With sadness we share the news of the death of Br. James Robert Hagler, OHC, who died early on the morning of July 1, 2024, at Ferncliff Nursing Home, Rhinebeck, NY, where he resided since April 2022.
Br. Robert was a native of Tennessee. He graduated from the University of the South, received a Master of Library Science degree from the George Peabody College (Nashville, TN) and an M.Div. from the University of Toronto. He entered the Order of the Holy Cross in 1977 and made his Life Profession in 1982. He was ordained deacon in 1982 and priest in 1983. He was Prior of Holy Cross Priory, where he was instrumental in founding the food bank program of Toronto and later Prior of Mount Calvary, Santa Barbara, where he exercised his gifts for both hospitality and gardening. He was priest at St. Andrews church, Newark from 2006-2016. The onset of Alzheimer’s Disease ended that vibrant ministry. Much loved by retreatants and parishioners alike, he was 77 years old at the time of his passing.
The funeral for Br. Robert will be at Holy Cross Monastery (1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY 12493) on Tuesday, July 16, at 11:00 am. Please notify the guesthouse office (guesthouse@hcmnet.org) if you plan to attend. The brothers would like a count of attendees since the chapel is small.
Good and gracious God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, you sent your servant Robert to be a priest in your Church to feed your sheep with your word and to guide them by his example; give us the grace to keep the faith he taught and to follow in his footsteps. We entrust him into your unfailing mystery of Love and Hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
