“Well Done, Brother Juniper”

            by Fr. Emeric Szlezak, OFM, Fr. Tom Murphy, OFM, and Pamela Nagle, SFO

Our beloved fellow Franciscan, Fred McCarthy, SFO (1918-2009), universally-known creator of the cartoon character based on one of the original followers of St. Francis, Br. Juniper, was solemnly remembered at a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida.

Present at the Mass, besides his faithful wife, Lilly McCarthy, SFO, were many friends and parishioners, all devotees of Fred and his cartoon personality, Br. Juniper.  The Mass was celebrated by a local diocesan priest and concelebrated by seven other priests:  Fr. Emeric Szlezak, OFM, representing the theology classmates at Holy Name College, Washington, D.C., 1941-1945; Fr. Thomas Murphy, OFM, SFO Regional Spiritual Assistant for the Five Franciscan Martyrs Region; Fr. Samuel Zebron, OFM-Conv, local Spiritual Assistant to the St. Anthony of Padua SFO Fraternity in Boynton Beach, Florida, Fr. Germain Kopaczynski, OFM-Conv from St. Mark Church in Boynton Beach, Fr. Timothy Sockol, Pastor of Emmanuel Church in Delray Beach, and two other local diocesan priests.

A fitting homily was given by Fred’s long-time friend, Deacon Richard Santana of Emmanuel Church.

The Mass was preceded by the Secular Franciscan Wake Service conducted by Lesley Vaitekunas, SFO, Minister of the St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity, Boynton Beach, Florida, Fr. Sam Zebron, OFM-Conv, Spiritual Assistant, and other fraternity leaders.  A Franciscan Crown Rosary was also prayed.

In attendance, besides many local Secular Franciscans, were three representatives of the SFO Five Franciscan Martyrs Regional Executive Council: Edward Duff, SFO, Regional Vice Minister (from Naples), Barbara Gesmundo, SFO, Southeast Area Councilor (from Royal Palm Beach), and Pamela Nagle, SFO, Regional Treasurer (from Seminole).

A luncheon followed in the Columbus Hall at the parish.

The cartoon below appeared in the Emmanuel Catholic Church bulletin for the Solemnity of All Saints. 

Fr. Tom and Fr. Emeric stopped by the bishop’s parking space for a fraternal photo. (Right)