It is my sad duty to inform you of the death of Bishop John Burke. Bishop Burke grew up in our parish, on Oak Avenue, attended St. Joseph's grammar school (it was the days before the founding of St. Peter's school), St. Cecilia's high school. The local boy went away to the seminary to become a Franciscan priest and chose the life of a missionary to a country and culture entirely different from that which he had learned on the streets of River Edge, in far-away Brazil. His mind and heart even in those years must have been so tuned to Christ's voice that he was able to discern a vocation that would lead him in a direction no one could have imagined for him. He heard the voice of Christ and he followed.

Many years later, in what he told me was the surprise of his life, he was asked to become a bishop in his adopted homeland. I know he was happy and content in his work as a Franciscan priest but when the Lord called once again, Father Burke did not hesitate. By now, the Lord's voice must have been a familiar voice in his soul and he once again followed that voice. At an age when most men are beginning to plan their retirement, this man of God left the (relative) comfort of familiar places and took his new place as the Bishop of the Diocese of Miracema do Tocantins, in the Amazon basin. In a frontier area about twice the size of the state of New Jersey, Bishop Burke and about 12 or 13 priests were to bring the sacraments to the people of a vast area. On his annual visits, he told us wonderful stories of what he was trying to do and it was our privilege to provide material assistance that helped him do it. We were already making plans to welcome him again this year to speak to us and receive our support. We had no idea that our time together was to be so suddenly cut short. Word reached us of his death on Tuesday.

Ordained Bishop of Miracema do Tocantins

Tocatins, Brazil

March 25, 1995

A Timeline of the Life of Bishop Burke

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bburkejj.html

Obituary

http://www.hnp.org/publications/hnp_today_view.cfm?iid=30&aid=413

Photo Gallery

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Bishop Burke's Coat of Arms

Cathedral of St. Therese

Brazil

The young Franciscan priest

Congratulatory letter from

Bishops Burke's father

on his elevation to Bishop

Memorial Display at St. Peter the Apostle Church in River Edge, NJ

A Memorial Mass

was celebrated at

St. Peter the Apostle Parish

on

March 25, 2006

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