Dear friends of Fred,
Yesterday
morning, October 22, we celebrated a Memorial Mass for Brother Fred Joseph Buerman, ObOSB, at Our Lady
of Mercy Parish in Daly City.
I got to know Fred there eleven years ago when I was pastor of
OLM, and I thank God for the friendship that started between us. It was he who connected us with "Hand of Help,"
and he who brought us our youth minister, Danny O'Regan from England, who did wonderful things in the parish during his
years of service there at OLM.
For the past several years, Fred lived with us part-time in the
rectory and gave of himself to the parishioners and staff of the parish generously: through spiritual direction, counseling,
dinners, leading us in a Lenten retreat, and by preaching at all six Masses once a month as part of his doctorate in homiletics.
This last ministry touched so many people in Daly City, and they have missed dear Fred terribly ever since his health prevented
him from coming back to the parish. Father Joseph Palathingal, a hospital chaplain in residence at OLM for many years, always
used to say how happy he was when Fred returned from his travels and brought life back to the house!
I
had left OLM myself in July of 2010, having been transferred to Tiburon, so I was very grateful to Father Domingo Orimaco,
the pastor of OLM, for being so welcoming when I contacted his staff two weeks ago to arrange this Memorial Mass. Barbara
Cantwell, the administrative assistant of the parish, helped pull everything together, and also cooked for and coordinated
a reception after the Mass, so people could enjoy food and share Fred-stories after the liturgy.
Victor
Valdez printed up lovely prayer cards which he made available at the doors of the church, with a photo of Fred and a prayer
by his favorite saint, Therese of Lisieux, on the back.
Father Dan McCotter, CSP, Fred's best friend
since high school, preached a marvelous homily about Fred's spiritual journey, a man always thinking "outside the box."
I'm so glad Fr. Dan was preaching, as it was perfect.
The Most Reverend Patrick McGrath, Bishop of
the Diocese of San Jose, was in attendance in the sanctuary and gave some closing remarks that were both touching and hilarious
-- very Fredian, and a grand way to conclude the liturgy. We were almost rolling on the floor laughing, which was most cathartic
after a liturgy that brought tears, fond memories, and laughter to many of us.
Concelebrating
with me were priests who were part of the Life of Fred: Fr. Tom Hamilton, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in San Francisco,
who had been Fred's superior in the Marists; Fr. Loren Allen, pastor of St. Philip Parish in Occidental, who had worked
with Fred and "Hand of Help" so often; Fr. Dan McCotter, CSP, the pastor of Old Saint Mary's in Chinatown; Fr.
Domingo Orimaco, pastor of OLM, who had welcomed us to his parish, and expressed his regret that he only got to live
with Fred for two months until Fred's health kept him from the parish.
Deacon Mike
Ghiorso of OLM proclaimed the Gospel, having shared the ministry of preaching with Fred these past several years, each
man generously taking all six Masses once a month. Their homilies nourished the priests of the house as much as the parishioners,
and we enjoyed a very happy life together, with five men in the rectory.
Denis Nolan,
parish council president of OLM, who served as lector for the Memorial Mass, and who had become fast friends with Brother
Fred, often proof-reading Fred's papers and course work. And of course sharing Manhattans and barbecued steaks at Denis'
home up the hill. Fred loved talking about faith, Church and theology with Denis.
Brother Douglas
Draper, SJ, of St. Ignatius Prep School in San Francisco, who had become a friend through Fred's living and ministry at the
parish.
Brother Thomas Jones, FSC, representing the Christian Brothers, who himself had
helped Fred through his work as a psychologist, with the screening of lay volunteers over the years. How often Fred and I
had enjoyed Brother Thomas' hospitality and that of his Brothers up at their community in Napa!
Sister
Marcia Krause, OP, who had collaborated with Fred when she ran the Newman Center at San Jose State University. Fred told
me so many times how much he enjoyed working with her and her students.
During the Mass
I also mentioned emails from some people who could not be there in person: Fred's beloved friend Kathy Taylor, who's
known him for ages and is right now at Holy Trinity Monastery; Martin Teall of Nottingham, whom Fred had brought to our
archdiocese for a year of Christian service; Danny O'Regan, who spoke of Fred as the man who had allowed Danny to purse
his dream of coming from England and devoting his life to Church work here in the U.S.A. Danny is currently "in
the missions," working at the Newman Center of the University of Hawai'i in Honolulu -- hard job, but someone must
do it!
And of course Fr. Dan spoke lovingly of Mary McCarthy, ObOSB, who was not only Fred's
friend and colleague in "Hand of Help," but also the person who opened her heart and home to him at the monastery
this past year, using her nursing skills to make his final months as comfortable as possible.
Fr.
Dan thanked Fr. Henri Capdeville, OSB, the Prior of Holy Trinity Monastery, for welcoming Fred to that Benedictine community
and allowing Fred to at last find a spiritual home that "fit" for a man who always thought outside the box.
And finally, Fr. Dan thanked the good people of Our Lady of Mercy, who had made Fred feel such a part of
their parish, and who inspired him very much by their graciousness, holiness, and generosity.
I
could go on and on, but this is all I can manage for now. There are many people who were present yesterday whom I have not
mentioned, but just know that Fred was very loved here in California -- and very loving. I will miss him a lot.
God bless you and yours,
~ Father Brown
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Father William E. Brown
Pastor
Saint Hilary Catholic Church
