25 Years of Service to the Brothers

By: Jayden Hunter ‘23

From the moment any freshman walks onto the campus of Saint Joseph High School, they are immediately faced with the challenge of fulfilling the legacy set forth by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and Father André Coindre.

As students settle into the riggers of student life at Saint Joe’s, one man stands above the rest as a teacher, motivator, confidant and mentor. That man is Brother Gary Humes, S.C.

“The start of any Saint Joe’s journey begins with Brother Gary,” Jack Pollota ‘23 said. “He is a motivator throughout the Saint Joseph campus and continues to shine the light on other students and administrators.”

Brother Gary has called Saint Joe’s home for over ten years, where he has proven to be more than just a teacher. His unconditional, loving self-gift has inspired countless young men who have walked the halls of Saint Joe’s.

Brother Daniel St. Jacques, S.C., though new to Saint Joe’s, has been a part of Brother Gary’s life for a long time, dating back to their time together in New Orleans. He sees the Saint Joe’s pride that Brother Gary carries around with him each day.

“Gary was always a very excited and passionate person,” Brother Dan said. “Now being a Brother alongside him at Saint Joe’s, I see him even more happy to just be around campus. Anyone from any grade level can come in and say ‘hi’ to him in his classroom. He remembers everyone’s name and loves being a part of this campus.”

In early November 2022, Saint Joseph High School honored Brother Gary for the 25th anniversary of his initial orders to the Brothers of Sacred Heart following mass on All Saints Day. Several students spoke about their relationship with their favorite teacher, coach and mentor, which surprised Saint Joseph High School President John G. Nolan, Jr.

“I had no idea of how great an impact Brother Gary has on his students beyond teaching freshman religion,” Nolan said. “To hear those young men share their personal reflections of Brother Gary was truly heartwarming. The impact he has on his students translates to the culture of brotherhood we see and experience everyday on our campus.”

Brother Gary represents the true character of a Brother of the Sacred Heart as well as a true brother of our school.

“He is a daily reminder to me of what the Brothers of the Sacred Heart expect from all Partners in Mission, to provide an outstanding faith-based education to our students in a caring environment,” Nolan said. “Brother Gary is a blessing and invaluable asset to the Saint Joseph community.”

Ask any member of the Saint Joseph community and they will tell you that Brother Gary has impacted this campus so much. He is a true leader on the journey to excellence for everyone.

Jayden Hunter is a senior at Saint Joseph High School. He is a member of the Advanced Journalism class and plans on studying communications in college.