Bro. Tom Juneman, C.M., was born in Blue Island, IL, on Nov. 27, 1953, to James Juneman and Margaret Flannes. He was one of four children with one brother and two sisters. He grew up in the Beverly area on Chicago’s Southwest Side and attended elementary school at Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in the shadow of St. Xavier University from 1959-1965. He then transferred to St. Germaine Elementary School in Oak Lawn (1965-1968). He completed his secondary education at Brother Rice High School in 1972 and began his college career at Moraine Valley Community College. At the end of the 1972-1973 academic year, he moved to California and completed his program at Saddleback Jr. College in Mission Viejo. In 1974, he matriculated to San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
After 20 years working in management and accounting, he applied for admission to the Congregation of the Mission in 1997. A resume he wrote stated that his objective was “(t)o serve the alienated and marginalized, hungry, and homeless Men, Women and Families through a community service agency, hospital, or detention center.” He entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Mission in Germantown, PA, on Aug. 7, 1998, and pronounced final vows on Nov. 21, 2003. During his years of formation, Brother Tom studied at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA, earning a Master of Arts degree in theology with an emphasis in spirituality.
His ministry in the Congregation of the Mission took him to a variety of places throughout the West, South, and Midwest. He was involved in various pastoral works at St. Vincent Church in Los Angeles and Sacred Heart Church in Patterson, CA. He spent several years at Holy Trinity Church in Dallas, where he was involved in a Parish-Neighborhood Outreach Ministry. He came to St. Mary of the Barrens in Perryville, MO, in 2010. He was involved in a number of works, including assisting at the Provincial Office and at the Apostle of Charity Residence. From 2012 to 2017, Bro. Tom was the librarian at St. Vincent High School. In 2017 he was named assistant to the program director at the Apostle of Charity Residence. In this ministry, he would visit with the sick and dying members of the house, chatting, encouraging, and praying with them. Sometimes, he just took good care of the comfort dog.
In the past year, Brother Tom’s health had become fragile, though he continued to hold the title of assistant to the program director. God chose to take him home Monday, April 11, 2022. May he rest in peace.
Reception & Visitation: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
5:00 p.m. (CT): Reception of the remains of Brother Thomas C. Juneman, C.M., Apostle of Charity Residence, Mother of God Chapel, Perryville Missouri
7:00 p.m. (CT): Wake and Vigil Service, Mother of God Chapel
Funeral Mass & Rite of Committal: Wednesday, April 20, 2022
10:30 a.m. CT: Funeral Mass for Brother Thomas C. Juneman, C.M., Apostle of Charity Residence, Mother of God Chapel followed by Rite of Committal in the Community Cemetery
Join the Funeral Mass for Brother Thomas C. Juneman, C.M. through LIVESTREAM at the St. Mary of the Barrens Facebook page.