Ambrose Greelis, OFM

1876 – 1936

Fr. Ambrose Greelis, OFM, was born on March 11, 1876 in Louisburg, County Mayo, Ireland. His family came to the United States when he was six years old and settled in Clinton, Mass. He graduated from St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and entered the novitiate there in 1896, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1900 and was ordained a priest in 1901.

His first assignment was to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City. Fr. Ambrose then taught philosophy at St. Bonaventure College until 1904, when he was assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Winsted, Conn. For 15 years, he served as an assistant, and then transferred to St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany, where he became pastor. In 1922, he succeeded Fr. Vincent Kelly, OFM, as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in the small New England village where he had spent most of his life. Toward the end of his life, he was available to the Hartford, Conn., clergy as an understanding confessor.

He died on Dec. 5, 1936 in Hartford. Fr. Ambrose was 60 years old, a professed friar for 39 years and a priest for almost 35 years.