Deceased Friars


Norman Moynihan, OFM

Norman Moynihan

1924 – 1980

Fr. Norman Moynihan, OFM, was born Sept. 14, 1924 in Boston. During World War II, he served as an anti-aircraft gunner on the carrier Hornet. After the war, he entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1948. He professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1952 and was ordained in 1954.

One year after his ordination, Fr. Norman went to Bolivia as a missionary and immersed himself in serving the needs of the people in Sorata for six years. He was a superior there for three years before illness forced him to return to the United States. Fr. Norman did pastoral work in the Bronx, N.Y., and Pompton Lakes, N.J., until 1970, when he began graduate studies in the Institute for Depth Psychology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

After receiving his doctorate in psychology and sociology, Fr. Norman set up a private practice in Wayne, N.J. He also worked as a clinical psychologist at the Youth Correctional Institute in Annandale, N.J.

He died on March 30, 1980 in his room at St. Francis Friary, New York City. Fr. Norman was 55 years old, a professed friar for 30 years and a priest for 25 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

Norman Moynihan, OFM

Norman Moynihan

1924 – 1980

Fr. Norman Moynihan, OFM, was born Sept. 14, 1924 in Boston. During World War II, he served as an anti-aircraft gunner on the carrier Hornet. After the war, he entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1948. He professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1952 and was ordained in 1954.

One year after his ordination, Fr. Norman went to Bolivia as a missionary and immersed himself in serving the needs of the people in Sorata for six years. He was a superior there for three years before illness forced him to return to the United States. Fr. Norman did pastoral work in the Bronx, N.Y., and Pompton Lakes, N.J., until 1970, when he began graduate studies in the Institute for Depth Psychology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

After receiving his doctorate in psychology and sociology, Fr. Norman set up a private practice in Wayne, N.J. He also worked as a clinical psychologist at the Youth Correctional Institute in Annandale, N.J.

He died on March 30, 1980 in his room at St. Francis Friary, New York City. Fr. Norman was 55 years old, a professed friar for 30 years and a priest for 25 years.