Pastor
Fr. Michael Mahoney followed in the footsteps of two of his uncles by
joining the Capuchins in Ireland. He literally followed one of them, Fr. Emilian
Meade, to the mission field of California. Since arriving in the US in 1977, Fr.
Michael has worked hard in various parishes; always seeking to build up the
parish community and also serve the needs of the greater community, for which
reason he has been a member of the Rotary for many years. Presently he is the
Pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame.
“Twin brothers become twin Capuchins that is how the
headline would read,” says Fr. Brian McKenna about the fact that both
he and his twin brother, Fr. Jude, became friars in Ireland, despite promising
careers in athletics. Both left Ireland to work for the Lord, Fr. Jude to Africa
and Fr. Brian to Western America. Since then he has served in parishes and
Oregon and California, as well as Yécora in Northern México. He and his twin
brother keep in touch and reflect on their decision to be Capuchins. “It is
now fifty years, and we are in search of TWIN replacements.
Any takers?
Fr. Flavian Welstead has lived many places. Born in Douglas, County Cork
Ireland, he entered the Capuchins there in 1959 and later served as a missionary
in Africa at the Sioma and Mangango Missions and in Livingstone in Zambia. He
afterwards came to the U.S., serving in parishes in Oregon and California, as
well as teaching at St. Francis High School. He was Provincial Development
Director from 1989 until 1997. He is currently Associate Pastor at Our Lady of
Angels in Burlingame, and is tireless in his ministry to others. His good nature
and service have gained him many friends.
Fr.
Michael James O’Shea is the Provincial Historian for Our Lady of Angels
Province. A native of Cork City, Ireland, he was an altar server at the Capuchin
Church there and became a friar in 1946. Right after ordination in May, 1954, he
was assigned to California and first stationed at St. Mary’s Church in Ukiah.
Since then he has served in several parishes in the West and has worked as a
teacher in Franciscan history for friars in formation. He spent several years in
chaplaincy work, including two years as chaplain at the Federal Prison in
Lompoc. Fr. Michael James was the first Provincial Secretary from 1977-1985. He
loves History, English Literature, and Spirituality. He currently ministers as
Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, and as chaplain at
Mills-Peninsula Hospital nearby.
Fr.
Eugene Ludwig is a professor in Berkeley and sees teaching as a way for
people to come away with a new perspective and to have a deeper understanding of
the human person. Originally from St. Francis Parish in Bend Oregon, Fr. Eugene
attended St. Francis High School when it was a minor seminary and was the first
novice at the San Lorenzo. He then went back east for studies and has worked as
a teacher since his ordination. He currently teaches patristic at the Dominican
School of Philosophy and Theology, Regarding this ministry, he says: “I hope
my students will take the material they have studied with me and use it in a way
that informs their own decision making and understanding in how they form their
own life.” He also does pastoral work among the Russian Catholic community of
San Francisco.
