Br. Edmond Drouin

This past summer Brother Edmond celebrated his 75th anniversary as a Brother of Christian Instruction. His religious formation began in 1935 during his high school years at Notre Dame in Alfred, ME. He spent his novitiate year (1938-39) in La Prairie, QC. He professed his lifelong commitment as a religious Brother on June 26, 1944.Though he began his professional teaching career in elementary schools first in Quebec Province, Canada and in Waterville, ME and later as a high school science teacher in Plattsburgh, NY and Fall River, MA, most of his life was dedicated to professional research and writing, work he enjoyed and at which he excelled.The 1956 graduate of LaMennais College (Alfred, ME) pursued advanced studies earning a MS in Library Science from Catholic University (1959) and a PhD in Education also from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. (1980). His Master's dissertation, a careful and comprehensive piece of research, was published under the title "The School Question, A Bibliography on Church-State Relationships in American Education."As head of the LaMennais College Library in Alfred, ME, Br. Drouin directed its transfer to its new location on the Walsh College campus in Canton, OH in 1960, the year of its foundation. In recognition of his professional work and outstanding commitment over 11 years, the Walsh University Library was dedicated to him on Nov. 23, 2003.In 1971 he was released to pursue his writing and research full time. During the early period of his research, Brother's work was mainly focused on educational questions, particularly Church-State issues, a topic on which he composed in continuing commitment articles for several religious and professional magazines. He was invited to contribute six articles on Church history for the "New Catholic Encyclopedia."His last 30 active years were spent researching in preparation for writing a professional biography of Fr. John Mary de La Mennais, founder of the Brothers of Christian Instruction. No archive was too small, no distance was too great, no information too insignificant for his to seek out. Fluent in French and in English, Brother travelled throughout Europe and North America verifying information, discovering new insights and confirming controversial information. With the assistance of Br. Francis Blouin, the highly appreciated work was completed and printed in 2012 as "The Courage of Hope, John de La Mennais, 1780-1860."His rich knowledge of the history of the Brothers' congregation made him a valuable resource as a lecturer at several religious renewal sessions, retreats and congregational gatherings. His interest and personal study in Scripture and spirituality occasioned some interesting published articles and specialized conferences for laity and religious alike.Br. Edmond was predeceased by his father Hermenegilde (1984) and his mother Fedora (1992) and his brother Charles (2004). He is survived by his two sisters Therese Valliere of Lewiston, ME and Pauline Janson of Scarborough, ME and many nephews and nieces. He will be greatly missed by the members of his international religious family, the Brothers of Christian Instruction.Rite of Reception will be held at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, December 18th at the Notre Dame Chapel in Alfred, ME. Visitation will begin at the chapel at 10:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 19th. Interment will follow at the Brothers' Cemetery in Alfred.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a contribution in his memory to the Brothers' Retirement Fund, c/o Br. Jerome Lessard, P.O. Box 159, Alfred, ME 04002.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.