On Sunday October 16th, after a struggle with pancreatic and liver cancer, our friend and mentor Dean Brackley, SJ was called to be with God.
Dean Brackley, S.J.
Dean was a courageous and passionate seeker of social justice and truth. In 1989, six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter were killed at University of Central America. Shortly thereafter, with deep faith and hope, Dean volunteered to work at the UCA and accompany the poor of El Salvador. He described the calling to go to El Salvador as “a fast pitch down the middle” … and he had to swing.
Over the years, Dean became the pitcher on the mound, throwing fastballs down the middle to us -the international community- inviting us to take a swing at engaging in the Salvadoran reality, letting our hearts be broken and discerning our vocations, what it means to be privileged in an unjust world and to be disciples of Christ and the Salvadoran martyrs.
Communities from Jayaque and Las Palmas at the UCA's Chapel
In many ways, how the Programa Velasco staff came to know
El Salvador was because of Dean’s influence. His visionary gifts led him to initiate the creation of the remarkable Santa Clara University’s Casa de la Solidaridad study abroad program. The Casa has changed our lives and given us the opportunity to experience the reality of El Salvador through, as Dean led us to do; accompany and learn with the Salvadorans poor.
We are forever changed and inspired by you, Dean.
We Thank You, We Love You,
~~~
Have the courage to lose control.
Have the courage to feel useless.
Have the courage to listen.
Have the courage to receive.
Have the courage to let your heart be broken.
…Have the courage to feel.
Have the courage to fall in love.
Have the courage to get ruined for life.
Have the courage to make a friend.
~Dean Brackley, SJ