Deceased Friars

Firmin Feltz, OFM

Firmin Feltz

1908 – 1945

Fr. Firmin Feltz, OFM, was born Nov. 2, 1908 in Penfield, N.Y. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1928 and professed temporary vows one year later. Fr. Firmin made his solemn profession in 1932 and was ordained in 1934.

He studied canon law at St. Anthony’s Pontifical University in Rome before going to China as a missionary in 1939. Fr. Firmin’s brother, Fr. Gratian Feltz, OFM, was also a missionary in China during those years. He lived and worked there for six years amidst great turmoil and war. Fr. Firmin’s first assignment was to be a parochial assistant to his brother in Sha Tao Kuan, and later he served as spiritual director for the seminarians. While hiding in the mountains in Luan Shui Kai during the Japanese invasions, the brothers parted, not knowing they would never meet again.

He died on April 5, 1945 in Charity Hospital, Chungking, Province of Szechwan in China. Fr. Firmin was 36 years old, a professed friar for 15 years and a priest for 10 years. He is buried next to Fr. Leo Ferrary, OFM, in Chungking.

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

Main Content

Firmin Feltz, OFM

Firmin Feltz

1908 – 1945

Fr. Firmin Feltz, OFM, was born Nov. 2, 1908 in Penfield, N.Y. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1928 and professed temporary vows one year later. Fr. Firmin made his solemn profession in 1932 and was ordained in 1934.

He studied canon law at St. Anthony’s Pontifical University in Rome before going to China as a missionary in 1939. Fr. Firmin’s brother, Fr. Gratian Feltz, OFM, was also a missionary in China during those years. He lived and worked there for six years amidst great turmoil and war. Fr. Firmin’s first assignment was to be a parochial assistant to his brother in Sha Tao Kuan, and later he served as spiritual director for the seminarians. While hiding in the mountains in Luan Shui Kai during the Japanese invasions, the brothers parted, not knowing they would never meet again.

He died on April 5, 1945 in Charity Hospital, Chungking, Province of Szechwan in China. Fr. Firmin was 36 years old, a professed friar for 15 years and a priest for 10 years. He is buried next to Fr. Leo Ferrary, OFM, in Chungking.