SANTA CRUZ PARISH
PARROQUIA DE SANTA CRUZ
1919+2008
TUCSON ARIZONA
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PARROQUIA DE SANTA CRUZ
TUCSON ARIZONA
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BROTHER ANGEL BRINQUE SANTA CRUZ CHURCH TUCSON ARIZONA
Brother Angel Brinque was born in Pobella, Lerida, Spain on October 26, 1898. In September, 1916, he joined the Discalced Carmelite Brothers in Barcelona, Spain, and made his religious profession on June 15, 1919 in Tarragona. In October 1919, he was sent to Arizona, stopping for two weeks in Washington before proceeding to Tucson. In November, Brother Angel was assigned to Morenci, Arizona where he remained until 1934. (Except in 1922 Brother Angel was at Holy Family Church in Tucson, and in 1924 with Father Amancio in Tombstone for one year). In 1929 Bishop Gercke, on his Ad Limina Visit to the Holy Father Pope Pius XI, took Brother Angel and Father Amancio with him. During the years 1938 to 1949, Bishop Gercke frequently took Brother Angel on his Confirmation trips to Parishes that were in care of the Carmelites. Brother Angel was assigned in 1934 to Santa Cruz Church in Tucson, Arizona. He served at Santa Cruz until 1955. He served St. Margaret's Church until 1961. During this time he also visited Barcelona, Spain. He returned to Santa Cruz in 1961 and remained here until his death in 1993. In 1995, the principal of Santa Cruz School, Judy Stanton, initiated a proposal and received permission to rename the convent building "The Brother Angel Center." The building now used for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes, computer lab, library and health services. Brother Angel would have been proud, but very humble of having a facility named after him. He was a happy man and believed that he had a good life. He once said "I enjoy everything." Brother Angel was dedicated to the principles of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. He lived a discipline that was forged in the 16th century by two spaniards, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. His day began at 5 AM. He was responsible for opening the church at 5:30AM; at 6:30AM he rang the Angelus and awakened the priests. Then Brother Angel started his day with prayer. Next came the preparation for the 6:30AM Mass. He then checked the Church to make sure the vestments were in order. After Mass, Brother Angel would begin official prayers of the day. After the ritual of prayer, he started the day working--answering the door and various tasks around the church and rectory. He was even the Air Raid Warden for the Civil Defense during World War II.
Brother Angel once stated "I have very little to say." He was a short man with a full head of iron gray hair. He wore a brown monk's alb and thick glasses. Brother Angel dealt with blindness for two years before surgery relieved his cataracts. Brother Angel loved the Los Angeles Dodgers. "They were the first team to come to the west" he once stated, "My job is to take care of the community, take care of the Church, and to take care of the house. I 'm not a priest, just a lay brother. My job is not much important, I do the shopping, take care of the Sacristy and the like, I try to make the job for the priests easier." Brother Angel's face was without wrinkles. He was always wearing a quiet smile. He spoke clearly and softly. Laughter came easy for him, but it, too was soft. Brother Angel's total dedication to the service of the People of God and especially the Carmelites won the admiration and hearts of all who knew him during his close to seventy years of prayer and work in Arizona. Even in his advanced years he continued to be firm in his spirit of service and to do all he could for the Glory of God. Thank you Brother Angel, We love and miss you!
Author Unknown
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