July 28, 2011

A Mass of Christian Burial for Brother of the Poor of St. Francis Joel Stern was celebrated July 22 at St. Stephen Church in Cincinnati. Brother Joel, 68, died July 19. He was a Franciscan brother for 43 years.

A native of Portsmouth, Brother Joel entered the congregation’s novitiate at Mt. Alverno in Delhi in 1968, and later earned a degree in elementary education at Thomas More College. His educational ministry included teaching and school administration at the former St. Vincent de Paul and Cure of Ars schools in Cincinnati. Brother Joel later served as pastoral associate at St. John Vianney Parish. He also served his religious congregation as vocation director and provincial, and was a member of the Brothers’ general council at the time of his death.

Brother Joel is survived by his sister, Janet, and brothers, James and Robert. Interment was in St. Joseph New Cemetery.