One of our classmates and one of our former teachers at Cretin were recently recognized for their lifetime financial contributions to Cretin Derham-Hall. They and other alumni that are members of the Blessed Brother James Miller Lifetime Giving Society received plaques that were designed and created by CDH students in the Ryan STEM Center.
Our classmate Mike Swenson and his wife Jane (above) and Wayne Haag (below), who taught chemistry to many in our class, were the recipients.
Mike and his wife continue to support CDH. They are very special and his classmates are quite proud of him.
The Blessed Brother James Miller Lifetime Giving Society is named in honor of Brother James Miller, who taught at Cretin High School for three years in the mid 1960’s. He taught Spanish and English in addition to religious education. He also oversaw maintenance and coached football. Miller made his perpetual vows in August 1969.
After Cretin he was sent to teach in Bluefields in Nicaragua where he remained until his superiors ordered him to leave. He was requested to leave his work in Nicaragua due to political tensions that put Miller at risk of being killed, but he was frustrated to be sent back to his native home, where he remained for some time to teach. He was known for his construction and practical abilities to the point where students at Cretin High School referred to him as “Brother Fix-It.” Miller was later sent to Guatemala where he taught, and he remained there until he was murdered. His killer was never identified and brought to justice, despite a long investigation.
Miller’s beatification process opened in Huehuetenango, Guatemala on September 2, 2009, though the cause’s formal introduction came on December 15, 2009, and Miller was named a Servant of God. Pope Francis approved Miller’s beatification in late 2018. It was celebrated in Huehuetenango on 7 December 2019.
You can find out more about Brother Miller at the following link –