Deceased Friars

Eugene Seraphin, OFM

Eugene Seraphin

1898 – 1964

Fr. Eugene Seraphin, OFM, was born in New Britain, Conn., on Sept. 28, 1898. He entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., in 1912, and was received into the novitiate by Fr. Edward Blecke, OFM, on Aug. 6, 1917. He professed temporary vows Aug. 7, 1918, and made his profession of solemn vows Aug. 7, 1921. Fr. Eugene was ordained a priest in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo, N.Y., by Bishop William Turner on June 14, 1924.

From 1924 to 1929, he was a professor at St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and a member of the group who taught at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y. In 1930, he returned to St. Bonaventure and served at different times as professor, postmaster, prefect of the college and prep school, treasurer of the college and director of the Secular Franciscans.

In 1933, Fr. Eugene studied Semitic languages at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and then spent a year at the Biblical Institute in Jerusalem. He taught Hebrew and Biblical Greek in St. Stephen’s Friary in Croghan, N.Y., and cared for the missions in Belfort and Indian River. In 1949, he returned once again to St. Bonaventure, where he remained until 1955 when he became chaplain of St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He died in his sleep at St. Mary’s on May 20, 1964. He was 65 years old, a professed friar for 45 years and a few weeks short of celebrating his 40th anniversary as a priest.

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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Eugene Seraphin, OFM

Eugene Seraphin

1898 – 1964

Fr. Eugene Seraphin, OFM, was born in New Britain, Conn., on Sept. 28, 1898. He entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., in 1912, and was received into the novitiate by Fr. Edward Blecke, OFM, on Aug. 6, 1917. He professed temporary vows Aug. 7, 1918, and made his profession of solemn vows Aug. 7, 1921. Fr. Eugene was ordained a priest in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo, N.Y., by Bishop William Turner on June 14, 1924.

From 1924 to 1929, he was a professor at St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and a member of the group who taught at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y. In 1930, he returned to St. Bonaventure and served at different times as professor, postmaster, prefect of the college and prep school, treasurer of the college and director of the Secular Franciscans.

In 1933, Fr. Eugene studied Semitic languages at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and then spent a year at the Biblical Institute in Jerusalem. He taught Hebrew and Biblical Greek in St. Stephen’s Friary in Croghan, N.Y., and cared for the missions in Belfort and Indian River. In 1949, he returned once again to St. Bonaventure, where he remained until 1955 when he became chaplain of St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He died in his sleep at St. Mary’s on May 20, 1964. He was 65 years old, a professed friar for 45 years and a few weeks short of celebrating his 40th anniversary as a priest.