Deceased Friars


Brendan J. Bradley, OFM

Brendan J. Bradley

1914 – 1982

Fr. Brendan Bradley, OFM, was born in Paterson, N.J., on Dec. 21, 1914. He attended St. Bonaventure Grammar School and High School, and then entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson on Aug. 12, 1936, and professed temporary vows Aug. 16, 1937. Fr. Brendan made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1940, and was ordained a priest May 28, 1942, in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Brendan spread joy wherever he went. His first assignment was to St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., for a year and then to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City for two years. Fr. Brendan volunteered for mission work in Brazil where he worked for three years.

Upon returning to the United States, he went to Americus, Ga., for a year, and then served as a navy chaplain for five years during the Korean conflict. After leaving the navy, Fr. Brendan spent his remaining years in service church ministry: 10 years at St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I., six of them as guardian; and 15 years at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston.

Extroverted and outgoing, Fr. Brendan was a warm and friendly friar who ministered in the confessional and the parlor with understanding and empathy. He died in Deaconess Hospital in Boston on June 10, 1982. He was 67 years old, a professed friar for 44 years and a priest for 40 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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Brendan J. Bradley, OFM

Brendan J. Bradley

1914 – 1982

Fr. Brendan Bradley, OFM, was born in Paterson, N.J., on Dec. 21, 1914. He attended St. Bonaventure Grammar School and High School, and then entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson on Aug. 12, 1936, and professed temporary vows Aug. 16, 1937. Fr. Brendan made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1940, and was ordained a priest May 28, 1942, in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Brendan spread joy wherever he went. His first assignment was to St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., for a year and then to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City for two years. Fr. Brendan volunteered for mission work in Brazil where he worked for three years.

Upon returning to the United States, he went to Americus, Ga., for a year, and then served as a navy chaplain for five years during the Korean conflict. After leaving the navy, Fr. Brendan spent his remaining years in service church ministry: 10 years at St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I., six of them as guardian; and 15 years at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston.

Extroverted and outgoing, Fr. Brendan was a warm and friendly friar who ministered in the confessional and the parlor with understanding and empathy. He died in Deaconess Hospital in Boston on June 10, 1982. He was 67 years old, a professed friar for 44 years and a priest for 40 years.