Bro. Henry Miller, SVD Celebrates 65th Jubilee

Brother Henry George Miller was born on January 3, 1922, in Baltimore, Maryland. A foundling, his childhood was spent at St. Elizabeth's Home for children, run by the Franciscan Sisters. In January of 1939, Brother Henry entered St. Augustine's Seminary at Bay St. Louis. He professed his final vows in 1948, the same year that he went to Southern Ghana, known then as the Gold Coast, West Africa, until it gained independence in 1957. He remained there until 1962. During this time he returned to Techny on home leave to complete a two-year tailoring course. Brother Henry worked in Northern Ghana from 1962 until 1985, performing a myriad of duties ranging from maintenance to teaching Christian doctrine. He went to Kenya in 1985, staying until 1989 to work at the new mission near Nairobi. And still, he wasn't yet ready to retire - Brother Henry spent four more years at several islands in the Caribbean, working as Eucharistic minister, visitor to the sick and the homebound and as caretaker.

Last year, Fr. Bernard Fisher, SVD commented, "Brother Henry Miller, SVD, has given a lifetime of cheerful and diligent service to the great work of Christ, preaching His good news to people who had not yet heard it. He belongs to a large group of men and women, the Society of the Divine Word and the two Societies of Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit, all cooperating to achieve the same goal, making Christ known to every creature.Brother concentrated on southern USA, Africa and the Caribbean. Those who had the privilege of working with him have the greatest respect and affection for him and wish him well on earth and into eternity."

The Chicago Province held the Annual Tri-Province Jubilee Celebration at Techny for North American SVD's July 13-14, 2007. Among those honored was Brother Henry Miller, 85 years young, who celebrated his 65th Anniversary of Profession of Vows. Five years earlier, at his 60th Anniversary of Vows, Brother Henry's confreres had presented him with a small published book, Memoirs of a Missionary Brother, as both tribute and token of their affection and respect.

This little book in Brother Henry's words encompasses his life story of service, speaking with humility and gratitude. A telling tale of the times, it reflects the struggle of African Americans to take their places in both secular society and in the Society of the Divine Word. Those were years of prejudice and segregation; years of challenges met and overcome. Brother Henry relates: "Soon after the first African American priest was ordained, Rome wrote letters to all the U.S. Bishops saying that Bay St. Louis had done the pioneering work and had shown what could be done."

Whether his task was tailoring cassocks for priests, cooking for the SVD community, teaching "Bullock Training" to farming students in Northern Ghana, doing maintenance and driving work or serving as caretaker, Brother Henry accepted his ministry humbly and with gratitude, saying, "God has plans for all of us, before we are born in this world.His plans were laid out for me."

When you shake Brother Henry's hand and look into his smiling eyes, you know that he is fulfilling God's plan.