Brother Benedict Terasawa, S.A.

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Brother Benedict Terasawa, S.A., who served homeless and addicted men at St. Christopher’s Inn at Graymoor in Garrison, died June 22 at Cabrini of Westchester Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry. He was 94.

Born in Yokohama, Japan, he became the first native Japanese brother to enter the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in 1955 and made final vows in 1964.

From 1959 to 1989, he worked in many of the friars’ Japanese ministries and activities in Tsurumi, Nigata, Yokohama, Kawasaki and Miura.

He served as an instructor for the Boy Scouts of Japan, was involved in social communications work through the national bishops’ conference and was CCD coordinator for the Yokohama Diocese.

In 1990, he came to the United States and was assigned to St. Christopher’s Inn, where he found deep fulfillment serving the homeless and addicted men receiving treatment. He tailored donated clothing for the men and baked in the kitchen, utilizing his culinary skills to produce 250 to 400 desserts, snacks and bread each day.

He was honored at St. Christopher’s Inn board of directors’ dinner in 2011 for his 21 years of service to the friars, staff and residents.

A Funeral Mass was offered June 28 in the Chapel of St. Christopher’s Inn. Burial was in the friars’ cemetery.

Brother Benedict Terasawa, S.A.