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Maryknoll Brothers are men who commit themselves to lifelong celibacy, prayer, community living, and ministry.  Bringing a wide range of talents to the missionary endeavor, they build missions and schools, work as teachers and administrators, develop agricultural and other life-sustaining projects with indigenous people, serve in health-related fields and contribute in numerous ways to the ministry of Maryknoll.  In the early days of the Church, the Apostles realized that they could not preach Jesus’ Word without the help of others who ministered in various ways in early Christian communities (Acts 6: 1-6). Although they do not perform sacramental Church ministries, Maryknoll Brothers witness to the Gospel through lives of service and prayer, proclaiming the Word throughout the world.

Brother Duane Crockett

 

Brother Duane works at the Veteran's Hospital in Palo Alto, California. He started his ministry there in February 2003. Heading towards Building 110 he walks past the Garden of Memories, a rose garden planted for all the service men and women who died from their injuries at this VA. It is an active memorial, and roses continue to be planted for those who die there. 

Describing some of the injuries he says, "A young man cannot sleep on his back, only on his side. Some of the other patients say, why is he here? He is not wounded. But when this young man lies on his back, all he sees are the dead and horribly mutilated bodies of his comrades that it was his job to wash and put into body bags. Many of the women have spinal cord injuries. These are caused by the explosives detonated underneath the armored vehicles they ride in, where there is no protection."

A believer in the power of prayer, Brother Duane describes two incidents in which he suggests that his prayers over some of the the wounded soldiers has had a direct and immediate effect. He visited one soldier who was going blind, prayed with him saying, "Close your eyes." Then he passed the pyx containing the Eucharistic host before the man's eyes. When the wounded man opened his eyes, he cried out, "I can see! I can see!"

Another such case is that of a vet from the Korean War, Tom Durkin, who had been told that he would have to have his legs amputated. Duane went to visit him before the surgery and "prayed hard" with him, praying to Fr. Vincent Capodanno, M.M. for intercession. When Durkin went into surgery, the surgeon looked at his legs, tested the blood flow to them, and declared the amputation unnecessary.


Down the hall is a 19 year old patient who is under suicide watch. He has burns over much of his body. He speaks softly, tentatively, as much from the trauma as from the tracheal tube that had recently been removed.

Brother Duane explains, "We only go in if the door is open. Under no circumstances do we wake any of the patients if they're asleep. He emphasizes: these are not ordinary hospital patients, they are all veterans of America's wars.

At the dialysis unit Gary Branham, an airman first class in the Vietnam War says he is alive thanks to Brother Duane's prayers.


"I'm there to relate to the Band of Brothers. This explains why we do so much for each other. Greater love has no man than to give up his life for his friends."