Deceased Friars

Bonaventure A Brown, OFM

Bonaventure A. Brown

1912 – 1996

Fr. Bonaventure Brown, OFM, was born on Sept. 1, 1912 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was received into the Order at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934, professing temporary vows one year later. Fr. Bonaventure made his solemn profession in 1938 and was ordained in 1941. Before ordination, he attended Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, St. Bonaventure University, and The Catholic University of America, where he earned a doctorate in moral theology.

From 1948 to 1951, Fr. Bonaventure served as vice-rector of Christ the King Seminary, Allegany, N.Y. He ministered in Brazil for four years before spending four years at St. Patrick’s Friary in Buffalo, N.Y. For the next 12 years, he served as campus minister at the University of South Carolina in Columbus. Further assignments took him to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Clarksville, Va., and Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Longley, S.C., and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Camden, N.J., where he served as pastor. He retired to St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1990 and transferred to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J., in 1994.

He died there on Dec. 28, 1996. Fr. Bonaventure was 84 years old, a professed friar for 61 years and a priest for 55 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Bonaventure A Brown, OFM

Bonaventure A. Brown

1912 – 1996

Fr. Bonaventure Brown, OFM, was born on Sept. 1, 1912 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was received into the Order at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934, professing temporary vows one year later. Fr. Bonaventure made his solemn profession in 1938 and was ordained in 1941. Before ordination, he attended Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, St. Bonaventure University, and The Catholic University of America, where he earned a doctorate in moral theology.

From 1948 to 1951, Fr. Bonaventure served as vice-rector of Christ the King Seminary, Allegany, N.Y. He ministered in Brazil for four years before spending four years at St. Patrick’s Friary in Buffalo, N.Y. For the next 12 years, he served as campus minister at the University of South Carolina in Columbus. Further assignments took him to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Clarksville, Va., and Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Longley, S.C., and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Camden, N.J., where he served as pastor. He retired to St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1990 and transferred to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J., in 1994.

He died there on Dec. 28, 1996. Fr. Bonaventure was 84 years old, a professed friar for 61 years and a priest for 55 years.