Giles Lawlor, OFM

1899 – 1949

Fr. Giles Lawlor, OFM, was born in Waterbury, Conn., on May 11, 1899. He attended St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y., and entered the Province’s novitiate Jan. 14, 1922, at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J.

He professed temporary vows Jan. 15, 1923, and made his profession of solemn vows Jan. 15, 1926. Fr. Giles was ordained a priest in Buffalo, N.Y., May 25, 1929.

His entire priestly life was spent in the parish ministries of Holy Name Province. He served at St. Stephen in Croghan, N.Y., St. Joseph in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and St. Francis of Assisi in Mahattan until 1932 when he went to Paterson to care for the parish in Little Falls, N.J.

He was pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels in Little Falls from 1932 until 1948. He initiated devotion to “Our Lady of the Highways” and built a shrine in her honor. In 1948, he went to Winston-Salem, N.C., but illness forced him to return to New York for medical care.

He died in the Paterson friary on July 26, 1949. Fr. Giles was 50 years old, a professed friar for 26 years and a priest for 20 years.