Father John Brenkle, a popular Catholic priest and activist who advocated on behalf of Latino farmworkers and the poor, died Tuesday night at the age of 94.
Brenkle died in a hospital, according to Gladys DeHaro, office manager at the St. Helena Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at the St. Helena Catholic Church.
Brenkle presided over the St. Helena Catholic Church for 30 years, from 1983 to 2013. He became known for his engaging sermons, mischievous sense of humor, leadership and passionate advocacy.
“You can talk about the commandments or you can live the gospel,” said Julie Garvey, a longtime parishioner and friend. “Feeding the hungry, providing housing for the homeless — he did these things not asking for fanfare but because it was the right thing to do.”
Read the full article here: https://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/john-brenkle-st-helena-catholic-church-priest-farmworkers-housing/article_a49eeac5-1815-4b99-9f53-dfa20b8ec86c.html
