Obituary of Brother Justin Young, O.S.B.

Order of Saint Benedict, aka John Young, age 69, of Mount Saviour Monastery since 2011, transitioned from this life to the next to be with God the Father on April 4, 2018. He was born Feb. 20, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, to John T. Young, Sr. and Bernice (Terrell) Young, both deceased, and after graduating from Southwestern High School, Detroit, in a college prep program, attended Olivet College on a drama scholarship, completing his college education at Wayne State University with a B.F.A. in Theatre. He attended St. John's Seminary College, Camarillo, California, where he completed the certificate program in Religious Studies for Pastoral Ministry. He received certification in Prison Ministry from St. Mary's College and in Eucharistic Ministry from Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, both in Los Angeles, and certification in Spiritual Direction from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Spiritual Center. Br. Justin worked a variety of service-related jobs in restaurants and served as a substitute teacher in the Detroit public school system and as a drama teacher for the Detroit Public Recreation Center summer program, where he directed and acted in plays and shorter theatrical pieces. He was assistant stage manager for the Negro Ensemble in New York City and stage manager for the Detroit Center Dance Company as well as stage and road manager for the Michigan Opera Theatre Outreach. Br. Justin enjoyed reading about the lives of the saints, monastic studies and tai chi, and had a keen interest in the performing and visual arts. Other affiliations include nine years as a volunteer with Mother Teresa's order in Detroit and, at the prompting of Mother Teresa, became a member of the Missionaries of Charity Brothers for nine years, serving the poor in various ministries in Los Angeles. For five years before joining Mount Saviour, Br. Justin was a lay member of the Missionaries of Charity. Through his joy, compassion, empathy and prayerfulness, Br. Justin deeply touched the lives of many and will be sorely missed. Br. Justin is survived by his brother monks of Mount Saviour, David and Margaret Young, Charles and Roslyn Young, Virginia, Barbara, Kevin and Kenneth and (Katherine) Young, Daryl and Helen Young, Thelma (Anthony) Young-Fuller, Aunt Gloria and Uncle Donald and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be from 3:00 to 5:00pm and 7:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in the chapel of Mount Saviour Monastery. Funeral Mass will be 9:00 am Thursday, April 12, 2018, followed by a reception in St. Joseph's Guest House at the monastery. Interment will be at the Mount Saviour Cemetery on Saturday, May 12, 2018, after the 9:00 am Mass.