Our Capuchin brother Paul Patlo, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord’s eternal life on December 26, 2021, at Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). He had suffered from kidney and liver failure for a number of weeks in Kimbe, his family home, where he was cared for by family until his illness required hospitalization in the nation’s capital. Paul was 52. His death marks a sad milestone for our Province: he was the first native friar from our mission to pass.
Paul was born in West New Britain-Pomio on October15, 1969, to his parents, Philip Kepipe and Francesca Kempole. His decision to be a Catholic priest goes back to his high school years in 1982 at Malmal High School in Pomio. When he completed grade 10 in 1985, he was accepted at St Peter Chanel Seminary in Rabaul to begin his priesthood studies. After objections by his father about his choice of schooling, however, Paul had to withdrew from the seminary and worked for two years as plantation supervisor with the New Britain Palm Oil Development (NBPOD) Company. The young man was not satisfied with the life he was living, however, and his desire to be a priest grew stronger and stronger.
Our brother Francis Fugini, OFM Cap, former Provincial Minister of our Capuchin Province of St. Augustine and a veteran of the Navy during World War II, entered eternal life in the early hours of Friday, August 13, 2021. He was 95 years old at the time of his death, the oldest friar of the Province.
He was born on October 1, 1925, the third of eleven children of Peter and Marie (Piccola) Fugini, and baptized Richard at Mater Dolorosa Church in Chicora, Butler County, PA. He was educated at the public elementary and high schools of Chicora and enjoyed a close-knit, faith-filled Italian family life with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmothers (distinguished by the color of their houses as “green Nonna” and “white Nonna”) all near at hand and frequently visited. He never lapsed in gratitude and love for his family and the richness of his Italian heritage, sharing memories and seeking distant relations until very late in his life.
Our brother James Gavin, OFM Cap., passed gently into eternal life in the early hours of Sunday, August 1, 2021.
Brother James was born in Stranooden, County Monaghan, Ireland, on June 8, 1932, the seventh of eleven children born to Joseph and Catherine (Clerkin) Gavin, who worked a ten-acre farm to provide a living for their family. Such was life at that time that James, not unlike his siblings, received the bare minimum of education – grade school only – before leaving school in 1946 to help manage the family farm. Beginning in 1954, he became quite literally a “journeyman laborer”, working variously as a farm hand, cabinet maker and furniture repairman as he began to think of leaving Ireland for North America. On a Monday evening in March 1956, he boarded a ship in Belfast headed for Birmingham, England, where he would spend a year working as a toolmaker and making friends before finally flying to Canada in June, 1957.
Our brother Robert E. McCreary, 84, was called to the Lord’s eternal life on Wednesday morning, March 24, 2021, at Canterbury Place Nursing Home where he was cared for in his last month. His cousin and our confrere Robert L. McCreary, OFM Cap., and his sister, Charlotte, kept company with him during the days prior to his death, supporting him with prayer and the sacraments of the Church.
The first of four children born to Judge Robert McCreary and his wife Ellen (Cain), young Robert grew up in Monaca, PA. He was born on January 2, 1937, and was baptized at St. John the Baptist Church there, attending its public elementary school. After one year at Monaca High School, he chose to enroll at St. Fidelis High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1951, the same year that his cousin Robert L. McCreary enrolled in the College program there.
Our brother Reginald Russo, OFM Cap., died late Monday night, February 15, at Shadyside Hospital from complications of post-Covid pneumonia. He entered eternal life in the presence of fellow Capuchin friars, including his older blood brother and our Capuchin brother Francis X. Russo, OFM Cap., who prayed with him as he died.
Reginald was given the name Carmen at his birth on July 30, 1941, the sixth of seven children born to John and Theresa (Izzo) Russo of Mahoningtown, PA. He was baptized at St. Lucy Church there and educated in the local public elementary school before following his older brother and enrolling at St. Fidelis High School and College Seminary in Herman, PA in 1955 to receive both his high school and college education. Like other collegians at the time, he moved to St. Conrad Friary, Annapolis, MD, where he was invested with the Capuchin habit and entered the novitiate following his second year of college in 1961. It was there that he received the Religious name Reginald by which he would be known for the rest of his life - when he wasn't called, affectionately, "Reg." He made profession of the vows as a Capuchin on July 14, 1962, and returned to St. Fidelis to complete his college studies.
More of Reg's story & info on the funeral plan and livestreaming...
Our brother Richard Lubomski, OFM Cap., passed to the Lord on Monday afternoon, February 8, 2021, at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, from complications arising from infection by the Covid-19 virus. He was 76 years of age.
Richard Joseph Lubomski was born in Pittsburgh to Joseph A. and Frances (Staresinic) Lubomski on December 21, 1944. He was baptized at St. Anthony Church and educated at the parish grade school in Millvale before attending Shaler Public High School. Richard would often tell the story of his parents’ marriage with a smile: his father was reprimanded by his pastor for wishing to marry Frances Staresnic. Her parents were Slovenian, and the pastor, who was Polish, chided Joe: “You couldn’t find a Polish girl?” Somehow, the marriage worked out – and Richard was a great credit to his “dual heritage.”
Read more about Richard and view videos of his funeral vigil & Mass... .
Our brother bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap., who retired as the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, in October 2019, died late Tuesday night, January 19, 2021, at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, from a Covid-related illness. Since July 2020, he had been in residence at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), PA.
“Bishop Bill” was born William Regis Fey in Pittsburgh, PA, on November 6, 1942, the son of Regis and Dorothy (Clair) Fey. Initially, he attended Middlesex Elementary School in Valencia, PA, before attending St. Paul Grade School in Butler. On graduation, he enrolled at our Capuchin seminary, St. Fidelis High School and College in Herman, PA.
Upon completing his second year of college studies, Bill was invested with the Capuchin habit in Annapolis, MD on July 13, 1962, receiving the religious name Br. Elroy (we assume Elroy Face was famous on the Pittsburgh Pirates team at the time?). He made his profession of vows one year later on July 14, 1963, and in 1968, he returned to his baptismal name, William, when that option became available. That same year, he was ordained to the priesthood in a class of Capuchins that numbered seventeen (17) friars, the highest number ever ordained for the community.