Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 13 (April 2009)
Brother John, also known as Celba John, was born on March 3rd 1886 in Ballick, Moyler, Co Laois, Ireland. Two of his relatives also joined the Order. They were called Brothers Finian and Alban Lynam.
Brother John joined the Brothers at Castletown on the 17th March 1902 as a junior novice and received the holy habit on 29th July 1902. After the spiritual formation of the novitiate he began his further studies.