October 2 FIDELIS REISER [RYE-ZER], Who Died in Brooklyn In
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October 2 In charity, let us remember our brothers and affiliates whose anniversary of death occurs tomorrow. FIDELIS REISER [RYE-ZER], who died in Brooklyn in 1940, at age 70, after 49 years of religious life and 43 years in the priesthood. Fidelis was born in Bavaria where, at age 18, he was recruited for our province. He arrived at Mt. Calvary and entered the scholasticate. Investiture took place in Detroit. Following ordination he was sent to Calvary to teach. Soon after, he became pastor of the little country church at St. Joe, Wisconsin. When the Eastern scholasticate was opened at Yonkers, he joined the teaching staff there. After four years he returned to parish work, serving the remainder of his life at Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John’s in New York City, and at St. Michael’s in Brooklyn. Wherever he was stationed, Fidelis was esteemed and loved for his kindness and affability. He was always a man of the people and never lost the “common touch.” He served people unselfishly and made them feel that it was his privilege to do so. Much of the flourishing of St. Michael’s Parish in Brooklyn was due to his ministry and that of the Secular Franciscans whom he served as spiritual assistant. Faithful to the end, Fidelis died just a few months before his golden religious jubilee. He is buried in Yonkers. V. Eternal rest grant to him (them), O Lord. R. And let perpetual light shine upon him (them). V. May his (their) soul(s), and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen. Provincial Book of Remembrance 1 October 3 In charity, let us remember our brothers and affiliates whose anniversary of death occurs tomorrow. EARL GOEDEN, who died at Fond du Lac in 1972, at age 46, after 26 years of religious life and 19 years in the priesthood. Earl was born on a farm near West Bend, Wisconsin. He attended St. Lawrence Seminary and College, after which he entered the novitiate at Huntington. Earl’s first assignment after ordination was to St. Francis Brothers School at Calvary Station where he served as professor and spiritual director. He had a series of 1-year assignments as hospital chaplain and retreat master before being named Guardian and Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscans at Báraga, Michigan. He then served one term as Guardian and Pastor of St. Elizabeth’s in Milwaukee. His final assignment was a Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Mt. Calvary. It was under his leadership that the parish church at the foot of the Hill was built. Earl was diagnosed with cancer and underwent unsuccessful surgery. He was hospitalized at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac where he was a source of constant edification to the hospital staff. Earl not only felt grateful to God and to other people, but he constantly expressed his thanks. He couldn’t thank people enough for the good things they did. On his last day, knowing that the end was approaching, a few friars gathered at Earl’s side to pray the Canticle of Creation. Lacking the final verse in praise of Sister Bodily Death, one of the brothers composed a verse spontaneously, at the end of which Earl smiled and gently passed into God’s embrace. Earl is buried at Mt. Calvary. continued $ V. Eternal rest grant to him (them), O Lord. R. And let perpetual light shine upon him (them). V. May his (their) soul(s), and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen. 2 The Calvary Province October 3 (continued...) In charity, let us remember our brothers and affiliates whose anniversary of death occurs tomorrow. RAMIRO TREJO, who died in Detroit in 2009, at age 71, after 42 years of religious life and 32 years in the priesthood. Ramiro was born into a family of migrant workers in Crystal City, Texas. What the family may have lacked in material possessions it made up for in love and closeness. The family moved to Ohio when Ray was just a youngster. Ohio afforded more opportunity and family life was more stable, but the family’s mother tongue – Spanish – was relegated to the home and the family faced harsh discrimination and prejudice. With the hope of broadening his horizons, the 22-year-old Ray joined the Air Force. There his dormant Catholic faith was reignited and he took his first step on his walk with Jesus. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Ray spent two years at St. Lawrence College in Mt. Calvary discerning his vocation, after which he entered the novitiate at Huntington. Always restless, Ray transferred to the Capuchins of Central Canada and spent six years there before requesting a transfer back to the Calvary Province. Seldom did his assignments last for more than two years. He even considered incardination and joining the Redemptorists. Ray was once described as “generous and very person-oriented, a man of faith and a pleasure to live with in community. He will be loved by his people, enjoyed by his brothers, and be the death of those ministers who like order and efficiency.” Ray brought incredible joy to the fraternity with his zany sense of humor, and as a preacher, his words were both simple and profound. Intuition and compassion marked his style of relating to others. A little more than a week before his death, Ray was hospitalized, suffering from diabetes, kidney failure and an infected heart valve. Surgery was cancelled because it was considered too risky. From his hospital bed, with several nurses in the room, he suddenly swung his feet over the side of the bed and announced, “I want to walk with Jesus!” With that, he died. Ray is buried in Detroit. V. Eternal rest grant to him (them), O Lord. R. And let perpetual light shine upon him (them). V. May his (their) soul(s), and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen. Provincial Book of Remembrance 3 October 4 In charity, let us remember our brothers and affiliates whose anniversary of death occurs tomorrow. MEINRAD HENggELER [MINE-RAD HANG-EL-LER], Third Order brother, who died at Huntington in 1933, at age 72, after 23 years of religious life, four of which were spent in our province. Meinrad was born in Switzerland. His cousin, Bonaventure, was also a member of our province. At age 25, Meinrad was invested into the First Order. He served in various capacities – cook, porter and sacristan – in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and Appleton. After 19 years, he left the Order. Five years later, he joined St. Augustine Province as a Third Order brother and remained with the Pittsburgh Capuchins for 18 years. Meinrad was pious, industrious, trustworthy, and faithful to his duties, but whenever he became upset, he would threaten to quit. At age 68, Meinrad returned to our province and remained with us until his peaceful passing at St. Felix Friary in Huntington. He is buried in Huntington. continued $ V. Eternal rest grant to him (them), O Lord. R. And let perpetual light shine upon him (them). V. May his (their) soul(s), and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen. 4 The Calvary Province October 4 (continued...) In charity, let us remember our brothers and affiliates whose anniversary of death occurs tomorrow. KENNETH BARNES, who died at Rochester, Minnesota, in 1966, at age 54, after 35 years of religious life and 27 years in the priesthood. Kenneth was born in Fond du Lac. His father died when the youngster was only 11 years old. After attending St. Lawrence Seminary, he was invested at Huntington. Following ordination, Kenneth was assigned to Huntington where he served as associate pastor of St. Mary’s Church. For two years he preached retreats at Monte Alverno in Appleton, and then was named to the Mission Band. He later served as Superior and Pastor of St. Elizabeth’s in Milwaukee, during which time the mortgage was burned. As Guardian and Pastor of St. Joseph’s in Appleton, he was a member of the Catholic High School board of directors which led to the founding of Xavier High School. His last assignment was a reappointment to the Mission Band, with residence at St. Francis in Milwaukee. Exact, disciplined and frugal by nature, Kenneth’s appearance was striking, his smile ever-present, and his sense of humor engaging. He was always available for the needs of the Province and Superiors could depend on him. Kenneth had a history of heart problems, the result of rheumatic fever suffered in his youth. Faced with a choice between certain death from heart failure or high risk surgery, he underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic, during which he died. Kenneth left behind the memory of man in the prime of his life, whose smile spoke volumes of his love for God and of his happiness in being a Capuchin. Kenneth is buried in Huntington. V. Eternal rest grant to him (them), O Lord. R. And let perpetual light shine upon him (them). V. May his (their) soul(s), and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen. Provincial Book of Remembrance 5 October 5 In charity, let us remember our brothers and affiliates whose anniversary of death occurs tomorrow. LUCHESIUS SPRUCK [LOU-KAY-ZEE-US SHPRUCK], Third Order brother, who died in Detroit in 1910, at age 66, after two years of religious life.