Pope Francis Recognized Former Cretin Teacher Brother James Miller as a Martyr

Reprinted with permission by Matthew Davis for The Catholic Spirit
November 14, 2018

The following article is reprinted with permission from The Catholic Spirit.  Cretin-Derham Hall is following his path to sainthood with a sense of humble awe because part of his personal story was his connection to Cretin as a teacher and coach.  The recent recognition of Brother Miller as a martyr paves the way for his beatification.

Cretin-Derham Hall director of campus ministry Lou Anne Tighe considers providential the timing of Pope Francis’ recent recognition of former teacher Christian Brother James Miller.

“This month, we remember always those who have died, and it’s like his spirit is here,” Tighe said of Brother Miller, who taught at then-Cretin High School in St. Paul 1966-1971 and 1979-1980. “We’re very proud and mindful of his presence in the entire building.”

On November 8, Pope Francis recognized Brother Miller as a martyr, paving the way for his beatification.

Brother Miller, who was murdered in 1982 while serving a Catholic boys school in Guatemala, taught Spanish at Cretin and founded the school’s soccer program. He also did maintenance on the building and became known as “Brother Fix-It.”

Between his stints teaching at Cretin, which merged with Derham Hall in 1987, Brother Miller worked in Nicaragua, only leaving when the political situation there threatened his life. He chose to later serve the poor in Guatemala, despite the possibility of murder. He was shot to death by three hooded men February 12, 1982, while he was working on a ladder repairing a wall.

“The kids [at CDH] know his story, and we couldn’t be happier to know that this man who did the ordinary things with extraordinary attention to detail would be recognized, that his death was in the name of Christ,” said Tighe, who has interviewed Brother Miller’s family and encouraged the commissioning of an icon of the late Christian Brother in past years.

Tighe was introduced to Brother Miller’s story as a student at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, also Brother Miller’s alma mater, and a Christian Brother school. She researched his life and later connected with his family.

Tighe then commissioned from local artist Nicholas Markell an icon of Brother Miller, which depicts him in overalls and holding a lamb (shown above).

Brother Miller was born in Stevens Point, WI, and grew up working on his family’s farm. A cause for his canonization opened in 2009, and later that year, Pope Benedict XVI gave him the title “Servant of God.”

Tighe said people remember Brother Miller for his example and work ethic. She said his past students said he had a well-structured classroom, expecting discipline, and achievement of his students.

“There were kids that loved him as a teacher,” Tighe said.