Bro. Enda Heffernan

A Man of Prayer and Leadership

Bro. Enda Heffernan, OFMCap
This past April 25 the Province lost a dear brother when Sister Death came for Bro. Enda Heffernan. Born in 1932 in Cork, Ireland, Enda entered the Capuchins in 1949 and was ordained in 1957. Soon after ordaination he came to the western USA and became a vital part of the California Custody of Capuchins. For many years he taught at St. Francis High School in La Cañada. Bro. Enda was elected Vice-Provincial in 1977 and was later appointed by the Minister General to be the first Provincial of the new Province of Our Lady of Angels. He served as Provincial for two terms and will be remembered by the friars as a builder and a leader. Among his many credits are the establishment of the Province and its growth in the field of missionary work. He was also concerned with building up the formation program.
Enda will also be remembered for his humor and fraternal spirit. Anyone who lived with Enda knew that he was a man of routine... 60 Minutes, the walk in the afternoon, a cig every now and then but mostly he was a man of prayer. Early every morning, Enda was the first in the chapel; every day was well punctuated by prayer and meditation. He never talked about prayer- he lived it daily.
Bro. Enda will also be remembered for his work in retreats. Everywhere he was invited he went with a small bag and his papers. He was happy and comfortable giving retreats to priests, religious and laity alike. Someone once gave Enda an old Mac computer- he had never used a computer but soon found that he could pound out his talks on it. He worked away at his homilies and talks- never was an old computer put to such great use! His talks were always peppered with good humor and conviction.
Enda's parting from us was rather quick but he was well prepared to meet Sister Death. Many of the friars from the various parts of the Province were able to stop by to see Enda and all remarked at how much at peace he was with his own mortality. He felt prepared and ready to meet the Lord. We are sorry to have lost our brother but we will remember him; we will especially remember his wonderful humor and example of prayerfulness. Bro. Enda was preceded in death by his brother, Bro. Roderick, from the mother province in Ireland. Enda will also be missed by his family in Ireland- they too enjoyed his visits and humor.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

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