Bishop Buddy Scrapbook 1937 (3)

Priest's· Death Is Tragic End to Day of Happiness A news-item in a previous issue he would have wished, thought of the southern cross told of the she, like a soldier fallen on tht

field of battle. He was laid to rest in the Jesuit plot •in the cemetery at Santa Clara with many an offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and of prayers and communions for the repose of his soul.

death of Father Leo Keeler, S.J., in an auto accident at Alma, Cali- fornia, on September 11th. A few pathetic details of the accident have since been ascertained, pic- turing a tragic close of a happy day, Professor of History and Phil- osophy at the Gregorian Univer- sity in Rome, Father Keeler was on a visit to the Jesuit universi- ties in the United States. He had spent the earlier part of Septem- ber the eleventh as the guest of Rev. William Dunne, S.J., rector of the Jesuit novitate at Los Gat- os, and had gtne on under his guidance to the Jesuit theologate of the California Province at Alma to renew acquaintance with some of the members of the fac- ulty who he had known in Rome. During his brief stay at the the- ologate he met Father Bannon, a Jesuit of the Chicago Province do- ing post-graduate work at Ber- keley, and prevailed on him to be his companion on his return trip. En route to San Francisco he in- tended to visit the University of Santa Clara, and then pass on to see his sister at the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Menlo Park, where she was a member of the community. Before leaving the theologate the two priests made a parting visit - to the Blessed Sacrament. Through one of .those seemingly casual decisions which at times turns the scales in favor of death, Father Keeler chose to sit next the driver instead of accepting the invitation of Father Bannon to ride with him in the rear seat of the automobile. This circum- stance, because of his tall stature, was the occasion of his death. For as they proceeded slowly along a winding road, the machine • sud- denly skidded in loose gravel at a curve and plunged over a slope into a tree some seventy feet be- low. The impact threw Father Keeler against the upper frame- work of the windshield and frac- tured his skull. Father Bannon, though slightly hurt, was able to give final ab- solution to his companion ·before he breathed his last. Father Dunne, leading the way, had kept the following machine in view through his mirror. Losing sight of it around a curve, he drove back and on learning of the plight \ of Father Keeler summoned help and brought the holy oils in time f to give the last anointing. Meanwhile Father Keeler's sis- ter was awaiting his welcome visit to Menlo Park, thankful to the Father Provincial for the favor accorded her. She received the news of the tragedy with holy res- ignation. His saintly mother, too, now eighty years old, sent word from the east that her son should be interred where he died; for sc,

Diocese Is Represe,nted in Parade

Mission San Diego de Alcala, the birthplace of Christianity in the west served as a motif for the beautiful float representing the Diocese of San Diego in the Catholic Day parade in Los Angeles and again in San Diego on Admission Day. On the four corners of the float stood representatives of the four stages of history in the southwest-the Carmelite priest, who first said Mass on Ballast Point; the Jesuit priest, the Franciscan and the secular priest. ·-~~--------------------------

Architect's dra.w- ' ing of Mary, Star of the Sea church, u n d er construc- tion at La Jolla, where His Excel- · I e n c y, Bi sh op Charles F. Buddy, will officiate at corner-stone lay-

ing ceremonies on Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock. The church is sched- j uled to be com- pleted in October. ,_._,g::::j

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