March 13, 2010

Father Eamon R. Carroll, 87

Posted: 11.26.08

VENICE | Father Eamon R. Carroll, Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, died Nov. 15. He was 87.

Father Carroll was a world–renowned theologian and professor in the study of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Mariology. He was born in Chicago and retired to Florida in 2002 to live at the Carmelite Retirement House in Nokomis. He also served the Diocese of Venice at Epiphany Cathedral.

He entered the Order of Carmelite’s Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary in 1935 and was ordained a priest in 1946. He then earned a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Among his assignments: faculty member of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago; Whitefriars Hall and The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; International College of Saint Albert, Rome; Loyola University at Chicago; and University of Dayton, Ohio.

Father Carroll was on the staff at the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, Ohio, and authored numerous books and articles in his field. Among his honors, he served as president of the Mariological Society of America and the Catholic Theological Society of America, secretary of the International Mariological Congress, a charter member of the English Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and as a consultant for the interior iconography of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Nov. 19 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. Carmelite Father John Walsh, prior provincial of the province was the main celebrant. Interment is at Venice Memorial Gardens in Venice.

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Deacon John (Jack) Blackburn, 88

Posted: 10.17.08

Deacon John (Jack) Blackburn, formerly of Venice and Epiphany Cathedral Parish, died Oct. 9. He was 88. He was the first permanent deacon ordained for the Diocese of Venice in 1987. He subsequently served as a deacon at the cathedral for 10 years.

A graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo, Ohio, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and later in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 33 years. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 20.

 

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Father John A. Beattie, 70

Posted: 08.29.08

FORT MYERS | Father John A. Beattie, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who served as a teacher and coach at Bishop Verot High School, died Aug. 8. He was 70.

During his time at Bishop Verot, Father Beattie had been a theology teacher, cross country and track coach, and chaplain for the football team, and had remained very much involved in daily Masses and other aspects of running the school since reducing his class-time schedule.

Father Beattie spent much of his life helping young athletes to grow stronger, run faster and develop more character. He started working at Bishop Verot in 1983, where he joined his twin brother, Father Joseph Beattie, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

Father Beattie was known for his strong commitment to disciplined training for whatever tasks he was responsible.

Bishop Verot Principal Father Chris Beretta, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, said Father Beattie was legend at the school.

“Father John’s faithfulness and generosity toward Verot staff and students for a quarter of a century made him an icon of Salesian gentleness, prayer and humility,” Father Baretta said. “His own character was demonstrated in his tireless efforts to build character in the students, and by the warm support he gave to his colleagues on staff.”

Father Joseph Beattie said his brother was always eager to see people achieve. “He had an untiring willingness to go out and serve people, whether in the hospital, school or parish,” he said.

Father Baretta said Father John Beattie’s recent retirement did not slow him down from his dedication to coaching.

“He had a level of energy that rivaled some of his athletes,” Father Beretta said. “Our school will miss him greatly.”

Father Beattie was born Sept. 20, 1937, in Wilmington, Del., where he grew up with his brother. Both men then entered the Salesianum School, the seminary of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, in Wilmington in 1955. He completed his studies in theology and a master’s in English before his ordination to the priesthood.

Father Beattie was ordained Oct. 30, 1965, in the Oblates’ Wilmington-Philadelphia Province. His ordination is a piece of church history, as the long-scheduled event almost did not occur because nearly all of the world’s bishops, including every American bishop at the time, were participating in the Second Vatican Council, the landmark gathering of church leaders. After a search by church officials, a retired and exiled Chinese bishop residing in the United States was located to perform the ordination, a rite that only a bishop can celebrate, according to the tradition of the Catholic Church.

Before coming to Fort Myers, Father Beattie also served the Oblates as a teacher and counselor in Lewiston, N.Y.; Childs, Md.; Philadelphia; and Center Valley, Pa.

In addition to his brother, he is survived by his sisters Anne Beattie Mundy and Sister Mary Alfred, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Mary Katherine Flynn Beattie, and his sister Cecilia Mazurkiewicz.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Light Parish in Estero Aug. 12. A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Wilmington Aug. 15. Burial was at the Oblate cemetery in Childs.

 

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Sister Mary Rose Watkins, 75

Posted: 08.29.08

VENICE | Former Bishop Verot High School Principal Sister Mary Rose Watkins, Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, N.Y., died Aug. 17 in Boston. She was 75.

Born Jan. 20, 1933, in Sommers Point, N.J., Sister Watkins served as principal of Bishop Verot Catholic High School from 1972 to 1983.

The 1981 yearbook staff wrote, “Sister Mary Watkins’ loving concern and commitment for others is apparent to all those whom she comes in contact. Her guiding force has led to recent accreditation by the Southern Association. Her vision has resulted in the physical development of our school in such structures as the Santini Center, an addition to the library, the Fine Arts and Music building and track and tennis courts.”

Sister Watkins was received into the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Aug. 15, 1952, and professed her final religious vows Aug. 16, 1959.

She faithfully lived the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, reflecting her experience of God’s love as a poet.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Bonaventure University and her ministry was in the area of education. From 1956 until 1971, she was a teacher in Miami; Snyder, N.Y.; Triangle, Va.; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Kingston, Jamaica; principal and teacher in Highgate, Jamaica; and principal at Bishop Verot. She then returned to the classroom in West Islip, N.Y.; was assistant principal in Phillipsburg, N.J.; and then served as assistant superintendent of schools in the Metuchen Diocese in New Jersey from 1988 to 1999. Until her death, Sister Watkins served as an educational consultant.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Watkins and Alberta Seabold Watkins, and her brother, Albert Colman. She is survived by her sisters Joan Watkins, Marion Lavis and Kathleen Gallagher; and her brothers Francis, William, Howard, Kenneth, Joseph and Coleman.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 21 in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, N.Y. Interment followed in St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany.

 

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Father Morris B. Wells, 70

Posted: 08.29.08

VENICE | Carmelite Father Morris (Francis) B. Wells, former pastor of St. Raphael Parish in Englewood, died Aug. 14. He was 70.

Father Wells served as pastor of St. Raphael from 2000 to 2004 and was parochial vicar of St. Francis Assisi Parish in Grove City, 1996–2000.

Carmelite Father Niles Gillen, who worked as a parochial vicar under Father Wells at St. Raphael, said the response to his death has been remarkable.

“In every sense of the word, a wonderful man,” Father Gillen said. “He was loving and supportive and just a delight to work with. He was a terrific friend, a great priest and a wonderful Carmelite.”

He said Father Wells was among the most considerate people he knew and that even years later, he was beloved at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Father Wells born and was raised in Manchester, N.H., and entered the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, Mass., in 1953. He entered the Carmelite Novitiate at New Baltimore, Pa., in 1957 and professed simple vows there one year later. He took the religious name of Morris upon admittance to the Order of Carmelites. From 1957 to 1961, he studied at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y., where he completed a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

He professed solemn vows Feb. 8, 1962, in Friar’s Hall, Washington, D.C., the province’s major house of study. On Sept. 7, 1964, he was ordained to the priesthood in Chicago. He received a master’ degree in biology and education from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1966. The same year he received a Licentiate of Sacred Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Father Wells taught seminarians at Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, from 1966 to 1968, and then was a member of the formation team while continuing his studies in theology at Marquette University.

He entered the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1970 at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., and served in Vietnam in 1971 with the 196th Infantry Division. He later served at Fort Knox, Ky., and then with the U.S. Forces Europe in Germany.

He received a Master of Arts degree in 1980 from Azusa Pacific University in North Hollywood, Calif., for studies in marriage and family counseling. Subsequently, he was a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

He then served at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was honorably discharged in 1984 from active military service with the rank of major. During his tenure, he was awarded the Bronze Star, twice awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, five times awarded the Army Commendation Medal, along with the Vietnam Service Medal.

Father Wells then served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Bogota, N.J., and in 1987 as Commissary Provincial of the eastern region of the province while at St. Cecilia Parish in Englewood, N.J.

In 1993 he moved to St. Simon Stock Community, Darien, Ill., as director of Carmelite missions, where he coordinated and participated in mission visits to parishes throughout the United States, encouraging parish support of Carmelite missions in Peru, Mexico and other nations.

Father Wells was then appointed to St. Francis of Assisi in Grove City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter J. Wells and Regina Lyons. He is survived by his sister, Janet Savoie, along with several loving nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Raphael Aug. 18, with the Carmelite prior provincial, Father John Welch, celebrating. Burial was at Venice Memorial Gardens in Venice.

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Father Gerard Benson, 90

Posted: 07.04.08

Father Gerard (Marty) Benson died June 14. He was 90.

Father Benson was ordained May 23, 1942, in the Order of Carmelites, Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. In his retirement, Father Benson served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Mission Valley in Nokomis, as well as assisted in the program for separated and divorced with the diocesan Ministries Department.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Illinois. A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Raphael Parish in Englewood.

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