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In Loving Memory 


Fr. Camillus MacRory, O.F.M. Cap. 

Born In Belfast, Ireland
May 26th, 1925
Entered his heavenly home
December 25th, 2011





Fr. Camillus was born in Belfast, Ireland on May 26, 1925 the son of John MacRory and Anne Margaret Farnan. His baptismal name was James. Camillus was received as a Capuchin Franciscan novice in Rochestown, Ireland on October 26, 1943 and made his Solemn Profession on October 27, 1947 in Ard Mhuire, County Donegal, Ireland where he was also ordained a Catholic priest on May 24, 1951.

 

After his ordination Fr. Camillus was assigned to teach at Rochestown, a very well known secondary school, from August 1951 to October 1952.  He was then sent to California where he worked as an Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame from 1952 to 1960.  For the next eighteen years Camillus ministered as an Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish (Roseburg, Oregon), as Pastor at St. Aloysius (Point Arena, CA), at Old Mission Santa Inés (Solvang, CA) and at St. Francis of Assisi (Los Angeles, CA).  After his return from Oxford, England where he participated in special studies from 1978-1980, he once more worked as an Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame. Subsequent to that last assignment he became Director of On-going Education for the Western America Province, a member of the Peace, Justice and Ecology Committee and the National Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans.  In addition he helped out every weekend at Mater Dolorosa Parish in South San Francisco where he celebrated Mass. He was also Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscans at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame, CA.

 

He was a great example of prayer and fraternity. He would always welcome the opportunity of being with the brothers and to talk with them about a number of different topics such as politics and current moral, religious and social issues. He was a courteous man with a sense of humor and wit.

 

Fr. Camillus died on Christmas Day December 25, 2011 at Mercy Care and Retirement Center in Oakland, CA after suffering from respiratory complications. He is survived by cousins Noel Farnan, Rosemary Fox, Maureen Burns who live in Belfast, Ireland and Gerald Burns who lives in Boulder, Colorado.



Fr. Joseph Quattropane, O.F.M. Cap.

Father Joseph Quattropane was born to Anthony and Stella Quattropane on May 13, 1946 in Newark, New Jersey. When he was in the ninth grade he moved with his parents to California. He attended St. Dominic’s Parish in Eagle Rock, California and was enrolled at St. Francis High School in La Canada, run by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. Upon graduation from Saint Francis, Joseph entered the Capuchin Franciscan Novitiate in Santa Ynez, California. After making his first vows, he went east to study at St. Anthony College in Hudson, New Hampshire, and then the Capuchin Theological Seminary in Garrison, New York. After final vows he returned west and completed his Master of Arts in theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California in 1973.

Father Joe, as he was often called, was ordained by Bishop John Ward on September 2, 1972. He returned to his alma mater, St. Francis High School and taught senior religion as well as a course in marriage. In 1982, he was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Roseburg, Oregon where he served until 1988. He then returned to St. Francis High School, where he was appointed principal.

In 1990, Father Joseph moved to Florida where he served in the Archdiocese of Miami and was known for his work among the Hispanic population. He served at several parishes in Miami and Coral Gables. Five years later, he returned to California and ministered in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at St. Clare Church in Santa Clarita and later in the Diocese of San Bernardino. There he worked at parishes in Yucaipa, Rancho Cucamonga, Barstow, and San Bernardino. In July 2008, he came to Immaculate Conception and San Salvador parishes in Colton, where he served as Administrator until his death.

Fr. Joe was known for his enthusiasm and commitment to his faith and his priestly calling. He had a special interest in liturgy and spirituality. He loved his family and was very proud of his Italian roots.  He was also sensitive to the needs of his parishioners from various cultures.

Father Joseph died from complications after suffering a major heart attack on March 14, 2011. Father Joseph is preceded in death by both his mother and father and by his sister Diane (McGee) and brother Richard Quattropane. He is survived by his aunt Emily Quattropane in Bayville, New York and by the children of his sister Diane in Roseville, CA.


Our Dear Brother

Fr. Evangelist Kelly, O.F.M. Cap.



Born: September 15, 1921
Entered Capuchins: October 3, 1940
Solemn Profession: October 4, 1944
Ordained: June 16, 1949
Entered his eternal rest: March 16, 2010

Interred at San Lorenzo Friary
Santa Ynez, California


Musing
From Fr. Evangelist Kelly, OFM Cap.


Fr. Kelly and his Bible Study group
at San Lorenzo Prayer Center

 

Recently, Fr. Evangelist Kelly, OFM Cap. had reflected back over his 67 years as a Capuchin Franciscan Friar. Here are some of his thoughts about the life he had loved. He had lived at the Friary at San Lorenzo in the Santa Ynez Valley. Through the years, among his assignments, Fr. Kelly had taught at St. Francis High School and served as pastor in Bend and Roseburg, Oregon, and at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame.

  • "I came over here in 1949. I was ordained in Ireland in June and then I was sent over here immediately. One of the reasons why I joined the Capuchin order is because it isn't a teaching order. I didn't think I had what it takes for teaching. Of course, the first assignment I got after my ordination was to St. Francis High School. But looking back now. it was the best thing that possibly could have happened to me because there's no better way to get involved than being entrusted with 600 teenagers. Along with that, it gave me a good work ethic because you had to have your classes prepared and be ready. Looking back, I've learned, God's way has always worked out to be the best way."

  • "Fr. Bertram and I went to school together and were ordained on the same day. Everyone admired him. He always had the greatest respect for the elder Friars. He was always very kind to them."

  • "In 1972, I was transferred to Bend, Oregon, and was the pastor for nine years. I loved it there. I was told to remember that in this life there would be thorns. It turned out the thorns were leaving the different places I have been assigned. The people were very friendly."

    Fr. Michael James, Br. Jim,  Fr. Kelly and 
    Br. Joe at San Lorenzo Prayer Center
  • "One of the best groups who have helped over the years is the lay leaders we have trained. Fr. Flavian was a good example of helping with that. He was like a Pied Piper enlisting the help of the talented people all around us."

  • "As a boy, the priests were my heroes. My mother was on 'Cloud 9' to think I would become a priest. I've loved every moment of my time as a Capuchin. I'd start it up and do it all over again if I could."

  • "I am proud to wear the habit and be a witness to Christ. When we are in clericals, people will come up to us."
  • "The day of my ordination was the greatest day of my life. I never slept a wink the night before. I had been away from home for nine years. I had arrived at my heart's desire after all those years. As far back as I can remember I wanted to say Mass. I'm not finished yet."
* * * * * * * * *

Sister Mary Christopher Smetanka
(Diane Smetanka)
1935-2010


Date and Place of Birth:
June 16, 1935
Cleveland, Ohio

Date and Place of Profession:
August 16, 1956
Cleveland, Ohio

Date and Place of Death:
August 2, 2010
Notre Dame Center
Thousand Oaks, California



Sister Mary Christopher passed away very suddenly on the morning of August 2, 2010. She was up, dressed and ready for Mass when she suffered a major heart attack and met her God far beyond the essentials of the Eucharist. The previous day Sister had begun her annual retreat, which brought her into that unitive experience of the Christ in His full glory.

Diane Smetanka was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the third daughter of George and Florence Smetanka. The family setting was richly Catholic, providing the children with good values and much love. Sister Mary Christopher first met the Sisters of Notre Dame while attending St. Stephen Elementary and High School in Cleveland. Sister entered the Sisters of Notre Dame because she was attracted to the sisters' life of joy and happiness. In 1961, Sister's mother moved to California due to ill health. Soon after her graduation from St. John's College, Sister was transferred to California and her sister, Georgia and family, followed the next year.

Sister Mary Christopher was a wonderful example of a joy-filled person who was very aware of God's presence in persons and nature. Her greatest joy was to bring nature into her surroundings with various arrangements of natural settings for flowers, rocks, tree bark and plants. Sister Mary Christopher was also a great baker of breads, cookies, cakes, lemon bars and much more. No feast day went without some culinary contribution from Sister Mary Christopher.

The joyful simplicity of Sister Mary Christopher stemmed from her great love for children. She was an exemplary primary teacher for more than 35 years. Her deepest love was for the children and families she ministered to at St. Lawrence of Brindisi Parish (Watts) in South Central Los Angeles. Working to empower the underprivileged was a motivating goal for her ministry. No effort was too great for Sister when it came to providing food, clothing and encouragement for those in need.

For five years, Sister Mary Christopher worked at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education as Coordinator of Preschool and Elementary School Sacramental Religious Development Programs. She was noted for her many workshops and seminars in teacher training for staff members of the religious education programs in the parishes. This was a ministry which gave her much life, satisfaction and joy.

In her retiring years, Sister Mary Christopher provided many services for the sisters at the provincial center that brought much joy to everyone. These activities included receptionist, adoration sister and support services. We are confident that Sister Mary Christopher rests as a loved child in the arms of a loving father. May she rest in peace.

Revised: December 30, 2011