Monastery News Page
August 16, 2011
Saying Goodbye, to a Brother, a Friend

     August 13th was the day our community said “Goodbye” to a loved confrere, Father Daniel Homan as he was laid to rest with his fellow monks who preceded him in life.  As the hundreds of people came to the funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Lake Orion, one could hardly avoid being amazed about the immense influence that one man had on people of various ages.  Fr. Dan’s 68 years of life enabled him to share wisdom with the young who face the challenges of maturing in the world, guidance for adults in their commitments in life and support for the elderly in the twilight of their lives.  Father was a great gift to our monastic community and we are grateful to God for the blessing that he has been for us. 

    Born in 1942 with the given name “James”, he was raised in a devout Catholic home in Detroit.  He attended shrine of the Little Flower Grade School and Church in Royal Oak as a child and later completed his primary education at Benedictine High School in Detroit .  James was inspired to become a monk and priest at a young age and soon after he completed his high school education, he went to a relatively new foundation (at the time) called St. Benedict Monastery in Oxford, Michigan.  Upon entry into the novitiate James took on the name “Daniel” after the Old Testament prophet.  On August 15, 1961, Brother Daniel professed the monastic vows and began studies at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake.  A year later, another native Detroiter named Br. Michael Green made his profession and began studies at the same institution.  Later, both monks continued their education at the University of Toronto in Canada where they both, played hockey  whenever the opportunity availed itself. 

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