Mathias Barrett
Encyclopedia
Brother Mathias Barrett was a Catholic Brother born in Ireland
who founded a number of homes to help serve the needy and homeless throughout North America. He is also the founder of The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
.
Brother Mathias came to New Mexico in September 1950 after retiring from the St John of God order to help Father Gerald Fitzgerald with the care of priests at Via Coeli. Archbishop Edwin V. Byrne had other plans for him, however and on January 19, 1951 Brother Mathias went to Albuquerque, New Mexico
to establish a new Order of Brothers and a house for men on the road.
On January 19, 1951 Brother Mathias founded the Congregation of the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
(BGS), a Roman Catholic pontifical institute of religious Brothers, whose members profess the canonical, public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.
Established in Albuquerque and led by Brother Mathias, the Good Shepherd Refuge opened its doors to the homeless and poverty stricken. Adhering to the motto "Charity Unlimited", the Brothers of the Good Shepherd expanded outside of the Albuquerque region and traveled to Columbus, Ohio, where St. Martin's Home opened in 1954. Ozanam Inn, New Orleans, Louisiana, followed in 1955.
By their tenth anniversary, the Brothers' congregation had grown from seven men and one house to 25 men and six houses. Numerous houses were established in the 60's, among them Camillus House
in Florida, Good Shepherd Refuge and Center in Canada, St. John's Hospice in Philadelphia, Good Shepherd Manors in Wakefield and Kansas City, and Mount Aloysius in New Lexington, Ohio. Brother Mathias acted as Superior General until the First General Chapter in 1977 and afterwards he continued to work with the poor at Good Shepard facilities. Brother Mathias Barrett died in 1990 at the age of 90.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
who founded a number of homes to help serve the needy and homeless throughout North America. He is also the founder of The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, a Roman Catholic order of Brothers, was founded in 1951 in Albuquerque, New Mexico by Brother Mathias Barrett at the behest of Edwin V. Byrne....
.
Biography
Brother Mathias Barrett was born Maurice Patrick Barrett on March 15, 1900 in Waterford, Ireland. On March 17, 1916 Brother Mathias entered the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God. Brother Mathias became a leading force not only as the North American Provincial of his Order, but in building many institutions such as hospitals, soup kitchens, and rehabilitation centers.Brother Mathias came to New Mexico in September 1950 after retiring from the St John of God order to help Father Gerald Fitzgerald with the care of priests at Via Coeli. Archbishop Edwin V. Byrne had other plans for him, however and on January 19, 1951 Brother Mathias went to Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
to establish a new Order of Brothers and a house for men on the road.
On January 19, 1951 Brother Mathias founded the Congregation of the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd
The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, a Roman Catholic order of Brothers, was founded in 1951 in Albuquerque, New Mexico by Brother Mathias Barrett at the behest of Edwin V. Byrne....
(BGS), a Roman Catholic pontifical institute of religious Brothers, whose members profess the canonical, public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.
Established in Albuquerque and led by Brother Mathias, the Good Shepherd Refuge opened its doors to the homeless and poverty stricken. Adhering to the motto "Charity Unlimited", the Brothers of the Good Shepherd expanded outside of the Albuquerque region and traveled to Columbus, Ohio, where St. Martin's Home opened in 1954. Ozanam Inn, New Orleans, Louisiana, followed in 1955.
By their tenth anniversary, the Brothers' congregation had grown from seven men and one house to 25 men and six houses. Numerous houses were established in the 60's, among them Camillus House
Camillus House
Camillus House is a registered 5013 Non-profit agency that provides humanitarian services to poor and homeless men, women and children in Miami-Dade County in southern Florida. Founded in 1960, Camillus House is one of the oldest and largest continuously operated charities in South Florida...
in Florida, Good Shepherd Refuge and Center in Canada, St. John's Hospice in Philadelphia, Good Shepherd Manors in Wakefield and Kansas City, and Mount Aloysius in New Lexington, Ohio. Brother Mathias acted as Superior General until the First General Chapter in 1977 and afterwards he continued to work with the poor at Good Shepard facilities. Brother Mathias Barrett died in 1990 at the age of 90.