Submitted by: Dan Rich

Br. James Caley, CSC

Dec. 16, 1938 - April 6, 1999

South Bend Tribune 4/9/1999

Brother James Caley CSC of the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross died at Schubert Villa in the Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 6, at the age of 60. Br. James, son of Daniel and Ann (Kilbane) Caley, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 16, 1938, but was educated in Detroit, Mich., when the family moved there. In 1958 he joined Holy Cross at Watertown, Wis., then entered the brothers' novitiate in Rolling Prairie, Ind., on Jan. 25, 1959, making his first profession of vows a year later.

He studied at St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, and in 1963 was assigned to teach and prefect at Boysville of Michigan, Macon, Mich. In 1965 Br. James worked at the St. Charles Boys Home in Milwaukee, Wis., then briefly at Holy Cross High School, River Grove, Ill., until called to the Bangladesh missions where he remained until 1971, returning to take up child-care roles in the Gibault Home for Boys, Terre Haute, Ind., Boysville once more, and again Gibault until 1975. He pursued graduate study in social work at Tulane the next two years, then counseled for Catholic charities in Stockton, Calif., until 1983 when he returned to Boysville, remaining there until 1988. He then came to South Bend, Ind., as staff at the Family and Children's Center. In 1991 he engaged in family ministry in California, followed by counseling at Holy Trinity High School, Chicago, and Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron, Ohio.

In recent years, complications arising from an illness would have permanently sidelined a less energetic and determined person but, apart from short periods of inactivity for operations, and confined to a wheelchair, Br. James, always profoundly perceptive, always respectful of the dignity of the person, and unfailing in his demand for honesty both of himself and others, continued his very effective counseling up to the time of his death. His Irish wit and temper were well-known, as was his habitual openness to life. He was preparing to return to Akron to continue his ministry at Archbishop Hoban High School. Br. James is survived by a sister, Rosemary Gass of Huntington Beach, Calif.

Visitors may call from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, in the brothers' Chapel of St. Joseph at the Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 2 p.m., followed by burial in the nearby St. Joseph Cemetery. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.