Deceased Friars


Lawrence Ward, OFM

Lawrence Ward

1859 – 1903

Fr. Lawrence Ward, OFM, was born in Donegal, Ireland, on Jan. 31, 1859, and immigrated to America in 1881. He graduated from St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and entered novitiate there on March 19, 1887. Fr. Lawrence professed temporary vows May 10, 1888, and made his profession of solemn vows May 10, 1891.

Fr. Lawrence was ordained a priest on June 20, 1893. He was novice master for the custody in Allegany, and he was appointed master of clerics and professor when St. Joseph Friary in Winsted, Conn., was designated as a theology house.

During his final years, he suffered from tuberculosis and lived at St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo, N.Y., where he died on May 26, 1903. He was 44 years old, a professed friar for 15 years and a priest for almost 10 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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Lawrence Ward, OFM

Lawrence Ward

1859 – 1903

Fr. Lawrence Ward, OFM, was born in Donegal, Ireland, on Jan. 31, 1859, and immigrated to America in 1881. He graduated from St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and entered novitiate there on March 19, 1887. Fr. Lawrence professed temporary vows May 10, 1888, and made his profession of solemn vows May 10, 1891.

Fr. Lawrence was ordained a priest on June 20, 1893. He was novice master for the custody in Allegany, and he was appointed master of clerics and professor when St. Joseph Friary in Winsted, Conn., was designated as a theology house.

During his final years, he suffered from tuberculosis and lived at St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo, N.Y., where he died on May 26, 1903. He was 44 years old, a professed friar for 15 years and a priest for almost 10 years.