FATHER EDWARD J. WIDMER, C.M.F. (1922-2010)

Funeral Mass and Burial took place Thursday, February 11, 2010 at San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, CA, for Father Edward Widmer, CMF , 87, a Claretian Missionary for 70 years, who died after several months of declining health on February 11, 2010 in San Gabriel, CA.

The Chicago native who had studied at Dominguez Seminary in Compton was ordained in 1951 by the famous Claretian Missionary bishop of Panama, Joseph Preciado. He went on to master in English literature at Loyola University in Los Angeles which sharpened his love for the clever turn of phrase, the apt choice of words, and a dulcet tone in public speaking. Many knew him as a happy young priest at Soledad, in East Los Angeles, and Immaculate Conception, in Yuma, Arizona. There he cultivated priestly vocations among altar boys with waterskiing on the Colorado, trips to the seminary in Los Angeles, and Saturday morning Spanish classes that would put them in good stead for bilingual ministry. One of them was the future vicar general of the Tucson Diocese, John Allt. He taught seminarians at Dominguez and Claretville and enjoyed double-meaning jokes, as well as a quick dip in the pool with a swimsuit ready under his cassock. After parish work at the Claretian parishes of Stockton, California and Plaza Church, Los Angeles, he escaped the irritations of common life for a number of years, between 1966 and 1987, to serve as chaplain to various hospitals and parishes in Illinois, West Virginia, Minnesota, California and North Dakota. Famously, he once drove a pastor out of church on Christmas night as the monsignor was getting ready to take Edward’s place on the altar after he had overslept the time of mass. When he returned to community after a two year leave, he served in outreach ministry while residing at Dominguez Seminary. While in retirement at Nazareth House in Los Angeles he read every novel he could find, and was popular with fellow residents who elected him their president. Bedridden and more taciturn at Fernview Convalescent Center in San Gabriel, he still had a good appetite till the end.

FATHER ALBERT J CONNORS, C.M.F. (1919-2008)

Funeral Mass and Burial will take place Thursday, December 11, 2008 at San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, CA, for Father Albert J. Connors, CMF , 89, a Claretian Missionary for 35 years, who died unexpectedly December 2, 2008 in Torrance, CA. Father Albert Connors joined the Claretian Missionaries after having served as a Christian Brother for 34 years. He made his final profession in 1973 and was ordained later that same year as a Claretian Priest. His first assignment was as Associate Pastor and Hospital Chaplian at Sacred Heart Parish in Prescott, AZ. He later went on to serve in various ministries: as Pastor and Superior at St. Louise's Church in Bellevue, WA.; Sacred Heart Parish as Pastoral VicarIn 1985 he returned to Sacred Heart Parish as Pastoral Vicar; therafter, he went to reside at Dominguez Seminary were he directed the Development program for the Province and countinued his outreach ministry in the community. Father Connors will always be remembered for his dedication and prayful spirit. He is survived by nieces and nephews.

FLAVIAN WILLATHGAMUWA, C.M.F. (1919-2008)

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 interethnic 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.