West Tennessee Catholic
Education
November 14, 2002

http://cdom.org/wtc/wtc_archives/wtc111402/wtc_pages/education.html

Fr. James W. Murphy and Dr. Rose G. Deal were affiliated to the Christian Brothers in a private ceremony Nov. 10 on the campus of Christian Brothers University. Brother Frank Carr, FSC, Provincial for the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the Midwest District, officiated and presented Letters of Affiliation on behalf of the Superior General in Rome, Brother Alvero Rodriguez, FSC.

Affiliation is the highest and rarest recognition by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Only 31 Memphians have been thus honored by the Brothers since their arrival in Memphis in 1871. By Affiliation, men and women, lay, religious and members of the clergy are recognized as members of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. They are then, Christian Brothers. At great personal sacrifice, affiliated members have participated to an extraordinary degree in the life and work of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, and their founder, Saint John Baptist De La Salle. As a gift that is deeply spiritual, they are invited to share more fully in that life and mission.

Fr. Murphy was a graduate of the last class of Christian Brothers High School on Adams Street in 1940. He was ordained in 1948 and has been a priest for 54 years. Fr. Murphy has served as a pastor for 25 years and in hospital ministry for 14 years. After he retired, he worked for several years with the Christian Brothers at Dunrovin Retreat Center in Minnesota before returning to Memphis.

Dr. Deal was born in Italy, where she received her master's degree from the University of Naples and her Ph.D. from the University of Bari, majoring in Latin and Ancient Greek. She met George Deal, a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and tutored him in English. They married a year later. They arrived in the United States and Memphis on Thanksgiving Day in 1948. Dr. Deal taught at Christian Brothers University for 33 years, 1961-1994. She is professor emerita of the University's Department of Literature and Languages. — Special to The West Tennessee Catholic