Conventual Franciscan priest
Fr. Brendan (John) Farnell was born in Philadelphia, PA. on June 7, 1948. After graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School, Brendan entered La Salle College and subsequently the Christian Brothers. Brendan's call to serve in the sacramental ministry of the church led to his decision to leave the Christian Brothers. He studied at Notre Dame and considered himself an avid fan of the fighting Irish. Brendan taught high school for some 13 years and was involved as a social worker while teaching in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Brendan moved to California in 1977 and joined the Conventual Franciscans as a novice in August, 1984. Studying theology in Berkeley Brendan continued his social work being very active with the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen and the Dorothy Day movement. Brendan was ordain a deacon by Bishop Thaddeus Shubsda on October 16, 1988 and served as a deacon at St. Paul Church in San Pablo, CA. He was ordained to the presbyterate on June 24, 1989 by Bishop John S. Cummins. Fr. Brendan and his classmate, Fr. Bruce Lamb, were the first to be ordained at the 130 year old parish which made for a grand celebration. Fr. Brendan was then assigned as associate pastor at Queen of Angels Parish in Riverside. During his time of studies and his work at Queen of Angels Parish Fr. Brendan was also very active with the Secular Franciscan Order. Fr. Brendan was appointed as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans. With his health beginning to fail Fr. Brendan moved to Arroyo Grande in September, 1991 to act full time as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant and to be the Chairperson for the Peace, Justice and Preservation of Creation Commission. Fr. Brendan also became active at St. Patrick Parish in Arroyo Grande.
While suffering with his various illnesses Fr. Brendan grew in an awareness of his own mortality and grew in his spirituality which he shared freely with those who came to visit. Fr. Brendan passed away on the evening of November 26, 1993 surrounded by his mother, brother and sister-n-law and the friars of the novitiate community. A vigil service was conducted by the Secular Franciscans on Tuesday, November 30 at St. Patrick Church. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Wednesday, December 1, at 12 noon. The final rites and burial were held at the Province cemetery following the liturgy.
Fr. Brendan (John) Farnell was born in Philadelphia, PA. on June 7, 1948. After graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School, Brendan entered La Salle College and subsequently the Christian Brothers. Brendan's call to serve in the sacramental ministry of the church led to his decision to leave the Christian Brothers. He studied at Notre Dame and considered himself an avid fan of the fighting Irish. Brendan taught high school for some 13 years and was involved as a social worker while teaching in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Brendan moved to California in 1977 and joined the Conventual Franciscans as a novice in August, 1984. Studying theology in Berkeley Brendan continued his social work being very active with the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen and the Dorothy Day movement. Brendan was ordain a deacon by Bishop Thaddeus Shubsda on October 16, 1988 and served as a deacon at St. Paul Church in San Pablo, CA. He was ordained to the presbyterate on June 24, 1989 by Bishop John S. Cummins. Fr. Brendan and his classmate, Fr. Bruce Lamb, were the first to be ordained at the 130 year old parish which made for a grand celebration. Fr. Brendan was then assigned as associate pastor at Queen of Angels Parish in Riverside. During his time of studies and his work at Queen of Angels Parish Fr. Brendan was also very active with the Secular Franciscan Order. Fr. Brendan was appointed as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans. With his health beginning to fail Fr. Brendan moved to Arroyo Grande in September, 1991 to act full time as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant and to be the Chairperson for the Peace, Justice and Preservation of Creation Commission. Fr. Brendan also became active at St. Patrick Parish in Arroyo Grande.
While suffering with his various illnesses Fr. Brendan grew in an awareness of his own mortality and grew in his spirituality which he shared freely with those who came to visit. Fr. Brendan passed away on the evening of November 26, 1993 surrounded by his mother, brother and sister-n-law and the friars of the novitiate community. A vigil service was conducted by the Secular Franciscans on Tuesday, November 30 at St. Patrick Church. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Wednesday, December 1, at 12 noon. The final rites and burial were held at the Province cemetery following the liturgy.
Conventual Franciscan priest
Fr. Brendan (John) Farnell was born in Philadelphia, PA. on June 7, 1948. After graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School, Brendan entered La Salle College and subsequently the Christian Brothers. Brendan's call to serve in the sacramental ministry of the church led to his decision to leave the Christian Brothers. He studied at Notre Dame and considered himself an avid fan of the fighting Irish. Brendan taught high school for some 13 years and was involved as a social worker while teaching in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Brendan moved to California in 1977 and joined the Conventual Franciscans as a novice in August, 1984. Studying theology in Berkeley Brendan continued his social work being very active with the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen and the Dorothy Day movement. Brendan was ordain a deacon by Bishop Thaddeus Shubsda on October 16, 1988 and served as a deacon at St. Paul Church in San Pablo, CA. He was ordained to the presbyterate on June 24, 1989 by Bishop John S. Cummins. Fr. Brendan and his classmate, Fr. Bruce Lamb, were the first to be ordained at the 130 year old parish which made for a grand celebration. Fr. Brendan was then assigned as associate pastor at Queen of Angels Parish in Riverside. During his time of studies and his work at Queen of Angels Parish Fr. Brendan was also very active with the Secular Franciscan Order. Fr. Brendan was appointed as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans. With his health beginning to fail Fr. Brendan moved to Arroyo Grande in September, 1991 to act full time as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant and to be the Chairperson for the Peace, Justice and Preservation of Creation Commission. Fr. Brendan also became active at St. Patrick Parish in Arroyo Grande.
While suffering with his various illnesses Fr. Brendan grew in an awareness of his own mortality and grew in his spirituality which he shared freely with those who came to visit. Fr. Brendan passed away on the evening of November 26, 1993 surrounded by his mother, brother and sister-n-law and the friars of the novitiate community. A vigil service was conducted by the Secular Franciscans on Tuesday, November 30 at St. Patrick Church. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Wednesday, December 1, at 12 noon. The final rites and burial were held at the Province cemetery following the liturgy.
Fr. Brendan (John) Farnell was born in Philadelphia, PA. on June 7, 1948. After graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School, Brendan entered La Salle College and subsequently the Christian Brothers. Brendan's call to serve in the sacramental ministry of the church led to his decision to leave the Christian Brothers. He studied at Notre Dame and considered himself an avid fan of the fighting Irish. Brendan taught high school for some 13 years and was involved as a social worker while teaching in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Brendan moved to California in 1977 and joined the Conventual Franciscans as a novice in August, 1984. Studying theology in Berkeley Brendan continued his social work being very active with the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen and the Dorothy Day movement. Brendan was ordain a deacon by Bishop Thaddeus Shubsda on October 16, 1988 and served as a deacon at St. Paul Church in San Pablo, CA. He was ordained to the presbyterate on June 24, 1989 by Bishop John S. Cummins. Fr. Brendan and his classmate, Fr. Bruce Lamb, were the first to be ordained at the 130 year old parish which made for a grand celebration. Fr. Brendan was then assigned as associate pastor at Queen of Angels Parish in Riverside. During his time of studies and his work at Queen of Angels Parish Fr. Brendan was also very active with the Secular Franciscan Order. Fr. Brendan was appointed as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans. With his health beginning to fail Fr. Brendan moved to Arroyo Grande in September, 1991 to act full time as the Provincial Spiritual Assistant and to be the Chairperson for the Peace, Justice and Preservation of Creation Commission. Fr. Brendan also became active at St. Patrick Parish in Arroyo Grande.
While suffering with his various illnesses Fr. Brendan grew in an awareness of his own mortality and grew in his spirituality which he shared freely with those who came to visit. Fr. Brendan passed away on the evening of November 26, 1993 surrounded by his mother, brother and sister-n-law and the friars of the novitiate community. A vigil service was conducted by the Secular Franciscans on Tuesday, November 30 at St. Patrick Church. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Wednesday, December 1, at 12 noon. The final rites and burial were held at the Province cemetery following the liturgy.
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