Deceased Friars

Kilian Lynch, OFM

Kilian Lynch

1916 – 1965

Fr. Kilian Lynch, OFM, was born in County Kells, Meath, Ireland, on Nov. 25, 1916. He came to the United States in 1935 as a collegian to study at St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y., and as a student he did construction work on the Friedsam Memorial Library there.

He entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., on Aug. 12, 1939, and professed temporary vows Aug. 13, 1940. Fr. Kilian made professed solemn vows Sept. 14, 1943, and was ordained a priest in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sept. 21, 1943.

Fr. Kilian’s interest and competence in the field of Franciscan theology resulted in his going to Rome in 1946 to obtain a doctorate at the Antonianum. He completed his degree in 1951 and was assigned to Christ the King Seminary in Allegany to teach dogmatic theology. In 1960, he transferred to Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., where he taught for four years.

Fr. Kilian published numerous scholarly articles, among them his doctoral dissertation on The Theory of Alexander of Hales on the Efficacy of the Sacraments. For a time he was the Editor of the Franciscan Studies.

He died in the friary at St. Bonaventure University on May 29, 1965. Fr. Kilian was 48 years old, a professed friar for 24 years and a priest for 21 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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Kilian Lynch, OFM

Kilian Lynch

1916 – 1965

Fr. Kilian Lynch, OFM, was born in County Kells, Meath, Ireland, on Nov. 25, 1916. He came to the United States in 1935 as a collegian to study at St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y., and as a student he did construction work on the Friedsam Memorial Library there.

He entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., on Aug. 12, 1939, and professed temporary vows Aug. 13, 1940. Fr. Kilian made professed solemn vows Sept. 14, 1943, and was ordained a priest in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sept. 21, 1943.

Fr. Kilian’s interest and competence in the field of Franciscan theology resulted in his going to Rome in 1946 to obtain a doctorate at the Antonianum. He completed his degree in 1951 and was assigned to Christ the King Seminary in Allegany to teach dogmatic theology. In 1960, he transferred to Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., where he taught for four years.

Fr. Kilian published numerous scholarly articles, among them his doctoral dissertation on The Theory of Alexander of Hales on the Efficacy of the Sacraments. For a time he was the Editor of the Franciscan Studies.

He died in the friary at St. Bonaventure University on May 29, 1965. Fr. Kilian was 48 years old, a professed friar for 24 years and a priest for 21 years.