We bid a sad farewell to our Brother, Joseph Carroll who entered into eternal life on the 5th June 2023.
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, on 3rd October 1921, Joseph lived his early years there with parents, sisters, and brothers. His first adventure outside of home was when he joined the British Army where he served for four years stationed in France and the Middle East.
At the age of 29, Joseph on discharge from the army, felt the call to join another “army” – this time “God’s Army”! – the Saint John of God Brothers Following several years of initial formation Brother ‘Robert’ as he was known then, made Profession of Vows as a Brother of Saint John of God on August 7th, 1950. To be of service to people who are ill or have some other needs in their lives and as is the tradition of the Hospitaller Order, Joseph trained as a nurse and later acquired a Masters in Spirituality, which had a focus on the changing face of Catholic Health and Social Care.
Joseph served first in his native Yorkshire where he worked in the Brothers’ General Hospital in Scorton. Then came the time to take the message of the compassionate, loving, and hospitable Jesus to the masses as a missionary. Even though we are not specifically a missionary institute, we are sometimes asked to serve overseas as missionaries in a developing country. This invitation was extended to Br Joseph by his Provincial, Br Bernard Burke, in 1960, and in a spirit of adventure, Joseph accepted the invitation and led a team of Brothers to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). The government there had built a 300-bed psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Lusaka but did not have qualified or trained personnel to administer the hospital. The facilities were modern – the best in the country! What was needed were staff and professionals with an understanding of modern-day psychiatry, and good mental health treatments.
Br Joseph and his team proved to be the answer. On arrival in Chainama Hills Psychiatric Hospital, the Brothers set to work. They put in place rehabilitation programmes, occupational therapy and a Nurse Training School with Joseph as its Principal Tutor, and several other programmes. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) joined the Brothers to form a genuine ‘community of carers’ that resulted in the hospital and its treatment programmes going from strength to strength. In the 1970s, after nearly 20 years of service, the Hospital was handed back to the State; building on the legacy of patient-centred hospitality passed on by Br Joseph, the Brothers and the FMDM Sisters. The hospital has since grown to become a University Hospital.
A new venture beckoned, and Br Joseph then volunteered to work in the Philippines for two years, where he assisted in the training and formation of young Filipino men aspiring to be Brothers of Saint John of God.
Upon his return to England, he became involved in and promoted new movements and new forms of prayer – the Charismatic Renewal Movement, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and ASCENY – prayer groups for people in later life etc.
In recent years Joseph was supported by the Little Sisters of the Poor in their Sacred Heart Residence, Raheny, Dublin, where he settled well and continued to be ‘On Mission’ as a Brother of Saint John of God. He continued his keen interest in all aspects of the life of the Order and Province and in the new innovative responses by the John of God Family worldwide to those in need. He maintained a particular fondness for Africa. It was here that in October 2021 that he was given a fitting celebration of his 100th birthday.
The Jesus who went about doing good has been Joe’s constant companion. Jesus was his model of Compassion and Hospitality, and with whom he spent much of his time in prayer, reflection and reading. Joe continued to share his unique smile and sense of humour and calm with those he met. He retained his interest in people – being very sociable and made many close friends. He loved football – was a great supporter of Bradford and Leeds United and a ‘secret’ admirer of Man U!