Charles Arthur Brown

Charles Arthur Brown, M.M. (August 20, 1919 – May 14, 1997) was an American-born Catholic missionary and bishop. As a member of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll) he was assigned to missions in Bolivia. He served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz from 1957 to 1997.

Early life and education Charles Brown was born in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, New York, to James and Mary Jane (Sullivan) Brown and was one of 11 children. He was educated at Sacred Heart School and Cathedral College, a minor seminary for the Archdiocese of New York. He entered Maryknoll following graduation and entered Venard Apostolic College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Maryknoll Seminary in New York before being ordained a priest on June 9, 1946.

Priesthood Brown spent his entire career in the Maryknoll Mission in Bolivia. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). He served the diocese, and later, Archdiocese of Santa Cruz as vicar general and helped to organize a pre-seminary. He remained as the auxiliary bishop until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II in August 1995. His funeral was celebrated by Cardinal John O'Connor of New York at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Chapel in the Maryknoll Center. He had another funeral in Santa Cruz and was laid to rest in the Cathedral-Basilica of San Lorenzo.