Brian John Converse

Biography

A native of Woodstock, Connecticut, Father Converse was born 6 December 1961. Following his graduation from Woodstock Academy in 1980, he attended the University of New Haven, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1984. He graduated from Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut in 1991 with a Master of Arts degree, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Norwich by Bishop Daniel Reilly on 25 May 1991. After ordination he was assigned to Sacred Heart Church, Norwichtown and Sacred Heart Church, Taftville. He served as pastor of Saint Joseph and Sacred Heart Churches, North Grosvenor Dale, Sacred Heart Church, Wauregan. Since September 2001, he has served as pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Lebanon, Connecticut.

He received his direct commission as a First Lieutenant in the Connecticut Army National Guard on 16 July 2003 and was assigned to the 242nd Engineer Battalion, Stratford. Following graduation from Chaplain Officer Basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, April 2004, he continued to serve as battalion chaplain. On 28 November 2005, he was assigned to the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment, New Haven of the 29th Division and was promoted to Captain on 1 December 2005.

Upon joining the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment, he was deployed 4 January 2006, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for training. On 16 April 2006 he was deployed to RC East, Afghanistan with his battalion serving 10 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in RC East & ISAF West, Afghanistan, traveling nearly 21,000 miles providing Catholic Religious Support during his deployment. On 21 April 2007, he returned to Connecticut.

His military awards include, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with “V” (valor) device (awarded for his valorous actions while under direct enemy fire), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, NATO Medal, Connecticut Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

He is a life member of the Woodstock Agricultural Society, a life member of the Woodstock Historical Society, Connecticut Society of Genealogists, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Chaplains Association of the USA, Catholic War Veterans of the USA (St. Michael’s Post 1562), Georges River Land Trust, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Converse Scholarship Fund.

Father Converse is the son of John A. and Judith A. Converse of Woodstock. He has two sisters, five nephews and one niece. (Biographical information from Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, Red, White & Blue Military Mass program, November 2007.

1997 - 2001

Father Brian J. Converse, a Woodstock native, accepted the responsibility as pastor of St. Joseph Church and her mission Sacred Heart Church on July 21, 1997. At 34, Father Converse was an enterprising young man who was not only faced with financial difficulties, but recognized that a great number of Catholics in the community were in division. He also saw an impoverished community. In his three years as pastor, Father Converse paid off the debt and started the St. Joseph Thrift Shop and the St. Joseph Food Pantry to aid the needy of the community. Countless families throughout the parish community would benefit from these missions. The tremendous generosity of parishioners typifies the giving essence of the town.

The parish was also in desperate need of spiritual and social rejuvenation. Fr. Converse started the St. Joseph-Sacred Heart Prayer Group and 24-hour Dial-A-Prayer, expanded the CCD program, included Stubenville and named a Director of Religious Education. The children’s choir and children’s Liturgy of the Word were created to include the youth of the parish in Worship and song. The Lay Ministry Program, born of the Parish Futures Program, began. Fr. Converse also had the 127-year-old High Altar rebuilt in the cemetery, hosted the first New Years Open House, began construction of a garage and offices, added the Stations of the Cross on the hill leading to the grotto and finished the Church hall with a state of the art kitchen. During his pastorate, Mass attendance increased 42%."<ref>Denise Vogel, “The rise of a parish, the birth of a Diocese, the culture of Christianity in Connecticut”</ref>

References

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