Fr. John McEnhill, former principal of Chaminade HS, dies Memorial Mass will be held May 20, 5:30 p.m., in the Blessed Chaminade Chapel at Chaminade College Preparatory High School in West Hills for Marianist Father John McEnhill, 83, who died March 22 from cancer. Father McEnhill was among the first Marianists to teach at Chaminade High School and later served there as its principal (1964-69).
Born in San Francisco, he met the Marianists at St. Joseph’s High School in Alameda and entered the novitiate in Beacon, N.Y., following his graduation in 1946. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton in 1950, he taught for two years at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, before moving to California to teach at Chaminade High School, then located in Canoga Park.
Discerning a call to the priesthood, he studied at the seminary in Fribourg, Switzerland, and was ordained on July 22, 1956. Between 1957 and 1963, Father McEnhill taught at three schools in California: Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco, St. Joseph’s, his alma mater, and at the Marianist Scholasticate in Santa Cruz.
After serving one year at Saint Louis High School, he returned to Chaminade in the mid-’60s as principal for five years. He earned a master’s degree in school administration from the University of San Francisco in 1970, and then served as an administrator at Archbishop Riordan for six years.
Father McEnhill returned to Chaminade in 1976, serving as a teacher and chaplain until 1991. During this time, he earned master’s degrees in counseling and education psychology and a Ph.D. in psychology. He joined the Serra Associates, a group of mental health professionals who served religious in the L.A. area.
From 1992-97, he served the former Pacific Province as assistant for religious life followed by three years as rector at the Society of Mary’s seminary in Oakland. Before retiring in 2005 to the Marianist Residence in Cupertino, he served the Marianists’ Vocation Office for four years.
In his later years, Father McEnhill attended the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, where inquirers and Marianists were impressed with his intelligence and gift for conversation.
“I am very grateful to the brothers I lived with and worked with over the years,” said Father McEnhill on the occasion of his 60th jubilee. “Their support and example helped me over the good times and bad times.”
The Funeral Mass for Father McEnhill took place March 30 at St. Joseph of Cupertino Church in Cupertino. Donations in Father McEnhill’s name may be made to: Cupertino Marianist Community, 22683 Alcalde Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. For information on the May 20 Memorial Mass for Father McEnhill, call (818) 835-6725.
Fr. Francis Chrysostom Funeral Mass was held April 4 at Holy Cross Cemetery’s Chapel of the Risen Lord in Culver City for Father Francis X. Chrysostom, 77, a retired priest from the Diocese of Mannar, Sri Lanka, who died March 27.
Born in Dimbula, Sri Lanka, he was ordained in 1961 in the Sri Lankan Diocese of Mannar. From 1989 to 2008, he served as a hospital chaplain at Centinela-Freeman Hospital Regional Medical Center. In his retirement, he was assisting as needed at St. Augustine Church in Culver City. Condolences for the family may be sent in care of Sr. Jean O’Leary, CSJ, Carondelet Center, 11999 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049.
Sr. Mary Catherine Fearon, CSJ Funeral Mass was held March 28 at Carondelet Center in Los Angeles for Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Mary Catherine Fearon, 94, who died March 14.
Born in Los Angeles, she attended St. Cecilia School and St. Mary’s Academy. She served as organist at St. Cecilia Church during her four years in high school. When she completed her secondary education, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on Sept. 15, 1935.
Sister Fearon embarked on a long career of teaching music: piano, organ and chorus. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Mount St. Mary’s College and her master’s music degree from Montreal University.
During her teaching career, Sister Fearon was also tapped to be dean of girls at Santa Clara High School, Oxnard, during two different times she was missioned there. Her sense of humor, and mischief, brought great joy to others, according to the members of her congregation.
“As I look back on the years past as a Sister of St. Joseph,” she remarked at the celebration of her golden jubilee, “I thrill to the memories of acceptance, the loving concerns of my sisters and the many blessings given to me by God. A sense of humor has added to many otherwise difficult situations.”
In 1990, Sister Fearon moved to Carondelet Center to be a driver, which she was for five years. After that, she began a four-year career as craft maker for the boutique. In 1999, she moved permanently to Holy Family Community, where she continued to enjoy beauty wherever God put it.
