Saturday, January 10th, 2015
Brother Hugh Henderson
Brother Hugh Henderson, C.PP.S.., 66, Cincinnati, died Jan. 5, 2015, of natural causes.
He was born Aug. 10, 1948, in Cleveland, to Hugh and Dorothy (Triggs) Henderson. He entered the community in 1967 and was professed on March 25, 1972.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Patricia Henderson, Cleveland, and nieces, nephews and numerous godsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Timothy, and sister, Yvonne.
He had served in education and parish ministries throughout his years as a religious brother and his early ministry sites included St. Edward Church Holy Trinity Church, Polyclinic Hospital, both in Cleveland, and St. Anthony Church, Detroit.
In 1995, he was assigned to Saint Joseph's College, where he served as assistant chaplain and admission recruiter. During his later years at the college, he also served as organist at Sacred Heart Church and Remington Presbyterian Church, both in Remington, Ind. From 1999 until his death, he was in parish ministry in Cincinnati, first at St. Mark church and then at the Church of the Resurrection.
In November, he was honored for his ministry to African-American Catholics by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
He had a large personality, which came along with definite opinions, a quick smile and an orator's voice. He jokingly called himself "the Archbrother," and when roll was called at the community's annual assembly, he answered with "in living color."
Beneath it all was a giving heart, which those around him were quick to detect. He had lived through many health issues in recent years and he used them as a springboard from which he could understand the sufferings of others.
"All the things that I have lived through have made it easier for me to listen, and to share my experiences too," he said. "It does bother me on the inside, but you have to be able to tell others that things are going to be all right. I try to be positive and leave the rest to God."
In his ministry he spent hours visiting people in nursing homes and hospitals. People urged him to make a quicker exit, not to spend so much time in each room, but he never could.
"Sometimes, people in nursing homes feel lonely, rejected," he once said. "I take the time to listen to them. A big part of my ministry is listening, even if I can't solve their problems. I try not to walk in and walk out."
A funeral Mass will be 9:30 a.m., Monday, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 W. 8th St., Cincinnati. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will preside and Fr. Clarence William, C.PP.S. will preach.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Charles, with Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S, presiding. Fr. Clarence Williams, C.PP.S., will be the homilist. Burial will follow in the community cemetery.
A wake service is 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Center, Carthagena. Viewing will follow until 9 p.m. Viewing will also be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Cincinnati Province.
