Deceased Friars
Amadeus Schiffhauer, OFM

1906 – 1971
Br. Amadeus Schiffhaur, OFM, was born in Melpert, Germany, on Dec. 30, 1906. He entered the novitiate in Fulda on May 1, 1929, professed temporary vows May 7, 1930. He came to the United States soon afterward professing his first vows and made his profession of solemn vows May 17, 1933.
Except for a year and a half at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and six months at St. Stephen’s Friary in Croghan, N.Y., all of Br. Amadeus’s days as a friar in the United States were spent at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J.
Br. Amadeus was a quiet, hardworking friar whose devotion to work and prayer was a part of his everyday life in the community. During his first years in Paterson, he served as infirmarian and shoemaker. The last 17 years of his life, he worked as the cook in the Paterson friary.
On the day before he died, Br. Amadeus had prepared a luncheon for 140 Secular Franciscans, and then cooked the evening meal for the friars. He retired to his room and died in his sleep on June 14, 1971. He was 64 years old and a professed friar for 41 years.