Deceased Friars

Honorius Corbett, OFM

Honorius Corbett

1915 – 1964

Fr. Honorius Corbett, OFM, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 10, 1915. He graduated from the St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.

He entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1938, professing temporary vows the following year. In 1942, Fr. Honorius made his profession of solemn vows. He was ordained a priest in 1944 at the Franciscan Monastery, Washington, D.C.

After ordination, Fr. Honorius was assigned to the friary in Paterson, where he directed the Catholic Veterans Vocational Guidance Bureau. From 1946 to 1950, he served as procurator for the friary, and in 1950 he founded the Institutional Supply Service, an organization set up to make quantity purchases for the entire Province at lower than retail prices.

In 1956, Fr. Honorius moved to St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo for two years, before serving at St. Anne’s Parish in Fair Lawn, N.J. He was appointed praeses and pastor of Holy Name Church in Garfield, N.J., in 1961, and was just beginning his second term when he died.

Fr. Honorius died Nov. 3, 1964, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, N.J. He was 49 years old, a professed friar for 25 years and a priest for 20 years.

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

Honorius Corbett, OFM

Honorius Corbett

1915 – 1964

Fr. Honorius Corbett, OFM, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 10, 1915. He graduated from the St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.

He entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1938, professing temporary vows the following year. In 1942, Fr. Honorius made his profession of solemn vows. He was ordained a priest in 1944 at the Franciscan Monastery, Washington, D.C.

After ordination, Fr. Honorius was assigned to the friary in Paterson, where he directed the Catholic Veterans Vocational Guidance Bureau. From 1946 to 1950, he served as procurator for the friary, and in 1950 he founded the Institutional Supply Service, an organization set up to make quantity purchases for the entire Province at lower than retail prices.

In 1956, Fr. Honorius moved to St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo for two years, before serving at St. Anne’s Parish in Fair Lawn, N.J. He was appointed praeses and pastor of Holy Name Church in Garfield, N.J., in 1961, and was just beginning his second term when he died.

Fr. Honorius died Nov. 3, 1964, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, N.J. He was 49 years old, a professed friar for 25 years and a priest for 20 years.