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Sister Claude Maria Vitale, C.S.J.

Sister Claude Maria Vitale, C.S.J., a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of  St.  Joseph, Brentwood, for 60 years, died July 28, 2010.

Formerly Sister Frances Marie, she entered the congregation in 1950 from Nativity of Our Blessed Lord parish, Bedford-Stuyvesant.

In 1962, she earned a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, and obtained a master’s in education from Hunter College in 1968. Her post-graduate work and certification were in the fields of learning disabilities and psychology at Yeshiva University, Manhattan.

Before becoming a supervisor in the Learning Disabilities Department in St. Francis School for the Deaf in Brooklyn, she taught in:

  • The Brooklyn Diocese on the elementary level in St. Martin of Tours, Bushwick, 1952-53

  • St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope, 1953-55

  • St. Athanasius, Bensonhurst, 1955-60

  • St. Augustine, Park Slope, 1960-62

  • Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Astoria, 1962-65

  •  Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Williamsburg, 1965-67


During her 15 years at St. Francis School for the Deaf, she volunteered her summers in Preston County, West Va., working with volunteers and collaborating with many different churches in outreach programs for the community. 

In 2000 she was led there to full-time rural ministry, serving on boards/committees whose task was to address the needs of poverty and discrimination in the area. Along with Sister Priscilla, C.S.J., she became a voice for the voiceless in confronting the big business of coal mining and addressing health and safety issues for the miners and their families.
She is survived by two sisters, Marie Vitale and Ann Stadelmann.

A funeral in West Virginia preceded the transfer of her body to Maria Regina Chapel, Brentwood, where a Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 2. Interment followed in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.
Above/below: Sister Claude Maria Vitale
at St. Francis Xavier School, 1954

The Franciscan Brother of Brooklyn Celebrate 150 Years

As the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, celebrate their 150th Anniversary, the parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Parish and the graduates of St. Francis Xavier School recall with gratitude the fact that for just about half of those years we were blessed by their presence in the parish and school.  The Brothers are an important part of our history and of who we are today.

A Mass was celebrated here in their honor on June 27th as we prayed for all the Brothers, especially those who served at Saint Francis.  Eight of the Brothers were present including Brothers Damien, Edward Bacon, Thomas Grady, Becket Ryan, Thomas Barton, Xavier Castaldo, Jeremy, and Campion.

 We are truly grateful for the Brothers many years of dedicated service.

At the Mass, they were presented with a plaque as a small reminder of our deep gratitude.

 

It reads:

“On this 150th Anniversary of the Franciscan Brothers

Generations of Saint Francis Xavier parishioners

and graduates of the school

give thanks to God for the blessing

of the Brothers presence, service and love.

You will always be in our prayers!

Many we show our gratitude by being worthy instruments

Of the Prince of Peace.”