Deceased Friars

Denis McGuckin, OFM

Denis McGuckin

1918 – 1994

Fr. Denis McGuckin, OFM, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 1, 1918. After attending Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Philadelphia, he studied at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., from 1933 to 1939.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate in 1939 at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed temporary vows the following year. Fr. Denis made his profession of solemn vows in 1943 and, in 1945, was ordained a priest.

Fr. Denis was part of the first group of friars assigned to teach at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School in Buffalo, N.Y. While there, he also pursued his bachelor’s degree in library science at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. He went on to Columbia University, where he received his master’s in library science.

Fr. Denis served at St. Joseph Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., as a teacher and librarian. He was also appointed pastor of Lake Huntington and Pond Eddy. He served at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C., for 12 years and modernized the library for the theology students. He served as the provincial archivist and librarian during those years. Fr. Denis published many articles for the New Catholic Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religion.

In 1970, Fr. Denis was assigned to St. Anthony Shrine in Boston where he spent the next 24 years as a compassionate confessor. Many who felt rejected by society found great solace in the presence of Fr. Denis.

He suffered a stroke in Boston and asked to move to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where he died on Aug. 4, 1994. Fr. Denis was 76 years old, a professed friar for almost 54 years and a priest for 49 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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Denis McGuckin, OFM

Denis McGuckin

1918 – 1994

Fr. Denis McGuckin, OFM, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 1, 1918. After attending Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Philadelphia, he studied at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., from 1933 to 1939.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate in 1939 at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed temporary vows the following year. Fr. Denis made his profession of solemn vows in 1943 and, in 1945, was ordained a priest.

Fr. Denis was part of the first group of friars assigned to teach at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School in Buffalo, N.Y. While there, he also pursued his bachelor’s degree in library science at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. He went on to Columbia University, where he received his master’s in library science.

Fr. Denis served at St. Joseph Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., as a teacher and librarian. He was also appointed pastor of Lake Huntington and Pond Eddy. He served at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C., for 12 years and modernized the library for the theology students. He served as the provincial archivist and librarian during those years. Fr. Denis published many articles for the New Catholic Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religion.

In 1970, Fr. Denis was assigned to St. Anthony Shrine in Boston where he spent the next 24 years as a compassionate confessor. Many who felt rejected by society found great solace in the presence of Fr. Denis.

He suffered a stroke in Boston and asked to move to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where he died on Aug. 4, 1994. Fr. Denis was 76 years old, a professed friar for almost 54 years and a priest for 49 years.