Brother John F. Kerr

Brother John F. Kerr, 89, died Thursday, April 20, 2023 at the Mary Immaculate Nursing and Restorative Center in Lawrence. He had been a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier for seventy years. Born in Boston on July 7, 1933, he was the son of the late Thomas and Katherine (Tansey) Kerr. Raised and educated in Jamaica Plain, he graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and studied at Boston College before joining the Xaverian Brothers in 1952. On March 19, 1953, he received the holy habit, taking the religious name Brother Lambertus. Brother John’s teaching career began at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, teaching there from 1955-1956 and again from 1957-1963. In the interrupted year, he ministered at the CYO Home in Detroit and completed his degree at the University of Detroit. Throughout his career, his educated was furthered with master’s degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Trinity College in Hartford, and the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. In 1963, he was assigned to Xavier High School in Middletown, CT, serving as a math teacher and school treasurer. He was named principal of the school in 1967 and served until being named headmaster of Malden Catholic High School in 1976. His time at MC was cut short unexpectedly when after only 6 weeks, he was elected by the Xaverian Brothers to serve as Executive Secretary of the congregation in Rome. He was called to continue his role in leadership when he was elected Superior General in 1983. During his twelve years in congregational leadership, John was involved in the renewal of the Xaverian Brothers’ Constitutions and the development of the Fundamental Principles. He also became a strong advocate for the renewal of the Brothers missionary activity in Congo (then Zaire) and supported the reopening of the formation program there. He returned to the United States and joined the staff at the St. Stephen Priory Spiritual Life Center in Dover, MA where he would serve as retreat director and spiritual director for 12 years. When the Dominicans withdrew from Dover in 2004, Brother John began volunteer work at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Norfolk, MA until he joined the Xaverian House Community in 2016. During his retreat ministry, he developed a special friendship with the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Framingham which he particularly cherished. In addition to his brothers in religion, he leaves a brother, Philip Kerr, a sister, Mary Hanley, and their families. He was predeceased by his sister, Katherine Kerr. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 3:30PM in the Chapel of Saint John’s Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Xaverian Brothers Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited. Visitation will begin at 2PM in the Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother John’s memory may be made to the Xaverian Brothers Retirement Fund, 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. For directions or to share a message of sympathy, please visit www.LyonsFuneral.com.