Msgr. John Folliard, pastor emeritus of
St. Cornelius, dies
A Memorial Mass was celebrated June 30 at St. Cornelius Church in Long Beach for Msgr. John Folliard, 86, longtime former pastor, who died June 22 in his native County Mayo, Ireland.

Msgr. Folliard had been in priestly ministry for 59 years, most recently as pastor emeritus of St. Cornelius.

"We were very blessed to have this gracious man as pastor," wrote Father Mike Gleeson, St. Cornelius pastor, in the parish bulletin. "He was a man of the people and a man of faith with a great sense of humor [as well as] the perennial Notre Dame fan."

Msgr. Folliard attended All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland before coming to St. John's Seminary where he completed his theological studies. He was ordained in 1950 and began his first assignment at Our Lady of Peace Church in Sepulveda (now North Hills).

He served as an associate at a number of parishes in Los Angeles, including Nativity, St. Leo, Our Lady of Victory, Holy Spirit, St. Mary Magdalen and St. Anastasia. Other associate pastor assignments included Holy Angels in Arcadia, St. Emydius in Lynwood, and Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro.

In 1971, Msgr. Folliard was named administrator at St. Cornelius in Long Beach. He became pastor in 1972, serving in that capacity for 24 years until his retirement as pastor emeritus in 1996.

Msgr. Folliard resided at the parish until he returned to Ireland in 2005. Condolences may be sent to Msgr. Folliard's sister-in-law, Mrs. Josie Folliard, Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland.

Fr. Sebastian Meyer, O.Carm
Funeral Mass was held June 27 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Fairfield for Carmelite Father Sebastian Meyer, 76, who died June 24. A former pastor at St. Jane Frances de Chantal in North Hollywood in the 1980s, he also ministered locally at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino and Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills.

A native of Detroit, Father Meyer entered the Carmelite formation program at Mount Carmel College, Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the mid-'50s after working in a Detroit banking and accounting firm. In 1962, he was ordained a Carmelite priest at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet, Illinois, and, after post-graduate studies, started in educational ministry.

From 1968-1973, Father Meyer served as assistant principal at Crespi High School. Subsequently focusing on pastoral ministry, he served as associate pastor at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church (1973-77) followed by one year at St. Lawrence Church in Sacramento. In 1978, Father Meyer became director of pastoral care at Holy Cross Hospital (now Providence Holy Cross Medical Center).

Father Meyer was named pastor of St. Jane Frances in 1981, serving for nine years. After a year's sabbatical followed by six years in Houston ministering as an associate pastor at St. Bernadette Church, he returned to California where he became pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Fairfield. During his 12 years as pastor, he oversaw the construction of the new parish church.

"He had a great love for his congregation and a special place in his heart for military men and women serving in harm's way," said Bud Ross, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Interment services took place at Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery in Fairfield.

Eleanor Martinez
Funeral Mass was held June 22 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fillmore for Eleanor Martinez, who died June 16. Among family survivors are her husband, Manuel, and a son, Deacon Manny Martinez, FSP, director of deacons for the archdiocese. Condolence cards may be sent to Manuel A. Martinez, 344 Glen Way, Fillmore, CA 93015.

Guadalupe Victorin
Funeral Mass was held June 27 at Holy Cross Mortuary Chapel in Culver City for Guadalupe Victorin, who died June 17 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles after an accidental fall. She was the wife of Deacon Rafael Victorin. Condolences may be sent to Deacon Victorin, 12133 Herbert St., Los Angeles, CA, 90066.

Rose Stechmann
Funeral Mass was held June 27 at St. Joseph Church in Shawnee, Kansas, for Rose Stechmann, 80, who died June 24. Surviving family members include Augustinian Recollects Father Michael Stechmann, associate pastor at Cristo Rey Church in Los Angeles.

Marian Hawkins
Funeral Mass was held June 30 at St. Brigid Church in Los Angeles for Marian Hawkins, who died recently. Family survivors include her son, Bill Hawkins, who together with his mother has been an active volunteer and supporter of the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization in Los Angeles.