70th First Profession
Father Timothy Dwyer
Birth name: Timothy Dwyer
Birthplace: St. Louis
First profession: 1954
Final profession: 1958
Ordination: 1968
Education: Bachelor’s in English, San Antonio, 1957
Master’s in theology, Toronto, 1987
Service in the archdiocese: Retreat director, Marycliff (Marianist Apostolic Center) in Eureka in the 1990s
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher and minister across the country, from Oakland, California, to Cape May Point, New Jersey
Rector, Seminary Toronto in Canada, 1982-87
About Father Timothy Dwyer: What has been most rewarding has been living in community and working side by side with men and women committed to embodying the spirit of Jesus and Mary in their lives and in the lives of others. That, for me, is what Marianist priesthood is all about.
75th First Profession
Father Donald Cahill
Birth name: Donald Cahill
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1955
Ordination: 1961
Education: Bachelor’s degree, St. Marys, 1952
Master’s in education, Ft. Worth, 1971
Service in the archdiocese: Chaplain and teacher at St. Mary’s, McBride, and St. John Vianney high schools
Served at Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in St. Louis, 1981-82, 1984-91, 1994-04
Service outside the archdiocese: Father Don’s ministry spanned five states and numerous schools, parishes, religious communities and hospitals.
About Father Donald Cahill: Father Don reflected on the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation. “Those sacraments were graces for me, and I hope and pray they were graces for all those who shared them with me.” Father Cahill died on June 18, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Brother Richard Dix
Birth name: Richard Dix
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1954
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, San Antonio, 1952
Master’s in biology, Notre Dame
Teacher certificate, Missouri
Principal certificate, Missouri
Service in the archdiocese: Assistant principal, St. Mary’s High School, St. Louis
Teacher, McBride High School, St. Louis
Principal, St. John Vianney High School, Kirkwood
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher and administrator at the high school and university levels in several states throughout the country
About Brother Richard Dix: When I joined, I assumed I would do what most of them did, which was teach high school students all my life. My life did not turn out that way, but I am not complaining. I taught but also did other things. I served as provincial assistant for temporalities for a total of 20 years. I was a registrar at St. Mary’s University for 10 years. Finally, as a senior religious, spending time on business manager stuff and maintenance work. I have been happy doing all of them and feel blessed by God and the wonderful people I have worked with, especially my fellow brothers. I have never regretted joining the Marianists.
Brother Leo Slay
Birth name: Leo Slay
Birthplace: St. Louis
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1953
Service in the archdiocese: Food service at Marycliff, Maryhurst, retreats, Chaminade College Preparatory School and St. John Vianney High School, among other St. Louis locations.
Service outside the archdiocese: Served in food service in various locations.
About Brother Leo Slay: Brother Leo says, “I believe there is no better way to be happy than to serve others. My duties as a religious in food service have always helped me understand that the best way I can serve others is to help them serve God and His people with happiness because of what I do in food service.” He came from a family in the restaurant business since 1911 and has been actively engaged in food service in the Society of Mary since 1949. Six times, he was chosen to travel to armed service bases and ships in this country and overseas to evaluate the food service department of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Brother Leo was president of the St. Louis Restaurant Association, St. Louis Food Service Executive Association and Metro St. Louis Food Directors Association. He has been a member of the board of directors of the St. Louis Community College hotel and restaurant technology department. In 2009, he was voted into the Hall of Fame.
