{"content":[{"text":"and to the Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference, denounced the atrocities of the Somoza army and \n the extra judicial killings of 100s of campesinos in the vast Siuna parish. He was still in the \n Segovias during the anti-Sandinista contra revolution.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.045402,"width":0.7548349999999999,"height":0.055917999999999995}},{"text":"The last half of his mission life, Bernie was transferred to our Capuchin House in Managua \n (capitol of Nicaragua) to serve in various elective positions. Some years after his transfer, I had \n occasion to visit many of the towns where Bernie had served, for workshops for their lay \n ministers. When I’d asked people about their memories of Padre Bernardo, I was surprised how \n often they’d reply: “Ah sí, Padre Bernardo, el beisbolero”. Bernie was remembered as the padre \n who played baseball on the local teams. He was especially famous for the longest home run in \n memory. A clipping from the local newspaper preserves the story : – It was a Sunday game \n against a town called Somoto. By the time Bernie got there after finishing his Sunday \n commitments, it was already the fifth inning. When Bernie, still in his clergy shirt, stepped up to \n bat, it looked like the pitcher wanted to walk him ... The count was 3 balls and no strikes... The \n crowd went wild, shouting: “Pitch to him!!! Pitch to him!!! Don’t let his size scare you!!!” Ok, so the \n pitcher wound up and threw his hardest fast ball. Bernie swung his big, locally made bat, and ... \n POW ... connected. The ball arched high over the left field and dropped into the river beyond. – \n In 2013, Bernie’s former manager was quoted as saying it was the longest home run in the \n history of that stadium.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.12025,"width":0.76051,"height":0.28046400000000005}},{"text":"Bernie was elected first as provincial representative of the Segovia region, then as religious \n superior of all of Nicaragua, and then to the vice provincial council for all of Central America. \n Well liked for his calm, common sense wisdom and charity, he was constantly re-elected.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.419644,"width":0.7397309999999999,"height":0.05591799999999997}},{"text":"At that time, our Managua house was like the Grand Central Station for the friars, not only of \n Nicaragua but for all of Central America, with friars and students in transit to and from the five \n countries of the Vice Province. Almost daily, Bernie and friar Joe Smetana, made early morning \n trips to the airport and to the various bus stations. I’d guess the house averaged 6 - 8 overnight \n guests per day, peaking at 30-40 guests when there were friar reunions in the area... all of whom \n had to be lodged and fed. Under the Sandinista government of the time, run away inflation \n caused the local currency (the cordoba ) to devalue to the point where it was worthless paper. \n As a result, stores were empty, just about everything was scarce. So Bernie and Joe had to be \n constantly searching to find the essentials to cover the needs of their many guests. It was like a \n mad house for them, but an oasis of peace and hospitality for us. Bernie was always available.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.494493,"width":0.761117,"height":0.18682700000000002}},{"text":"After Managua, Bernie volunteered to accompany Hugh Heinzen (suffering from terminal \n cancer) in Waspam and replace him as pastor when Hugh died (1992). For Bernie, it meant \n learning the Miskito language. In 1993, he moved to Puerto Cabezas to administer that tri- \n lingual parish.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.70025,"width":0.71611,"height":0.07470599999999994}},{"text":"After 39 years in the Nicaragua missions, Bernie returned to the US for health reasons on July 1, \n 2008. After eight months at Mt. Calvary, Bernie retired to St. Fidelis Friary in Appleton. At first \n Bernie was able to take help-outs, driving a car specially rigged up with hand brakes and clutch \n on the steering wheel. But soon he was limited to a walker and wheel chair. Faithful to \n community services, he took his turn as presider at Mass from his wheel chair.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.793886,"width":0.75701,"height":0.09334300000000006}},{"text":"Bernie was a lifelong sports fan. Going progressively deaf , his recreation was the games on TV \n and the sports page. An avid reader, Bernie was especially alert for discrimination against","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.906159,"width":0.7513209999999999,"height":0.037130999999999914}}],"images_bbox":[],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[]}