Submitted by: Dan Rich

Br. Gonzaga (Thomas) Day, CSC

Oct. 31, 1919 - July 20, 1997

South Bend Tribune 7/23/1997

Brother Gonzaga (Thomas) Day, CSC, of the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, was born on Oct. 31, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Thomas and Ella Nunney Day. Preceding him in death were his parents and his brother, Joseph. He is survived by two other brothers, John and Francis, and one sister, Mary.

On Aug. 15, 1938, he received the habit of the Brothers of Holy Cross, pronounced his first vows on Aug. 16, 1939, and made his perpetual profession on Aug. 16, 1942. All his life in Holy Cross was devoted to direct service to others, both within and outside his religious community. Br. Gonzaga was skilled in many areas, including cooking, secretarial work and organizational responsibilities of all kinds. His assignments over the years included Columba Hall, Notre Dame, Ind., St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, Ind., Sacred Heart College, Watertown, Wis., Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, Ohio, where he was one of the first staff members, Notre Dame High School, West Haven, Conn., and the Holy Cross Procurators Office, Rome, Italy. Also, St. Edward High School, Lakewood, Ohio. the Provincial Office, South Bend, and the Seton Thrift Store, Harriman, Tenn., which he founded as a ministry of Blessed Sacrament Parish in that city and which he stocked and operated until his retirement in 1995.

While on the staff of the provincial administration in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Br. Gonzaga became interested in and adept at procuring and facilitating the shipment of needed supplies to the newly established West African missions of the Brothers of the Holy Cross in Ghana and Liberia. His outreach in Africa included assisting bishops and clergy from several dioceses in building up material resources and he often accompanied them on fund raising missions in the United States. His bazaars in the South Bend community aimed at raising money for the Holy Cross missions were legendary.

In 1978, he became part of a small team of brothers serving in Harriman, Tenn., and within two years he had established the Seton Thrift Store in downtown Harriman.

Besides resources from within the community, Br. Gonzaga had numerous contacts who helped furnish the financial and material wherewithal for his shipments of goods to the missions. Yet his priority, when seeking help from others, remained their prayerful support, especially from the Discalced Carmelita nuns in Terre Haute, Ind., and Des Plaines, Ill.

Beginning in 1978, a serious bout with cancer nearly ended his life, but he recovered and continued for nearly 20 years more, with equal if not intensified zeal, his service to others. In 1995 he retired to Columba Hall, Notre Dame, and then, only weeks before his death, moved to Dujarie House, the skilled care facility of the brothers. The need for special treatment found him returning in his home town, Cleveland, where he died at the Cleveland Clinic on July 20.

A tall, handsomely imposing figure of a man, whose booming voice, laughter and brilliant smile outwardly displayed the inner richness of soul and the unstinting generosity of spirit so clearly evident in him. Br. Gonzaga will be missed and mourned by thousands in many countries whose lives have been significantly bettered by his sacrificial dedication.

Br. Gonzaga was a missionary at heart and would have ministered in Africa, to which he traveled several times, had not his special talents, availability and organizational effectiveness necessitated his presence in the United States. Yet, by serving so faithfully those who served others overseas, he truly became a missionary to missionaries.

Calling hours are from 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, in the chapel of the Holy Cross Brothers Center, Notre Dame, until 7:30 p.m. when a Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated. Burial will take place at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 25, in St. Joseph Cemetery at the Brothers Center. Hickey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.