Funeral Mass and Burial will take place Friday, June 20, 2008 at San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, CA, for Father Flavian J. Willathgamuwa, CMF, 89, a Claretian Missionary for 26 years, who died on June 11, 2008 in Duarte, CA, after suffering health complications the last several weeks. (Read More)
OUR PROVINCIAL OFFICES HAVE MOVED
Please take note of our new address: 414 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776. You may also reach us by phone at 626-289-2009, fax 626-289-2222 or e-mail at usawestprov@earthlink.net
BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH
OF SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET (1807-2007)
The Saint's remarkable life is astounding.
Ahead of his time as an organizer and promoter of lay ministry in times of great
turmoil and social change in America and Europe before Vatican I, he is an exciting
prophetic model for evangelizing our Twenty-First Century. Born to Evangelize,
our Founder provides us with a passionate witness of God's transforming and
life- giving love. His fidelity to the Gospel of Life and commitment to the
most urgent needs of his time call us forth to faithfulness as Servants of the
Word today. You are invited to learn more about Saint Anthony Claret and share
in this special moment of grace with us: claret.org/claret200
~ Bicentenary Reflection
Father Flavian Willathgamuwa, CMF, born January 7, 1919 in the British colony of Ceylon, was raised in a small Catholic village in a predominantly Buddhist country. His parents hoped to send him to the island’s leading educational institution, St. Benedict’s College, but could not pay the $6-a-month tuition. This disappointment did not crush his spirit as later he would be trained by Christian Brothers, a teaching order he joined as Brother Flavian Joseph. Eventually, he became the provincial superior of its schools in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as serving as the principal of St. Benedict’s College. Because of his dedication to education he was chosen as his nation’s UNESCO representative at the United Nations. This led to various scholarships to study in the U.S. where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Italian mystic Padre Pio whom he met in the late 1960s told him to center his life on the Eucharist and Marian devotion. This moved him to become a Claretian Missionary priest in 1983. As such he served as associate pastor at Mission San Gabriel in San Gabriel, and St. Louise and St. John Bosco in Washington, where he counseled drug addicts and AIDS patients, healed broken families, and established prayer groups for the San Gabriel Valley and Riverside County.
His promotion of Buddhist Christian understanding is well known. His school was the first in Sri Lanka to have a Buddhist monk as chief guest at awards ceremonies, and families in California often offered him a share when they brought alms to their Buddhist clergy. A proud Singhalese, he also encouraged his Tamil brothers at the start of the interethinic Claretian community in his homeland.
Neither congestive heart disease nor meningitis prevented him from radiating irrepressible joy to all who encountered him. He died June 11th after suffering many health complications, and will be missed by countless friends and acquaintances, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral mass and burial are Friday, June 20th at San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel. Memorial donations can be forwarded to the Claretian Missionaries at 414 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776.
FATHER HENRY J. LUNA, C.M.F.
(1927-2008)
Funeral
Mass and Burial will take place
Saturday, February 16, 2008
at San Gabriel Mission, San
Gabriel, CA, for Father
Henry J. Luna, CMF ,
80, a Claretian Missionary for
53 years, who died unexpectedly
February 6, 2008 in Torrance,
CA. Born and raised in Los Angeles,
CA, he came to know and love
the priests and Brothers at
the old Plaza Church near his
home, and decided to join them.
He made his first profession
of vows as a Claretian Missionary
at Immaculate Heart Novitiate
in Los Angeles , CA , and was
ordained a priest at Claretville
Seminary, Calabasas , CA , on
August 24, 1955. His first assignment
was as Assistant Novice Master
at the Los Angeles novitiate.
Thereafter, he went to serve
at various parishes: as Associate
Pastor at St. Francis Xavier,
El Paso , TX ; La Placita, Los
Angeles , CA ; Christ the King,
San Antonio , TX ; All Saints,
Fort Worth , TX ; St. Anthony
Claret, Fresno, CA and as Pastor
and Superior at Immaculate Heart
of Mary, San Antonio, TX and
St. John's, San Marcos, TX.
His brothers and the people
of the various communities he
served with such dedication
will remember him for his gentleness
and compassionate heart. He
is survived by nieces and nephews.
FATHER
JAMES GRIFFIN, C.M.F.(1921-2007)
Funeral
Mass and Burial took place November
23 th at San Gabriel Mission,
San Gabriel , CA , for Father
James Griffin, CMF , 86, a Claretian
Missionary for 56 years, who
died November 19, 2007 in Torrance
after several weeks of declining
health. Born in Chicago , IL
, Fr. "Griff" was the last in
a family of boys. He made his
first profession of vows as
a Claretian Missionary at Silver
Peak Seminary, Walnut, CA, and
was ordained a priest at San
Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel
, CA , on July 16, 1948. His
first assignment was as assistant
prefect of students at Dominguez
Seminary, Compton , CA . Much
of his life was spent forming
new missionaries. He served
in many capacities: on the Provincial
Council, and as professor, superior,
novice master and vocation director
at Claretville Seminary, Calabasas,
CA, and at Claret House, Berkeley,
CA, and as pastor and associate
at the parishes of San Gabriel
Mission, San Gabriel, CA, St.
Bonaventure, Concord, CA, and
Sacred Heart, Prescott, AZ.
Love of duty, and a gentle compassion
for all, characterized his teaching
methods and pastoral care throughout.
He is survived by a sister-in-law
and two nieces. Eulogy
FATHER
MICHAEL CECERE, C.M.F. (1920-2007)
The Rite of Christian
Burial for our Claretian Missionary
Father Michael Cecere, C.M.F.,
took place on Thursday, May
3, 2007 at San Gabriel Mission.
Father Michael, 87 years of
age, died peacefully on Sunday,
April 29, 2007. May he rest
in the peace of our Risen Lord.