Obituary for Br. John Hotstream, OFM
Brother John Hotstream passed peacefully into eternal life Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at the age of 87 and after 73 years of religious life.
Brother John, the eldest of the nine children of Esther Mae Aprill and John B. Hotstream, was born March 19, 1937, in New Orleans, LA. He attended 8th grade at Saint Stanislaus in 1950 where he met the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and was inspired to join.
On September 8, 1951, young John began his juniorate formation as a high school student in Metuchen, NJ. He entered the novitiate class there four years later on August 14, 1955. Brother John professed his first vows as a religious Brother on August 15, 1956. His perpetual vows were pronounced at Spring Hill, AL, on July 28, 1962.
Brother John earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a major in English from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, in 1961, as well as a Master’s degree in English from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, in 1971. In a short time after entering the classroom, Brother John was recognized as a “Master Teacher,” employing his unique style and sometimes unorthodox methods to capture the minds and hearts of high school students. Though he taught his pupils to appreciate fine literature and to express themselves in the written word, he did even more to teach, by word and example, how to reflect on life and to put their faith into action. Practically speaking, Brother John ministered in Brothers’ schools in the South. He also answered the call to serve in the foreign missions, teaching and evangelizing youth in Nyapea, Uganda, and Gulu, Uganda for five years.
In recent years, Brother John focused his attention and his energies on the poor at St. Anne’s Mission in Klagetoh, AZ. It was on the Navajo Reservation for 18 years that he practiced what he called the “ministry of the doorbell,” responding to the needs of the people as they presented themselves each day.
During his “retirement,” Brother John continued his ministry of evangelization through his adult Scripture study classes at St. Luke’s Parish in Thibodaux, LA, and at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, LA.
Brother John is preceded in death by his parents, John and Esther Mae Hotstream, his brother Fred, two brothersin-law, Bruce Reed and Gerald Smith, and niece Aimee Hotstream. He is survived by three brothers: Lionel (Lynne) Hotstream, Neuville (Julé) Hotstream and Stephen Hotstream; four sisters: Rose Mary (Barry) Gresham, Carol Smith; Sr. Jane Hotstream, RSM, Aprill Reed (Howard Thompson), sister-in-law, Judy Hotstream, and numerous nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Irish Tenor Emmet Cahill Comes to Gallup
Link for tickets: https://sacredheartgallup.flocknote.com/signup/184736
Diocesan Job Opening: Grants Facilitator
The principal activity of the Facilitator involves keeping up on the deadlines and requirements for those agencies who regularly donate to the Diocese of Gallup for its direct support and for the ministries of the parishes, schools and other entities of the Catholic Church in this region. This involves coordination with potential grantees and granting agencies. Accounting for the utilization of these donated funds is an integral part of the work. The work requires research to acquire new funding from foundations and other benefactors but is secondary to the management of established grants as time allows.
Vortex Raffle
The Friday news roundup presents a quick overview of Catholic stories and events from around the Diocese of Gallup, United States, and world. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email [email protected], call 505-863-4406 or mail us at PO Box 1338, Gallup NM 87305.