Christopher Coyne, OFM

1912 – 1969

Fr. Christopher Coyne, OFM, was born in New York City on Feb. 2, 1912. After high school, he attended Manhattan College and was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J. in 1938.

The following year, he professed temporary vows and made his profession of solemn vows in 1942. That same year, Fr. Christopher was ordained a priest at St. Bonaventure Friary in Allegany, N.Y., on the feast of St. Francis.

From 1943 to 1945, Fr. Chris was a lector at St. Bonaventure College in Allegany and served as spiritual director. He pursued advanced studies at the University of Pennsylvania and then resumed teaching at St. Bonaventure from 1946 to 1949.

After one year at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., Fr. Chris joined the Province’s mission band, and he spent 14 years preaching the Word of God. In 1964, he was appointed guardian of St. Bonaventure Friary in Allegany and remained there until 1967, when he returned to work with the mission band in the Bronx.

Fr. Chris served Holy Name Province as a mission band preacher of the Word, a teacher and guardian for 27 years. He died Oct. 3, 1969, in his room at Holy Cross Friary in the Bronx. He was 57 years old, a professed friar for 30 years and a priest for 27 years.