Deceased Friars

Gordian Ehrlacher, OFM

Gordian Ehrlacher

1907 – 1987

Fr. Gordian Ehrlacher, OFM, was born Feb. 25, 1907 in Allentown, Pa. He attended St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J. in 1926. He professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1930 and was ordained in 1933.

From 1934 to 1941, he served as a missionary in Hosueh near Shasi, China, where he covered 10 mission stations and built a school for boys. When World War II began, he became a U.S. Navy Chaplain and served in the South Pacific. After the war, he returned to China, where he remained there until 1949, when the friars were expelled by the Communists. He served six more years in the U.S. Navy.

Fr. Gordian did pastoral ministry in the services churches of Boston and Providence, R.I., from 1956 to 1959. He then went south to serve as a chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and later at Cor Jesus Home in Tampa.

He died Jan. 30, 1987 at St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg, Fla. Fr. Gordian was 79 years old, a professed friar for 59 years and a priest for 53 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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Gordian Ehrlacher, OFM

Gordian Ehrlacher

1907 – 1987

Fr. Gordian Ehrlacher, OFM, was born Feb. 25, 1907 in Allentown, Pa. He attended St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J. in 1926. He professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1930 and was ordained in 1933.

From 1934 to 1941, he served as a missionary in Hosueh near Shasi, China, where he covered 10 mission stations and built a school for boys. When World War II began, he became a U.S. Navy Chaplain and served in the South Pacific. After the war, he returned to China, where he remained there until 1949, when the friars were expelled by the Communists. He served six more years in the U.S. Navy.

Fr. Gordian did pastoral ministry in the services churches of Boston and Providence, R.I., from 1956 to 1959. He then went south to serve as a chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and later at Cor Jesus Home in Tampa.

He died Jan. 30, 1987 at St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg, Fla. Fr. Gordian was 79 years old, a professed friar for 59 years and a priest for 53 years.