March 23, 2005
 Rev. Joseph J. LaBran, S.J., died March 23 at the Campion Center in Weston, Mass., at 89.
Fr. LaBran had served as a chaplain at Holy Cross for more than 40 years; during this time, he led thousands of students in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. Prior to his retirement to Campion in 2001, Fr. LaBran continued to take an active part in campus ministry and to assist at local parishes.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1947, he had entered the Society of Jesus in 1936 at Shadowbrook in Lenox, Mass., after attending Holy Cross for two years; Fr. Labran pursued novitiate and juniorate studies at Shadowbrook and philosophy and theology studies at Weston ( Mass.) College. From 1942-44, he returned to Holy Cross to teach English, mathematics, physics and religion in the Navy V-12 program.
Following ordination, Fr. LaBran completed a year of ascetical studies and pastoral service in Pomfret, Conn. He then taught nine years at the New England Jesuits’ secondary school, Baghdad College, in Iraq.
Fr. LaBran began his chaplaincy at Holy Cross in 1958, serving as the director of the student Christian Life Community; a student counselor; the director of the Lay Apostolate; and the director of campus ministry. In 1961, Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan awarded him the Pro Deo et Juventute Award “for his spirit of dedication to young people in the Diocese of Worcester.”
During his ministry, he had also been an activist in the areas of racial, social and civil justice.
A member of the President’s Council at Holy Cross, Fr. LaBran received an honorary degree in ministry from the College in 2001.
He was a 1933 graduate of Lynn ( Mass.) Classical High School.
Fr. LaBran is survived by a nephew and several nieces. His brother was the late Bernard F. ’40.
Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president of Holy Cross, offered the following reflection at the time of Fr. LaBran’s death:
“All of us here at the College are deeply saddened by the news of Fr. LaBran’s death. His exuberant faith and warm and devoted care for others made him a major influence on generations of students, faculty and staff, enriching their lives and bringing many closer to God. Now we send him forth with our heartfelt prayers, that he may find the eternal rest he longed for at his Savior’s side, while praying also for the comfort and consolation of all those who will feel keenly the loss of their dear pastor, counselor and friend.”
Following is an excerpt from the homily given by Rev. William J. O’Halloran, S.J., vice president emeritus of Holy Cross, at Fr. LaBran’s funeral Mass:
As a member of the Chaplaincy, he began the retreat work, the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, for which he is best remembered. It is no exaggeration to say that, for many years, at least a third of the graduating seniors had made the Exercises with him. Letters by the hundreds told the story of lives repaired and changed; of discovering Jesus, the sacraments, prayer and meaning. On return from retreat at Narragansett, we’d ask him how it went. The answer was always, “the best ever!” … Joe LaBran was surely God’s gift to each one of us. But a question now remains: What will we do with the gift? Will we put it on our bookshelf in its ribboned box, to admire, gather dust and be forgotten? Were we to do so, it would grieve him greatly. Or, do we dare to give it away—to feed the hungry; to work for justice; to proclaim the good news of God’s love for us; to replace ugliness with beauty; to fight war with peace, ignorance with schooling, poverty with a sharing of this world’s riches. The potential betterment wrapped up in that gift is without measure. From above, with Joe LaBran as our powerful advocate before the throne of God, with Jesus and Mary and all the Saints, there is no limit to what we will accomplish.
Funeral services were held at the Campion Jesuit Community in Weston and a memorial Mass was celebrated on April 15 at the College; Fr. LaBran was buried in the Jesuit cemetery at Holy Cross.
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