Giving
Xaverian's Memorial Mass
Brother Matthew Burke, CFX
Brother Matthew, CFX (Robert John Burke) died at Nazareth Home November 27, 2020, at the age of 82.
Bro. Matt was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1938 to John S. and Cecilia Foley Burke. John was born in New York and Cecilia was born in Ireland. They predeceased Bro. Matt along with his stepmother, Lucille Connolly Burke, and sisters Virginia Wenz and Carol Poletto. He is survived by his sisters Deborah May, Patricia Smith and Jacqueline Clifford and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
In 1956, Bro. Matt entered the Xaverian Brothers and after religious formation and college education taught at Nazareth High School in Brooklyn from 1962 until 1975 serving as principal during his last six years. During this time, he earned an MA degree from the University of Michigan and began work on a PhD from Fordham University completing the degree in 1976. That fall he became Principal of St. Mary's Ryken High School in Maryland until 1983. After a year's sabbatical in 1984 he joined the American Central Province's (ACP) administration concentrating on developing the current association of Xaverian Brothers' Sponsored Schools which continues today.
From 1988-94 he served as Provincial of the ACP and was elected Superior General of the Xaverian Congregation in 1995 serving until 2001. During that time, Brother Matthew served on Xaverian's Board of Directors from 1986-1988 and 1994-1995. Bro. Matt went to Kenya in 2002 to 2008 serving there as Regional Director and Novice Master. Upon returning to the US, Bro. Matt volunteered in different ministries in Romania and Baltimore, MD until 2016 when he retired to Ryken House in Louisville, KY.
Bro. Matt was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1938 to John S. and Cecilia Foley Burke. John was born in New York and Cecilia was born in Ireland. They predeceased Bro. Matt along with his stepmother, Lucille Connolly Burke, and sisters Virginia Wenz and Carol Poletto. He is survived by his sisters Deborah May, Patricia Smith and Jacqueline Clifford and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
In 1956, Bro. Matt entered the Xaverian Brothers and after religious formation and college education taught at Nazareth High School in Brooklyn from 1962 until 1975 serving as principal during his last six years. During this time, he earned an MA degree from the University of Michigan and began work on a PhD from Fordham University completing the degree in 1976. That fall he became Principal of St. Mary's Ryken High School in Maryland until 1983. After a year's sabbatical in 1984 he joined the American Central Province's (ACP) administration concentrating on developing the current association of Xaverian Brothers' Sponsored Schools which continues today.
From 1988-94 he served as Provincial of the ACP and was elected Superior General of the Xaverian Congregation in 1995 serving until 2001. During that time, Brother Matthew served on Xaverian's Board of Directors from 1986-1988 and 1994-1995. Bro. Matt went to Kenya in 2002 to 2008 serving there as Regional Director and Novice Master. Upon returning to the US, Bro. Matt volunteered in different ministries in Romania and Baltimore, MD until 2016 when he retired to Ryken House in Louisville, KY.
Xaverian
Established in 1957, Xaverian is one of thirteen schools nationwide sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers.
