Arthur Brophy, OFM

1895 – 1962

Fr. Arthur Brophy, OFM, was born on Feb. 16, 1895 in Paterson, N.J. He was baptized in St. Bonaventure Church by the friars, and attended the parish grammar school. He entered St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., with three of his classmates — Fr. Finbar Carroll, OFM, Fr. Leo Ferrary, and Fr. Daniel Ostler, OFM. They were received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed their temporary vows one year later. Fr. Arthur made his solemn profession in 1918 and was ordained in 1921.

Following his ordination, Fr. Arthur taught at the seminary in Callicoon for three years while caring for the mission church in nearby Hankins. In 1924, he was transferred to St. Stephen Friary in Croghan, N.Y., where he taught for one year before being assigned as a teacher to St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y.

In 1931, he began higher studies at Catholic University in Washington, but ill health forced him to discontinue. After two years in East Rutherford, N.J., where he was responsible for the mission church in Wood-Ridge, N.J., he resumed teaching at St. Bonaventure College.

Fr. Arthur became a chaplain in the U.S. Army in 1943, and served in both the European and Asian theaters of war. After one year in Japan, he was discharged in 1946, and returned to teach at St. Bonaventure’s. Later that year, he was appointed guardian of St. Joseph Friary in East Rutherford, and in 1949, was sent to St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., to teach philosophy in the clericate. He retired to the friary in Paterson.

He died on Nov. 8, 1962 at St. Joseph Hospital in Paterson. Fr. Arthur was 67 years old, a professed friar for 47 years, and a priest for 41 years.