Deceased Friars

Godfrey Doyle, OFM

Godfrey Doyle

1885 – 1958

Fr. Godfrey Doyle, OFM, was born in Dublin, Ireland, on Jan. 15, 1885. He attended St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and on Aug. 20, 1910, he entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. He professed temporary vows Aug. 21, 1911, and made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 1, 1914. Fr. Godfrey was ordained a priest at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson on June 30, 1917.

His first assignment was to St. Elizabeth’s Church in Denver, where he worked for 11 years. In 1928, he was sent to St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo, N.Y., where he ministered for three years, and then to St. Anthony’s Church in Butler, N.J., where he was in charge of St. Joseph Church in Lincoln Park, N.J.

From 1934 to 1936, he was assistant pastor at St. Joseph Church in Winsted, Conn. When the Provincial Council could not find a pastor for St. Mary’s in Obernburg, N.Y., the Visitator General remarked: “There’s a friar in Winsted making picture frames. He ought to be available.”

Fr. Godfrey was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s and served the people with kindness, wisdom and joviality until illness forced him to resign. He became chaplain at Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo, and served there from 1943 until 1957.

He died in St. Francis Hospital, Miami Beach, Fla., on June 8, 1958. Fr, Godfrey was 73 years old, a professed friar for 46 years and a priest for nearly 41 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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Godfrey Doyle, OFM

Godfrey Doyle

1885 – 1958

Fr. Godfrey Doyle, OFM, was born in Dublin, Ireland, on Jan. 15, 1885. He attended St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and on Aug. 20, 1910, he entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. He professed temporary vows Aug. 21, 1911, and made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 1, 1914. Fr. Godfrey was ordained a priest at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson on June 30, 1917.

His first assignment was to St. Elizabeth’s Church in Denver, where he worked for 11 years. In 1928, he was sent to St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo, N.Y., where he ministered for three years, and then to St. Anthony’s Church in Butler, N.J., where he was in charge of St. Joseph Church in Lincoln Park, N.J.

From 1934 to 1936, he was assistant pastor at St. Joseph Church in Winsted, Conn. When the Provincial Council could not find a pastor for St. Mary’s in Obernburg, N.Y., the Visitator General remarked: “There’s a friar in Winsted making picture frames. He ought to be available.”

Fr. Godfrey was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s and served the people with kindness, wisdom and joviality until illness forced him to resign. He became chaplain at Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo, and served there from 1943 until 1957.

He died in St. Francis Hospital, Miami Beach, Fla., on June 8, 1958. Fr, Godfrey was 73 years old, a professed friar for 46 years and a priest for nearly 41 years.