Br. Alphonsus Maria MacGovern, MICM

On May 14, 2023, at 11:15 pm, Brother Alphonsus Maria MacGovern, MICM died at the Life Care Center in Acton, Massachusetts, having already received the Anointing of the Sick and Apostolic Blessing in the days previous.

Brother Alphonsus Maria, son of Rosella (Casey) and Francis MacGovern, was born in Providence Rhode Island on September 8 (the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) 1928, receiving the name Brendan.  When Brendan was young his father, one of the founders of Providence College, moved with his family to Boston, where Brendan eventually graduated from Boston Latin School in 1946.  He completed two years of college at Boston College in Newton, completing his collegiate studies at Saint Benedict Center in Cambridge.

In 1949, Brendan became one of the founding members of The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, dedicating himself to defending the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, especially concerning the necessity of the Church for salvation. Because he had grown up on Saint Alphonsus Street near Mission Church, and there received his sacraments from priests of Saint Alphonsus’ Redemptorist order, he chose Brother Alphonsus Maria as his name in religion. In 1958 Brother Alphonsus Maria moved with his community from the city of Cambridge to the Town of Still River, where he lived the remainder of his days, other than the final several weeks that he spent at the Life Care Center.  Over the years he served as bookkeeper, choir director and fundraiser, in which latter capacity he made many friends.

Brother Alphonsus Maria was predeceased by his parents, and his older brother Kevin, who died in 1955.  He is survived by his three nephews, John (Fiona), Edward (Brenda) and Lawrence (Ann).

Calling hours will be on Tuesday, May 23 at Saint Benedict Abbey, 252 Still River Road, Harvard (Still River), from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.  A Funeral Mass will be offered for him on the next day, Wednesday, May 24, at Saint Benedict Abbey, at 10:00 am.  Burial will follow immediately in the Abbey cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Saint Benedict Abbey, 252 Still River Rd., Harvard, MA 01451 ( www.abbey.org )