Bishop Donald Montrose,
who led the Diocese of Stockton from 1986 until his
retirement in 1999, died on May 7, 2008, the 59th
anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
Bishop Donald W. Montrose was born on May 13, 1923
in Denver, Colorado where he lived until 1936 when
his family moved to Glendale, California. He
attended Catholic school and entered the seminary in
1938.
He graduated in 1943 from Los Angeles College, the
Junior Seminary, where he spent the remaining years
of High School and two years of college. His final
six years of theology and seminary training were
completed at Saint John's Seminary in Camarillo.
He
was ordained to the priesthood on May 7, 1949 for
the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He served in
parishes as a parochial vicar and at Mater Dei High
School in Santa Ana as a teacher and principal from
1950-1964. His post-graduate degrees were in Spanish
and education and he was appointed Superintendent of
Schools for the Archdiocese from 1964-1977. He was
also pastor of Resurrection Parish during this time.
Montrose was appointed by Pope John Paul II and
ordained a bishop on May 12, 1983 by Timothy
Cardinal Manning. He served as an auxiliary bishop
for Los Angeles and was named Rector-President of
St. John's Seminary College in 1984.
In 1986 he was installed as the fourth Bishop of
Stockton. He retired in 1999, residing at
O'Connor Woods until his death.
During his tenure in Stockton, he was actively
involved in two areas of greatest concern for him -
Catholic education and issues related to Hispanic
peoples in this country. His participation in the
following national committees indicates his ability
and commitment: 1) 1986. Appointed a member of the
Board of Directors of the California Hispanic
Institute of California, and served on its
curriculum committee. 2) 1986. Elected to the
Education Committee of the United States Catholic
Conference. 3) 1989. Elected Vice President of the
California Catholic Conference for a three year
term. 4) 1991. Was a member of the National
Committee for the Charismatic Renewal of the
Hispanics, serving as Episcopal Moderator.
He aslo brought the Eucharistic Franciscan
Missionary Sisters and Sisters of the Cross to the
diocese.
The
bishop, who had a post-graduate degree in Spanish,
was remembered for his humble devotion to the
Catholic community, care in ministering to others
and for bringing Spanish-speaking priests to the
diocese.
In
an 1999 interview with The Record, Montrose said he
was most proud of increasing Catholic membership
among Latinos and for promoting Latinos into the
priesthood. "I think they've basically been good
years. ... The people are good, and they have a lot
of faith," he said, looking back at his years as
bishop. "I'm glad to have served here."
His
successor at the Diocese of Stockton, Bishop Stephen
Blaire, said he always will remember Montrose as a
good and holy man.
Reaquiscat in Pace.
Bruno W. Hicks (formerly Father Bruno, O.F.M.)
September 18, 1929 - February 14, 2008
Born as
William Roland Hicks in New York City, he moved with his
family at the age of 8 to Phoenix, AZ. He entered St.
Anthony's Seminary, Santa Barbara, CA, on the path to
becoming a member of the Order of St. Francis
(Franciscans). He entered novitiate in 1949 taking the
name Bruno. He was ordained a priest at the Old Mission,
Santa Barbara, on December 22, 1956. In the early years
of his ministry Bruno taught at St. Mary's High School
in Stockton, CA. He began his work as a missionary in
Guihuhagan, Negros Oriental in the Philippine Islands.
There, he and other Franciscan Friars ran a school and
operated a radio station known as the Voice of the
Voiceless. When Ferdinand Marcos, then President of the
Philippines, declared martial law in 1972, Bruno wrote
against martial law and worked to help establish the
National Committee for Restoration of Liberties in the
Philippines. After a period of incarceration by the
Marcos regime, Bruno was deported back to the United
States. Once back in the U.S., Bruno became involved in
the farm workers' movement, in particular working with
Cesar Chavez. He was also instrumental in developing the
Cursillo, a Catholic movement devoted to forming lay
people to become more involved in their church's
ministries. In the late 1970s, Bruno became active in
the Franciscan ministries to the poor of the Tenderloin
District of San Francisco. He worked with several other
Franciscans to create the Tenderloin Neighborhood
Development Corporation (TNDC) and served on its first
board. TNDC continues to develop affordable housing for
low income people and has renovated or built 28
properties with more than 2500 units of housing since it
formation in 1979. Bruno also worked to create the
Indochinese Housing Development Corporation (IHDC) which
developed two properties in the Tenderloin serving the
Vietnamese and Cambodian communities. Serving on the
first board of IHDC, Bruno worked to expand the range of
services offered especially to include services to
children, such as the Montessori school at the Herald
Hotel. Of great importance to him was his involvement
with the creation of the Low Income Housing Fund (LIHF)
in 1984. Eventually Bruno left the Franciscan Order but
continued to support the ministries to the poor of the
Tenderloin, especially by serving on the board of IHDC
until his passing. He is survived by his wife, Antonia.
a Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at Sts Peter and
Paul Church in San Francisco on April 23, 2008
Father
Anthony Severin Baumann, OFM
January
11, 1919 - January 11, 2008
Father Anthony Baumann
served the St. Mary's community as priest and
teacher. He taught biology to a generation of
students. Father Anthony was a mentor to innumerable
students at St. Mary's and beloved by all.
After being re-assigned
from the school, Father Anthony spent many years
working at the St. Anthony Dining Hall in San
Francisco.
Father Anthony passed
away on his 89th birthday, January 11, 2008 in
Oakland, CA.
