Formerly known as Brother John OHC in the monastic Anglican Order of the Holy Cross in West Park, New York, Tony converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1961. He then became a Catholic lay person. Subsequently, he took again the monastic habit as Brother Tony on his fiftieth birthday, December 27, 1984, in St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Austin, Texas. The Rev. Joseph H. Frazer, Jr., Ph.D., pastor of Saint Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church (Anglican Use) in Austin and Tony's spiritual director, invested Tony in the monastic habit and received his simple vows to a rule of life as a lay brother, with the permission of the Most Rev. Vincent M. Harris, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Austin. At the time, Brother Tony was operating the Angels House soup kitchen and street ministry. Over the years, he has struggled to live a consecrated life despite difficulties with the world's system and temptations of the flesh. Throughout, he believes he is called to live as a solitary contemplative intercessor. His monastic habit consists of a bluish grey tunic, a navy blue scapular, a bluish grey capuche, and a bare pectoral cross.

"In the final analysis," Brother Tony says, "What truly matters is not what a person wears around his or her body. What is of importance is whether a person puts on the Lord Jesus Christ! Wrap yourself in Jesus! It's the habit that wears well!"

Brother Tony while a member of the (Anglican) Order of the Holy Cross

Brother Tony in 1985 at the Angels House soup kitchen in Austin

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© 2009 by Brother Tony Hearn

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