Br. John (William) Johnson of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was born July 27, 1932, in Milton, Massachusetts. He made his simple profession on October 3, 1956.

Br. John was a graduate of Milton High School, a veteran of the Navy Reserve Submarine Corps and a convert to Catholicism. In 1951 he began having trouble walking and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Despite suffering from this physically debilitating disease, his strong faith so impressed Fr. Augustine that on January 2, 1956, Father brought his case before the provincial of the Carmelite Order. By special permission of Cardinal Richard Cushing and the Carmelite Order Superiors, Br. John was given the privilege of making his profession in the First Order with all the benefits and privileges of a professed member, his novitiate year dispensed.

During some seven years of his illness, Br. John edified all by his patient resignation to the will of God and his remarkable sense of humor.  He loved to visit our Novitiate (Brookline) while he was still ambulatory and also visited Peterborough and the nuns of Roxbury and Concord.

Br. John died at the age of 32 in the Hospital of the Brothers of St. John of God in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The celebrant of the Requiem Mass in Brookline, Massachusetts was the Very Rev. Albert Bourke, O.C.D., Provincial of the Discalced Carmelites.