From mechanics to ministry: Br. Maynard Tetreault's 70 years as a friar

Many years ago, in inner city Detroit, a curious and mechanically inclined teenager worked at a local gas station and occasionally took parts from abandoned vehicles to learn about their operation.  

That boy, now Br. Maynard Tetreault, OFM, has found immense joy in sharing his technical skills and God’s love during his 70 years as a friar.  

Br. Maynard’s family lived near the Franciscans’ Dun Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan, where he saw a brochure featuring “a brown-robed friar holding a crucifix and the message to ‘Go and preach to all nations. Come join us.’”  

Inspired and intrigued, he applied to the Order of Friars Minor. The young man attended the former St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati from 1947 to 1951, where, he said, “The other seminarians called me ‘Doc’ because I was always fixing things.”  

He made his first profession in 1952, professed final vows in 1955, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1960.  

Impacting young lives 

One of Br. Maynard’s early assignments was at the Franciscans’ Roger Bacon High School, teaching basic electronics and physics courses to the then all-male student population. “I really loved that,” he said. “Some of the boys went on to pursue medical vocations, and I was so proud of them.”  

From 1968 to 1981, while serving as executive director of Cincinnati’s Friars Club, which provides athletic, educational and leadership programming for children, Br. Maynard took a chance on a young woman that changed her life. Annie Timmons was only 18 when she applied for a position as the Girls Club director. 

“He believed in me and hired me. The rest is history,” said Annie, who now serves as president of Friars Club. “Br. Maynard saw my gifts and potential and set me on the path that was God’s plan. He is so kind and generous and has been a great role model for me. He really exemplifies the values of St. Francis.”  

Helping in the hills  

In 1987, Br. Maynard joined the pastoral ministry team at Mother of Good Counsel Church in Hazard, Kentucky. The people in the hills of eastern Kentucky quickly captured his heart, and he became involved in the struggle of local landowners against large mineral holding companies.  

From the late 1800s until World War II, land speculators and company representatives traveled through Appalachian coal fields buying mineral rights, leaving landowners with surface rights, Br. Maynard explained.  

Disputes arose in the 1950s when coal companies arrived, often unexpectedly, to strip mine the coal, claiming deeds allowed them to extract minerals by any means — even if it meant permanently destroying farmland or displacing families. 

Landowners argued that they had only sold deep mining rights, not the right to destroy the surface. Despite numerous lawsuits, Kentucky courts sided with the companies. 

“This was outright exploitation of the landowners, and there was environmental degradation due to all of the strip mining,” said Br. Maynard. 

He joined Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to help residents organize to restrict the abuses by the mineral companies. He eventually became secretary/treasurer of KFTC, and in 1988, thanks to the group’s efforts, Kentucky voters responded “yes” to amending the state’s constitution so that companies could no longer begin strip mining without a landowner’s permission.  

“The people were empowered,” said Br. Maynard. “That was a very rewarding experience.”  

Friar in a hard hat  

Amid his varied ministries, Br. Maynard served for decades as the building coordinator for legacy St. John the Baptist Province, eagerly donning a hard hat to supervise a multitude of projects and put his training in electronics and engineering to use.  

He oversaw the construction of additions to Roger Bacon High School, the province’s college seminaries and a retreat center in Easton, Pennsylvania, and remodeling efforts at several Franciscan facilities.  

Br. Maynard moved to Galveston, Texas, in 2010 to serve as associate pastor at Holy Family Parish. Several years after Hurricane Ike hammered the island, there was still unresolved damage to tackle and hastily made repairs to correct among the five church plants.  

“I loved every minute of it,” Br. Maynard said. “It was very rewarding to be so hands on and represent the province on every job.”  

Back to his roots 

In 2017, Br. Maynard returned to Detroit, joining Brothers Alex Kratz, OFM, and Louie Zant, OFM, at St. Benedict the Black Friary, where the brothers sought to bring new life to a neighborhood marked by boarded-up houses and abandoned businesses. It was a homecoming of sorts for Br. Maynard.  

“My parish growing up was a mile from there, and it was significant to return to my old haunts,” he said. “I was keenly aware of the injustice, racism and poverty in the community, and it was a privilege to serve there.”  

Today Br. Maynard lives in a senior living community in Cincinnati, where he enjoys praying, reading, keeping up with current events and engaging in conversation with others. When asked what his many years as a friar mean to him, his response is simple: “Joy.”  

“The Franciscans are a fraternity that’s over 800 years old. We have a great theology and philosophy,” he said. “We’re a joyous outfit. When you get into the theology of joy, its foundation is gratitude. I’m joyful and grateful and thank God for my life as a Franciscan every day.”