked the novice for letting us share the festivity and surrendered the remainder.
Besides cultivating a vegetable garden in the rear of the Shevis House, the Black Brothers laid the foundation and then erected an Army surplus Quonset hut (20X50). It was partitioned and a very large, airy dormitory was set up. After 1950, this hut was put to use as a science laboratory by the Juniorate for about 11 years.
Bishop Eustace visited us occasionally, dined with us, and remained with us for a few hours. One day he came to stay overnight and he was roomed in the Juniorate, for he came to give the Brothers their Habits, thus making them Novices. The ritual was held in St. Patrick’s Church in Smithtown Branch. The ritual for the Reception of the Habit was that of the sponsoring community.
The Bishop’s sermon was inspiring; they were to assist him and the future Bishops of Camden by making known to their people, many of whom are confused by the fragmented Christianity that has spread among them. They were to take a census of the Black people of Camden and after further instruction and training to teach Christian Doctrine. A very large crowd attended and when we returned to the Juniorate ample refreshments were served. At the end of the stipulated period, the Black Brothers returned to Camden.