Deceased Friars

Louis A. Foley, OFM

Louis A. Foley

1917 – 2002

Fr. Louis Foley, OFM, was born on May 6, 1917 in Dover, Mass. He attended public high school, graduating in 1933, in Dover. He attended Boston College for one year.

Fr. Louis entered the Province’s novitiate Aug. 29, 1934, and professed temporary vows on Oct. 4, 1935, both at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J. His philosophy studies were done at St. Anthony’s Friary in Butler, N.J., and theology at Holy Name College, Washington, D.C.

He professed solemn vows Oct. 4, 1938, in Washington, D.C. On June 9, 1941, he was ordained to a priest in the crypt of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

Fr. Louis’ first assignment, from 1942 to 1945, was instructor at St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y. He also served as instructor at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., from 1945 to 1948.

In 1948, Fr. Louis began his missionary work, Goiandira, Goias, Brazil. After serving there for two years, he moved to Anapolis, Goias, for another two years of mission work.

After four years in Brazil, Fr. Louis moved back to the United States. He was assigned to St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., as instructor, from 1953 to 1955, before becoming a chaplain for the army in 1956.

He also served as a retreat director, St. Francis Friary, Brookline, Mass., mission promoter at St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., assistant at St. Joseph Church in Winsted, Conn., Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass., and St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I. In 1989, Fr. Louis became guardian and pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg, N.Y.

In 1992, Fr. Louis retired to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla., before transferring to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J. in 1999. He died there May 21, 2002 at the age of 85. Fr. Louis was a professed friar for 66 years and a priest for 60.

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

Louis A. Foley, OFM

Louis A. Foley

1917 – 2002

Fr. Louis Foley, OFM, was born on May 6, 1917 in Dover, Mass. He attended public high school, graduating in 1933, in Dover. He attended Boston College for one year.

Fr. Louis entered the Province’s novitiate Aug. 29, 1934, and professed temporary vows on Oct. 4, 1935, both at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J. His philosophy studies were done at St. Anthony’s Friary in Butler, N.J., and theology at Holy Name College, Washington, D.C.

He professed solemn vows Oct. 4, 1938, in Washington, D.C. On June 9, 1941, he was ordained to a priest in the crypt of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

Fr. Louis’ first assignment, from 1942 to 1945, was instructor at St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y. He also served as instructor at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., from 1945 to 1948.

In 1948, Fr. Louis began his missionary work, Goiandira, Goias, Brazil. After serving there for two years, he moved to Anapolis, Goias, for another two years of mission work.

After four years in Brazil, Fr. Louis moved back to the United States. He was assigned to St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., as instructor, from 1953 to 1955, before becoming a chaplain for the army in 1956.

He also served as a retreat director, St. Francis Friary, Brookline, Mass., mission promoter at St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., assistant at St. Joseph Church in Winsted, Conn., Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass., and St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I. In 1989, Fr. Louis became guardian and pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg, N.Y.

In 1992, Fr. Louis retired to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla., before transferring to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J. in 1999. He died there May 21, 2002 at the age of 85. Fr. Louis was a professed friar for 66 years and a priest for 60.