Special Articles
John Burke
1930-2007
Rest in Peace
John Burke was one of three founding members of The Defenders of the Faith, Inc., in Berkeley Springs about eight years ago. They were John, Fred Paschall and myself. Our main concern was to defend the faith against misinformation from our clergy. We started publishing letters and sending them out to parishioners. With the very first issue of The Defender, every article was reviewed by at least one orthodox Catholic priest. If it did not pass inspection, it was rewritten or not published at all. The cost of the initial publications came from our own pockets; however, as our readers grew in number, we began to receive monetary support from those who wished to see us succeed. This included donations from readers in other states as well as from several priests.
The success of this newsletter was in a large part due to John. He was a prolific writer and he knew his faith. He also knew who would help us physically, financially and spiritually. He was also our chief editor.
We would be attacked by those who disagreed with our message, but John would always say, “Show us one thing that is not God’s truth in our newsletter.” and no one could ever find an error.
Within two years the activities of the organization grew from a small newsletter to a website, www.thedefender.org. Thanks to John’s knowledge of the faith, we received a ‘Fidelity Green Light Award’ from CatholicCulture.org for excellence in Catholic Fidelity.
About four years ago John heard that the FCC was opening a window for low-powered FM stations. We talked with the right people and found it was possible. Our first order of business was to start a prayer group headed by John’s wife, Bette Burke. We were up and running three months ahead of schedule.
John has always been a defender of the faith. He devoted his life to Jesus and the Blessed Mother. He had an unconditional love and devotion to his faith and family. While raising his family of two boys, one daughter and five grandchildren he was active in parish life, the scouts and the pro-life movement. After his retirement in Berkeley Springs, John continued his service to the Lord by establishing a local Birthright Center to help pregnant women. John was active in his parish and at times president of the Holy Name Society, the Morgan County chapter of West Virginians for Life, and the Defenders of the Faith. He always took a proactive role in his positions.
John loved a challenge, especially when people said it couldn’t be done. John didn’t mince words and spoke the truth. Once when he became impatient, a priest told him, “John, if you want to see result, paint a house. Sometimes the biggest rewards are those we don’t see.” Now he has received his biggest reward.
John’s last words were the recitation of the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Jim Fritz
Rev. Everett F. Briggs
Rest in Peace
1908 – 2006
In December 2006, just after we went to press with our latest issue of The Defender, I was very, very sad to learn of the death of Rev. Everett F. Briggs. He was a steadfast defender of the Catholic faith for 98 years and contributed numerous articles to The Defender. A week before his death, we spoke by telephone with Fr. Briggs about his planned participation in our ‘Face the Truth” demonstration in Morgantown, WV. You may remember several of our articles about Father pertained to how he became known for the signs defending the faith which he erected on various billboards in West Virginia. One of the last of these billboards caused quite a stir among those who wish to destroy our faith. Their letters not only threatened Father Briggs, but the billboard company which gave in to pressure and refused to support him again. We put his next “billboard” in The Defender and were planning a new strategy.
Previously, Father Briggs was the subject of one of our “Modern Day Saints” columns which described his near martyrdom in Japan during his incarceration as a Maryknoll priest at the outbreak of World War II.
Below is an edited obituary of Father Briggs that appeared in the Sentinel & Enterprise, a Fitchburg, Massachusetts, newspaper.
Everett Briggs, W.Va. -- Rev. Everett F. Briggs, 98, of St. Barbara's Nursing Home, Maple Terrace, Lady Lane, Monongah, W.Va., and a former Fitchburg resident, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, in St. Barbara's Nursing Home. Father Briggs was born in Fitchburg on Jan. 27, 1908. Father Briggs’ early education was at St. Patrick's School in Fitchburg and the Maryknoll Seminary. He graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester and the Maryknoll Major Seminary in Maryknoll, N.Y., where he was ordained to the priesthood in June 1933. He also received a master's degree from Fordham University in New York. After his ordination, he was assigned to Otsu, Japan, as a Maryknoll Missionary. He worked in the missionary endeavor until 1941, when he was incarcerated by the Japanese. Father Briggs was repatriated when American and Japanese nationals were exchanged in 1943. Broken in health, he served in Japanese parishes in California. In December 1956, Father Briggs came to Monongah, W.Va., to serve as Pastor of St. Stanislaus and Our Lady of Pompell until 1972. During this time he became fascinated with the history of mining, especially the human element during and after the Monongah Mine Disaster of 1907. This prompted the founding of St. Barbara's Memorial Nursing Home by Father Briggs, the Sisters of Monongah, and local residents in 1961. His latest endeavor has been the Monongah Heroine Statue to the women who had to bear the burden of life after the deaths of their husbands. Father Briggs had authored 14 books, seven of them in Japanese. One of his books, called "The Way of the Cross," was based on the Holy Shroud of Turin. He was also the recipient of several awards from the American Freedom Foundation and Sons of the American Revolution, and was a Commander of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Descendents of the Mayflower Society, Descendents of the Colonial Clergy, Patriots and Founders of the U.S., Americans of Royal Descent and the Order of the Three Crusades. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having one brother, also a Maryknoll priest, and two sisters.
He was a priest for 73 years, and served the Lord every day of his life.
We of The Defender miss Father Briggs, but we were enriched by our association with him and feel blessed to have been part of his life. I am certain that Jesus welcomed him with open arms. He was a very faithful and dedicated servant of Christ.
Jim Fritz
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