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In Memoriam, Brother Cornelius E. Hubbuch. C.F.X. Former Ryken High Principal

Brother Cornelius Hubbuch

1936 - 2023

Please join us in remembering Brother Cornelius Hubbuch. Brother Cornelius served as Principal of Ryken High School from 1968 - 1976. He was very instrumental in the merger between St. Mary's Academy and Ryken High School to form St. Mary's Ryken. 

Below is an In Memoriam message written by Brother Kenney Gorman:

Brother Cornelius died at Nazareth Home on December 2, 2023. He was born in Louisville, KY on June 7, 1936, to Cornelius E. Hubbuch, Sr. and Mary Louise Rueff, who predeceased him along with his sister Carolyn Knop and his brother Glen. Brother Cornelius is survived by his sister Marilyn Allen, brother John, sister-in-law Linda Hubbuch, as well as many nieces and nephews, in multiple generations. In later years, he delighted in being able for the first time in many years to join in and even organize different family events as the favorite Uncle Buddy to so many.
 
He grew up in Louisville, graduated from St. Xavier HS in 1954, joining the Xaverian Brothers the same year and receiving the religious name Brother DeMontfort. Brother Cornelius was a Xaverian Brother for 69 years and held three college degrees—a BA from The Catholic University of America, and MA's from Wesleyan University in CT and Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley CA.
 
The Xaverian Fundamental Principles remind us that the heart of discipleship is to recognize that all is gift.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ,
you are called to follow in His footsteps
and minister God’s healing touch of love,
through word and deed,
to all whom you meet in your journey of life.

 
Following undergraduate school, he taught at Xaverian High School in NY (1960-68). His next assignment was as principal of Ryken High School in Leonardtown, MD until 1976. Then began a long series of Congregational leadership positions as Provincial of the American Xaverian Central Province until 1982, and Vicar General of the Congregation from 1989 to 2001. In between and after leadership roles, Brother Cornelius worked with priests and religious from around the world in a religious life renewal program at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA and at the Carter Centre (Southdown) in Toronto, Canada, as well as serving on Congregational leadership teams primarily involved in personnel and formation work, as well as with Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools. This included teaching periods in Congo and Kenya for the Xaverian Brothers and retreat work for many diocesan priests’ groups and men and women religious in the US, Canada, Australia and Asia. He also visited and encouraged our mission and presence in both Bolivia and Haiti.
 
In 2014, Brother Cornelius retired from an active Congregational leadership role. He moved to Ryken House in Louisville and with this Louisville Xaverian Community moved to Treyton Oak Towers in 2021. In the years since, he was active in the Xaverian Associates program, retreat work, and different activities at St. Xavier HS. While in residence at Treyton Oak Towers, Brother Cornelius actively engaged with the Brothers and fellow residents and participated with them on various committees. He offered his listening skills to many for a “life review” reflecting on their life journey and experiences. Residents of all backgrounds expressed their love for him and are most grateful for his presence among them.
 
As I reflect on our Xaverain way in the Fundamental Principles, I see the face and life of Brother Cornie become manifest before my eyes and heart. The words seem to focus on who and for whom Cornie lived his life:

You are called then by your Founder
to enter into a true mutual sharing with your brothers and sisters.
This sharing will demand of you
an opening and a giving of yourself
to them at many levels,
and a ready acceptance of each of them
in all their sinful and graced humanity.
 
Listen to your brothers and sisters,
be compassionate with them in their difficulties,
bear with them in their weaknesses,
encourage and support them.
Affirm your brothers and sisters in their gifts,
for by doing so you enable them
to realize the gifts that God has given them for service.
 
In turn, allow them to affirm you
and call you forth to even greater service of God.

 

Cornie continually challenged us as a band of brothers to grow in holiness and to be fearless in sharing our talents with others, so that they might better appreciate the love God has for them.
 
He modeled a spirit of hospitality, being approachable and available, as a true brother who accompanies them in the joys and sorrows of their lives.
 
Brother Cornelius exemplified our Xaverian way of attentiveness, simplicity, flexibility, and openness to the common, unspectacular flow of everyday life. He united himself to God through an integrated life of both contemplation and service. Every morning was devoted to personal prayer, meditation, exercise, and spiritual reading.
 
In early November 2023, declining physical health and memory issues required a move to Nazareth Home where he received the skill and kindness that the Nazareth staff have shown the Xaverian Brothers for many years.  Brother Cornelius requested that he be cremated, and his cremains be buried in the Xaverian cemetery on the St. Xavier HS campus. 
 
In July 2024, Cornie would have been a Xaverian Brothers for Seventy Years!

Rest in peace, good and faithful servant, and brother!

Brother Kenney Gorman, CFX
December 2, 2023