Br. Richard (Albert) Kerressey (Xaverian Brothers) – Diocese of Brooklyn

On Behalf of | Feb 13, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Brother Richard (Albert) Kerressey  

Diocese of Brooklyn

Joined: 1932

Died: 1997

Assigned as follows:

  • 1936-1937: St. Teresa (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1938-1941: St. Xavier (Louisville, KY)
  • 1942-1945: St. John’s Preparatory (Danvers, MA) 
  • 1946-1948: Flaget (Louisville, KY) 
  • 1949-1957: St. John’s (Worcester, MA)
  • 1958-1960: Xaverian (Brooklyn, NY)
  • 1961: Notre Dame (Utica, NY)
  • 1963-1964: Provincial Staff (Newton Highlands, MA)
  • 1965-1971: St. John’s Preparatory (Danvers, MA)
  • 1972: Xaverian Brothers Provincialate (Milton, MA)
  • 1973-1975: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • 1976-1977: Xaverian Brothers Provincialate (Milton, MA)
  • 1977-1988: National Catholic Educational Association
  • 1980-1988: Family Counseling and Guidance Program (Archdiocese of Boston)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Brother Richard (Albert) Kerressey:

Br. Richard (Albert) Kerressey was a member of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier. In 1971, he became the Assistant Director of the National Center for Religious Education in Washington, D.C. Later, he became the National Director of Adult Education for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the 1980s, he was named the Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Boston’s Family Counseling and Guidance Centers. 

According to media reports, in 1994, Kerressey was accused of sexually abusing a male student at St. John’s Preparatory in Danvers, Massachusetts in 1966. His accuser said the incident happened in the school’s infirmary and that Kerressey threatened him to keep quiet about the incident or he would prevent him from graduating.

In 2019, his name appeared publicly on the Xaverian Brothers’ list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. His status as a brother, whereabouts, and whether he had access to children, from when he retired in 1989 until his death in 1997 are unknown. 

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Brooklyn, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Brooklyn now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.