 We have received the sad news from
our Brothers in the United States that pioneer Br Livinus Bellew died
in hospital on the 2nd of January. (Photo: Livinus mid-2005.)Livinus's health had not been strong for quite some time and in late December he was admitted to the Orange Coast Memorial Hospital at Huntington Beach where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and put on a respirator. His heart was not up to the strain. Livinus, who hailed from the town of Ballimacard in county Galway, Ireland, was one of the five Brothers sent from Ireland in 1948 to establish a Patrician community at Santa Monica in Los Angeles. The other pioneering Brothers were Raphael Phelan, Romanus Jacob, Hilary Deering, and Ignatius Mulkeen. Livinus taught in three high schools: St Monica's, Mater Dei, and Pater Noster. His specialist areas were Religion and English. Livinus was elected the leader of the American province in 1970 and led the Brothers there into their first Provincial Chapter during a very difficult time in their history with so many changes taking place within the society and the Church at that time.  For over fifty-seven years
Livinus had been ministering in Los Angeles. He is the last of the
original pioneers to die. We thank him for the
example of his self-less life and pray that he will be quickly reunited
with family and Brothers already enjoying the eternal joys for their
lives of love and service. (Photo:
Livinus in 1971 at Pater Noster.)There was standing room only in the Chapel on Sunday the 8th of January as almost 150 people attended the Rosary. Fr. Marcos Gonzales, a former student of the Brothers, led the Rosary, and he and many others spoke highly of Livinus. Mass was celebrated the next day by Bishop Dominic Luong in the Chapel at the Novitiate in Midway City. Fr. Marcos Gonzales, Fr. Jim Hartnett, Fr. Gleason and Fr. John Neneman were concelebrants. Brother Philip Shepler read a moving tribute to Livinus. Over 100 attended the Mass including many members of the Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Presentation Sisters, former students and friends of the Patrician Brothers. Livinus was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City with Brothers Edwin Guidera, Ignatius Mulkeen, Hillery, Raphael Phelan and Romuald O'Sullivan. For more: http://www.brothersofstpatrick.com/eulogy.htm
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