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Charles Buckley was born in Cork on 17 July 1902. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1922 and took Eunan as his religious name. He was ordained to the priesthood in Cork on 29 June 1930. His initial ministry was in Holy Trinity Church in Cork, but he was transferred to the United States mission in 1931. In September 1936, St. Patrick’s Friary in Wilmington, Delaware, was officially designated as a novitiate and Eunan was appointed the first Novice Master. He held this position until early September 1938 when he returned to Ireland. During the Second World War he served as a chaplain in the Royal Air Force. Following the conclusion of hostilities, he returned to the United States. From 1956 to 1959 he was Pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Fort Bragg in California. In 1959 he was transferred as Pastor to St. Joseph’s Parish in Roseburg, Oregon. He returned to Fort Bragg as Associate Pastor in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in 1964. After several years of ministry here, he was appointed to Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame. He suffered a severe stroke in 1970 which ended his years in active ministry. He died in Burlingame, California, on 15 October 1974.

Baptismal name: Charles Buckley
Religious name: Fr. Eunan Buckley OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 17 July 1902
Place of birth: Muskerry Terrace, Blarney, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Cornelius Buckley
Name of mother: Catherine Buckley
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 15 Oct. 1922 (Kilkenny)
Date of first profession: 19 Oct. 1923
Date of final profession: 19 Oct. 1926
Date of ordination (as priest): 29 June 1930
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons., NUI (1926)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission custody in 1931. He returned to Ireland in 1938. He returned to the United States in 1948.
Date of death: 15 Oct. 1974
Place of death: Burlingame, California, United States
Place of burial: San Francisco, United States

Michael Kelleher was born in Ballyvourney in County Cork on 3 June 1919. He was educated in Rochestown Seraphic College (County Cork), University College Cork and at the theological house in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. He joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1937 (taking Cyril as his religious name) and was ordained to the priesthood in 1946. From 1947, he was involved in various ministries with the Capuchins in what is now the Province of Our Lady of Angels in the Western United States, as director of clerics at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang (California) and later as Associate Pastor and Pastor. He was the director of clerics at St. Patrick’s Novitiate in Wilmington, Delaware, and served as both teacher and principal at St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge, California. He also served as guardian (local superior) of San Lorenzo Seminary in Santa Inés. For a time, he was also guardian and director of clerics at San Buenaventura Friary in San Francisco. He was also Vice Provincial of what is now the Province of Our Lady of Angels and was mission director while residing at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang. He died on 17 January 2002 in St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara and was buried in the cemetery adjoining San Lorenzo Seminary in California.

Baptismal name: Michael Kelleher
Religious name: Fr. Cyril Kelleher OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 3 June 1919
Place of birth: Ballyvourney, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: John Kelleher
Name of mother: Abby (Abigail) Kelleher (née Forde)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1937
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1938
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1941
Date of ordination (as priest): 20 June 1946
Educational attainments: BA 1st class hons. (1941); MA, 1st class hons. (1942)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the Western United States Mission on 29 July 1947
Leadership positions: Principal, St. Francis High School, La Cañada, California, 1956-71; Assistant Custos, 1959-61, 1962-5; Vice-Provincial Minister, 1973-6.
Date of death: 17 Jan. 2002
Place of death: St. Francis Hospital, Santa Barbara, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California

Leo Dominic Ward was born in Dublin on 8 October 1919. He was educated in Rochestown Seraphic College (County Cork), University College Cork, and at the theology house at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. He entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1939 (taking Sebastian as his religious name) and was ordained to the priesthood in 1947. From 1947, he was involved in various ministries of the Capuchin Franciscans in what is now the Province of Our Lady of Angels in the United States. His various roles included Professor of Metaphysics and Psychology at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California, Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Roseburg, Oregon, Master of Novices at St. Patrick’s Novitiate in Wilmington, Delaware, and parish mission preacher. For periods, he also served as vocation director at San Lorenzo Seminary in Santa Inés, California, hospital chaplain in Roseburg, Oregon, and in Ukiah and Fresno, California, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On his brief return to Ireland in the early 1970s, he acted as director of students in Raheny Capuchin Friary in Dublin. He held similar roles in St. Augustine’s Friary in Oakland, California, and at San Buenaventura Friary in San Francisco. He was a definitor (councillor) in the Irish Capuchin Province from 1973 to 1976. He was also spiritual director and retreat master at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Inés. He died in Lompoc, Santa Barbara, California, on 29 October 2003. He was buried in the cemetery attached to San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California.

Baptismal name: Leo Dominic Ward
Religious name: Fr. Sebastian Ward OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 8 Oct. 1919
Place of birth: 18 Sigurd Road, Stoneybatter, Dublin
Name of father: Nicholas Ward
Name of mother: Joanna (Jennie) Ward (née Moulton)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1939
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1940
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1943
Date of ordination (as priest):5 June 1947
Educational attainments: BA (1943)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States Mission on 9 Jan. 1948. He returned to Ireland on 31 Jan. 1971. He returned to the United States on 29 Sept. 1976.
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor, 1973-6; Appointed Director of Theology Students, Raheny Capuchin Friary, Dublin, on 25 July 1972.
Date of death: 29 Oct. 2003
Place of death: San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California

Michael O’Shea was born in Cork on 14 November 1926, the son of Mortimer O’Shea and his wife Catherine O’Shea. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans on 3 October 1946 at Rochestown Friary in County Cork where he received the habit and was given Venantius as his religious name . He professed his solemn vows on 4 October 1950. He was ordained to the priesthood on 23 May 1954 at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. He studied at University College Cork and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy with a minor in English literature. Following his ordination he was sent to California in September 1954. He taught religion at St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge in California. He was Associate Pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Ukiah, California, Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Los Angeles, California, Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, California, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Fort Bragg, California, and in St. Joseph’s Church in Hermiston, Oregon. In 1970 he taught Franciscan History at San Lorenzo Capuchin Novitiate in Santa Inés. In 1977 he was appointed as first Provincial Secretary of the Capuchins in Western American. In 1987 he obtained a Masters’ Degree in Applied Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. In 1988 he was a chaplain at the Federal Penitentiary in Lompoc in California. In 1995 he was a chaplain at Nazareth House in Fresno, California. In 2000 he was appointed Provincial Historian and resided at St. Conrad Friary in Berkeley, California. In 2005 he was Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, where he ministered to the sick at Peninsula Hospital and heard confessions in the local parish. He retired in 2014 and was cared for at Mercy Care Center in Oakland, California. His last few months were spent at Herman Health Care Center in San Jose, California. He died on 16 January 2020 and was buried in the cemetery attached to San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California.

Baptismal name: Michael James O’Shea
Religious name: Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap. (previously Fr. Venantius O’Shea OFM Cap., he reverted to his baptismal name after the Second Vatican Council)
Date of birth: 14 Nov. 1926
Place of birth: Cork
Name of father: Mortimer O’Shea
Name of mother: Catherine O’Shea (née Meighan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1946
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1947
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1950
Date of ordination (as priest): 23 May 1954
Educational attainments: BA (1950)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States Mission on 27 Sept. 1954
Date of death: 16 Jan. 2020
Place of death: Herman Care Center, San Jose, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California

James Jennings was born in Ballintober (or Ballintubber) in County Mayo on 12 May 1928. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1946 and took Pacificus as his religious name. He was solemnly professed as a friar in October 1950 and was ordained to the priesthood on 19 May 1955. He spent five years at University College Cork and earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, and a Higher Diploma in Education. He served as Dean of Rochestown College in County Cork from 1955-6 and was Master of Novices in the adjoining friary from 1956-8. He filled the same role in Kilkenny Friary for a further four years. He taught at St. Bonaventure’s Hostel in Cork from 1962-4. He subsequently returned to Rochestown for three years as Vice-Rector before moving to Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal where he served as guardian (local superior) from 1970-3. There followed spells as a curate (1975-80) in Priorswood parish in County Dublin and later as spiritual director of the diocesan seminary in Carlow. He later acted as retreat master in Raheny Friary in Dublin and spent a year (1985-6) in ministry with Irish Capuchin missionaries in New Zealand. He returned to Raheny and was appointed a chaplain to Irish schools in the Dublin Archdiocese and acted as editor of ‘The Capuchin’ periodical publication. His final appointment was to Ard Mhuire Friary and Retreat House in County Donegal. He died at Ard Mhuire on 18 March 2006 and was buried in the adjoining cemetery.

Baptismal name: James Jennings
Religious name: Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 12 May 1928
Place of birth: Ballintober, County Mayo
Name of father: Patrick Jennings
Name of mother: Catherine Jennings (née Lavelle)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1946
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1947
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1950
Date of ordination (as priest): 19 May 1955
Educational attainments: BA 1st class hons. (1950); MA, 1st class hons. (1951); Higher Diploma in Education.
Date of death: 18 Mar. 2006
Place of death: Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Place of burial: Cemetery, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal

Joseph Francis Brunton was born in Kilkenny on 19 March 1894. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in September 1911 and took Ambrose as his religious name. He was ordained to the priesthood on 15 March 1919 in Cork. Following his ordination, he volunteered for missionary work in the United States in 1920. His initial ministry was in Roseburg in Oregon. In 1923 he became the first Irish Capuchin pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Willits, Mendocino County, in California. In 1929 he spent a short period of time with Fr. Joseph Fenelon OFM Cap. at St. Francis parish in Los Angeles. From there he went to the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elk, Mendocino County, in California, where he served as pastor. Illness forced him to temporarily retire from ministry and to recuperate with the community at Mission Santa Inés near Solvang in California. In 1954, he was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Ukiah, California. A year later he was transferred to St. Lawrence of Brindisi parish in Watts, Los Angeles. He remained in Los Angeles until his death on 8 March 1974. The renowned Irish tenor Brenda O’Dowda (1925-2002), a nephew of Fr. Ambrose, sang at his Funeral Mass which took place in St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church. He was buried in Los Angeles.

Baptismal name: Joseph Francis Brunton
Religious name: Fr. Ambrose Brunton OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 19 Mar. 1894
Place of birth: James Street, Kilkenny (Diocese of Ossory)
Name of father: Patrick Brunton
Name of mother: Christina Brunton (née Byrne)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1911
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1912
Date of final profession: 8 July 1916
Date of ordination (as priest): 15 Mar. 1919
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission in May 1920
Date of death: 8 Mar. 1974
Place of death: Los Angeles, California

William John Forrest was born in Youghal in County Cork on 8 February 1911. He was initially educated in the Christian Brothers’ School in Youghal and later in the Cistercian College at Mount Melleray. He completed his secondary schooling with the Christian Brothers on Sullivan’s Quay in Cork and at the Capuchin College in Rochestown. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1929 and took Cormac as his religious name. He studied philosophy in University College Cork and received a BA degree in 1933. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar in October 1933 and was ordained to the priesthood in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal on 27 June 1937. He served as Dean of Rochestown College in Cork from 1938 to 1946. Afterwards, he was appointed Master of Novices and Vicar in Kilkenny Friary. From 1949 to 1952 he was guardian (local superior) in Kilkenny and from 1952 to 1955 he was guardian of the Rochestown community. He was subsequently transferred to Holy Trinity Friary in Cork serving as Vicar for twelve years. A well-known preacher, retreat-giver, and confessor in his native Cork, he died in Holy Trinity Friary on 19 February 1991. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining Rochestown Capuchin Friary.

Baptismal name: William John Forrest
Religious name: Fr. Cormac Forrest OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 8 Feb. 1911
Place of birth: Youghal, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Simon Forrest
Name of mother: Christina Forrest (née O’Connor)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1929
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1930
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1933
Date of ordination (as priest): 27 June 1937
Educational attainments: BA (1933)
Date of death: 19 Feb. 1991
Place of death: Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochetown Capuchin Friary, Cork

Baptismal name: Timothy Cooney
Religious name: Br. Eolan Cooney OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 14 Sept. 1913
Place of birth: Rylane, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Timothy Cooney (Labourer)
Name of mother: Julia Cooney (née Rourke)
Date of parents’ marriage: 21 Sept. 1905
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 12 Nov. 1934
Date of first profession: 13 Nov. 1935
Date of final profession: 12 Nov. 1938
Date of death: 29 July 1999
Place of death: Nursing home, Mount Desert, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Thomas Joseph Prendiville was born in Ballymacelligott in County Kerry on 27 November 1924. His early education was in the local national school and later at the Capuchin College in Rochestown, County Cork. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1944 and took Bartholomew as his religious name. He obtained a BA degree in philosophy from University College Cork in 1948. He completed his theological studies in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal and was ordained to the priesthood on 12 June 1952. He returned to St. Bonaventure’s Friary in Cork and obtained a Higher Diploma in Education (UCC) before travelling to Norther Rhodesia (now Zambia) for missionary work in 1953. He spent eighteen years in Zambia. In 1971 he was transferred to the Cape Town mission in South Africa. His years in Zambia mainly involved work in the education sector, first as a manager of schools at several mission stations, and later as education secretary in Livingstone. In South Africa, he served as parish priest in several churches in various Cape Town suburbs including Langa, Belgravia and Parow. He served as consultor to the Regular Superior of the Cape Town mission on two occasions (1971-4; 1974-7). He was elected Regular Superior in 1977 and held this position until 1983. He died in Parow, Cape Town, on 7 July 2004 and was buried in Maitland Cemetery.

Baptismal name: Thomas Joseph Prendiville
Religious name: Fr. Bartholomew Prendiville OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 27 Nov. 1924
Place of birth: Ballymacelligott, County Kerry
Name of father: Michael Prendiville
Name of mother: Hanora Prendiville (née Scanlon)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1944
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1945
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1948
Date of ordination (as priest): 12 June 1952
Educational attainments: BA (1948); Higher Diploma in Education (1953)
Missionary activities: Travelled to Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) on 26 Aug. 1953. He was transferred to Cape Town, South Africa, on 12 May 1971.
Leadership positions: Regular Superior, Cape Town Mission, South Africa, 1977-83
Date of death: 7 July 2004
Place of death: Parrow, Cape Town, South Africa
Place of burial: Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town, South Africa

Patrick Finbar Welstead was born in Cork on 3 September 1939, the son of John and Eileen Welstead (formerly Kidney). He was received into the Capuchin Franciscan Order on 3 October 1959 at Rochestown Friary in County Cork, where he took Flavian as his religious name. A year later (4 October 1960), he made his first profession. He studied philosophy at St. Bonaventure’s Friary and in University College Cork and took his theology courses at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. On 21 May 1967 he was ordained at Ard Mhuire Friary Church. After his ordination, he was assigned to the Irish Capuchin Mission in Zambia, for the next four years. He served at several mission stations in this short period of time: Sioma, then Manganga and finally at St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Livingstone. In 1973 he was assigned to serve in the Irish Capuchin Vice-Province on the West Coast of the United States. He served in Hermiston, Oregan, for one year and was then assigned to St. Francis High School in La Cañada, Califonria, as a teacher, for one year. He would return to the high school again in the 1980s and 1990s as a teacher and Director of Development. Also, in this period, he served for three years at St. Joseph Parish in Roseburg, Oregon, and at St. Francis Parish in Bend, Oregon. He also served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Burlingame, California, from 1986 to 1989. From 1991 to 2000 he was assigned to the provincial leadership house in Burlingame, California, where he served as the Development Director for the Western American Province. After a short sabbatical in the second half of 2002, he returned to Burlingame as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish where he remained until his death at Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame on 4 December 2017. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining Mission Santa Inés, Solvang, California.

Baptismal name: Patrick Finbar Welstead
Religious name: Fr. Flavian Welstead OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 24 Sept. 1939
Place of birth: Douglas, Cork
Name of father: John Welstead
Name of mother: Ellen Welstead (née Kidney)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1959
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1960
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1963
Date of ordination (as priest): 21 May 1967
Missionary activities: Travelled to Livingstone, Zambia, in Nov. 1967. He returned to Ireland on 7 Apr. 1973. He travelled to the Western United States mission in 1973.
Date of death: 4 Dec. 2017
Place of death: Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, Mission Santa Inés, Solvang, California