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The Anchor / Friday, Oct. 6, 1989
'The 'story of a missionary /
In 1932 the city of Shasi in the province of H upeh, China, became headquarters for a mission of the Holy Name Province of the Franciscan Friars. Shasi lies in the heart of central China. In 1934 Brother Brendan Lague went to Shasi as a missionary, laboring in China for II very difficult years. Brother Brendan died at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J. on the morning of Aug. 29 at the age of81. Brendan had served within the province and in the China mission for almost 60 years as a talented and dedicated Franciscan brother. He was born in New Bedford on Jan. 15, 1908, The next day he was baptized Leo in St. Kilian's Church. He attended St. Kilian grammar school and Holy Family High School in New Bedford, and then worked as a plumber in his hometown. When he applied to enter the friars in 1928 his pas~or commented: "Leo is a docile and willing worker and comes from a beautiful family," WOd'ds which BOSTON CARDINAL Bernard Law,left, and Bishop characterized Brendan's entire • Daniel A. Cronin meet at recent memorial Mass for the late religious life. Brendan entered the friars as a Cardinal Humberto Medeiros offered in Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton. The Mass was followed by the annual dinner tertiary in 1928 and was received into the Order as a novice on Aug. benefiting the Catholic University of Portugal, a tradition 20, 1930. A year later he made his begun by Cardinal Medeiros, a priest of the Fall River diocese first vows and on Sept. 17, 1934, for many years before becoming bishop of Brownsville, Tex., he made solemn profession as a friar. During his years of simple then heading the Boston archdiocese. (Studio D photo) vows Brendan lived at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. and served as both the organist and as a cabinet-maker. As soon as he made his solemn vows Brendan volunteered to join early friarmissionaries in China. The early 1930s were difficult' For the first time a Catholic parcese, the Greater Fall River Coundays for the handful of Holy Name ish will host the annual dinner of cil of Churches and the Jewish friars working in Shasi. Shasi had the Greater Fall River Interfaith Community Council. Despite an been besieged by Communist revoCouncil. early winter snowstorm, it was lutionaries and what could not be The 12th annual dinner will take ,outstandingly successful. stolen was destroyed by fire. The place at I p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at This is' the first year that the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary St. John of God parish center, dinner is being held at other than a had already established a medical Somerset. It will be preceded by a restaurant and it is hoped that the mission in Shasi before the friars fellowship session at 12:30 p.m. church setting will promote closer arrived. In 1934 new hope came in The host pastor will be Rev. Daniel fellowship. . . the person of Brother Louis Hamm, L. Freitas. In the past, the Interfaith CounO.F.M., a specialist in Oriental The speaker will be Rev. Dr. cil has sponsored such events as a . medicine and eye diseases. David Rowe, president of Habitat brotherhood month, symposiums The following year Brother for Humanity, an organization de- on ecumenism, vesper services, a Brendan joined the friars and was voted to assisting needy persons to Passover seder, a week of rememassigned to work in the medical build their own homes. brance of the Holocaust and a 25center with Louis Hamm as a fullAlso featured will be presenta- week series of public lunch-hour time pharmacist. In one account tion of the council's annual Human- prayer services for Iran hostages. Father Ralph Reilly writes: "Brothitarian Award. Among award comAnnually an ecumenical Thankser Brendan continues to mix his mittee members is Mary-Lou Man- ' giving service is _scheduled at a points in the pharmacy and stays cini, Fall River area director of the greater Fall River place of worship. nice and plump despite his conDioces\ln Department of Catholic Tickets for the Oct. 29 dinner stant use ofthe scales." The staff at Social Services. may be obtained from Father Freithe clinic cared for over 20,000 The Interfaith Council was tas; Rev. Donald S. Meir, council patients per year. In 1940, as the formed in 1978 with Rev. Horace president; Atty. Hanify; Dr. FradJapanese continued to invade and J. Travassos, Rev. Richard Wil- kin; Bella, No'gueira, ticket chairconquer China "Brendan and Louis cox, Atty. Joseph E. Hanify Jr., man; or any council member. go full time to the hospital and and Dr. Irving A. Fradkin as foundcare for the sick." ing members. The first annual dinner was held Nov. 27,1978, under EDICTAL CITATION sponsorship of the Fall River dio, DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL
St. John of God to host Interfaith Council dinner
FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS
Barrier condemned" CAPE TOWN, South A~rica (CNS). -. Four South Afncan Cath.ohc bls~opshave le~a denomstratIon agamst an electnfied fence erected to prevent refugees from :-var-torn Mo~m~iqueJrom entermg South Afnca. The recent protest: led by southern' ~frican.bishops conferen~e preSIdent BIshop Wilfrid, Napier of Kokstad, called for the power to be cut to the 500volt barrier, on which at least 68 refugees have died, and for efforts to bring peace to Mozambique. The group traveled to the remote eastern Transvaal village of Mouzini to stage the demonstration.
Since ;the actual place of residence of RAYMOND CASCI IS unknown. We cite RAYMOND CASCI to appear personally befor.e the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fall River on'Tu~sday, OCTOBER '10, 1989 at 10:30 a.m. at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, . ~ Massachusetts, to give testimony to establish: Whether the nullity' .of the marriage exists in the KLiMERIC·CASCI case? Ordinaries of the place or other pastors having the knowledge of the residence of the above person, RAYMOND CASCI, must see to it' that he is properly advised in regard to this edictal citation. Jay Maddock Judicial Vicar Given at the Tribunal, Fall River, Massachusetts, on this 26th day of September, 1989.
During his 10 years in Shasi, Brendan served with Brother Louis who was director of the hospital and also operated a small mission clinic which he had established outside of Shasi. As the war grew more intense and the situation became worse Father Leo, the local superior, advised Brendan to return home and study for a degree which would be he1pful in the future. Brendan studied at St. Bonaventure University, and after World War II returned to China, where he worked until 1949. From 1949 until 1952 Brendan lived and served at St. Francis Church in New York, and from 1952 until his retirement in 1973 Brendan worked at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, where he was organist: Because his health was failing Brendan asked to retire to St. Anthony Residence in Boston, arid he continued to paint and develop his artistic skills as a retired friar. In 1978 the amputation of , his right foot was a set-back for him but he did resume a normal life until a second amputation early his year required that he go to Holy Name Friary in RingWOOd, N.J.
two sisters, Mrs. Hilda Babiarz and Mrs. Mary Hanrahan, both of New Bedford, Edmond Lague, a brother, of Summerland Key, Florida, and by many nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass was offered for him Sept. 28 at St. Kilian Church. His funeral Mass took place Sept. I at Holy Name Friary, and he is interred in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Butler N.J.
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