Father Charles Countie, O.Carm.

By Joseph Kerzich

The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Charles Joseph Countie, O.Carm. Father Countie died at the age of 74 on December 29, 2008, at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts. Visitation for Father Countie was held January 2, 2009, at Our Lady of the Scapular Carmelite Priory, Peabody, Massachusetts. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, January 3rd, at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery, Danvers, Massachusetts. Burial immediately followed at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Peabody.

Father Countie was born to (the late) Francis I. Countie and (the late) Marion P. (Powers) Countie on Jan 25, 1934, in Peabody, Massachusetts. The Countie family later lived in nearby Salem.

Charles Countie attended grade school at Saint John Parish, where he and fellow students were visited by Father Humphrey Connors, O.Carm., vocation director for the Carmelite province. Father Countie also was a student at the now-closed Sacred Heart Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, before attending high school at Saint Mary High School, Lynn, Massachusetts.

Through his interaction with Father Connors and other Carmelties, Charles Countie entered the Carmelite Junior Seminary located in Hamilton, Massachusetts, in 1947. Though his year at Hamilton was foundational, Countie would not continue pursuing the Carmelites until 1952 when he was a pre-novice at the Carmelite’s Infant of Prague Villa, Akron, Ohio. There he began religious formation to become a brother.

One year later Countie entered the Novitiate program in Akron; then, exactly twenty years to the day of his own baptism, on February 11, 1954, Countie professed simple vows to the Order’s Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, taking the religious name “Gregory.”

Following his profession, he continued studies at Saint John’s Parish, New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. On February 11, 1957, Brother Gregory, made his solemn profession to the Order of Carmelites at Hamilton, Massachusetts.

In his first assignment as a brother, Countie was assigned to Mount Carmel High School, Chicago, Illinois. There he simultaneously served on the high school staff while also becoming an active member of the Carmelite Community of Saint Cyril.

Relocating to Peru in 1965 Brother Gregory would minister to parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Miraflores, Lima, while simultaneously teaching English at the parish’s high school and working at the local Catholic Relief Center. In 1967, Brother Gregory earned a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Facultad de Santo Toribio, a seminary program in Lima, Peru.

After developing ministry skills through interaction with families and students, Brother Gregory returned to the United States in 1974 to enroll in continuing education at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts.

By this time, Countie would make the decision to focus on theological studies, transferring to Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, in preparation for priesthood. On May 6, 1978 in Danvers, Massachusetts, Charles Countie was ordained a priest. In the decades to come Father Charles would see many opportunies to develop his ministry to God’s faithful. He began with a one year assignment at Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson, Arizona, where he served as chaplain to the student body.

Between 1975 and 1981 Father Charles Countie assisted the Province’s vocational efforts. During this time he was transferred to Saint Gertrude Parish in Stockton, California, where he became the associate pastor.

In 1981 Father Countie continued his mission service working in Miraflores, Lima, Peru, where he resumed his previous pastoral and teaching ministries. Father Charles would later remark that he believed that his years in Carmelite’s Peruvian missions were his most fruitful.

Pastoral ministry would remain Father Countie’s area of focus for years to come, serving as Associate Pastor in several Carmelite parishes. These communities included: Saint Anastasia Parish, Teaneck, New Jersey, 1983 to 1984; Saint Therese Parish, Cresskill, New Jersey, 1984 to 1986; Saint Cecelia Parish, Louisville, Kentucky, 1986 to 1989 and Saint Gertrude Parish in Stockton, California, in 1989.

After one year as Associate Pastor in Stockton, Father Charles Countie was appointed pastor of Saint Gertrude Parish. Father Countie would remain pastor until 1999 when he returned to Massachusetts to serve at Our Lady of the Scapular Priory, in Peabody. There he staffed the Carmelite’s Chapel of Saint Therese, at the Northshore Shopping Center.

At the start of the new millennium, Father Countie aided the formation staff at Casa del Carmen, a Carmelite pre-novitiate house, located in the Tlalpan neighborhood of Mexico City, Mexico. After two years, Father Countie returned to the United States and became associate pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Joliet, Illinois. In January of 2004, he began his retirement at Our Lady of the Scapular Priory, in Peabody, Massachusetts. It was there that Father Charles Countie would remain with fellow Carmelites, active in the lives of friends, family and neighbors until his death.

Father Roy Ontiveros, O.Carm.

By Sal Lema

The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Roy Ontiveros, O.Carm., who died at the age of 76 on January 2, 2009, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory in Tu c s on, Arizona. Visitation for Father Ontiveros was held January 4, 2009, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory, Tucson, with a Mass following. A memorial Mass was also held at Saint Agnes Parish in Phoenix on January 7th. Father Roy returned to his home state of Illinois, where visitation was held January 7th, at the National Shrine of Saint Therese in Darien, Illinois. A Mass of Christian Burial followed the visitation. Burial took place January 8th at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Chicago.

Father Ontiveros was born to (the late) Raymond Ontiveros and (the late) Louise (Diaz) Ontiveros on January 29, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois. His given name at Baptism was Albert. Albert Ontiveros attended Orville T . Bright Grade School in Chicago, Illinois. He then attended Mount Carmel High School, Chicago. After one year Albert entered Mount Carmel Preparatory Seminary, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, where he completed his remaining years of high school as well as his first college year.

On August 30, 1950, Albert professed simple vows to the Carmelites in the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, taking the religious name “Roy.” One year later Ontiveros entered the Novitiate program in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. Although he had first started on a priestly track, the brotherhood strongly attracted him. His culture (Mexican-American) taught him the value of service for others— so becoming a brother seemed more natural. Brother Roy would spend the next twenty-five years in service as a Carmelite Brother.

In 1951 Brother Roy began his ministry serving as a cook and working in farming in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. On September 15, 1953, Brother Roy made his solemn profession to the Order of Carmelites in Akron, Ohio. After his profession, he returned to New Baltimore, to continue his ministry. After six years, he moved to Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario. There Roy continued working in farming, maintenance, custodial and clerical duties.

In 1965, Brother Ontiveros was sent to Carmel High School in Mundelein, Illinois, where he served as athletic director for the next four years. During this time Roy again felt the call to priesthood. Realizing that more was required of him, he began taking studies from De Paul University in Chicago.

In 1970, Brother Roy moved to Carmel Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There he would spend the next two years at Marquette University where in 1972 he received his bachelor’s degree is Spanish language. He then returned to Carmel High School, Mundelein, to teach Spanish; a position he held for the next three years.

In 1975 Brother Roy moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he served as Spanish teacher for one year. He then returned to Carmel Hall in Milwaukee, where he entered school as a student at the Sacred Heart School of Theology. He was ordained a deacon on May 21, 1978. In June of that year he began his diaconate internship at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Joliet, Illinois.

Roy Ontiveros was ordained a Carmelite priest on October 6, 1978, at Saint Mary’s Carmelite Church in Joliet, Illinois. Father Roy began his priestly ministry as parochial vicar of Saint Joseph Parish in Bogota, New Jersey. After four years there he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he became pastor of Saint Agnes. He served at Saint Agnes for nine years. In 1990 Father Roy moved from Arizona, to North Hollywood, California, where he became pastor of Saint Jane Francis de Chantal Parish. He served the community at Saint Jane’s for the next three years.

In 1993, Father Roy moved to Houston, Texas, where he became formation director at Casa Santa Teresita. After three years he moved literally across the street, and became pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. He served as pastor for three years.

In 1999, Father Roy returned to his native land of Illinois. Serving in Darien, Father Ontiveros became the director of Carmelite Carefree Village, a Carmelite owned retirement community. “My Provincial told me that I was the man for the job, and I knew it was time to do something else,” smiled Father Roy, during his introduction when taking the helm at Carefree Village. “I was apprehensive at first, being with all older people, but I loved it,” he said. Father Roy had a sense that his presence as a Carmelite and a Priest meant a lot to them.

In 2002 Father Roy had the thought of retirement and moved to Florida for a time. Having second thoughts he returned to active duty and to Illinois, assisting at Saint Matthew’s parish in Glendale Heights, until early 2003. Receiving a call from Very Reverend John Russell, the Prior Provincial at the time, Father Roy was requested to go to New Jersey, and assist at Saint John’s Parish in Leonia. Father Roy served at Saint John’s for one year before moving to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception/Saint Joseph parish. In 2005, Father Roy again answered the request of his Provincial and moved back to Saint John’s parish in New Jersey. This time it was to become the administrator of the parish until his retirement in July of 2008.

He remained retired at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory in Tucson, Arizona, until his death.

May he rest in peace.

Father Timothy Charles Donohue, O.Carm.

Father Timothy Charles Donohue, O.Carm., a member of the Order of Carmelites of the North American Province of Saint Elias, died Friday, February 6, 2009, after a brief illness. He was 84 years old.

Visitation and an evening prayer service for Father Donohue took place, February 8, 2009, at the Saint Albert’s Chapel at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middletown, New York.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on February 9, 2009. Very Reverend Michael Kissane, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Province of Saint Elias officiated. Burial followed at Carmelite Cemetery in Middletown, New York. Timothy was born in New York City on December 13, 1925, to Peter and Helen Masterson Donohue. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Reverend Francis Donohue and his sister, Mary Donohue Condron.

Timothy received his habit in the Order of Carmelites, North American Province of Saint Elias in September 1947, when he entered the Carmelite Novitiate in Auburn, New York. At the conclusion of his Novitiate year he professed First Vows of obedience, poverty and chastity on September 8, 1948. He professed his Solemn Vows on September 8, 1951, in Washington, DC, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 1951, at Our Lady of the Scapular/Saint Stephen’s in Manhattan, New York.

He graduated from Fordham University with a Masters Degree in Mathematics and Science. Father Timothy was a teacher of Math and Science at Saint Albert’s Seminary in Middletown, New York from 1951-1964. He also taught Math and Science at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Auburn, New York, from 1964-1970. After 1970 Father Timothy lived at the Carmelite residence in Scarborough, New York, and taught at Our Lady of Victory Academy in Dobbs Ferry, New York. He also assisted in various parishes including Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne, New York. Following his retirement Father Timothy moved to Saint Albert’s Priory in Middletown, New York, in 2007.

A dedicated and hard-working Carmelite, Father Timothy Charles Donohue was a professed member of the Carmelite Order for 61 years and a priest for 58 years. He will be greatly missed.

Remembering Father Charlie.

By Father John MacInnis, Pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, Peabody, Massachusetts

When I came to Saint John’s I discovered that our parish was both a giver and a receiver of priests. Over the years, many priests came from the pews of our church to serve in various parts of the world. But priests also came to serve within our parish boundaries at the Carmelite chapel at the Mall. In the person of Father Charles Countie, O Carm, our parish was twice blessed: first, to claim as one of our native sons, and then, to welcome him back as a priest at the Carmelite chapel. I want to dedicate my thoughts this week to “Father Charlie” as many of us knew him because the Lord called him home and he was buried from the Carmelite monastery in Danvers on January 3rd. In the congregation at his funeral were many familiar faces from our community so I know Father Charlie was not a stranger to the people of Saint John the Baptist Parish.

The Carmelite Provincial who presided at Father Charlie’s funeral described him as “ebullient” and that word captures both his personality and the way he approached his ministry. He was outgoing and always had his hand out to greet a friend or a stranger. I cannot tell you how many times I found him in our church sacristy, showing up for Mass because of any one of his many connections to us! As chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, Leo Council, he would concelebrate at funerals of Knights who had died. He was especially known and loved by many in our Hispanic community. His love for the Latino Church goes back to his missionary days in Peru. When I learned that Father Charlie was not only fluent in Spanish but had great affection for Hispanic people, I got on the phone and invited him to come and help us in our ministry, especially at the 11:30 Mass. Over the years when we did not have a Hispanic priest, Father Charlie, along with Father Herb Jones, the local prior of the Carmelites, nurtured the faith and devotion of our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters. Father Charlie helped me improve my Spanish by arranging a place to live and a place to study for a few weeks in Mexico City while he was living there and I was visiting as part of our parish pilgrimage. Always the perfect host, he welcomed me on several occasions to the Carmelite house of formation in Mexico City and introduced me to some wonderful people.

Father Countie loved a faith-filled liturgy and a good time, especially with food! He would show up here faithfully at Saint John’s every December for the fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His effervescent presence at mass and in the gym reflected two of his outstanding gifts: his priestly and Carmelite devotion to Mary, and his joy in being with people. As I realized from talking with our parishioners, Father Charlie’s presence and ministry spilled over from the mall chapel into many parishes and into a rich and fruitful prison ministry which he undertook. At his wake I was touched by the story of a young Jewish man whom Father Charlie met in prison. Father Charlie had helped this man get closer to God by learning more about his Jewish teachings. He came to the wake to pay his respects to this man of God with tears.

I am sure that the people in our parish who knew Father Charlie in any of his many ministries could add so much more to these few words of tribute. As pastor of Saint John’s, I am deeply grateful to Father Charlie and to the Carmelites for the way he shared his priesthood with us and countless others. May the Lord give him peace in His presence and may God comfort his family, his Carmelite brothers and sisters, and everyone whose life was enriched by this remarkable priest.