Marcian Doyle, OFM

1914 – 1987

Fr. Marcian Doyle, OFM, was born on Jan. 12, 1914 in Copenhagen, N.Y. Influenced by the friars from St. Stephen’s Friary in Croghan, N.Y., he entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., in 1928.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., August 26, 1933, and professed temporary vows Aug. 27, 1934. Fr. Marcian made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 8, 1937, and was ordained a priest June 9, 1941.

After ministering at St. Bonaventure’s Parish in Paterson, Fr. Marcian went to St. Benedict the Moor Parish in Winston-Salem, N.C. In 1948, he was assigned to St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., where he obtained his master’s degree from the Franciscan Institute, while serving as a prefect in the dorms. For two years he worked in the Allegany parish, and then became a chaplain in the United States Navy from 1952 until 1956.

When he left the Navy, he worked at St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo, N.Y., and St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I., for a short time, and then returned south to St. Anthony Parish in Asheville, N.C. He established the parish Credit Union, repaired the church and expanded the friary.

In 1962, he returned to St. Bonaventure in Allegany to teach theology. In 1978, Fr. Marcian went to St. Anthony’s Residence in Boston and ministered at the friars’ chapel in the Prudential Center. His last assignment was to St. Francis Chapel in Providence.

He died in his sister’s home in Lowville, N.Y., on June 19, 1987. He was 73 years old, a professed friar for 52 years and a priest for 46 years.