Pro Life Mission

Pro Life Mission

On Saturday Oct 3rd 2009, we returned to the Redemptorist-run Immaculate Conception Church in the South Bronx where many years ago, the late holy and courageous Bishop Garmendia led the first Helpers Vigil in the New York Archdiocese from that Church to Bronx Women and Planned Parenthood abortion mills.

Read more in Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.

An Unsung Pro-Life Hero

by John Burger
Human Life Review, Winter 2006
 
When Bishop Francisco Garmendia was laid to rest last November, eulogists and obituary writers focused on the fact that he was the first Hispanic bishop in the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. They described his social concern – he had founded a social-services agency- and noted his pastoral care for families after a fatal nightclub fire. They spoke about his holiness, his gentleness, his humility, and his low-key personality. He was vicar of the South Bronx at a time when it was a veritable hell on earth; they mentioned the regular religious processions he led through a major park in the Bronx.But there was one aspect of his life that was completely overlooked by the eulogists in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and by writers of tributes in the Spanish and English, language press: his great concern that women were aborting their children, and doing so at an extraordinary rate.As a bishop, Garmendia took seriously the implications of being a “shepherd.” He was not a pro-life ‘star’ as New York’s Cardinal John O’Connor was during the same era – but as a Catholic and as a priest he was devoted to Christ and His Blessed Mother, and he brought his concerns about the abortion catastrophe to them.

Francisco Garmendia was a native of the Basque region of Spain, born in Lazcano in 1924. He was one of eleven children in a devout Catholic family; they were led by their parents in daily recitations of the rosary. Two of his sisters would enter religious life. Francisco experienced a call to the priesthood at an early age and entered the seminary in his adolescence.

As a member of a religious order called the Canons Regular of the Lateran, he soon found himself in South America.  Based in Salta, Argentina, he would ride his horse into the mountains several times a week to bring the sacraments to the Indians.

Around the same time, thousands of miles away in the New York suburb of Yonkers, Betty Cleary and fellow members of the lay evangelization movement the Legion of Mary went knocking on door. It was 1964, and they were discovering more and more Spanish-speaking Catholics in the neighborhood of St. Peter’s parish – immigrants who were not, for some reason, coming to church.  Word traveled up the hierarchy that St. Peter’s needed a Spanish-speaking priest.

That word translated into a new mission for Padre Francisco Garmendia, who soon became known to Miss Cleary and others at St. Peter’s as Father Francis.

“I remember the first homily he gave when he arrived,” Miss Cleary said: Your joys will be my joys, and your sorrows will  be my sorrows'”

Father Francis arrived in New York on Sept. 8, celebrated by the Church as the birthday of Mary.

After 13 years of working with immigrants in New York Father Francis was named an auxiliary bishop for the archdiocese. Archbishop Fulton Sheen, well known to Catholic television audiences in the 1950s and living his final years in New York City, wrote to him on the occasion: “Welcome to the greatest fraternity on earth!” Bishop Garmendia’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was apparent in the motto he took as a bishop: “I am all Thine, My Queen and My Mother, and all that I have is Thine.” Cardinal Terence Cooke named Bishop Garmendia his Vicar for Spanish Pastoral Development; in 1986 Cardinal John O’Connor appointed him Vicar of the South Bronx.

There were two other priests, native New Yorkers, consecrated bishops in the same ceremony as Bishop Garmendia in 1977. One would go on to become the archbishop of Newark, N.J., and later Washington, D.C.: Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The other was Bishop Austin Vaughan, a longtime auxiliary bishop of New York who, like Bishop Garmendia, had a grave concern about what America was permitting to be done to unborn lives. He was the first Catholic bishop in the United Stats to be arrested for his pro-life activities: He took part in Operation Rescue blockades of abortion businesses.

Bishop Garmendia was concerned too, but he took a different approach. “He was concerned that innocent babies were being killed and that was an injustice,” recalled Msgr. Philip Reilly, founder of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. “He was concerned that mothers were being exploited. He was aware of his responsibility to reach out to the Spanish so they wouldn’t be taken in by false promises.”

A Man and His Mission

Garmendia’s territory, the South Bronx, has long been viewed as a lawless place. There have been periods of in history when buildings burned and crime reigned in the streets. It’s an inner-city place of high-density population, with many people living in low-income housing projects.  There are high concentrations of immigrants,  particularly Latin Americans. Gangs and the illegal drug trade plague some neighborhoods.

There is also a particularly high abortion rate. In 2001, the year Bishop Garmendia retired, there were 21,706 live births in the Bronx, 20,356 abortions, and 2,289 “spontaneous terminations, according to New York City’s Health Department. In the city overall that year, there were 91,792 abortions – including 29,684 by Hispanic women, and 44,213 by black women. In 2004, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 20,854 live births in the Bronx, 20,594 induced abortions, and 2,139 spontaneous terminations.

Rosary Procession Planned for Crotona Park

This Catholic New York article from May 16, 1991 tells about Bishop Francisco Garmendia’s Annual South Bronx Rosary Rally.

 

Los inicios de la Línea de la Esperanza

[1997] EN MUCHAS PARTES del sur del Bronx, los residentes inner city son dejados a su propia defensa.

Los presupuestos estatales y locales restringen las ayudas continuas a los focos de pobreza.

Para empeorar la situación, está probado que gran número de residentes consideran que ciertos programas de algunas agencias son intrusión del oficialismo, por falta de información o ausencia de comunicaciones.

Las organizaciones religiosas, privadas y voluntarias deben tomar la asistencia de los necesitados que slip through the cracks.

En Centro de Recursos para el Desarrollo Comunitario es un segundo hogar para muchos. Es una organización privada, sin fines de lucro, destinada a nutrir el desarrollo de servicios y programas que van desde clases de inglés como segunda lengua para adultos, a torneos de bdsquetball para jóvenes.

El Centro toma una posición holistic al enfrentar las necesidades de las personas, considerando sus realidades espirituales, psicológicas, sociales, culturales y económicas, dentro del marco de la Iglesia Católica Romana.

El Centro ofrece su ayuda a todos, sin considerar su religión, raza, edad, sexo, u origen nacional. Aqui estamos para ayudar a resolver problemas tales como vivienda, inmigración, prevención de suicidios, abuso de drogas, cuidado de niños y cuidado prenatal.

El Centro también opera la Línea de programa spinoff que ofrece ayuda telefónica a personas necesitadas de asistencia o consejería.

La Línea de la Esperanza, un servicio bilingüe, está patrocinado por el Vicariato del Sur del Bronx. Sus servicios son gratuitos.  Voluntarios especialmente adiestrados operan una centralizada consejeria telefínica y centro de información bajo la supervisión de un equipo profesional con contactos en diversos campos de la salud y servicios humanos que incluyen niños fugados o abusados, personas desaparecidas, y empleos.

La Línea de la Esperanza usualmente es el primer contacto de los necesitados con el Centro de Recursos. Algunas veces la información es dada por teléfono. Otras, se aconseja acercarsze a la oficina. En todos los casos, las entrevistas son confidenciales, de apoyo, y respetuosas.

Betty Cleary’s Remarks on June 29, 2011

Dear Friends:

Isn’t it a beautiful day and how appropriate to celebrate and honor our dear friend Bishop Francisco Garmendia who has a special place in heaven as in our hearts. A warm welcome to Bishop’s nephew and his wife representing the family members in Spain. Bishop entered so many lives in a casual way. He knew immediately what each one needed. Like Jesus the Good Shepherd, he loved his flock, called each by name, fed us with knowledge of God, gave us Hope and taught us how to minister to our fellow men. He was a Spiritual father, friend and confidant to all.

On September 8th 1964, I met Father Garmendia outside the Chapel of St. Peter’s Church in Yonkers. As a member of the Legion of Mary, I along with Eva O’Neill were assigned to visit the Hispanic families moving into our parish. Msgr. Voight, our pastor, anxious that their Spiritual needs be attended to, requested the chancery to assign a Spanish speaking priest, Eve and I continued to volunteer under Father Francis’s direction in various ways such as CCD, preparation for First Holy Communion, Christmas Shows etc. Eve, in time moved upstate. I continued to volunteer while working full time. Occasionally I would do typing for Fr. Francis. I became familiar with many of his Pastoral Ministries before and after his reassignment to South Bronx parishes, and eventually to St. Thomas Aquinas.

Early in June of 1977 Bishop called to say he had been called to visit Cardinal Cooke who presented him with a question: “Would he accept the Office of Bishop?” I interrupted him and said. “What did you do?” He said, “I cried,” and then the Cardinal asked me again and I said, “Yes, but please do not take me from my people and put me in an office.” Cardinal Cooke said, “No, you will never be taken from your people. Your home will always be at St. Thomas Aquinas.”

How proud we all felt at this great honor to our beloved pastor not only a Bishop but also the first Hispanic Bishop of the South Bronx.

In the Fall of 1984, I took early retirement from the Telephone Company. A few months later, Bishop called to say he had been Appointed by the Cardinal to be Vicar of the South Bronx and would need a secretary. I told him I had no experience as a Secretary. My knowledge of Spanish was limited but I had grown to know and love the Hispanic Community from my work with the Lay Apostolate. He knew this and so I agreed and began my work at St. Thomas Aquinas I have never regretted it.

What are some of my many memories?

Joys and sorrows become a part of every family. Fr. Francis became a part of my family during his three years at St. Peter’s up to his last days at Rosary Hill. He officiated at weddings, christened new babies, visited our sick and said funeral Masses for loved ones. Not just for my family but to all his people. How blessed we were to know him.

One of my oldest memories is of a nephew about l3years old. He stopped at our home after Mass and asked me very directly, “If Fr. Francis died today, he would go straight to heaven right?” He was so serious. I answered, “I think so,” but it stayed in my mind and in the years ahead it was confirmed by many people who felt as he did about Fr. Francis. He was special; he cared about each individual soul.

I remember Bishop telling this story many times: When he first came to the South Bronx he went out for a walk and met a gentleman who asked him where did he live. He answered, “I live in the South Bronx.” The man said, “Oh! The South Bronx, is the devil’s playground?” Father responded, “Oh no, you are wrong, we will make it Our Lady’s Playground.” And he did.

I think every Catholic in the South Bronx has a Rosary, a Miraculous Medal, or a Divine Mercy medal given to them by Bishop. They participated in Rosary Processions, Rosary Rallies, Legion of Mary Praesidiums, Home Consecrations to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Divine Mercy Devotions, Right to Life Marches etc., etc. What a beautiful testament of the faith of our good Pastor and his beloved Hispanic people.

He also served as Chaplain on Pilgrimages for the handicapped to shrines in Europe, St. Anne’s in Canada and The Holy Land. The Pilgrimages were founded by Mrs. Mary Varick who was healed of cancer of the leg at St. Anne’s. In thanksgiving she promised to take other handicapped on Pilgrimages in spite of the fact that she still suffered from the effects of childhood polio.

Bishop loved his priesthood. There are endless accounts of his promptness to visit the sick or the deathbed of one of the faithful no matter what time of day or night. How comforting for families to know that their loved one was safe in the arms of God who first gave them life.

Many of you have memories of Bishop. Write them down and send them to Fr. Labrado or Fr. Alexis at St. Thomas. God willing, in the near future, a history of the Catholic Church in the South Bronx will be written. There have been and still are many shining lights in our midst. Bishop was a close friend to many of them. Mother, Teresa, Fr. Cizek, a Fordham Jesuit who was in solitary confinement for 5 years in a German prison camp, Cardinal Cook, Cardinal O’Connor, Mary Varick some of whom are already known as ‘Servants of God.” We hope & pray for this recognition to be given to our Bishop Garmendia.

I am sure that Bishop is so proud and grateful to each and everyone who has placed so much love and effort in order to make this a memorable day in the history of the South Bronx and in particular St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

One last request: Love, pray and offer your help to your new Pastor Fr. Labrado and Fr. Alex, your wonderful office staff, and the volunteer parishioners who worked so hard to make this event possible. Also don’t forget Rosa Graziani and Miriam Rodriguez along with the sick and those recuperating from surgery.

God bless you all and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Love,
Betty

BUENOS DIAS MI QUIERDO RADIO-ESCUCHA (WADO) – DEL ROSARIO

AYER CELEBRAMOS EN EL VICARIATO DEL SUR DEL BRONX LA FIESTA DE MARIA SMA. DEL ROSARIO. MILES Y MILES DE DEVOTOS DE TOSAS LAS PARROQUIAS NOS JUNTAMOS EN CROTONA PARK NORTH, EN LA SECCIOIN DE INDIAN LAKE, LA VIRGEN MARIA NOS ESPERABA FRENTE A LLEGO, JESUCRISTO VENIA EN PROCESION DE LA IGELSIA SANTO TOMAS. AL SONIDO DE CANTICOS Y CAMPANAS SE JUNTARON MADRE E HIJO FRENTE AL LAGO DE LOS INDIOS.

MIENTRAS LA VIRGEN NOS CONTEMPLABA DESDE LO ALTO DEL PEDESTAL, JESUS Y AMANTES HIJOS PASABAN EL LAGO REZANDO EL ROSARIO. EN 5 ESTACIONES PARO JESUS Y DESDE ALLI BENDECIA A TODO LOS CONCURRENTES. TARMINADA LA PROCESION Y ROSARIO JESUS DESDE LO ALTO DE LA CUSTODIA BENDIJO A TODOS LOS PRESENTES. RESERVADO AL SANTISIMO POCEDIMOS A LA CORONACIO Y CONSAGRACION A LA VIRGEN MARIA. NO PUEDO AHORA DETENERME EN LA CANTIDAD DE GRACIAS Y BENDICIONES QUE MARIA Y JESUS DERRAMARON SOBRE LOS PARTICIPANTES.

TE HABLA EL OBISPO FRANCISCO GARMEMDIA, DE LA ARQUIDIOCESE DE NUEVA YORK.

BUENOS DIAS MI QUERIDO RADIO-ESCUCHA (WADO)

BUENOS DIAS MI QUERIDO RADIO-ESCUCHA

LA BIBLIA NOS HABLA DEL CUERPO MISTICO DE CRISTO.  CRISTO ES LA CABEZA DE NUESTRO CUERPO.  AL SER BAUTIZADOS NOS CONIVERTIMOS EN MIEMBROS DEL CUERPO DE CRISTO.  QUE HERMOSURA!  CRISTO NOS SANTIFICA; LO QUE ES NUESTRA CABEZA PARA CADA UNO DE NOSOTROS, ES, TAMBIEN, CRISTO.  ASI COMO NUESTRA CABEZA ES AFECTADA POR TODAS LAS ACCIONES DE NUESTRO CUERPO, ASI, TAMBIEN, MISTICAMENTE, NUESTRAS ACCIONES AFECTAN A CRISTO.  POR ESO ES QUE CRISTO ESTA SUFRIENDO POR CADA PECADO QUE SE COMETE.  AHORA BIEN SI CRISTO ES NUESTRA CABEZA, QUIEN ES LA MADRE

DE ESA CABEZA?  DE CRISTO?  LA BIBLIA LO DICE CLARAMENTE Y TODOS SABEMOS QUE LA MADRE DE CRISTO FUE Y ES MARIA SMA. DE ESTO SE SACA UNA CONCLUSION CLARA Y EVIDENTE: SI CRISTO ES NUESTRA CABEZA Y MARIA SMA. DE ESTES LA MADRE NE LA CABEZA: CRISTO  . . . MARIA ES, TAMBIEN MADRE NUESTRA.  CON RAZON, ENTONCES, QUE LOS CRISTIANOS RECURRAMOS A MARIA, COMO RECURRIMOS A SU HIJO: JESUS.

TE HABIA EL OBISPO FRANCISCO GARMENDIA, DE LA ARQUIDIOCESIS DE NUEVA YORK.  ENTONCES, LOGICO QUE TODOS LOS DIAS RECURRAMOS A MARIA SMA. Y MUY ESPECIALMENTE EN LOS MESES DE MAYO Y OCTUBRE.

BUENOS DIAS MI QUERIDO RADIO-ESCUCHA – LAS APARICIONES DE LA VIRGEN EN FATIMA

The Passing of a Dear and Blessed Friend

A small group of close friends, gathered around the bedside of our dear friend Bishop Francisco Garmendia knowing it would not be long before he would leave us. What can you do or what can you say?  He had already passed into that area of what is often referred to as the “Vestibule of Heaven.”  It was sad. He had been ill for over 4 years. His memory would fail him at times but not his faith and deep love of Our Blessed Mother. The Rosary was his companion as it had been all his life. Each of us remembered him from other days. To all, he was a shepherd, pastor, teacher and friend.

Then an unexpected friend arrived. The beautiful worldwide traveling statue of Our Lady of Fatima which had come to Rosary Hill Chapel on the same day November 14th and was scheduled to leave in 4 hours. Before leaving however, She was brought down to visit Bishop. All knew of Bishop’s total devotion to our Lady, His Episcopal motto was “I am all Thine My Queen and My Mother and all that I have is Thine.” They knew each other well.

The statue was placed close to the bed and Our Lady looked down on him. She had on a beautiful jewel studded cape of white satin. The Dominican Sisters in their white habits accompanied Her and sang the beautiful “Salve Regina.” How could we be mournful, He was on the last lap of the journey and Our Lady came to tell us She would take care of him now, no need to worry.

On Tuesday, his condition remained somewhat the same however Sr. Helen Winters decided to stay with him throughout the night. Early on the 16th Sr. Kevin called to say that his breathing had changed and she did not expect him to last the day. When Tommy Terci and I arrived about 9:30 a.m. other friends were already there. Arlene Vega who moved to Panama last year was in Florida to attend a wedding the previous weekend and decided spontaneously to come to NY to visit him unaware of his critical condition He passed away quietly at 11:10 a.m. The entire Church was represented at his bedside. Sisters, Seminarians, priests and laity. All the Bishops were in Conference in Washington. Bishop Iriondo returned home immediately on hearing the news. Bishop’s sister, brother in law, nephew and 2 nieces arrived from Spain the following day.

The wake at St Thomas Aquinas was beautiful. There was such an outpouring of love displayed by his people as they came to him crying and carrying their Rosaries. He was their Monsenor and he had come home to them. The kitchen was in a flurry. All were welcome to come and eat. The Rosary was being prayed continually at the coffin. In the evening, the church was filled wall to wall at the Mass of the Eucharist. When it came time to close the church, close friends offered to stay the night and Fr. Nieto agreed.

On Tuesday, the Mass was held at St. Patrick’s. Cathedral and here again was a gift from Our Lady. Prior to the Mass, Bishop Iriondo spotted Mm. Ervita Granda, who works at Rosary Hill in the Housekeeping Department and asked her to read the Prayer of the Faithful in Spanish at the Mass. She was very close to Bishop. She was able to speak to him in Spanish and did so, oftentimes consoling him or at other times, he consoling her. Never could she have dreamed of speaking from the pulpit of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Bishop was laid to rest at Our Lady of Peace Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Valhalla, New York. We thank God for the privilege of knowing him and ask him to intercede for us who are still on the journey. He was and will always be our Shepherd, spiritual father, teacher and friend.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to have shared in a minute way the ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. We have watched their care of the dying, their hospitality to the families, their love for the Lord, the poor and the dying. All who enter the Home speak of the atmosphere of peace and love that pervades. It is a credit to their Foundress Rose Hawthorne, daughter of the noted author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Pray that they may receive many vocations.

~ Friends of Bishop Garmendia

Divine Mercy Conference Draws 2,000

This article from Catholic New York celebrates Bishop Garmendia’s 1998 Divine Mercy Conference.

Bishop Francisco Garmendia Ayestarán †

Bishop Francisco Garmendia

6  Nov 1924 –  Born Lazcano, Spain
29 Jun 1947 –  Ordained Priest Priest of Canons Regular of the Congregation of the Most Holy Saviour of the Lateran

Parish of St Thomas Aquinas: Date of Installation: November 26, 1976

Auxiliary Bishop of New York: Date of Installation: June 29, 1977

Vicar of the South Bronx: Date of Installation: January 1, 1986

30 Oct 2001 –  Retired Auxiliary Bishop of New York, New York, USA

16 Nov 2005 –  Died Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of New York, New York, USA

Parish Groups

a) Legion of Mary
“Aurora Naciente Praesidium” (1977) Adult
“Madre Del Resucitado” (1988) Adult
“Rosario Viviente Praesidium: (1988) Youth
b) Charismatics (Spanish) (1978)
c) Charismatics (English) (1978)
d) Neo-Chatecumenate (1988)
e) Alcoholics Anonymous (1988)
f) Narcotics Anonymous (1989)
g) Association of the Families of Drug Addicts (1990)
h) Children of Mary (1967)
i) People for Change (1986)
j) Spanish Choir (1980)
k) Hope Line (1989)
l) Youth Group (1980)
m) Charismatics (Children’s Group) (1988)

***

Parish Activities – Ministries
a) Parish Council (1989)
b) Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (1985)
c) Lectors (1985)
d) Ushers (1977)
e) Baptismal Instructions (1987)
f) Finance Committee (1988)
g) Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (1987)
h) Perpetual Rosary (1987)
i) Confirmation Classes (1990)
j) R.C.I.A. Religious Instruction (Spanish) (1987)
k) R.C.I.A. Religious Instruction (Engish) (1987)
l) Religious Instriction for Every Classin the School of the Parish
m) Procession with the Blessed Sacrament thorugh the streets of the Parish
n) Procession with the Statue of the Blessed Virgin through the streets of the Parish
o) Housing
p) Pantry
q) Good Friday Procession