Fr. Robert Luck, St. Catherine pastor emeritus, dies

Funeral Mass was celebrated May 1 at St. Barnabas Church, Long Beach, for Father Robert Luck, 81, pastor emeritus of St. Catherine Church, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, who died April 23. Born in West New York, New Jersey, his early education was in Teaneck, N.J. Upon graduation from Teaneck High School, he spent one year as a laboratory analyst at the Aluminum Company of America before serving in the Marine Corps from 1951-54. He then entered the minor seminary at St. Mary’s (Kentucky) College, completing his theological studies at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo. He was ordained by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre in 1962.Father Luck served as an associate pastor at St. Callistus, Garden Grove, and St. James the Less, La Crescenta, before being assigned as a military chaplain in the U.S. Air Force in 1966. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and had 15 military assignments in the U.S. and Europe until his retirement from the Air Force in 1984.After a three-year period of active leave in the Diocese of Las Vegas, he was named pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church on Santa Catalina Island in early 1987. During his two years there before retiring due to ill health, he renovated the church and rectory. Two new murals were also completed to complement the large painting of the crucifix behind the main altar.“He was a loyal classmate with a sense of humor,” said his fellow St. John’s Seminary classmate, Msgr. Peter Nugent, pastor emeritus of St. John Eudes in Chatsworth. “A straight talker, he was a dedicated priest in his chaplaincy and parish assignments.”Fr. John Malloy, SDB, first principal of Salesian HSFuneral services were held April 1 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, San Francisco, for Salesian Father John Malloy, 91, who died March 27. He had been a Salesian for 72 years, and served as the first principal of Bishop Mora Salesian High School in Los Angeles.After earning his B.A., he first taught at St. John Bosco High School, Bellflower, and the Salesian House of Studies, Richmond. He was later admitted to the Pontificio Ateneo, in Turin, Italy, for theological studies. He was ordained a priest on July 2, 1950, in Turin.His assignments as a young priest were in the Salesian schools of Southern California. In 1952, Father Malloy became principal of St. John Bosco High School and later was named the first principal of Bishop Mora Salesian High School. In the 1960s, he was assigned, also, to help with leadership in the Salesian Province of San Francisco.Father Malloy was appointed provincial of the western province in 1965 and two years later became provincial of the eastern province in New Rochelle, N.J. In 1973, he returned to California as president of Don Bosco Technical Institute, Rosemead, and, in 1979, moved back to Salesian High School, Richmond, where he oversaw the transition of the campus from an all-boys’ school to a co-educational institution.In the ’90s, he returned to San Francisco as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul parish, where he became very active in the Right to Life efforts of the archdiocese. The last years of his life were spent at Salesian High School, Richmond, very close to the area of his childhood.Fr. Jerome Lantry, OCDFuneral Mass was held April 26 at St. Therese Church in Alhambra for Discalced Carmelite Father Jerome Lantry, 93, who died April 16. Born in County Offaly, Ireland, he was ordained at Clonliffe College, Dublin, on July 14, 1946. After parish work in Ireland, Father Lantry came to St. Therese Church in the 1950s and spent many years as retreat master at El Carmelo Retreat House in Redlands.He served in ministry within the archdiocese since 1994 as an associate pastor at St. Therese. Condolence cards may be sent to the Carmelite Community c/o St. Therese Church, 510 N. El Molino St., Alhambra, CA 91801-2827. Fr. Rafael Ochoa Hernandez, ORCA Memorial Mass was held April 26 at Immaculate Conception Church in Los Angeles for Father Rafael Ochoa Hernandez, 79, a priest of the Operarios del Reino de Cristo Religious Community, who died April 16. He had been serving as an associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Church. A native of Mexico City, he was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 13, 1978 and had served in ministry within the archdiocese since 1996. Condolence cards may be sent to the Operarios del Reino de Cristo Religious Community c/o Immaculate Conception Church, 1433 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015. Burial will be in Mexico.Sr. Kathryn Maher, BVMFuneral Mass was held April 18 for Sister of Charity Kathryn Maher, 93, who died April 11 at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. An educator and administrator, she had been a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary for 76 years.Born in Chicago, she entered the BVM congregation in 1937. Locally, she was principal at St. Philip the Apostle in Pasadena in the late ’60s and later taught at Holy Family High School before returning to Chicago in 1972.According to members of her congregation, she was very accepting of people and “never spoke a disparaging word” about anyone. “She was a gentle soul who lived a life of love,” commented a close friend.Burial was in the Mount Carmel cemetery in Dubuque. Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Dr., Dubuque, Iowa 52003 or at www.bvmcong.org/whatsnew_obits.cfm.Sr. Patricia Hogan, CSCFuneral Mass was held recently for Holy Cross Sister Patricia Hogan (Sister M. Aquinas), who died April 21 in Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana.A teacher and guidance counselor, she served in Nevada and California. Locally, Sister Hogan provided counseling services at four Catholic high schools: Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks (1988-92); St. Genevieve, Panorama City (1992-93); Bishop Alemany, Mission Hills (1993-2000); and Bellarmine-Jefferson, Burbank (2001-02). Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Ministry with the Poor, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or at www.cscsisters.org. Trinidad JimenezFuneral Mass was held recently for Trinidad Jimenez, 82, a native of Los Angeles who served for a time as an administrative assistant for the late Bishop John Ward. She attended St. Agnes School in Los Angeles and graduated from Bishop Conaty High School in 1949. Upon graduation, she started a lengthy career in administrative support in industries such as insurance, vocational education and healthcare. A career highlight was her administrative work under the direction of Bishop Ward.After her tenure with the archdiocese, Jimenez provided administrative support in the local St. Vincent Hospital’s department of radiology. She also volunteered with the St. Vincent’s Meals on Wheels program, delivering hot meals and comfort to homebound elderly in the Los Angeles area.Later, she worked at the University of Washington Medical Center and actively supported her community through her volunteer efforts with the American Cancer Society. As a survivor herself, she would regularly visit cancer patients in the hospital and in their homes. According to friends and parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, she was an exceptional neighbor and friend to all who knew her. Survivors include her two sisters: Carmen Arias of Harbor City and Angie Crusinberry of Parker, Ariz. Memorial donations may be made in her honor to the American Cancer Society or to Meals on Wheels, Los Angeles Chapter.Sr. Theresa O’Donnell, SHCJFuneral Mass was celebrated April 3 in the New Sharon Chapel in Rosemont, Pa., for Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Theresa O’Donnell (Mother Catherine Laboure), 84, who died of heart failure at Holy Child Center in Rosemont on March 31.Born in Philadelphia, she graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in 1946 and entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus the following year. An educator, she taught in Illinois, California, Oregon, New York and Washington, D.C. Locally, she taught at Assumption School, Pasadena (1955-68).According to her fellow religious, Sister O’Donnell was an excellent teacher with a happy disposition that brought out the best in her pupils. She had a zest for life, loving all things Irish, was an avid Phillies’ fan and an untiring walker. Memorial donations may be sent to the SHCJ Retirement Fund, 1341 Montgomery Ave., Rosemont, PA 19010. Lea RamirezFuneral Mass was held April 26 at St. Lawrence Martyr Church, Redondo Beach, for Lea Ramirez, 61, a native of Los Angeles and the younger sister of Father Allen Ramirez, OFM Conv., and Thomas Ramirez of Torrance.She attended St. Anthony of Padua School, Gardena, and Bishop Montgomery High School, Torrance. After graduating from California State University, Dominguez Hills, she was employed as an accountant by the Hughes Aircraft Corporation in El Segundo, where she developed lifelong friendships with several coworkers. Later, she was employed in a family business at Charles River Capital of Redondo Beach.In 2002, complications from multiple sclerosis left her confined to a bed with limited abilities, although she continued to watch the celebration of the Eucharist on television and eagerly looked forward to the visit of Eucharistic ministers to her home. According to family members, she never complained or questioned “Why me?” and died peacefully.